Ahlgrim Acres: The macabre mini-golf experience beneath a funeral home | CNN

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Ahlgrim Acres: The macabre mini-golf experience beneath a funeral home

By Jack Bantock, CNN
Published 4:17 AM EDT, Wed June 28, 2023
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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. <strong>Scroll through to see more ghoulish golf.</strong>
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. Scroll through to see more ghoulish golf.
Jonathan Gwizdala
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.
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.
Jonathan Gwizdala
Highlights of the course include a moving guillotine, a mausoleum, and a sand trap featuring Roger Ahlgrim's sculpting skull from mortuary school.
Highlights of the course include a moving guillotine, a mausoleum, and a sand trap featuring Roger Ahlgrim's sculpting skull from mortuary school.
Jonathan Gwizdala
The course hosts thousands of rounds each year and has attracted local, national and international interest from players and media alike.
The course hosts thousands of rounds each year and has attracted local, national and international interest from players and media alike.
Ahlgrim FFS / Facebook
Ahlgrim Acres is the centerpiece of "the community room," which includes a full-sized shuffleboard court (pictured), a ping pong table, and a range of video games.
Ahlgrim Acres is the centerpiece of "the community room," which includes a full-sized shuffleboard court (pictured), a ping pong table, and a range of video games.
Jonathan Gwizdala
The community room is strictly closed during funeral services. It is used for a variety of events, including kids' birthday parties, Boy Scout meetings, and a monthly horror-themed book club.
The community room is strictly closed during funeral services. It is used for a variety of events, including kids' birthday parties, Boy Scout meetings, and a monthly horror-themed book club.
Jonathan Gwizdala
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.
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.
Jonathan Gwizdala
Ahlgrim Acres art, designed by one of the funeral services' staff, who continue to update the course.
Ahlgrim Acres art, designed by one of the funeral services' staff, who continue to update the course.
Ahlgrim FFS / Facebook
A variety of homemade Ahlgrim Acres merchandise is available to buy, including shirts and badges.
A variety of homemade Ahlgrim Acres merchandise is available to buy, including shirts and badges.
Ahlgrim FFS / Facebook
An Ahlgrim urn fit for a die-hard golfer.
An Ahlgrim urn fit for a die-hard golfer.
Ahlgrim FFS / Facebook

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