Stroke, a ’70s-themed lounge and mini golf experience, reopens in Charlotte amid COVID
The husband-wife team that brought Axe Club of America to Charlotte are back with another recreation spot where you can trade your axe for a putter. Stroke brings the Queen City a miniature golf experience unlike no other, where you can sip craft cocktails in a space that melds approachability with a country-club feel.
The venue originally opened in January 2020, but quickly closed in March due to COVID-19. Now it’s back, ready to welcome the Charlotte community for a round of miniature golf.
Stroke owners Ashleigh and Scott Gadd saw success with the Axe Club, but the reach and impact to the community was limited based on the regulations tied to axe-throwing. To create a more family-friendly space, the team settled on miniature golf. But you won’t find the typical mini golf courses here. Instead, you’ll feel like you’re experiencing an upscale-country-club version of miniature golf, sans the high prices.
“The putt-putt experience is niche and was created to emulate the existing concept of outdoor courses, but not to replicate it,” Gadd said. “You won’t see giant windmills, pirate ships or blue water here, but you will find a more sophisticated putting experience mixed with some whimsy and humor.”
A DELUXE SPACE WITH AFFORDABLE FUN
When you arrive, you’ll find an indoor, climate-controlled miniature golf course complemented by a lounge that blends comfort and glitz reminiscent of the ’70s.
“We really wanted to do something mid-century modern, focusing on the ’60s and ’70s,” Gadd said. “We love the style, the play on colors, the textures. We feel like those eras were huge for miniature golf, so we really wanted to celebrate that sport and that era.”
With a drink in hand, you begin at hole one, then follow the course through a maze of plants, comfortable seating and drink holders.
Though the course is small, you can top off your drinks or grab the kids a snack at the fourth-hole bar — appropriately named Bar Fore. At the end of the course, trade in your putter for golf-themed arcade games (ideal for settling any unfinished scores). And when the weather’s nice, enjoy time with family and friends on the outdoor patio.
WHERE CRAFT COCKTAILS MEET CHEESE STRAWS
From the menu items to the drinks, everything is themed. The idea was to feature nine food options, nine cocktails and nine putting holes. For the time being, due to COVID-19, the menu is currently cut down.
The lounge features signature cocktails, each poured with specialty mixers and syrups that are prepared in-house. So, even though you’re playing mini golf, you still get the feel of an upscale bar experience. Look for options like the “New South Sour,” a whiskey sour prepared with strawberry wine or the “Bermuda Thousand,” which is based on a classic Bermuda Hundred cocktail but prepared with 1000 Piers Gin from The Hackney Distillery in North Carolina.
The food menu was curated to mimic what you’d typically find at the Masters or at a clubhouse, but with a family feel inspired by the Gadds’ family picnics. So that means you can enjoy pickled vegetables, pimento cheese and cheese straws while sipping your upscale cocktail. A win-win.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Ready to strike up a game? You can book a tee time for $10, and each additional guest will pay $10 upon arrival. If you come on a slower night (read: Wednesday, Sunday), you may get some free rounds.
Stroke is open from 4-10 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Based on North Carolina regulations, it’s a private club, so expect a $1 fee for entry-level membership which covers the whole year. This membership gets you access to the course, lounge, free putting greens and golf arcade games. Exclusive memberships will be rolled out later on, and will include tee-time reservations and custom putters, among more.
DON’T FORGET YOUR MASK
To help keep the Charlotte community safe, Stroke is taking precautions to protect against COVID-19. And while virus protection can seem drab, you’ll find a unique twist at Stroke: All golf balls are placed in a modified candy machine to stop people from touching or digging through to find the ball of their choice.
Candy machines aside, masks are required (no exceptions). Some booths will be closed and seating will be spread apart to accommodate social distancing. You can book your tee time in advance online, which helps the team control the flow of guests within the space. Sanitization stations have been installed throughout the space, and the Stroke team will use the best cleaners proven to kill the COVID-19 virus on all booths, chairs, tables and bars between each customer’s use. You’ll also find digital menus and easy-open doors to help avoid the need to touch handles.
“We love seeing the neighborhood gather together to focus on bettering humanity, especially now during COVID-19,” Gadd said. “We think it’s apparent, especially in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood, that the community continues to rally together in these tumultuous times. We continue to want to bring a safe space and environment for everyone.”
Stroke Putt
1318 Pecan Ave.
Instagram: @strokeputt
This story was originally published July 24, 2020 at 5:46 PM.
