Boutique Golf at the Heart of a Competitive Socializing Venue in Derry

Derry’s social scene had plenty to offer. What it didn’t have was a venue where the experience was the destination. The Strand Hotel set out to change that by creating a hub for competitive socializing, bringing together food, drinks, and a full roster of activities: mini golf, shuffleboard, darts, karaoke, and arcade games, all under one roof in a concept called “Kaboodle”.

Unique Spaces need Bespoke Solutions

Bringing Kaboodle’s competitive socializing concept to life meant making every square foot count. With only 2,000 square feet in a windowless basement, the challenge was to create a 9-hole boutique golf design that not only fit the space, but also elevated it, delivering the kind of immersive, high-energy experience that defines a true entertainment destination.

Our solution focused on unlocking the full potential of the environment, both visually and in gameplay:

• Designed around a natural theme, the course uses timber surrounds, artificial planting, and florals to create a visually rich environment that sets the tone for the entire experience.
• Aesthetic lighting, neon signage, and a disco ball transform the basement into a vibrant, high-energy space.
• Each of the nine holes was designed with its own mechanics, including ramps, conveyor belts, rotating obstacles, and multi-channel drops, offering variety and challenge while keeping players engaged from start to finish.

By focusing on both aesthetics and playability, we delivered a course that not only fits the space but also elevates it, helping Kaboodle set a new standard for competitive socializing venues.

The Commercial Case for Boutique Golf

For the venue, the commercial case is clear. Groups who play golf stay longer. A shared activity with nine distinct holes keeps people in the venue, together and engaged, well beyond what a single drink or passive activity would. That extended dwell time drives higher food and beverage spend across the visit and elevates the overall experience, turning a quick visit into a full evening out that guests remember and repeat.

Kaboodle has become one of Derry’s most talked-about destinations for group occasions, and the boutique golf course is central to that. It is what groups book around, what brings them back, and what sets the venue apart in a city that has never seen this kind of venue before.

The Right Attraction, Design, and Operator

The success of a competitive socializing venue rests on the experience it creates, and that experience is only as strong as the attractions within it.