New owners spruce up miniature golf course at Pearlridge Center
With five children under the age of 9, Isi and Des Nau know better than most just how expensive it can be to take the family out for a day of fun.
Movies? Go-karting? Trampolining?
"Those are great activities, but it’s not cheap," said Isi Nau, 34.
Mixing fun with affordability was key for the pair of schoolteachers from Mililani as they opened Tropics Mini Golf last month. The business takes over the former site of Jungle River, next to Toys R Us in Pearlridge Center.
"The amount of family entertainment on Oahu is fairly limited — it wouldn’t take too long to see it all and do it all," Isi Nau said. "So we thought we’d present a new product that’s doable for almost any age."
Those familiar with the old Jungle River will notice the change almost immediately upon entering Tropics, which celebrated its grand opening on Nov. 22. Gone are the tarps that hung over the party area. Instead, the area feels a lot larger with an open-air design, with grass thatch umbrellas at each table for shade.
Many changes were made to the course. The Naus put in new carpet, paint and curbing, addressing the top complaints Yelp users had with the former site, which had been a bit rundown.
"The most common critique was the condition of the course, so we fixed that," Isi Nau said. "The No. 1 positive was the employees and customer service, and anyone who wanted to stay, we’ve kept. And we’re really happy because our core group has stayed.
"We felt like we kept the good and fixed the things that needed improvement."
Nau added that they are installing a new sound system and lighting, which will allow for evening play.
Also in the works is an 11- to 12-foot-tall volcano. Crafted by artist Kala Kim, who has also made displays for the Polynesian Cultural Center, the foam-based structure is under construction on the eighth and 11th holes. Once completed, it will be the centerpiece of the lush course, which is 1,200 feet long.
The course’s tropical greenery is what makes it unique, Nau said.
"We’ve been golfing here before, at Jungle River, and we just loved all the foliage down the course, just a one-of-a-kind miniature golf course," he said. "So in doing our research before moving ahead with the business, we tried to search online for other miniature golf courses across the country, and I’m certain this is the most tropical one in the country."
Stefanie Nakasone, snakasone@staradvertiser.com
