Surfin’ Scoops is both Ormond-by-the-Sea’s finest ice cream parlor and a super fun 9-hole quickie course.
Simple but enjoyable, especially when paired with the right ice cream.
Up North beyond the tourist crowd of Daytona Beach you can find a beachfront ice cream parlor called Surfin’ Scoops. Marked by a usually-entertaining sign, the first thing you’ll notice about Surfin’ Scoops is their mini-golf course. Made distinct by wooden geometric layouts over more extravagant obstacles, the course is a short 9-holes with plenty of character.
The owners of Surfin’ Scoops are always forthcoming about playing the course. It’s only $2 to play, and if you avoid sending your ball into the lighthouse of hole 9, you can run it back. This gives the Surfin’ Scoops course one of Carson’s favorite features: the ability to hone in on hole-in-one strategies. Since the holes are almost exclusively based on geometry over spectacle, most of the holes have a plausible one-shot strategy.
We highly recommend the fudge brownie ice cream.
Ryan’s Review
I love the simplicity of this course. The stripped-down nature of the design makes it stellar for practicing mini-golf. Everything is a geometric line, nearly everything can be hole-in-one’d if you strategize properly, and I think it’s a perfect spot to hone your mini-golf IQ. The price and quickness make it absolutely ideal for working on your game.
Got to find the perfect angle on that block…
Obviously, the course is also limited, but I think that’s a big piece of the charm. There aren’t any gimmicks at play, just straightforward putting. Add in the bonuses of delicious ice cream and a salty ocean breeze and you have yourself a highly enjoyable experience.
Overall Rating: 4/5 golf balls
Carson’s Review
I think being able to have ice cream right before or after is definitely a big plus for me, and I like the salty ocean breeze. I think the rocks on the course can get in the way and ruin your shot, but that gives it a little challenge to avoid the rocks. It can get rainy at times, but that only has happened once. I like how you don’t have to walk very far to get from hole to hole, too.
Overall Rating: 5/5 golf balls
— Carson
The 9th hole lighthouse is a standout to Carson