Mini golf course takes over Jackson Field in downtown Lansing

LANSING — For the next few days the outfield surface at Jackson Field will take on a new identity as a mini golf course.

Baseballs serve as the tee box of each hole on an 18-hole course that begins in right field and ends on the pitcher’s mound.

Helmets, bats, Gatorade coolers, kegs and even fall-themed items are decorated around the holes on the course. Head Lugnuts groundskeeper Joe Trautner is the architect for the course that is taking over the playing surface at Jackson Field for the first time since 2016. Lugnuts director of retail Matt Hicks assisted with the course design.

"We looked at what we did eight years ago so we had a nice blueprint of doing 18 holes on a field," said Hicks, who was part of the course design in 2016. "As we mowed some of the holes kind of took a different design and then it was imagining what kind of hazards, what kind of obstacles we could incorporate to keep it fun and a challenge, but fair and we came up with this design. A lot of it was kind of a work as we go, a lot of ad-lib and working with our partners to get all the equipment here and get the scorecards here and open up the ballpark to a unique and different experience other than baseball here at Jackson Field."

The cost is $5 per person to play the course, which is open through Sunday. Tickets can be purchased online at milb.com/lansing or in person at the stadium box office.

Hours are 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The course will also be open during a movie night at the ballpark from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Mini golf course takes over Lugnuts' field in downtown Lansing