Big Mini Putt Club – Wicker Park

Big Mini Putt Club is Chicago’s first dedicated indoor mini golf bar and lounge, offering a nostalgic yet modern entertainment experience that combines custom-designed nine-hole mini golf courses with a full-service bar, signature cocktails, and a variety of classic games. Co-founded by best friends Nick Jenkins and Austin DeLonge, who bonded over their shared love of mini golf growing up and eventually quit their day jobs to bring the concept to life, Big Mini Putt Club opened its original Wicker Park location in 2021 and expanded to a second Chicago location in Lakeview in 2023. The Wicker Park venue is situated at 1302 North Milwaukee Avenue, one block north of the Division Blue Line stop on the famous nightlife stretch of Milwaukee Avenue, while the Lakeview location at 3655 North Halsted Street sits in the vibrant Northalsted and Wrigleyville area, just three blocks from the Wrigley Field bleachers and roughly two blocks east of the Addison Red Line stop.

Each Big Mini Putt Club location features a unique nine-hole indoor mini golf course plus a bonus hole, with every hole designed and built by the co-founders themselves through a rigorous process of sketching, constructing, and testing in Nick’s garage before installation. The courses are intended to be challenging yet fun for all skill levels, with the added element that a few signature cocktails consumed before or during a round may add an entertaining degree of difficulty. The Lakeview course includes a Wrigley Field-inspired hole and a sasquatch standing guard among other creative obstacles. The courses are periodically refreshed with new holes swapped in to keep the experience fresh and give visitors a reason to return. A full round takes approximately 45 minutes, and both locations operate primarily on a walk-in basis, with little to no wait on weekdays and potential short waits during peak weekend hours.

The Wicker Park location accommodates up to 180 guests and features a full bar alongside a variety of free games available to all visitors, including ring swing, Connect 4, Scrabble, and more. The Lakeview location offers a larger, more open layout with a capacity of 260 guests, and its game selection includes bags, shuffleboard, video games, giant Jenga, skeeball, and air hockey. The more spacious floor plan at Lakeview is designed so that everyone in the venue can stay engaged with the energy of the mini golf course even while having a drink at the bar or playing another game. Both locations feature full-service bars with approximately 10 to 12 draft lines focusing on local breweries, plus 10 rotating signature cocktails and a selection of draft wines, draft cocktails, and premium liquors. The Lakeview location additionally operates The Turn, an in-house food program serving delicious pizzas and light bites, along with a full catering menu available for private events. The Wicker Park location does not serve food directly but works with recommended catering vendors for parties and events.

Private parties and group gatherings are a significant part of the Big Mini Putt Club experience, with reservations available for groups of eight or more. Party packages include reserved seating for two and a half hours, unlimited mini golf, and drink options ranging from individual drink token packages to unlimited open bar tiers. Full space or mini golf course buyout options are available for very large groups. The venues host a range of celebrations including birthday parties, bachelor and bachelorette parties, corporate outings, holiday parties, and casual get-togethers. Big Mini Putt Club also runs competitive mini golf leagues for those looking to take their putting more seriously.