Door County, Wis., has long been a popular tourist destination, and as such, it hosts a number of miniature golf courses, but the latest addition—the Evergreen Miniature Golf Course in the village of Fish Creek—is a unique, 18-hole, completely ADA-accessible mini golf course with an eco-friendly construction.
Unlike traditional golf courses that are built with concrete and outfitted with classic windmills, oversized chairs, sunken sailing ship masts and the like, this course, designed and constructed by Adventure Golf & Sports using the eco-friendly Modular Advantage System, surrounds players with beautiful trees, gardens and educational exhibits about sustainable practices.
“I wanted a non-traditional course,” said Kerry Johnson, entrepreneurial female owner of the Evergreen Miniature Golf Course. Johnson, a former K-12 school educator explained. “… I wanted it really nature-based and nature-themed to reflect the surrounding environment as much as possible, but also [to] add some beautiful water elements, which they (AGS) did.”
Johnson chose AGS to design and build her course because “They have this amazing product. It’s not really out there anywhere else. Because of the nature theme and focus on environmental education, the eco-friendly qualities of the [product] were obviously appealing with what we were trying to convey. I looked other places to see what else was out there, and honestly they’re the only ones that have this style course.”
The Modular Advantage Mini Golf System used by AGS to build the course features patented, interlocking, flexible panels made of recycled materials that are permeable for water drainage. Excavation is minimal compared to concrete construction requirements, allowing trees, flora and fauna to remain intact, and the permeability helps eliminate ponding on the mini golf holes for a quick-dry, no mess operation.
Johnson said the average length of the mini golf holes on the Evergreen course runs from 24 to 39 feet, so it plays more like a fairways and greens course. “When I go to other miniature golf courses, it’s just a very different quality, a different feel,” said Johnson. “It feels like a higher-quality course than the harder cement-based courses… more of a natural feel. And we really like it. We’re really happy with it.
“The ball doesn’t roll fast because it’s not on concrete and carpet… It’s a softer feel. It’s a slower feel… I think some of the people who like our course the most are competitive golfers because it is more like a true putting green style. It looks like an easier course than it is. That is partly intentional because we wanted it ADA-accessible throughout the whole course. But most people that play it are surprised at how challenging it is and they enjoy it more because of that.
“One of the things we hear a lot about is that it’s one of the most beautiful courses people have been to. And I think that has to do with the fact that we kept as many of the pine trees in there. We also have natural-looking water elements, so it looks like a natural river, pond and a little waterfall. The idea is to just have it be part of the environment, part of nature. I think we accomplished that really well,” Johnson said.
“I did want to combine it with some of my educational background,” she added. “I love to work with students and teach people, and I also love the outdoors and nature, so I chose the environment-focused theme. There are educational exhibits and signs throughout that teach people (about these topics). It’s a supplemental feature. If they just want to play a game of miniature golf that’s OK too, but if they’re waiting around, there’s something to read and learn from and I’ve had a lot of positive response from that. It’s been really fun.
The course’s entrance and main focal point feature a waterfall. “It’s a little waterfall with a river that runs down to the pond toward the front of the course along the highway. It’s a 20-by-40 (foot) pond, and we have some pretty fountains down in the pond as well,” Johnson said. “We light all of those up at night and it looks gorgeous. Aside from the water features, I’d say the trees are probably one of the favorite elements when people come in because they look so grand and beautiful.
“There were a few things I wanted to integrate and be part of the course,” she continued. “We’ve added a pollinator garden, rain gardens, a xeriscape garden. We have two ring gardens. One of them was done in partnership with the ecology club at the local high school who helped design it.”
Each garden features colorful, educational signage informing visitors about concepts like the importance of pollinators and, in the case of the xeriscape garden, of water conservation. “I worked with a local greenhouse that focuses on native plants,” Johnson said, “and then I did some of my own planting with native annuals and perennials.
“Being a new business owner was very challenging at times, to learn and understand everything and learn how to work with contractors! But it was a great experience. They (AGS) design beautiful courses and I’ve visited plenty of their courses in other places and they really do wonderful work. Their construction crew was awesome. They did such a good job handling all of my questions and concerns and continue to do so to this day. I have nothing but good things to say about the construction crew.”
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