Claire Dolcich lined up her putt on a Bethel Park course, adjusted for wind and blasted her golf ball with excitement for what could have been hundreds of feet.

Fortunately for the South Baldwin 5-year-old, her father, Bill Dolcich, was nearby and tipped in the shot for a hole-in-three before it could fly out of the new miniature golf course Tuesday afternoon at the Clubhouse at Cool Springs.

It was the first time they played the course as a family.

“We pass it every day bringing her home from preschool,” Claire’s mother, Rachel Dolcich said. “We had my husband’s 30th birthday a couple years ago. My daughter’s been asking him a lot of days (to play golf). This looks like a major improvement. The landscaping has always been beautiful, but it looks very nice now. We’re having a blast.”

Cool Springs along Hamilton Road has featured a driving range and mini golf since 1977.

Vice president of marketing Erin Miller said the business did a major renovation the past several months to make its mini golf less of a drudge and more family friendly.

The previous course was on nearly eight acres and needed vending machines and a bathroom just in case patrons were thirsty or needed to use the facilities, Miller said.

It has been cut down to about an acre and a half with travel around the 18 holes being about a half-mile walk.

“Summer of last year really was when the conception started,” Miller said. “Whenever we closed during covid, we saw it as an opportunity. While we are not inconveniencing anyone by shutting down the course, what could we do to make it better. This came together really quickly. I think we broke ground about February. Up until the day we opened the final seven holes were getting turfed the day before and landscaping was going in that morning.”

The new course opened May 22 to about 400 people.

It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., weather permitting.

Cool Springs’ two-story driving ranges are also open year-round. The lower section is heated and some spots use Toptracer technology to help track the speed and distance of a drive.

The putting course has more curves and hills. The animal statues from the previous settings were kept.

Cool Springs added a blue waterfall that empties into a pond. The water features have become fan favorites.

“I like the fountains,” Claire said.

Heather Opfermann took her son, Garrett, 8, a second grader at Abraham Lincoln Elementary, to check out the new course. The family has been to Cool Springs many times.

“I like this better,” Opfermann said. “I didn’t think there were 18 holes. It’s perfect. It reminds us of Myrtle Beach. He loves miniature golf and real gold. We got holes in one on the first one … I feel like we’re getting through this quick because we’re not waiting for people. It’s not a horribly difficult course.”

Opfermann said she also enjoyed Cool Springs’ ample parking and its closeness to restaurants.

“I like all the features that are new and the water,” Garrett said.

Cool Springs also has six pro golfers on staff for lessons, a lounge area and pro shop with clubs, balls and apparel for purchase.

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