Mini-golf is pretty much the definition of old-fashioned fun in Northern California, especially the wacky destination featured here. Dating back to the 1940s, this miniature golf course serves as a strange reminder of the town’s colorful history. It’s the type of place that seems a little bit too kitschy by today’s standards, but regardless, you can’t help but have a ton of fun while playing a few rounds here. Visit Pee Wee Golf in Guerneville and experience for yourself this decades-long tradition.
After World War II, all sorts of bizarre miniature golf courses started popping up all over the West. In fact, it all started with a place called Pee Wee Golf, which opened in Guerneville in 1948.
The historic golf course was the creation of a welder by the name of Bill Koplin Sr. Located right next to the Russian River, this mini golf course and arcade has been a family favorite for decades.
Boasting 36 different holes, each of which contains some sort of wacky sculpture to go along with it, Pee Wee is the type of place you'd only find in a small and quirky town like Guerneville. Pee Wee's landscape is totally surreal, containing everything from a head-juggling Sun God to a giant T-Rex.
Keeping Pee Wee alive and running hasn't been an easy feat, but it's still standing and that's what's important. The golf course is typically open in the summer only, from June 1st through Labor Day weekend. This is definitely a destination where we can see ourselves making some sweet summer memories!
The reason for its seasonal closure has a lot to do with its location along the Russian River. Often times when the river swells during spring, the entire golf course ends up underneath approximately 16-feet of water. In fact, the TV weather reporters are known to use Pee Wee's iconic purple dinosaur Lily as a measurement stick for flooding waters.
As the waters recede every year, Pee Wee Golf undergoes a deep cleaning as it starts to prepare for the summer crowds. Guerneville sees a lot of visitors during the summertime, and many of them can't help but stop for a few playful rounds of golf at this one-of-a-kind location.
A reminder of the garish mid-century golf courses that were once so popular among families, Pee Wee Golf is a historic gem that's worth checking out—even if only to witness these bizarre sculptures in person.
Have you visited Pee Wee Golf in Guerneville before? This place is perfectly strange in all the right ways. Check out a similarly charming destination when you visit The Biggest Mini Golf Course In Northern California.
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