Fore! Urban Putt Tees Up For Mission Mini-Golf Today

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After months of anticipation, mini-golf fanatics can finally hit the green at Urban Putt, the first and only course within the SF city limits, beginning tonight. Its fourteen holes have been lovingly conceived by owner Steve Fox, a former technology journalist and lifelong aficionado of the sport. Concocted with a team of area designers, engineers, artists, and robotics experts, each of the course's 14 holes is themed around something special to SF, ranging from the Transamerica building to the Painted Ladies to Lotta's Fountain. There are lots of surprises and fun mechanical elements to the holes, as you can see in the shots below.

Unlike the hot dogs and Slush Puppies of your childhood Putt-Putt, Urban Putt takes its food, served at accompanying restaurant UP @ Urban Putt, quite seriously. Chef Dane Boryta (Bottle Cap) has a sizable menu of classed-up Americana that will appeal to a kiddie crowd without dissuading a hipper one, with options like duck confit poutine, shrimp and grits, empanadas with cactus salsa, and the requisite burger (with melted onions and tomato pesto). Deep-dish pizzas are a focus, and options include the Out of Bounds (mushroom, ramp, nettles, goat cheese, white sauce) and the Links (chicken merguez, fennel sausage, pepperoni, and mushrooms). There's space for 50 in the dining room, and another 35 at the bar.

The bar is a destination in and of itself, with bar bites like pulled-pork sliders and smoked salmon/cucumber "tee sandwiches" to pair with the local drafts and wine on offer, including an exclusive Urban Putt brew from Half Moon Bay Brewing Company. Bartender Colin Carroll (Elixir) is offering loophole cocktails at the moment; a full liquor license is still a potential addition later on. In the meantime, players can enjoy "adult sippy cups" while on the course, along with a selection of fairway bites designed to enjoy while hitting the links, like corn dogs, pretzel twists, and chicken-and-waffle skewers. The restaurant opens at 5:30, and goes until 10 pm on weekdays and 11 pm on weekends; the course, along with the bar and fairway snacks, runs from 4 pm-12 am, Monday-Thursday; 4 pm-2 am Friday; 10 am-2 am, Saturday; and 10 am-12 am, Sunday. Do note that those under 21 aren't allowed in after 8 pm, so bring the kids earlier in the day if you want to get in a game; also, OpenTable reservations apply only to the restaurant, whereas a game of mini-golf is first come, first served.

· Urban Putt Releases Menu Intel, Sets Opening Date [~ ESF ~]
· Bottle Cap Chef Dane Boryta To Helm UP @ Urban Putt [~ ESF ~]
· Mission to Get Upscale Mini-Golf Course [~ ESF ~]