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East Side Mini Open tees up for sixth year

Score a hole-in-fun at east Austin’s charitable mini-golf showdown.

A lively group of people enjoying a sunny day by the pool at an outdoor bar. They are seated under white umbrellas with scalloped edges, with drinks in hand. Some are waving their arms and smiling with excitement, creating a joyful, relaxed atmosphere. The people are dressed in colorful, casual summer outfits, with one person wearing a vibrant tropical shirt and another in a graphic tee that reads 'Your Hole is My Goal.' In the foreground, there is a pool with shimmering water.

This could be you at the East Side Mini Open on Saturday, Sept. 28.

Photo courtesy East Side Mini Open

Amid all of Austin’s changes, there are some local events that hold true to the promise of keeping Austin weird: think Eeyore’s Birthday Party, Chicken Sh*t Bingo, and the O’Henry Pun-Off.

This weekend, another quirky community event will tee up for its sixth annual tournament: the East Side Mini Open on Saturday, Sept. 28.

Austin is no stranger to the mini-golf craze — but the East Side Mini Open takes the sport to another level. Here’s how it works.

Twelve bars in east Austin will build their own mini-golf hole, and putters and balls will be provided at each stop. Golfers can play solo or in a group, conquer the putting greens in any order (after checking in at Kinda Tropical), and must keep track of their own scores.

A fun, tropical-themed gathering with three people in the spotlight, all dressed in vibrant, floral-patterned outfits. The person in the front is squatting down, holding a golf club, wearing a colorful lei, a red Pabst Blue Ribbon visor, and patterned shorts. Behind them, a woman in a red cap and sunglasses raises her arm in excitement, and another person in a Hawaiian shirt and lei sits with a fist raised in celebration.

At East Side Mini Open, beer, birdies, and bogeys are all a cause for celebration.

Photo courtesy East Side Mini Open

Below are the participating venues and their respective hole numbers. Keep in mind — the venues are competing too. Players cast votes for which bar should win East Side Mini Open’s Most Unique Hole Trophy.

  1. Kinda Tropical
  2. The Cavalier
  3. Murray’s Tavern
  4. Kitty Cohen’s
  5. Yellow Jacket
  6. Daydreamer
  7. The Grackle
  8. Zilker Brewing Co.
  9. The Liberty
  10. Hotel Vegas + Volstead
  11. Low Down Lounge
  12. Latchkey

Tee time is at 12 p.m. and the last putt is at 7 p.m. To help competitors get around, designated pedicab pick-up areas will be located at The Grackle and Kinda Tropical.
Ready to par-tee? Tickets for the 21+ event are $45 and benefit Healing with Horses Ranch. However, if playing mini-golf isn’t you thing, you can always bar-hop to watch the action unfold.

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