94 FUN & GAMES BEST MINI GOLF CASTLES ‘N COASTERS 9445 N. METRO PARKWAY E. 602-997-7575 CASTLESNCOASTERS.COM Wander a whimsical world in 72 holes at this massive amusement park. For 50 years, the former Golf N’ Stuff has drawn putters to its four 18-hole mini golf courses featuring motifs of medieval castles, Dutch-style windmills, Asian pagodas, Old West saloons and other eclectic decor. It doesn’t make a lick of sense, but it is a ton of delirious, disorienting fun. Waterfalls, bridges and streams connect the miniature worlds, making every hole feel like a new discovery. Bring friends, make a wager and prepare to argue over scorekeeping — because no one leaves a 72-hole marathon without a few stories. i i i BEST GOLF COURSE YOU CAN BRING YOUR DOG TO ENCANTO 9 GOLF COURSE 2300 N. 17TH AVE. 602-262-6870 PHOENIX.GOV Do you love the game of golf but prefer not to shell out hundreds of dollars to do so at some stuffy course where you can’t even take your shirt off, let alone bring your dog? Boy, do we have the course for you. Located a wedge shot away from midtown’s Encanto Park, Encanto 9 features a deceptively simple nine-hole layout that will leave you wondering where you left your pride by the time you step off the ninth green. Luckily for you, you can bring your dog to watch as the city of Phoenix’s longstanding groundskeepers kick your ass with brutal pin and tee placements, which makes it all worthwhile, if you ask us. i i i BEST DRIVING RANGE CORONADO GOLF COURSE AND LIGHTED DRIVING RANGE 2829 N. MILLER ROAD, SCOTTSDALE 480-947-8364 CORONADOGOLFSCOTTSDALE.COM Golfing in the Valley is as expensive as you want it to be. You can drop hundreds of bucks on a tee time in North Scottsdale during tourist season or spend some going- out money at TopGolf or an indoor golf lounge. Or you can play the frugal way at Coronado Golf Course and Lighted Driving Range, where you can walk nine holes with your own clubs for just $24. Coronado is handy to Old Town Scottsdale, its driving range stays open till 9 p.m. and you can’t beat its happy hour: Get a bucket of 120 balls and a couple of cans of Coors for less than $20. The fresh air, the sharp thwacks of drives filling the air, the chitchat with the guy next to you — it’s a wonderful way to spend an evening. i i i BEST PADEL FACILITY CONQUER PADEL 7760 S. PRIEST DRIVE, #108, TEMPE 480-864-7500 CONQUERPADEL.COM Padel hasn’t caught on in this country as it has in Spain, Argentina and Mexico. The owners of Conquer Padel in Tempe are hoping to create converts. The sport is often described as a cross between tennis and squash, with glass walls on three sides for ricocheting the ball. That’s harder than it looks, but racket sports enthusiasts will find the moves similar, and they should appreciate the climate- controlled courts (five under one roof) with low-pile synthetic grass, which is more forgiving on the knees. High-quality clinics and private lessons are also available. The owners are experts at using WhatsApp to send out schedules and alerts about matches with open spots, so there’s no lack of opportu- nities to play. The facility is a big part of the appeal: It’s gorgeously decorated, contempo- rary yet cozy, with sofas and padded chairs for lounging and a well-appointed drink and snack bar. It offers excellent amenities like high-end workout equipment, saunas, cold plunge pools, compression therapy and massage guns. i i i BEST PLACE TO PLAY PICKLEBALL ELECTRIC PICKLE 8688 S. EMERALD DRIVE, TEMPE 480-520-4000 ELECTRICPICKLE.COM Electric Pickle is a legit hangout. Instead of the typical public-park atmosphere, this modern setting welcomes you and your part- ners with lush landscaping and cozy cabanas. For $80 you and up to 15 friends can split two hours of pickleball on the nine outdoor courts (five of which feature AI scoring tech, so you can argue with the bot instead of each other about whether that last shot caught the line). Work up a sweat then loiter in style with craft cocktails at the bar, sushi, tacos or pizza in the restaurant, and live music. Every weeknight there’s an attractive special on beer, tacos, wings, wine or sushi, and on weekends, they’ll whip you up some brunch.