Golf Challenge

Eighteen holes of mini golf await just outside Stoke-on-Trent, though Golf Challenge is about as straightforward as these courses get. The layout runs through artificial obstacles - windmills, ramps, and the usual castle-themed challenges that'll have you chasing your ball around corners.

Families with younger children will find it does the job for an hour's entertainment, especially when the weather's decent. The course isn't particularly imaginative compared to some themed mini golf setups, but it's well-maintained and the holes are varied enough to keep everyone interested. Teenagers might roll their eyes a bit, but competitive parents usually get more worked up about their putting than the kids do.

Expected to pay a few quid per person, though exact prices weren't posted when I visited. Allow about an hour for a leisurely round, maybe forty-five minutes if you're moving at pace. The course works well as a quick diversion if you're staying at one of the nearby parks like Lower Micklin Touring Park or Alton's Star site - it's close enough for an easy evening activity without driving far.

Not groundbreaking, but mini golf rarely is. Does what it says on the tin and gives families something to do together without breaking the bank.