The boardwalk area of Daytona Beach has no shortage of entertainment options. Between the pier’s arcades and rides and Daytona Lagoon, you can easily kill an afternoon. Tucked away in the Ocean Walk shopping center, amidst restaurants and a movie theater, you’ll find D&D Blacklight Mini-Golf. This spot has quite a bit of love put into it. The eponymously blacklit environment also features 3D elements (triggered by classic paper glasses), far-out art, and hand-built lifted holes in an indoors space. It’s a solid spot to get your putt-putting fix on a rainy day, and the visual elements make for a unique experience.
Guaranteed hole-in-one if you can manage your way up the tower!
Ryan’s Review
The 3D at this place is straight up wild. At first glance, the room has a bit of an ocean effect, with waves of light rippling across the ground. When you put the glasses on, this causes an insanely disorienting effect where you perceive the ground as 3-dimensional. It makes swings feel like they’re going to go above the ball. This sounds like a criticism, but it actually works well for a challenge. I will admit, though, that the effect gave me a headache after about 3 holes and I had to retire my 3D glasses. The kid found it astounding, however, which is what you really want from a blacklight joint.
3D mode activated.
As for the hole design, the obstacles are some of the more out-there ones we’ve seen. There was clearly creativity behind the construction, with cool interactive pieces on most holes. The wall art is also awesome and contributes heavily to the environmental feel. The structural integrity of the holes can feel a bit less solid than concrete-based outdoor courses, and the blacklight gimmick only goes so far as an adult, but this spot is mostly cool and a good time. The weirdest thing about it: the course is inexplicably 20 holes. I couldn’t figure a good reason for it beyond them having 20 hole ideas and not wanting to cut any. Sure I guess? I’m always down for extra swings.
Around the bend and through Stonehenge.
Overall Rating: 3.5/5 golf balls
Carson’s Review
I could also join Ryan on the thought of getting a headache from the 3D aspect of the course. The wall art was insane, and it even looked 3D without the glasses. Ryan had a good point about the obstacles being cool, like having to go on a loop or going through a series of tunnels. The blacklight made it all the better. Having 20 holes was definitely a shock, but in a good kind of way. This could also be me being biased about crushing him and getting 3 holes in ones.
Overall Rating: 5/5 golf balls
Post-hole-in-one stoke face.