Mini-Golf Course Opens on Williamsburg Waterfront with Climate Change Theme

Putting Green, a pop-up miniature golf course located along the waterfront in Williamsburg, opened earlier this month (Photo courtesy of Putting Green)

July 27, 2021 By Ryan Songalia

A pop-up miniature golf course opened in Williamsburg earlier this month that aims to provide New Yorkers with family fun—while drawing attention to pressing environmental issues.

Putting Green, located along the waterfront at 26 N 1st Street, has been designed by environmentalists, artists, as well as school and community groups. Each hole focuses on the environment, and addresses issues such as recycling, composting or preserving animal habitats.

The 18-hole course features a globe at the entrance way that is made from recycled bottle caps, while the curbing around the course is made from recycled tires.

Other elements have been repurposed from the nearby Domino Sugar Factory, which closed in 2004 and is undergoing a major redevelopment. The course features wood decking and planters that were built from planks from the factory, while an old factory brick has been placed by the first hole.

Each hole tackles one of a wide range of environmental topics, including composting, retrofitting buildings, to addressing the dangers of rising sea levels.

For instance, the third hole draws attention to the plight of polar bears, and features a sculpture of a bear trapped on a drifting piece of ice—indicative of the Artic sea ice that is disappearing.

(Photo courtesy of Putting Green)

Another hole, which was designed by the Lower East Side Girls Club, highlights the work of environmental activists who are working to end the world’s reliance on fossil fuels.

The course is located on an industrial lot that Two Trees Management, a Brooklyn-based company behind the Domino Sugar Factory project, plans to develop. The development, known as River Ring, will include 1,050 residential units on a site that will feature a public beach, an in-water park, a nature trail and a salt marsh.

The course is being operated by Two Trees, with tickets costing $10 for adults, and $5 for children and seniors. All proceeds will be donated to local nonprofit organizations to address climate change.

Putting Green opened on July 1 and is open seven days a week for as long as the weather remains warm enough for outdoor activities. Operating hours are 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Thursday through Sunday.