Space Golf in Orland Park is far from the typical mini golf course with windmills and artificial turf-covered ramps. You might be ready to putt and, behind you, a box might slowly open and and there’s an alien, watching you play.
Video holograms and optical illusions reign here. Lit with ultraviolet blacklights, the 18-hole course features alien planets, giant robots, flying saucers and space creatures that glow in fluorescent colors.
Space Golf features lasers, motion projects, hologram illusions and other high-tech special effects.
Pop on a pair of 3-D glasses and the golf ball “floats” and scenery “moves.”
Owner Ray Radelia was a ventriloquist at 12 and mastered sleight of hand. In his early 20s he won a national magic award and figured he’d become a professional magician.
But Radelia found he was more interested in the behind the scenes of illusions and effects.
He attended a Halloween trade show and bought life-size reproductions of “Star Wars” figures.
From there he dreamed up The American UFO and Sci-Fi Museum in Wisconsin Dells.
While in Canada on business, Radelia saw mini golf courses using special effects, which were just painted wall scenery. After studying almost 50 mini golf courses, Radelia knew he could offer something more.
So he packed up his aliens and flying saucers, and opened Space Golf in Orland Park in 2008.
“It was nice to incorporate the sci-fi theme,” he said. “We have lots of details. I was inspired by Disney Imagineers. That’s what I try to do here.”
Lasers are beamed onto the floor as golfers walk through the course. All the putters and balls are blacklight reactive. “They glow under the blacklight,” Radelia said. “I always recommend people wear white or a neon color.”
He’s most excited about the Alien Laser Blaster, an interactive shooting gallery-type game that patrons can play as they golf. Players rent a wireless blaster and aim at targets throughout the course that trigger different animation special effects in the displays.
“An alien pops out of an alien saucer,” Radelia said.
Radelia’s scenery uses a new ChromaDepth 3-D process, best experienced with 3-D glasses bought on-site and brought back for future visits.
And most of the visitors do.
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“We have a big base of people who come back,” Radelia said.
To keep the course and its concept fresh, he’ll move holes around, add in different props, lights and bubble machines.
“In the winter, we have Winter Wonder Golf with snow machines,” he said. “We’ll have different scenes set up of Santa versus aliens. At Halloween, zombies roam the golf course. A guy comes in to airbrush our people dressed as zombies.”
Mini golf brings in a lot of senior citizens, often with their grandkids.
“Miniature golf is great exercise,” Radelia said. “You’re playing 18 holes and doing 18 bends, and you’re on your feet for 45 minutes. You can be any age and enjoy it. It appeals to everyone. It’s something anyone can do.”
Space Golf Manager Haylie Schadt agreed.
“We do have older adults who have fun with their grandkids, teens on their little dates. And we’re really busy on winter break, spring break, any time there is a break from school,” she said. “The busiest times are Friday nights. Really, the whole weekend, Saturday night and Sunday during the day.”
The course is not difficult to play, Schadt said.
“It’s pretty easy. You see 2-year-olds who do well all the way up through older kids.”
And golfers can use their own putters.
Schadt can relate to that as her family grew up golfing and she owned a set of her own clubs.
“A lot of people come in and have no idea how to play or keep score. Or what a par means. I can help them with that.”
She also can match up players with the right-size putters.
“We have eight different sizes for those over 6 feet tall and smaller for 2-year-olds,” she said.
Schadt’s favorite part of the course is at the 19th hole, when kids drop their ball in the hole to earn a free game next time they visit.
“It’s like Plinko,” she said, “and the parents and grandparents recognize and make that familiar connection, and they love it.”
Radelia has seen firsthand the positive effects of mini golf on families.
“It’s a good feeling to see a family come in with young kids, who are all excited. And then there’s a teen standing there, arms crossed, can’t believe they’re here with their parents. But by the time they walk out, they’re excited, laughing and having a good time.”
Shonda Talerico Dudlicek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Space Golf
Activity: Blacklight miniature golf
Where: 15611 S. 94th Ave., Orland Park
Hours: 4-10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 4-11 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturdays, noon-8 p.m. Sundays
Tickets: $9 adults, $7 kids 12 and under, $4 kids 5 and under or free with a paid adult. $6 for seniors 55 and older. $1 3-D glasses rental, $6 Laser Blaster rental.
Information: 708-460-3887 or www.space-golf.com