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The idea is a simple one: close your eyes and imagine playing putt-putt golf. You played when you were a kid, but there aren't exactly tons of courses close to the city, so it's been a while. Still, you remember: the colorful balls, the tiny pencils to keep score with, the fanciful courses with themes like pirates or dinosaurs. Now, imagine you can combine all of that with your love of booze. Because really, what goes better together than alcohol and golf clubs? Erm, we'll get to this later.
At any rate, someone decided to take a novel concept and run with it. And not for the first time, it was Joe Englert and two other investors involved in the Atlas District (H St NE, between roughly 9th and 14th). Although plans originally called for a much earlier opening, construction is underway and from the looks of the interior, they might actually be open by the end of February (although it certainly could be March or later, as these things go).
The name of the place is the H Street Country Club, a nod to the hoity-toity private clubs that were once the center of high-class social life in much of this country. In almost every way, however, it seems as if the nod is more of a nod, then turn to your friends and laugh about the sweater-vest you just saw walk by. You walk downstairs to the "Locker Room" where some fake lockers adorn the walls. The lower level will have pool tables, shuffleboard, and Skee-Ball (!), along with a rather long bar that should make getting drinks a cinch. If you're after some dinner or some putt-putt, you head upstairs, where the dining room and the golf course live. The food menu will have a Mexican theme. The full menu hasn't been locked down yet, but standards like quesadillas and nachos will be available both upstairs and down, with more complex offerings (like duck chilaquiles and lamb enchiladas) only available in the upstairs dining room.
Enough of the surroundings: we came here to talk about putt-putt golf. The course's design is heavy on D.C. landmarks: you putt around the Washington Monument, dodge the National Cathedral, etc. etc. It's a large space with 9 holes to wander through. And of course, the drinking! The plan is to have cup-holders all over the place, with servers coming around to see if you want another drink. As for the booze options, there will be four draught beer lines plus bottles of assorted Mexican beer available, and there are plans for a line of house drinks (think margaritas and sangria).
I'm bad enough at putt-putt when I'm sober, so there's no telling how bad I'll get when you fuel me with some booze, and I imagine many patrons may be in the same boat. As for the possible implications of giving a bunch of drunk people golf clubs, the management seems to be planning a "keep an eye on it" approach. I know for myself, I'll be watching my back when I go visit.
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I guess it's neat to have a DC themed mini-golf course, but I tend to reserve mini-golf to outings at Virginia Beach or the Jersey Shore.
Nah, I think it'll be fine...I wouldn't worry about some dude getting a little belligerent and taking a putter across the back of some other dude who was in the wrong fraternity...nor would I worry about yet another fraternity dude just winding up with his putter, Peter Griffin style, and rocketing a golf ball of the faux cathedral, which then ricochets off into the back of someone's head, into the side of some large angry man's bottle of Corona, or colliding with the rim of some hopelessly trying-to-be-hip chica's caramel apple martini.
Good luck with this one...ventures like are honestly not a bad idea, but to put it all in such a confined space seems ludicrous. Put it outside next to a freeway and serve flat draught Budweiser (ah, my white trash upbringing...how I adore thee...)
Wow...my grammar sucks today.
That should read "...rocketing a golf ball OFF the faux cathedral..."
And, it should be noted that the flat draught Budweiser would be best served from those igloo coolers with a tap surreptitiously drilled onto the front...nothing but the best for my customers.
DJ,
That space might not look like much if you're judging from the facade, but inside it is positively cavernous. Before H St. was lousy with tattooed hipsters, there was a Caribbean restaurant there that actually had half-decent food but stunningly awful service.
Actually, it used to be Phish Tea Cafe. Still big, though.
I know, Phish Tea served Caribbean food.
And from that decision we get H St CC.
BTW, does anybody else think the name is kind of in bad taste? Considering the racial inequalities that have always been a hallmark of Country Clubs?
no, i don't think it's in bad taste. if the words are what's important here, then you could say this is an example of taking ownership of those words for a better cause.
i mean, the idea was previously done in Brooklyn, so it only seems fitting that they'd copy the idea of the name as well.
http://www.bushwickcountryclub.com/
gotta give englert credit, he doesn't mind taking risks...
What risk? If Trinidad won't come to puttputt, then puttputt will come to Trinidad. I swear, these guys get all the cool stuff. First heroin, now minature golf.
the rumor i heard from a credible source was (a) the food is by Ann Cashion of Cashion's Eat Place, and will be absolutely fantastic [said reliable source had a chance to sample said Mexican fare] AND (b) one of the putt-putt holes will be Marion Barry as The Awakening. How effing cool is that?
onefemme: could you have remembered reading that in the hill rag this month?
That is indeed the case.
Oh, and Ann Cashion is no longer "of Cashion's Eat Place" but rather "of Johnny's Half Shell." And of course, Johnny's has the Taqueria around the side that serves some really tasty tacos and other mexican fare for lunch.
can't friggin wait
There was an indoor mini golf place in the early 90s in the newer wing of the Old Post Office (I think that's the wing that's federal office space now.)
I can't believe nobody is as pumped as I am for the Skee-ball.
Skee ball? I am, I am!
This may be the thing that gets me to move in from the suburbs. I am not joking.
I'd be happy if they just had "Whack-a-Mole."
And by "mole" I mean "my penis."
Sounds and looks Great. Skeeball should be awesome.
i can't wait for this place to open. sounds like so much fun! if it works well, i wonder if we can convince the owners to open one in Arlington. we could use some fun like this there.
Arlington could use a lot of things.
DC will trade you an indoor mini golf bar for several thousand of the hot women who live in Arlington because they're too afraid of DC.
There's mini-golf at East Potomac Park
The menu will offer high quality authentic mexican. Third floor will eventually be a roof deck
Good. Because nothing screams "Mexican" like a miniature golf course.
Wow! That's going to be nice; however, in the mean time while waiting on it to open, come down and join us at Langston's Bar and Grill. We are on Benning Road, across H,Street, NE. We specialize in Southern Foods, and it's a great atmosphere. We also have 8 TV's and host several events. We will be having a Valentine's Day Special also; as well as, viewing of the All-Star Weekend Games here.
Come on out and join us, along with mixing and mingling with others. You will have a great time and enjoy yourself.