Don't let the other reviews fool you- if you are looking for mini golf, this place is a joke and the other reviewers must be part owners or something. Horrible joke of a place....I expected a mini golf course....but it was a bad joke- some 6th graders paper mache project.....and the environment dingy...don't get me wrong a couple of the holes were cute- like Lombard Street....but it was really a miss for anything other than a 3 years old's birthday party. And did I mention unsafe? I whopped one and it launched into the gut of a boy that looked like he was 10 and I know he had a bruise the next day... and before you judge my poor marksmanship, the walls were dimpled with indentations from similarly stray balls...it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt. read more

This place is so much fun! Clever in it's design and concept, and brilliantly put together to represent major parts of the Bay Area. Next to the loop de loop Golden Gate Bridge, the bridge jump on the Park St. bridge, and even the pain in the a** number 13 hole of Lombard Street, my favorite hole was the "windmill" at hole number 1, very cute. Not too expensive, and makes for a great date spot. Definitely will be bringing friends back here soon! read more

Although I enjoy miniature golf as much as the next guy or gal, I rarely have a reason to go to amusement parks that have a course, and so hadn't been mini-golfing in close to 10 years. On a lark, our group of five thirty-somethings decided to hit up this place in Alameda one evening, and boy am I glad we did. These 18 holes of putt-putt are really artistic, challenging, and a blast to play. With the bay area theme, the course starts you at Altamont Pass, then takes you North on 880 past the airport, the maze, up into wine country, then down from Marin over the Golden Gate bridge into SF where you sightsee a bit, then head over the Bay Bridge, and down into Alameda for the 18th hole. Each course was beautifully crafted and artistic, with the murals on the nearby walls helping to set the location. It wasn't crowded when we arrived at ~8 pm on a Wed, and the five of us finished right at 10 pm. The only thing that would have made it better was if they served booze, or allowed BYOB (maybe they do? I didn't actually ask...) I can't wait to bring more friends to this place! read more

After reading the backstory on this place about how the two fellas that own it started making the landmarks as an art project and it grew into this business and are now living their dream made me happy to be there. If you compare it to the larger corporate owned mini golf places you will be sadly disappointed. The space is not large and can feel a little cramped if there are a lot of golfers. The more mini golfers the stuffier it gets. A little air flow would be nice. I liked the 18 holes, my favorites were the Golden Gate and Lombard Street (got a hole in one). Hole 15 had us confused, another reviewer referred to it as a brown blob with a white blob. We asked Akeem, the helpful worker, he said its an ear with an ear bud to represent the music from and inspired by the Bay. I thought that was pretty awesome. Monday nights its only $3 which is well worth it. Even if you pay the full price of $9 that's only $.50 a hole. Before we arrived I had called to see if they had some sort of concession stand. Akeem answered the phone and was very nice and advised me that they don't have a concession stand but would be happy to order food for us from the itialan joint across the street, he said the food is usually delivered by time you make it half way around the course. We didn't wind up ordering anything bit it was nice to know that food is available. There are a few arcade games on the first floor and there is a sign indicating that there is more arcade fun to be had upstairs, it is dark up there, don't assume it's closed, it's dimly lit and has that arcade feel. There were two skee ball machines, a monopoly pinball machine, an old Simpsons video and a few othe machines. The machines only take tokens, you get 4 tokens per dollar. I was stoked to find that skee ball was only one token! If you go in with the expectation that this place was built by two guys with a dream and you want to support a local business by playing a little putt putt you won't be disappointed if you go expecting there to be a red carpet and golf caddies provided you might want to skip this place. Bonus! it's indoors it would be a great rainy day activity. read more

Subpar Miniature Golf - An ear with an ear bud to represent the music that has come from or been inspired by the bay! Awesome!!! - Mini Golf Near Me - Alameda, California

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My wife and I had an amazing time at subpar mini golf! It's definitely a place that all ages could enjoy, not just kids. Each of the 18 courses are very creatively done and allows you to do a mini tour the bay area's famous landmarks. I noticed that some other reviews mentioning that its a bit short, but I honestly think its the perfect size to not feel like the game is dragging on a bit too long. Also there's bars within a short distance from the place so grab a drink before and after to make it a fun little date night! We'll definitely be coming back with friends or at least making a point to mention this little gem to others. read more

I had originally planned to take the boys I mentor to the bowling alley in Alameda however it was league night :( My boys agreed to give mini golf a try (one of my boys had never played before). It was a very chill, laid back atmosphere where my boys could take their time or hit the ball as hard as they wanted and no one gave us dirty looks. The real reason I am writing this review is because one of my boys forgot his Ipod on the seat of one of the arcade games. We didn't realize it was missing for 30 minutes and when we called Subpar they found it and kept it safe until I could get back to pick it up. High five Subpar! read more

