UPDATE: Just following-up to report that I sent the owner an email a few days ago as instructed in their response below, but I have not received a response back from them to try to "make it right." I didn't even expect a response from them to begin with, so I was pleasantly surprised when they did respond promptly to my initial review, but I should have known they would be about as unreliable as their ticket machine. I will not do business with a company that does not follow-through on their commitments to their customers and will be writing this place off completely. This whole experience has been nothing but complete disappointment.
ORIGINAL REVIEW: Wish I could give this place at minimum a 4-star review, but I experienced the same issues today that were mentioned by previous reviewers. First, my child and I felt pressured to play faster through the holes because the group of small children behind us kept putting even while we were still playing at the hole. They were literally putting their ball at my feet. And of course their moms who were playing along with them were doing nothing to correct their behaviors. We basically just played fast enough so we could get a couple holes ahead and get away from them, which defeated part of the fun for us. Afterwards, we headed to the arcade. My child had their heart set on earning enough tickets for the basketball they had on display at the prize counter, so I purchased at least $45 worth of game play. After spending down all of the funds on the card and earning at least several hundred tickets, we went to check the ticket balance at the kiosk. I thought something was odd because it wasn't showing any tickets earned on the screen, so I figured we would just ask the attendant at the counter. However, when we went up there, even he confirmed that the card wasn't registering any tickets. He asked how many tickets we thought we had earned, but I didn't want to lie, so I just told him we weren't sure and hadn't been keeping track. He was kind enough to offer us 200 tickets but that wasn't nearly enough needed to purchase the basketball my child had their eye on. Not to mention, I do know for certain we had earned at least several hundred. I just wasn't certain on the exact amount, but that's what the card is supposed to be keeping track of. I ended up just telling him that there was nothing we wanted with 200 tickets, so he just gave us the card back. I mean I appreciate his kind gesture to try to make it right, but I am not sure why he didn't resolve the root of the issue. Why give us the same card back that isn't registering the tickets accrued? How about give us a new card instead and re-load it with 200 tickets? At this point, I wished I had just saved my money and offered to purchase the basketball with cash instead of wasting it on the arcade games. Needless to say, we left feeling pretty deflated from the entire experience. And the icing on the cake? As we were walking out, one of the bratty kids who had kept impatiently putting at my feet during mini golf had won the exact basketball that my child had wanted. 😒 Wouldn't be surprised if they just lied about how many tickets they had "earned" to get it. Basically, we just walked away with a pricey life lesson for my child that sometimes life just isn't fair and bad behavior gets rewarded. At least we walked away with our integrity in tact. I really wanted to like this place as we did have some fun while we were there, but everything else just dampened the mood for us. Great concept but poor execution. Will definitely not be...
Read moreMonster Golf Katy: A Fun (and Fluorescent) Family Spot!
Stepping into Monster Golf Katy feels like entering a cool, glow-in-the-dark world, and honestly, that's a big part of its charm! The artwork here is everywhere, with huge, black-light sculptures and murals that are super bright and vibrant. They've clearly put a lot of effort into making it a fully themed monster experience that really lights up the place. Just a quick note for parents of really little kids: some of the bigger monster figures might be a bit spooky for a sensitive five-year-old, so be ready to offer a little comfort if needed!
While the 18-hole mini-golf course offers a truly unique glow-in-the-dark game, it's good to know that for a five-year-old, and maybe even some adults, the whole course can be a bit long. We found ourselves, by the last few holes, mostly just looking at and enjoying the amazing artwork instead of focusing on putting. So, while the visuals are top-notch, if you're with little ones, you might find the artwork becomes the main attraction rather than the game itself!
Beyond the mini-golf, the arcade area was pretty cool, packed with skill games. This is where you can really show off your talents and earn tickets for prizes. Speaking of prizes, like most arcades, they're definitely overpriced. Don't expect to get much for your hard-earned tickets! For example, it took 250 tickets for a small push pop and 50 tickets for a Squishmallow head. Just keep that in mind when you're cashing in.
Now, for a couple of things that weren't quite perfect: The mini-bowling was a bit of a mixed bag. While it sounds fun, the pins are on sticks (so they don't actually fall over), and the balls are small and heavy with no finger holes. Plus, our game got stopped because the pins kept having trouble resetting, which was a real bummer. And then there's the Laser Maze. This was more like a small puzzle room (about 10x10 feet) where you have to touch LED lights in order while avoiding a few laser beams that change position between rounds. It wasn't immediately clear how it worked, and it took both me and my kid a moment to figure it out. It's an interesting idea, but it's not really a "maze" in the way you might expect.
On the practical side, the restaurants and eating areas were noticeably clean, which is always great to see in a busy family spot. The staff were mostly helpful and very nice, adding to a positive vibe. The AC was wonderfully cold (a lifesaver in Texas!), and the music was cool, adding to the atmosphere. Plus, there's plenty of free parking available. While the arcade area isn't huge, it has enough to keep you entertained.
Overall, Monster Golf Katy gets a solid four out of five from us. It's a fun place for families, especially for the mini-golf and arcade games, with a really cool visual style. Just go in knowing what to expect from the mini-bowling and laser maze, and you'll have a monstrously good time!
#MonsterGolfKaty #FamilyFun #MiniGolf #ArcadeGames #KatyTexas...
Read moreWe were so excited to hear that Monster Mini Golf had opened in Katy (we've been to their Round Rock location). We paid for a round of mini golf and also purchased an arcade card. The kids had a GREAT time. We got there half past open and the wait time for mini golf was only 10 minutes (which ended up being pretty accurate - they'll send you a text msg when it's your turn). It took us about an hour to finish the 18 hole course and about 30 minutes or so to utilize our arcade card. As other reviewers have mentioned - it's a brand new establishment and they are still working out the kinks. Yes, some of the games were having issues but all it took was a walk up to the counter to let the staff know - they credited our account back - and even went the extra mile and gave us additional credits for the inconvenience. The staff are SUPER FRIENDLY and it's clear that they work hard to make it an enjoyable experience for families. We went the day before Easter and they even had a fun Easter Egg game going on as well which the kids also loved. Don't hesitate to give this place a try - you will not be disappointed. As for pricing, we thought it was reasonable. We've also been to Puttshack and Shankz - not only were they more expensive, but the kids flew through the courses. This was by far the best experience of mini golf for the kids - they're already looking forward to going back. (Tip: instead of using their score card - we just used a mini golf scorecard app to keep track...
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