Closeup of one of Sussex Adventure Mini-Golf Course's holes (Image: Sussex Adventure Mini-Golf Course Facebook)
After six months of planning, Sussex Adventure Mini-Golf’s grand opening Friday welcomed mini-golf fans of every age to come play a round, (or more) in Dairytown.
Owner Dan Mazerolle says the idea to create a mini-golf course came from wanting to find a purpose for the empty lot across the street from The Mule Bar and Grill on Winter Street, which he also owns, and to attract more people to Sussex and its downtown.
“It’s a lot of planning, especially from scratch, it’s not something I’ve ever done before,” said Mazerolle, adding that planning of the 18-hole course began last December. “We went with the concept of the story of Sussex – I’m amazed by this little town and what it has to offer and the accomplishments that has and the landmarks it has.”
He and local assistant golf pro, Travis Gray designed the course with construction done by local workers.
Aerial shot of Sussex Adventure Mini-Golf Course (Image: Sussex Adventure Mini-Golf Course Facebook)
Each hole incorporates a Sussex landmark, from its covered bridges to the twin potash mines, with exciting trick holes to discover while playing.
“Every hole is going to have a marker telling you which hole number it is, what the hole is about and a little bit of description about that part of Sussex,” he said.
Mazerolle’s goal is to turn Sussex Adventure Mini-Golf into a tourist destination for New Brunswick and larger Atlantic Canada, taking advantage of Sussex’s location in the “Golden Triangle” of Fredericton, Saint John and Moncton.
“Every hole is designed to have a very, very difficult hole-in-one possibility that so all the adults of any age will try that,” he said. “At same time, every hole is completely doable by any children to just put the ball on and get there in three or four shots – you can bring your kids, you can bring your grandkids.”
Closeups of mini-golf hole decorations (Image: Sussex Adventure Mini-Golf Course)
The course is busy with lots of bookings in its opening days and the upcoming weeks, including birthday parties and local school trips. It also offers night golf with its incorporated LED lighting and an ice cream kiosk with 12 different flavours and treats to eat while playing.
“The graduates are coming on Monday night as well and Hampton High School called to book their grad class in for a trip,” he added.
One of Mazerolle’s fondest memories was of taking his 90-year old grandmother mini-golfing for the first time.
“Her very first time holding a putter in her hand, we come up to this long hole with 30-foot putt and she made a hole on your very first shot – this pretty much proves that mini-golf is for all ages,” he said.
