Update: Ashburton’s Mini Golf Course at 35%

Ashburton Mini Golf

Location: Ashburton EA Networks Centre
Type of project: Mini Golf
Client: Ashburton District Council
Start date: 11 August
Estimated completion date: 21 November
Area covered: ~16m2 per hole

18-hole mini golf course at EA Networks Centre

Themed around local icons like the town clock, combine harvesters, braided rivers, and Mt Hutt. It’s family-friendly, accessible, and built to last—turning a grassy embankment into a free community hub for putts and laughs.

Build Stats

We’re in the thick of installation, hitting our tight timeline despite the weather.

  • Hole 18 (Mt Hutt, the grand finale) is under construction on-site right now.
  • Holes 13, 14, 16 and 17 are fully complete and ready for testing.
  • Work starts today on holes 12 (Rakaia Bridge) and 15.
  • From here, it’s a weekly rhythm: two blank concrete slabs arrive for on-site finishing, while two prepped slabs get placed and themed.

The course got the green light in December 2024 with a $500,000 budget, funded from reserves to keep rates steady. Construction kicked off in 2025, with holes manufactured in Creo’s Oamaru factory and trucked to site.

Holes 1-11 sit flat for easy access with prams or wheelchairs, while 12-18 climb terraces up the embankment. Players bring their own gear for free play or rent clubs and balls cheaply on-site. It’s all part of the centre’s 30-year masterplan, adding low-cost fun next to the new sand court.

Meeting Council Needs

We nailed the brief head-on:

  • Fixed delivery date, rain or shine
  • Built tough for round-the-clock use
  • Balanced family fun with skill challenges
  • Minimal upkeep to save costs long-term
  • Swap-out features without hassle
  • Themes nod to Ashburton icons 
  • Fully accessible for all ages and abilities

What Sets This Apart

This isn’t our first rodeo, but it’s our boldest swing at innovation. Tilt slabs are a Creo first—perfect for the detail-heavy themes and fast pace.

We skipped full shop drawings, jumping straight from concept to build-ready specs: precise measures, tech specs, then prototyping.

For quirky elements like sheep or harvesters? We tested timber, rubber, 3D prints, and steel. Winner: digitally printed aluminum faces over LVL timber frames. It’s durable, weatherproof (Resene paint system for easy touch-ups), and pops with color.

This mini golf course isn’t just holes in the ground—it’s Mid Canterbury captured in every curve and challenge. It shows what Creo does best: dream big, build smart, and deliver play that sticks around.

Got a wild idea for your space? Let's make it real.