Cool Crest Miniature Golf Course claims to be the World’s Finest, and who’s to argue with them? Set atop the apex of Fredericksburg Road within sight of Interstate 10, this tropical paradise has been a San Antonio recreational staple since 1929.

Two 18-hole courses are challenging yet fun. My daughter and I played the older of the two courses. I had a pretty good run until I got to hole 13, not so lucky, and hole 14, which ran uphill. Despite these two setbacks, my overall score was decent. And as the encouraging lady at the front desk said when I returned my putter, “Practice makes perfect!”

Harold and Maria Metzger ran Cool Crest for almost 70 years. In 2013, the Andry family took over, and they’ve continued in the Metzgers’ footsteps. Why mess with the world’s finest?! The beautiful landscaping draws a variety of butterflies and is a welcomed antidote to screen time overload.

Even though my daughter and I played around noon on a blazingly hot summer day, cool breezes, ample shade and trickling water features provided relief from the heat. If you need a break, though, Cool Crest has a misting area near the front desk that you may lounge in to cool off.

Cool Crest is located at 1402 Fredericksburg Road. They are open from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; and noon until 9 p.m. on Sundays. They are closed on Mondays. Admission (18 holes) is $9 for adults; $8 for seniors and military; and $7 for kids, ages 4 to 12. Don’t forget to pick up a Frequent Golfer Card. After five rounds, you’ll get one for free.

And don’t forget to stop by El Paraiso after you’ve played. (Take a right from the Cool Crest parking lot onto Fredericksburg.) Losers have to treat the winners to a paleta!

Denise Barkis Richter, Ph.D., author of “San Antonio’s Passport to Fun,” has been blogging about San Antonio since June of 2010. Follow her at facebook.com/SanAntonioTourist so that you’ll never miss a post. Her love affair with the Alamo City began at Hemisfair in 1968. She moved to San Antonio in 1979 as an 18-year-old college student, and San Antonio has been her home ever since. Denise completed certification to become a professional tour guide in 2019. Please contact her at sanantoniotourist at gmail dot com if you’d like for her to curate a fabulous San Antonio experience for you!