25 Sep 2025
A new indoor crazy golf experience is set to bring a different mix of fun, music and socialising to St Albans.
Opening at the start of December, Play Putt features a custom-built nine hole golf course in a retro-inspired setting complete with a buzzing bar, street food menu and lively playlist.
Play Putt is located next door to DJ’s Play Jungle at 156 St Albans Road, and although it has been created under the DJ’s brand, it is a completely different offering to their soft play centres.
DJ’s director Helen Whittington said the project was born out of the closure of the Footstool Company when they ceased trading in May, leaving their unit vacant.
“I immediately knew I had to have it as I had a gut feeling that an expansion project would be good for the DJ’s team, because it adds variety in roles, creates jobs through re-investing and if nothing else, provides a facility for the local community/children and families.
“The option to extend into the next unit seemed obvious to me, in fact I remember I considered it back in 2011 when I took over DJ’s Play Jungle, but now it is to diversify into older children’s and adult activities.
“We are members of the Association of Indoor Play and so I asked there ]what to do with a 3,000sqft unit next to soft play’ and ‘competitive socialising’ sprung up, which was the eureka moment!
“This is a leisure trend that blends dining and drinking with interactive, playful, and competitive activities, such as mini-golf, axe-throwing, digital darts, or escape rooms, to create a memorable and engaging social experience.”
She said there is definitely a gap in the market for this sort of venture: “Gen Z and millennials -that’s people age 13-45 – are seeking varied social experiences beyond traditional pubs, with a growing preference for unique activities and non-alcoholic options, but we’d say we appeal to everyone aged from seven to 70!”
Although Helen’s expertise is in youngsters enjoying soft play, she is confident that they can flex into an extended age range.
“We have done our research – starting with Puttify at Centre Parcs for my big birthday and as far as Australia (Holey Moley) on holiday!
“The closest example is Puttshack Watford and we’re hoping to achieve their interior ambience – without being as tech infused – while also being new and exciting!
“My business background has taught me ‘customers will always tell you what’s right’, plus we have three teenaged children, showing us an insight into the social life at this age (or lack thereof).
“We will be leveraging the elements that have worked well for us in St Albans – being integrated into the schools, community and local businesses and charities. It is getting more challenging to survive and cover increasing costs in small business, but we have grown over 15 years and there are some economies of scale from sharing the site, systems and staff, with our soft play centre.”
The course is designed and created by industry leaders Greenspan Projects Ltd, renowned for their innovative and exciting golf builds including Centre Parcs.
“Think retro vibes, neon lights, and music that will have a karaoke lounge and a disco decor!”
The centre should be opening in time for Christmas, and future plans call for special events like speed dating on Valentine’s, and pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, as well as parties, corporate activities, special birthdays and networking nights.
The planning process has taken a long time, but the end is now in sight.
“It’s been a stupidly hard journey to get here, with a planning application, personal licence, premises licence, licence of alterations and lastly the landlord signed lease agreement – even though it’s the same landlord as DJ’s Play Jungle.
“The ideas, design, golf developers and contractors so far have been a breeze! We have handled bigger projects before (DJ’s Play Park build in Hemel Hempstead and DJ’s Play Zone refit in Berkhamsted), so we are quietly confident with the project timeline. I for one, just cannot wait to sink a hole in one!”
Play Putt are asking potential customers to complete a brief survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf-PXfMRDGQW25bDJ2vCM8PxActFDEKuQuBC1OFUcVulgx-aw/viewform?usp=header
