The Hole In Wand is a magical themed mini golf in York. A standard ticket, which my girlfriend and I bought, includes the golf as well a free potion.
Aesthetics
The aesthetics and vibe of the place were amazing. They entire place was decorated with old potions and different spooky pictures. Everything was themed, including the golf itself and the waiting area. The staff members check for magic with a potion and continue the whimsy by explaining everything in relation to fantasy creatures. There is also the story of finding a missing gargoyle. You could even have pictures taken with broomsticks and signs and the photos can be bought at the end.
Mini Golf Course at The Hole In Wand
The Hole In Wand course was 9 holes, which is half the length of the courses I usually play. As mentioned earlier, all of the courses were themed. However, some of the holes were badly designed and resulted in golf balls going flying into the next hole, especially towards the end.
Several of the holes were also frustrating as the design of the hole itself meant that it was difficult to get the ball in the hole. For example, some holes had metal circles screwed around them. For one, the hole was underneath a set piece and we spent far too long trying to figure out where it was. When we realised it was supposed to be under it, under a small ledge. Once we got the balls under there, we realised be couldn’t get the golf putters underneath to get it into the hole. We also had to get on the floor and reach under to get the golf balls back.
Another annoying one was the last hole, where the golf ball had to go up a ramp and into a tunnel. My golf ball went up the ramp and curled back on itself instead of going into the tunnel several times. It also nearly hit me in the process, which was not fun.
So, while it looked cool, we were mostly left frustrated with the golf aspect of it.
Free Potions
As part of the standard ticket, you get a free magic potion, which is a drink, at the end of the golf course. It is based on the core you got. However, as I don’t drink fizzy drinks, I couldn’t drink the potion. Thankfully, the staff member gave me an alternative and I got some cordial concentrate in little vials instead. I am glad they offered me an alternative but it would have been nice to know in advance, as some people with allergies might need to be careful with the flavours.
Overview of The Hole In Wand
Overall, the golf was okay. It looked cool and the staff were amazing. The story and theming were great. However, the golf itself left a lot to be desired for the price we paid, which was £8.99. As the potion drink was worth £3.49 and I couldn’t have it, I had to have something else as my prize. I probably would have preferred an option for just the golf without a drink included. A nice bonus was getting a badge for a hole in one.
I am not sponsored in any way but you can check out their website here.