Subpar Miniature golf is a total fun place for kids and adults alike who enjoy indoor miniature golf. We adore the San Francisco and Bay Area inspired theme that featured the Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Woods, Coit Tower and local spots such as The Under the Bridge Skate Park and the Alameda bridge. The course is very unique! The golf space is fairly large and those wanting a quick break from golfing, they have arcade games on the main floor and upstairs, as well as a couple pool tables, a foosball table and a shot car track at the front of the facility. We held a birthday party here and throughout the planning, the staff was super friendly and answered all of our questions. A one of a kind local business in the middle of an adorable neighborhood. We'll swing by again soon for around round. read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE. I'm pretty childish when it comes to mini golf and by that I mean I f*cking love it. This place is Bay Area themed and as a Bay Area native, that is honestly so damn cool. It's one of those things you have to do just once; I mean only if you already live in the bay, don't just take a trip here. The holes are all unique & equally challenging. If there's a wait to start golfing then you can kill time at a small arcade upstairs. I should add, it gets really hot in the summertime, they only have one fan from what I can remember. read more

I'm trying to balance out my ratings for this place. Went here when it was boiling outside and the place doesn't have A/C...so it was pretty miserable. Then the BF convinced me to play a second round...which was equally as miserable. However, that being said, the holes are creative and some of them are ridiculously difficult. I'll probably go back on a cooler night, but never ever again when it's sweltering out. Some of the holes could go for a cleaning (and the walls and the floor), but hey, it's a mini golf course. All in all my first experience leads to me to believe that the name of the place is appropriate. I'll go back and give it another shot, though, when I'm not grumpy pants from the heat. read more

Super fun...an inventive, challenging course with a Bay Area theme. My favorite is the Lombard Street hole-in-one. Also liked the Golden Gate, and the real windmill. Lots of other fun stuff (Skeball, videogames) in a great big space. Nice staff, too. Tons of fun for everyone. read more

Bought a groupon for golf for two. It turned out to be tons of fun. Great spot for a date.

Fun for kids fun for all ages. There are a bunch of secret drawings to discover, take your time. read more

Subpar Miniature Golf - AT AT - Mini Golf Near Me - Alameda, California

This is a tiny little mini golf course inside a small building. Fun for kids, but for adults it is...well...charming. My boyfriend and I came here to play a game of mini golf. ($5 student price.) For the prices we paid, it's hard to complain. I really liked that each hole was themed to a different part of the Bay Area, but overall this place felt sort of unfinished. The signs were all printed out and seemed haphazardly taped to the walls. Sub Par is appropriately named. I was also a little put off by the small boom box sitting on top of one of the landmarks at one of the "holes" with a handwritten note that said something along the lines of "do not touch radio!" There is a small arcade upstairs with pool tables and various games. Sub Par is in no way a bad attraction to visit in Alameda, but for what it is it has a lot of growing to do. read more

I highly recommend this place for miniature golf fans. This is a absolute must if you love slot cat racing because it's got a good looking track. The slot car racing is awesome. The arcade has a great variety of games, some of them I've played before. Please note that some of the games take more than one token to play. I like this place mainly for the mini golf courses. It has the most creative courses you will ever see. Only problem is with more than one person it can be pricey. read more

For the love of God install air conditioning!!! It's fun but a total hot box. It has an feel to it but a good use of space.

This indoor mini golf course is creative and so much fun. We came here to celebrate a birthday --birthday boy got a free round of golf-- and had an awesome time. Each hole is amazingly designed to look like different bay area sites. If you're looking for an enjoyable activity at a unique establishment, definitely give Subpar (clever name!) a try. read more

My teenage son and pre teen daughter choose to shoot pool instead of the mini golf. It's a safe place for them to play an "adult" game and I don't have to drive all the way to Milpitas. $10 for one hour for the 3 of us is a pretty good deal. The pool tables are upstairs in a loft area. It gets stuffy though. I took a peak at the mini golf and it's really cute with all the Bay Area landmarks as the decoration. The mini car track looks sooooo cool and fun. This is a good & convenient spot for some fun in Alameda, before or after a nice meal on the street w all kinds of restaurants. read more

Small indoor course but well maintained with new astroturf and entertaining at a good price. Busy part of town so a little hard to find parking. read more

This place is absolutely amazing! Perfect place for students to go after school to have some fun playing arcade or golf, bring kids on a play date, or on Friday Date Night. The course fits all ages and brings out the little kid in all of us. I am definitely going to come back and spread the word about this place! Keep it up read more

This place looks like a total dump from the outside, but take a chance and you'll have fun! The mini golf courses are very unique. Bay area themed and it looks like every piece was made with care. Some of the most interesting mini golf obstacles I've seen. You will probably finish in about 20 minutes, but I paid the student price (7$?), which wasn't a bad deal. Plus you can play as many times as you want. read more

