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 TopTracer driving range and a modern bistro. Burnley Leisure & Culture, the charity behind the venue and two others across the town, 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 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. 

Creating an Immersive Prehistoric Golf Experience 

Greenspan delivered a complete turnkey solution, working closely with the team from concept to installation. Greenspan’s concept for the adventure golf course 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. 

The project has removed every barrier to participation and delivered a rejuvenated attraction that is attractive to every local audience. In doing so, guests are dwelling longer and average spend per head is increasing, because what were quick visits are often becoming multi-activity adventures.
 

Designing Attractions That Transform Venues 

Prairie Sports Village shows what is possible when you have a sharp vision and the right project partner. 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. When approached strategically, it becomes more than an addition. It becomes the reason guests choose your venue. 

It’s not all about the attractions either. For many businesses, the food & beverage function is a vital contributor to the overall uplift in revenue generated by our attractions and the competition to create spaces where your audience chooses to spend their time and money is getting hotter. 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.