Over the summer, while camping in Hemsby, I took the children into Great Yarmouth to play the Pirates Cove Adventure Putting Course. This is located on Marine Parade, on the seafront. Pirates Cove is a very popular ‘crazy golf’ course, so we decided to visit quite early in the morning in an attempt to beat the rush.
With regard to that rush – we failed! The course was busy when we arrived. Not horrendously so, but it did mean having to wait up to 5 mins to start each hole. But I’ve jumped the gun – rewind back to when we first arrived.
Dilemma …
It didn’t start off too well. Actually, that’s a slight understatement. To explain the pricing structure: Adults and over 13s (Pirates) cost £7.50; those 12 and under (Buccaneers) cost £6.50. You can also purchase a Crew Pass (family ticket) for 2 adults and 2 children for a cost of £26.00. On the day of our visit it was just me, Toby and Millie-Mae: one adult, two children. And that’s where the problem started…
The lady serving me refused to believe that Millie-Mae was 10. She was 10, but unless I carry her passport around with me I have no way of proving this. In the end she charged me for 1 adult, 2 children but made it as clear as glass that she didn’t believe me. And I walked towards Hole 1 feeling guilty! Would I really have put myself through all that for £1?! It ruined my visit before we’d even started. And it’s made me worry that this might happen again. Millie-Mae does look a lot older than 10 (well, 11 now as her birthday was recently). She hit puberty two years ago, way before any of her friends. Should I start carrying some kind of ID around to prove her age? I don’t want to be made to feel like that again. Anyway, let’s move on.
Pirates Cove Adventure Golf
When you pay you receive a score card, a putter and a token. Outside, near Hole 1 is a row of vending machines – one for each colour ball on offer. You pick your preferred colour, pop your token in the machine, and it dispenses your golf ball.
This adventure golf course has some very easy holes …
… and some highly challenging ones …
Of course, everything is pirate themed, which is fun. Lots of ropes, water, treasure, swashbuckling pirates, ships, cannons and skulls. Some of the holes are multi-level. Some have water hazards.
When we played, we followed a lovely couple with a small child. We generally had time for a chat while waiting for the group in front to finish the next hole. It was nice to meet someone new, if only for a short time!
Our Experience
18 holes is actually quite a lot for a young child to get around. We are used to playing 9 holes, like the Lost World Adventure Themed Mini Golf in nearby Hemsby. With 18 holes I did notice Toby slowing down towards the end. But we did finish the whole course. It took about 90 minutes from start to finish.
The children thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a good, challenging course, but after the tone of the staff member at the start, it was ruined before it started for me I’m afraid.
Find out more about Pirates Cove in Great Yarmouth here.
