Emerald Dolphin Mini Golf & Arcade — Local services in Fort Bragg

While on vacation with family we decided to stop and play some miniature golf with the kids. When we got in, there was a small arcade in the front. None of us had much cash for the kids to play, so I asked the woman at the desk if they had an ATM. They don't, which makes no sense to me, so the kids couldn't play the games. We then got our clubs & balls for the course. This course is not for young kids. Nearly every hole has places where hitting the ball a little too hard will dump it in the water. There are nets all over to assist in retrieving wet golf balls. The worst part? There are flag poles in each hole, which makes no sense in miniature golf. These poles are in poor condition and made of fiberglass with varying amounts of PVC covering the pole. Without realizing this fact, I got a ton of fiberglass splinters embedded in my hand. When my 4 yr old niece complained about her hand itching and stinging, I realized she'd gotten them too. 3 weeks later, and I've finally pulled the last splinter (I hope) out of my hand. They get 2 stars instead of 1 because the course is well designed for those looking for a challenge, but I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone with kids, or anyone without...

I approached the final green on the eighteenth with a slight limp from the twinge in my knee and a halfhearted smile of confidence to cloak my suffocating anxiety. Seventeen ferociously contested holes had come and gone, now the match was mine to lose. The sun cut low in the west, dancing the shadow of the flagstick at our feet like a ghost haunting an ancient battlefield. But I’d been here before, so many episodes replayed in my dreams, tempering my nerve for the task at hand. Two of us had entered the fray, only now we were joined by a third, cruel fate had shown its grotesque face to serve judgement and collect its due. I raised a salty saliva covered finger to the cunning autumn wind for guidance on my journey. The worn, bristled AstroTurf crunched underfoot as I set my shoulders for the weight of the world. Taking one last penetrating glance at the pin, I found myself back in Galveston- twenty years past shoulder to shoulder with my father whispering “now or never son...” All at once the world returned with the unmistakable hollow thump of the hole-in-one. My trial was ended with the most humble tip of my cap. “Now or never” indeed Papa... now or...

Miniature golf at the Emerald Dolphin is quite fun, and can even be challenging at times!

Unlike other miniature golf courses, this one has a continuous water trap running through most all of the course! In addition to that, it’s very easy to fall victim to the water since many of the holes run right up to it with no buffer to stop the ball. Another fun element of this course are the “penalty” spinners located randomly throughout the 18 holes. Sometimes a spin can help you, other times it can be detrimental to your game. The course takes around 30-45 minutes to play through dependent upon how busy it is.

There is also an arcade with video games and pool tables. They do sell snacks and drinks inside as well, and offer a small side room for parties. There is a fair amount of parking and a good open field adjacent to the parking lot to take dogs for a...