Ahlgrim Acres: Unique Mini-Golf Experience Below a Funeral Home

Discover Ahlgrim Acres: A Mini-Golf Experience Like No Other

Golf gets grim at Ahlgrim Acres, a peculiar mini-golf course located underneath an Illinois funeral home. Built in the basement of Ahlgrim Family Funeral Services in Palatine, a suburb of Chicago, this free-to-play, nine-hole course embraces a macabre theme, blending fun with an eerie twist.

Golf gets grim at Ahlgrim Acres, a mini-golf course located underneath an Illinois funeral home.
Golf gets grim at Ahlgrim Acres, a mini-golf course located underneath an Illinois funeral home. Built in the basement of Ahlgrim Family Funeral Services in Palatine, a suburb of Chicago, the free-to-play, nine-hole course has a macabre theme.

The Story Behind Ahlgrim Acres

The course was constructed in 1964 by Roger Ahlgrim, a lover of mini-golf who sought to make use of the spare room in the building’s large basement. With its distinctive design and haunting atmosphere, Ahlgrim Acres has become a local landmark cherished by residents and visitors alike.

The course was constructed in 1964 by Roger Ahlgrim.
The course was constructed in 1964 by Roger Ahlgrim, a lover of mini-golf who wanted to make use of the spare room in the building’s large basement.

Unique Features of the Course

  • Highlights include a moving guillotine, a mausoleum, and a sand trap featuring Roger Ahlgrim’s sculpting skull from mortuary school.
  • The course hosts thousands of rounds each year, attracting both local residents and international visitors.
Highlights of the course include a moving guillotine and a mausoleum.
Highlights of the course include a moving guillotine, a mausoleum, and a sand trap featuring Roger Ahlgrim’s sculpting skull from mortuary school.
The course hosts thousands of rounds each year.
The course hosts thousands of rounds each year and has attracted local, national, and international interest from players and media alike.

Community Engagement

Ahlgrim Acres serves as the centerpiece of “the community room,” which includes various recreational activities, such as a full-sized shuffleboard court and a ping pong table. This unique space is utilized for numerous gatherings, notably children’s birthday parties and community events.

Community room at Ahlgrim Acres.
Ahlgrim Acres is the centerpiece of “the community room,” which includes a full-sized shuffleboard court, a ping pong table, and a range of video games.

A Unique Atmosphere

Located twenty feet below ground with no windows, a neon sign collected from a local barber shop illuminates the basement, adding to the intriguing ambiance. This unique setting, along with an array of local memorabilia, makes Ahlgrim Acres a must-visit destination.

Local memorabilia decorates the room.
Twenty feet below ground with no windows, a neon sign collected from one of the village’s old barber shops helps to illuminate the basement. The sign is one piece of an array of local memorabilia that decorate the room.

Merchandise and Unique Offerings

Visitors can find a variety of homemade merchandise available for purchase, including shirts and badges that carry the unique branding of Ahlgrim Acres.

Homemade merchandise available at Ahlgrim Acres.
A variety of homemade Ahlgrim Acres merchandise is available, including shirts and badges.


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