02/28/09

Memoryville

by ryderdrumr

My sisters husband was stationed at Kelly in the late 60's. I was around 10 at the time and everytime I visited San Antonio from my home in Kansas, I made sure she took me here. When I moved to San Antonio 2 years ago, one of the first places I HAD to visit was Cool Crest. It may be showing it's age but I loved my visit and was flooded with memories. This is a place that MUST be saved from extinction.

• Pros: ambiance
• Cons: none

07/30/08

flowers from the concrete cracks

by photonjet

I'm so happy it's still open, most of the time it looks closed. Friends and I have prematurely mourned its demise accidentally. But it is not long for this world; the owners/artists are one-of-a-kind and not spring chickens. I think they live there. It's their world, and I'm happy to be allowed in.

Cool Crest is by far the best mini golf I have seen in my 43 years: big pecan trees, teeming bananna trees, purple vincas growing from the cracks in the sidewalks, wafting strains of "...is that some Hawaiian Johnny Cash music?", more than I can recall; the (w)hole far exceeds the sum of its parts. It really should be subsidised; it is an American national treasure.

If you like mini golf, make the journey; you won't be disappointed.

07/14/08

Cool Crest rocks

by patricklopez234

God this place rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If only it was open more often. I have not had the pleasure of taking my kids yet. If they would like, I would offer to help assist in the operations of this facility in the summer. I live right down the street from this heavenly haven and it seems getting into Heaven, Hell, or Jail is easier than this wonderfully situated place. This place is just the best minature golf course in San Antonio, maybe Texas and/or the United States. Let's start a petition with the city of San Antonio and get these wonderful people, who had a Minature Golf Course imagination that cannot be topped, some assistance in the operations of this historical Minature Golf Course.. I want to go play miniature golf right now and I have to drive out to highway 151 inside of Loop 1604 and find out just what their golf experience is like,(Probably nowhere near this masterpiece) What a shame!!!!!!!!!! Patrick Lopez

• Pros: It is the best miniature golf course here in SA
• Cons: It needs to be open more often

12/25/07

An miniature golf course for ADULTS, skill based and excellent atmousphere

by loosmoose

Cool Crest has a long and wonderful history pre-dating World War II. Created by a man with a vision the course was designed to challenge and entertain. You will not find castles, windmills, or even the Great Emancipator... but you will find miniature golf at it's finest. It became a passion of mine at an early age when I played "Green Acres" in Austin, Tx circa 1965... but it wasn't a patch on Cool Crest. Situated on the side of a steep hill, the breeze typically from the South East comes up the hill, being cooled all the way.. hence the name. The atmousphere is akin to an evening down on the river walk, coupled with a banana plantation and pleasant music from the 50's and 60's. It is a premier date spot, as you are guaranteed a good time. The course is challenging and inventive and features holes that you will never see at any other course. I have spent decades searching for it's equal and nothing has ever come close. Do to it's postion on the side of the hill, the holes will be two and three tiered and even one requires a chip over the flowing stream which laces through both 18 hole courses. At $4.00 a round, you simply can not find a better value anywhere. Open late in the Summers, this is a must visit for everyone local or tourist. Relax on the quiet patio before or after a round, and then go again... it's worth it.

• Pros: One of the most wonderful spots in San Antonio period.
• Cons: it is the only one... there should be more of something this wonderful.

World-class mini-golf Mecca provides challenging fun for the whole family.

by Contributor

History
Opened in 1937, Cool Crest is dripping with atmosphere and kitschy appeal. During the time of the year when this place is actually open, it's heavily populated with mini-golfers, young and old.

The Course
From the street, Cool Crest looks more like a banana farm than a mini golf course. Once you make your way inside, however, you'll find the canopy of tall, lush trees a cozy backdrop for either of the two 18-hole courses you choose to play. Of course, all 36 holes are completely different and since you're only paying four bucks to play (that's $3.71, plus 29 cents tax, by the way), you might as well play both courses.

The Wild Card
The course is packed with one conversation piece after another, the most notable of which is a phantom speaker stuck in a tree playing old Bing Crosby records. There's your four bucks right there.