The Bayonne mini-golf course located on East 24th Street is expected to double the number of holes over the next month, although the footprint of the existing facility won’t change.
David Solari, manager of the course, said the course will close for eight days in order to expand the number of holes nine nine to 18, using the existing picnic area for the additional holes.
The $115,000 cost of the upgrade is expected to be paid for out of grant money, city officials said.
The mini-golf course was constructed last year on a portion of the municipal parking lot as a way of bringing people into the Broadway shopping area. Public officials believed that as kids played there, parents might also stop off and do some shopping.
Solari said the course itself has been able to cover its expenses, taking in as much $300 a day. As of Aug. 1, the course brought in about $11,000 for a season that started around Memorial Day, much more than the $7,000 it pays in salaries.
The upgrade will be done by Harris Miniature Golf Inc. of Wildwood, the same company that constructed the course last year and one of the premiere miniature golf course companies in the state.
Some hours in fall
Although its season it technically over, the course will stay open on weekends and holidays through the fall. The facility offers an incentive package that allows two games of golf for $3 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. After 4 p.m., players pay $3 per game.
The price may rise to $5 with no extra game after the expansion, Solari said.
Solari, however, said the loss of the picnic area does have its drawbacks, since the course has drawn a number of private parties, such as for birthdays and other events. Many of these used the picnic area.
According to the city, the party price is $5 per person with a maximum of 35 people. The price includes nine free holes of mini-golf and use of the picnic area. Permits are available for two-hour time slots: Monday through Friday from 6 to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday beginning at noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m. But only residents with identification can receive such permits.
Solari, who has learned many of the tricks of the existing course – from watching many residents play over the last year – said the additional holes will present new challenges, although they will not include any new water features.
The existing course, while designed to be a challenge in some areas, also reflects its roots in Bayonne, using a large rock from the former Military Ocean Terminal as a centerpiece, and other materials from around town.
“While we get a lot of kids here,” he said. “We also get a lot of adults.”