How Classic Adventure Golf Design Transformed a Sports Venue into a Regional Family Destination

For ten years, Prairie Sports Village has served the Burnley community with multi-surface sports fields, a driving range and a modern bistro. Burnley Leisure & Culture, the charity behind the venue, has always focused on creating healthier, happier communities through accessible recreation.

Whilst the venue had an existing mini golf course, it was financially underperforming. So, when an opportunity arose to evolve the plot into a family-focused attraction, one that could boost visitation and revenue well beyond its existing sports and business audiences, they started a tender process to find a design and build partner that could bring that vision to life. 

An Immersive Prehistoric Golf Experience 

Greenspan’s adventure golf course design featured a timeless Jurassic theme: a lost world where explorers discover prehistoric creatures, crashed vehicles tell tales of adventure, and an active volcano centrepiece brings the ancient world to life with audible rumbles and billowing smoke. 

Despite the compact site (just over 10,000 square feet / 980 square meters), every element was designed to maximize visual impact and immersion. 

• Dramatic rockwork archway entrance 

• Giant T-Rex Skull replica 

• Full-size dinosaur models with motion-triggered audio effects 

• An erupting volcano with timed lighting and smoke effects 

• A crashed plane and jeep woven into the course’s story 

• Custom water feature with a stream and a rope bridge 

Creating Value Across the Venue 

Jurassic Village strengthened Prairie Sports Village’s entire offering. Now, families attending football matches stick around for adventure golf. Conference attendees can enjoy an engaging activity during breaks. Even parents at the driving range have something to keep younger kids entertained. Guests are dwelling longer, and average spend per head is increasing, because what were quick visits are often becoming multi-activity adventures.
 

For venues looking to expand their appeal or activate underutilized spaces, effective mini golf course design starts with understanding how the attraction fits your broader strategy. It’s about creating experiences that complement what you already offer while opening your doors to new audiences. At Greenspan, we work closely with the operators of these venues to ensure that the return on investment is justified. We don’t just want to create amazing spaces; we want to create ones that drive real, long-term returns.