If there’s one thing Orlando specializes in more than theme parks, it’s mini-golf courses. Not only are there plenty of mini-golf courses around the city, but the theme parks themselves have their own courses for you to try. One of our favorite mini-golf courses is Hollywood Drive-In Golf in CityWalk at Universal Orlando Resort. Hollywood Drive-In Golf takes the fun of normal mini-golf and adds a heap of signature Universal theming. If your family is looking to tackle a mini-golf course as a part of your vacation, Hollywood Drive-In Golf is a great choice.

What is Hollywood Drive-In Golf?

Hollywood Drive-In Golf isn’t just a mini-golf course, it’s actually two different courses side-by-side. Just as the name suggests, the overall theme of the golf course highlights the two most popular forms of movies at the old drive-in theaters — B-movie sci-fi and horror. The sci-fi side is called “Invaders From Planet Putt” and the horror side is called “The Haunting of Ghostly Greens.” But don’t let those names fool you, these courses are fun and are overloaded with cuteness.

Getting Started

You’ll find Hollywood Drive-In Golf immediately as you enter CityWalk from the parking garage. The walkway into CityWalk actually goes in-between the two courses. To your left will be a giant robot and to your right will be a spooky-looking haunted house. To get to the courses, take a right as soon as you exit the moving walkway. You can choose to play one course or two. Whether you play one or two depends a lot on how busy it is that day. Both courses are actually very easy (more on that in a bit), so if you have the time and opportunity to play both, you definitely should. 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

The App

One thing that really separates Hollywood Drive-In Golf from other mini-golf courses in the area is its app. It’s free to download on both Apple and Android devices and it really makes the game more fun. One thing the app does is keep score for you. You have the option of using the classic pen-and-paper method, but the digital scorecard eliminates the need for math and can keep track of your whole party. The second positive about the app is it automatically prompts you to play the Hollywood Drive-in Golf trivia game, which adds a bit of extra fun.

The Trivia Game

At various points throughout your game, you’ll be asked to answer some observational trivia questions about the course you’re on. None of these questions are particularly hard, and they’re all based on things around the hole you’re on. You’ll be asked how many eyes something has, what the headline of a fake newspaper is or what’s the eye color of a creature. Finding the answer to these questions adds a little something to the course and has a payoff at the end. If you answered all the questions right you’ll get a scratch-off at the end of your game for future game discounts and other fun prizes.

Choosing Your Courses

Hollywood Drive-In Golf’s two courses, “Invaders from Planet Putt” and “The Haunting of Ghostly Greens” are equal in everything but their theme. Neither course is harder than the other, nor does one have any can’t-miss gimmick. However, both are a lot of fun and super cute. Play both courses if you can. If you can’t, we like Invaders From Planet Putt slightly better.

If you have young ones in your family and are worried about difficulty, we can tell you these courses are extremely easy. The holes are pretty straightforward and the cups are huge. Sure, there are little gimmicks like additional holes to hit the ball into, movable conveyor belts and hills, but it’s nothing a kid can’t handle. Kids will also love the silly sculptures, fun sound effects, and easy-to-read poems at the start of each hole.

Our Verdict

Mini golf is a staple of a lot of families’ vacations, especially if they have young children. And when it comes to mini-golf in Orlando, there are a ton of options to choose from. If you’re looking to play a round or two of mini-golf, we highly recommend Hollywood Drive-In Golf. The courses are super cute and extremely easy to play. Using the app makes scorekeeping a breeze and the inclusion of the trivia game brings just a little bit of something extra to the fun. Universal Orlando Resort is known for its theme parks, but they make a pretty fun mini-golf course too!