New York's hottest club is an underground mini-golf course near Penn Station
Julie Zeveloff/Insider
- Enjoying nightlife is a way different experience than my 20s.
- So I was intrigued when I was invited to Swingers, a "crazy" mini golf club near NYC's Penn Station.
- Although I used to dread mini-golf, Swingers gave me a new appreciation for it.
With two young kids and a demanding job, I don't get to experience much in the way of nightlife anymore.
So I was intrigued when my husband and I were invited to a friend's birthday celebration at Swingers, a "crazy" mini-golf club in a neighborhood not far from Manhattan's Penn Station that opened last summer.
Although I usually hate swinging a putter around, I didn't hesitate to check it out. Perhaps things had changed so much in the five years since I became a parent that mini-golf had possibly become cool.
Julie Zeveloff/Insider
While walk-ups are accepted, tee times fill up quickly — especially on weekends — so reservations are a good idea.
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It was still light outside, but the nightclub vibes kicked in at the door.
Julie Zeveloff/Insider
The walls were covered in hilarious photoshopped images of A-list celebrities, from Brad Pitt to Oprah Winfrey, in classic golf attire.
Julie Zeveloff/Insider
He was one of dozens of celebrities featured in gilded frames.
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A couple of these were laugh-out-loud funny.
Julie Zeveloff/Insider
The club sits beneath the newly-opened Virgin Hotel in the NoMad neighborhood of New York City.
Julie Zeveloff/Insider
Since we were celebrating a birthday, we went for a group booking that included 90 minutes at a reserved table for dinner.
At just over $100 per person, our package — which included one round of mini-golf, four drinks each, plus dinner and dessert vouchers — wasn't cheap.
For anyone just looking to book a tee time or walk in off the street, a round of golf is $26 (slightly cheaper at off-peak hours).
Julie Zeveloff/Insider
While mini-golf is the clear highlight, there's no cover charge, and anyone 21 and over can come to the club to eat and drink.
Julie Zeveloff/Insider
It definitely helped with my golf swing later in the evening.
Julie Zeveloff/Insider
There were a bunch of options, from some of NYC's best restaurateurs, and everyone at the party ordered from different vendors.
My husband and I split a Spicy Chicken Sandwich and Emmy burger from Emmy Squared, a cult favorite among New Yorkers.
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In addition to burgers and tacos, there are also pizzas slung by Sauce Pizzeria, a Lower East Side mainstay.
Julie Zeveloff/Insider
It felt like a glamorous food hall.
Julie Zeveloff/Insider
He was awesome, playing older pop songs earlier in the evening and veering into house music later on.
Julie Zeveloff/Insider
The club started as a pop-up in London in 2014 and now has two locations in the city. There are also two Swingers in the Washington, D.C. area, with plans to open more soon.
Julie Zeveloff/Insider
The answer is yes, even for a relatively entrenched mini-golf hater like me. (I previously went with my 4-year-old and 2-year-old on a family vacation this summer, and we couldn't even make it two holes without someone trying to jump into a water feature.)
Julie Zeveloff/Insider
She also assured us that other "caddies" would be circulating on the course to take drink orders as we played.
Julie Zeveloff/Insider
While I didn't get to play the Clocktower or Windmill courses, they didn't look particularly different.
Julie Zeveloff/Insider
Pro tip for the serious mini-golfers out there: Don't bring your own putter. One of my friends saw another patron try to enter with one, and they had to check it at the door.
Julie Zeveloff/Insider
Julie Zeveloff/Insider
It also helped that I didn't come in last place in our fivesome.
Julie Zeveloff/Insider
Holes are separated by low fences covered in fake greenery, making it easy for groups to stay together and avoid crowding.
Julie Zeveloff/Insider
Get your ball in the bullseye, and you're nearly guaranteed a hole-in-one.
Julie Zeveloff/Insider
Sadly, none in our group had the chance to spin for a free dessert or bonus round on the green.
Julie Zeveloff/Insider
There were tons of seating and standing options, even on a busy evening.
Julie Zeveloff/Insider
There's soft-serve ice cream, root beer floats, donut holes, and more — elevated versions of kid favorites.
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Regrettably, the only dessert photo I remembered to take.
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The lighting was perfect.
Julie Zeveloff/Insider
I'll be back!

