If you walk through Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles and see someone on the mini-golf green putting backward or swinging the club between their legs, it’s not that they have bad form. They’re just doing what a charming green frog named Stanley told them to do.
Eight of the 18 holes that make up the River View Miniature Golf Course feature Stanley’s Spin-N-Play. Stanley’s quickly reaching mascot status at the park, and he’s as cute as he is silly.
Golfers brave enough to accept his challenge can spin the wheel to determine whether they’ll have to putt standing on one foot, putt with just one hand, spin around five times before putting, or do some other wacky action.
If you want a sneak peek at what awaits you on the green, head to the St. Charles Park District’s website for a hole-by-hole gallery. With names like Dead Man’s Curve, Logger’s Run and Blindman’s Bluff, each stop on this course is uniquely trying.
There’s still plenty to do inside the park when your golf game ends. Treat the kids to some ice cream or a jumbo pretzel from the refreshment stand, pedal up and down the Fox River on a four-person swan boat, or change into your swimsuit and splash around at Swanson Pool.
Miniature Golf Supervisor Sabrina Hunley says her team has planned several new family-friendly events for Pottawatomie Park’s 2022 season, including Stanley’s Park Pursuit and a Princess and the Frog night at Swanson Pool. And when September rolls around, some spooky Halloween-inspired events are in store.
“Stanley’s Park Pursuit is something everyone can participate in, even the little ones,” Hunley says. “We’ll set up a bunch of little challenges throughout the park, playground and mini-golf course. Families can complete the challenges and then play a round of mini-golf afterward for free.”
With so many ways to play, Pottawatomie Park may easily become your family’s staycation destination this summer.
Check riverviewminigolf.org and swansonpool.org for more information. ❚
River View Miniature Golf Course is located at 8 North Ave., in St. Charles, (630) 584-1028.