First time playing miniature golf indoors for the east bay CMYE. Ended up joining up with a bunch of east bay yelpers for some putting fun. Pretty cool join on a downtown looking street of Alameda. Pretty cheap prices and lots of fun. Although we did get a yelp rate for the event. All the courses are pretty creative and all are reminiscent of the bay area. Not to brag, but I was always pretty good at putting and got super luckily on some shots and pulled ahead of my group towards the middle and end of the round. Don't often make it up to this area, so don't know the next time I'll be back. Fun experience indeed. I'm still surprised there isn't a place like this in the South Bay. read more

This place is pretty cool and creative. I love how every hole is at a different local "landmark". It's fun and it ends up taking a bit of time to go through the entire thing so you get your money's worth. The night we went was somewhat crowded so instead of waiting for the huge group ahead of us to go we just jumped around to different spots. Only thing I suggest is that they add a bit more creativity to the blank walls they have. They can really make it stand out more than what it does. read more

Super cool Bay Area golf theme. We had a bday birthday party and Stephanie was a great host. She made sure we had everything we needed at was always on top of things. The kids loved playing golf and playing in the upstairs and downstairs arcade! read more

I've been here a couple times now. The employees are really awesome. I love the Bay Area themed mini golf course. Can't see any reason to give this place less than 5 stars! read more

Nice place for a little date night. Really enjoyed playing the 18 holes with SF sights. The arcade was ok but the air hockey machines did not really work so i would avoid them so you are not wasting $$ read more

This place is fantastic! I've been miniature golfing for about 35 years (yikes), and this is one of the most memorable spots I've ever been to. My kids, my wife, and I all had a great time. The Bay Area themes are brilliant ... the holes nicely challenging ... there's an incredible mural on the wall ... and it's not expensive. Will be back, for sure. read more

We went here with 3 generations of family members and all had a great time! The whole concept of indoor golf was completely foreign to me, but it works okay - I thought the bay area themed holes were charming. It's not perfect, but I get the impression that the owners are continually making improvements. read more

My family loves this place. I take the kids there, during the day, and they get a huge kick out of it. My husband and I come here for date nights. The course is fantastic and totally tricky. read more

I beat the terminator game :) in less than an hour. And it my first time ever playing any type of arcade games This place is fun. I'd go again to take group of kids. To bad they don't give tickets for prices. read more

2 stars for awesome place and service -3 for me getting in in the face with a stick! and they just sayed sorry and walked away. Yeesh! read more

This might seem odd since I'm a soon to be former employee of this establishment but I felt it necessary. Working at Subpar was a great experience in large part due to the owner Mike Taft. He put his heart into the business and genuinely cared about his workers which went a long way towards making us feel like a group of friends rather than co-workers. Speaking from both experience before I was hired and from what I've heard from customers Subpar is a great establishment and it's a shame to see it go. Here's to the best boss and the best job I've ever had. Thank you Mike. read more

Love this place. It's not too easy of a course. Their take on Bay Area landmarks makes it more fun. Good for birthday parties too. The toy race car track is okay. read more

We just checked this place out tonight and LOVED it! It's nothing crazy or fancy. Just a fun place! I was worried that my son was too young to enjoy this but he loved everything there! The people who worked there were super nice. I think it was the owner who was walking around making sure everyone was enjoying themselves. We will definitely be back. It's going on our list of top indoor activities. read more

Looks like it is still under contraction, but that is part of its charm. My friends and I had a great time and highly recommend it if you are looking for some silly crazy fun. read more

Love the cute local design. Great service and such a great activity for the family.

Too small, and a little dangerous when golf balls go flying pass you. Pros Good concept Good price (on Mondays) Cons You can't raise the club past your knees, they catch you if you do. It's nearly impossible to get the ball up the hill without raising the club above your knees. This can be fixed by adding nets. WAY TOO SMALL if they took out the upstairs arcade and put the last 9 holes there it would be better. Without nets you nearly get hit by golf balls. The interior is kind of loud. read more

Extremely community friendly. I came with a group of people from work and was treated very well by the owners and the workers. It's fun and artistic and creative! They have a lot of room for parties and large groups. Each hole is a replica of a California landmark: Bay bridge, Napa wine cask, windmill on rt 80 etc. Centrally located on Park street, near all the eateries. read more

Went here during the rainy weekend. It was full of kids and there's no ventilation system so it was hot and muggy. It would be better if it want so crowded but again we went when it was raining. It's good quick fun thing to do for an hour. read more

Had a 7th birthday party there this weekend and was truly impressed! The staff really went above and beyond in catering to our party and were extremely patient with the kids (thanks guys!). All the free tokens that go with the birthday party were a big hit too. Air Hockey tables were a hit with the parent's and the artistry that went into creating the course (and the walls!) is truly impressive. Minor issues were the heat and the party room could use some sound dampening on the walls but we would use them again. read more

We'd driven past here while it was being built, attempting to be patient. And then it opened! We went on a Sunday evening and had a great time! The Bay Area references are clever, and more fun than the standard sort of miniature golf set up. The only other groups were adults, and everyone seemed to be focusing on having fun. Neither of us are very good at golf, but we had so much fun (and didn't keep score), it didn't matter! read more