In November 2023, amidst the vibrant buzz of Los Angeles and the 32nd annual International Society of Caricature Artists (ISCA) conference, a unique pop-up event caught our eye: The Family Guy Experience Giggity Golf. Scheduled for a limited run from September 27th to December 31st, 2023, this mini-golf course promised an immersive dive into the world of Family Guy. Eager to experience it before the ISCA conference week took over, I rallied former ISCA President Christopher Tamlyn and our esteemed ISCAcon32 Guest of Honor, Jeff Ranjo – a caricature artist, character designer, and storyboard artist renowned for his work with Disney, Sony, and Netflix on hits like Hercules, Moana, and Frozen (he proudly claims to be “Olaf’s daddy!”) – to join me for a round. Our expectations were a mix of excitement and cautious skepticism, knowing pop-up IP-themed mini golf can be visually impressive but sometimes lacking in gameplay. Did Giggity Golf break the mold? Let’s dive in.
Stepping into Quahog: The Family Guy Experience
According to the official website, the Family Guy Experience aimed to transport guests directly into the animated world of Quahog. The description painted a vivid picture: “GIGGITY GIGGITY, welcome to the Family Guy Experience! You’ll enter into a real-life version of The Drunken Clam, fully equipped with a Family Guy themed cocktail menu! Next, try your hand at the immersive 9-hole mini golf course, a one-of-a-kind indoor/outdoor mini golfing experience fully dedicated to the Griffins. Work up an appetite? You’ll have the opportunity to order from Peter’s “Eat My Junk” food truck, equipped with a Family Guy themed menu for bites!”
The allure was strong, promising fans the chance to “sit in the Griffin’s living room or walking down Spooner Street” and even test their Family Guy knowledge for a potential “mystery hole” unlock. Ticket options ranged from a standard GA Ticket, including golf and access to the Drunken Clam and Eat My Junk food truck, to a Peter Griffin VIP Ticket Add On, which added a welcome drink and a food item. With such a detailed promise of immersion, we were keen to see how the reality stacked up.
Golf balls and putters ready for Family Guy Giggity Golf
Our Round at the Family Guy Mini Golf Course
Our experience at Giggity Golf echoed a common theme we’ve observed with pop-up mini golf courses based on popular intellectual property: visually striking and thematically rich, but often falling short on the actual gameplay and overall value. Giggity Golf, unfortunately, followed this trend. Priced at $27 per person for what essentially amounted to 8 playable holes (with a 9th “joke” hole), the cost per hole was a steep $3.38. This places it among the most expensive mini golf courses we’ve encountered, comparable to high-end venues like Swingers in NYC.
The course layout began indoors, guiding players through the initial four holes before transitioning to an outdoor patio for holes 5 through 8, where the food truck and picnic tables were also situated. Visually, the course was undeniably appealing. There were dimensional obstacles, numerous 2D character cutouts that brought the Family Guy universe to life, and interactive elements like the Griffin family living room set, Quahog news photo opportunities, switch-activated lights on the second hole, and a rotating helicopter blade “windmill” on hole 6. Small details, such as QR codes at each hole leading to clips from the show and production art decorating the walls, were appreciated nods to dedicated fans.
Entrance to the Family Guy Giggity Golf first hole
Jeff Ranjo starting on Hole 1, the Griffin family living room at Family Guy Giggity Golf
Group photo in the Griffin's living room at Family Guy Giggity Golf
Chris Tamlyn teeing off at Hole 2, Stewie's headquarters in Family Guy Giggity Golf
Production art from Family Guy decorating the walls of Giggity Golf
View of Hole 3, the kitchen from Family Guy at Giggity Golf
However, the core issue lay in the gameplay itself. The design of the holes was inconsistent, oscillating between frustratingly difficult and surprisingly simple. Strategic putting skills became almost irrelevant, with luck often playing a more significant role in the outcome of each hole. This inconsistency, combined with the high price, unfortunately led us to conclude that Giggity Golf, while visually appealing and fun for Family Guy enthusiasts, ultimately only earns a “par” rating in terms of overall experience.
Pink Putter struggling with a difficult hole at Family Guy Giggity Golf
Quahog News photo opportunity at Family Guy Giggity Golf
Hole 5, Spooner Street neighborhood from Family Guy at Giggity Golf
Hole 6, the helicopter windmill, aced by Jeff at Family Guy Giggity Golf
Jeff Ranjo contemplating Hole 7 at Family Guy Giggity Golf
Hole 8, the ball collecting final hole at Family Guy Giggity Golf
Beyond the Green: The Drunken Clam and “Eat My Junk”
The Family Guy experience extended beyond the mini-golf course itself. The Drunken Clam bar and the “Eat My Junk” food truck were integral parts of the event. While we didn’t indulge in the themed cocktails or food during our visit, the menus were creatively designed, further immersing guests in the Family Guy atmosphere. The presence of these themed food and beverage options certainly added to the overall experience, offering more than just a round of mini-golf for fans.
The "Eat My Junk" food truck at Family Guy Giggity Golf
Themed menu for the Eat My Junk food truck at Family Guy Giggity Golf
Themed drink menu at The Drunken Clam bar at Family Guy Giggity Golf
Family Guy merchandise for sale at Giggity Golf
More Family Guy themed merchandise at Giggity Golf
The Drunken Clam sign lit up at Family Guy Giggity Golf
Pros and Cons: Giggity Golf – The Family Guy Experience
Pros:
- Unique Pop-Up Experience: A genuinely unique and immersive event, especially appealing for Family Guy aficionados.
- Uncrowded and Relaxed: During our visit, the course wasn’t overly crowded, allowing us to take our time and fully enjoy the experience without feeling rushed.
- Fun Thematic Details: The inclusion of production art and QR codes with show clips at each hole added delightful layers of detail for fans.
- Engaging Photo Opportunities: Numerous cute and well-designed photo ops throughout the experience provided fun mementos.
Cons:
- Inconsistent Gameplay: The poorly designed holes led to a frustratingly uneven gameplay experience, swinging between overly challenging and trivially easy.
- Expensive for the Duration: The price point felt steep for a course with only 8 truly playable holes.
Nerdy Notes: Course Details
- Holes: 8 holes, Par 21 (Par 118 with the 9th joke hole)
- Putter Type: Rubber covered putters, no flags in the holes.
- Ball Collection: Final hole (hole 8) collects your golf balls.
- Operating Dates: Open September 27th – December 31st, 2023.
- Operating Hours:
- Wednesday (until Oct 18th): 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Thursday: 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Friday: 2:00 PM – 12:00 AM
- Saturday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
- Sunday: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Price: Starting at $27/person.
- Food & Drink: Food truck and drinks available on site.
- Location: 613 Imperial St, Los Angeles, 90021
- Family Guy Experience Website
Scorecard for Family Guy Giggity Golf showing the joke 9th hole
Final Verdict: A “Par” for the Course for Family Guy Fans
The Family Guy Experience: Giggity Golf offers a visually engaging and thematically rich outing that will undoubtedly appeal to fans of the show. Stepping into the world of Family Guy, complete with the Drunken Clam and “Eat My Junk,” is a fun novelty. However, the inconsistent and sometimes frustrating gameplay, coupled with a relatively high price for a short course, prevents it from being a hole-in-one experience. For die-hard Family Guy fans, the unique photo opportunities and immersive environment might justify the cost. For serious mini-golf enthusiasts seeking challenging and well-designed courses, Giggity Golf, unfortunately, lands as just “par for the course.”
Check out our friends at O-Street Mini Golf for their video review of Giggity Golf!
