Mini-Golf Course Tells The Story Of Sussex
SUSSEX – The new Sussex Adventure Mini-Golf course incorporates a Sussex landmark at each hole, from its covered bridges to the twin potash mines, with trick holes to discover while playing.
“It’s a lot of planning, especially from scratch, it’s not something I’ve ever done before,” said owner Dan Mazzerole, adding that planning of the 18-hole course began last December.
“We went with the concept of the story of Sussex – I’m amazed by this little town and what it has to offer and the accomplishments that it has and the landmarks it has.”
He and local assistant golf pro Travis Gray designed the course, with construction done by local workers.
“Every hole is going to have a marker telling you which hole number it is, what the hole is about and a little bit of description about that part of Sussex,” he said.
Mazzerolle says the idea to create a mini-golf course came from wanting to find a purpose for the empty lot across the street from The Mule Bar and Grill on Winter Street, which he also owns, and to attract more people to Sussex and its downtown.
Mazzerole’s goal is to turn Sussex Adventure Mini-Golf into a tourist destination for New Brunswick and larger Atlantic Canada, taking advantage of Sussex’s location in the “Golden Triangle” of Fredericton, Saint John and Moncton.
“Every hole is designed to have a very, very difficult hole-in-one possibility that so all the adults of any age will try that,” he said. “At the same time, every hole is completely doable by any children to just put the ball on and get there in three or four shots – you can bring your kids, you can bring your grandkids.”
The course is busy with lots of bookings in its opening days and the upcoming weeks, including birthday parties and local school trips.
It also offers night golf with its incorporated LED lighting and an ice cream kiosk with 12 different flavors and treats to eat while playing.
One of Mazzerolle’s fondest memories was of taking his 90-year old grandmother mini-golfing for the first time.
“Her very first time holding a putter in her hand, we come up to this long hole with a 30-foot putt and she made a hole on your very first shot – this pretty much proves that mini-golf is for all ages,” he said.
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