Puttshack, designed to challenge your putting game, opens this weekend at Natick Mall

NATICK — Combining retro arcade nostalgia, miniature golf, nightlife and fine dining, Puttshack brings a new twist to some familiar MetroWest entertainment.

Puttshack, which opens to the public on Saturday, is the Natick Mall's newest entertainment offering. Located inside the former American Girl doll store, the Chicago-based startup claims to be "the world's first and only upscale, tech-infused mini-golf destination with global food and drink."

Natick is its second New England location, following one that opened in late 2022 in Boston's Seaport neighborhood.

Puttshack uses what it calls "Trackaball" technology, a tool that keeps track of golfers' scores as they work their way around one of three nine-hole courses. The game is scored differently than traditional golf and mini-golf, with players getting points based on how many strokes it takes to complete a hole, with bonus points awarded for knocking the ball into a more challenging "supertube" hole.

'Tech-infused mini-golf': Chicago startup Puttshack announces plans to open at Natick Mall

Each hole presents challenges that require players to utilize different strategies. At one hole, titled "True or False," each player is given a statement that the player must determine is true or false and then putt their ball onto the side of the obstacle representing the player's answer. If their answer is correct, the ball spits out close to the hole — and if they're wrong, the ball spits out further away.

"The game definitely takes more than just golfing skills," said Angelina Gradilla, Puttshack's senior brand manager. "My boyfriend is a very good golfer, but I can beat him at Puttshack just by understanding how the course works."

Classic arcade games are theme throughout Puttshack courses

A common theme spread over the three courses is classic arcade games. Holes are dedicated to Skee-ball, Pac-Man, pinball and others.

"Things have shifted — you don't want to just sit at a bar and have a drink," said Suzie Dagenais, Puttshack Natick's director of operations. "You want to do something active, you want to be somewhere fun. There is a lot of nostalgia for a place like Puttshack. You might not see your traditional windmill hole, but we have a Connect 4 hole, we have a Tetris hole, we have those parts of nostalgia in addition to playing mini-golf."

One of the most heavily advertised aspects of Puttshack is its culinary options.

"I have been in food and beverage for 25 years, and what I was really taken by with Puttshack is that it is world-class food with a fun activity," Dagenais said. "There are so many styles of this type of venue where the activity is focused and food and beverage is an afterthought. Puttshack nails it — it's not concessions, it's dining, it is scratch cooking. You have a meal."

Some menu options include spicy Thai chicken, Korean bao buns, cheese empanadas and Atlanta "hot" style chicken sliders.

"My favorite things on the menu are our Persian chicken skewers, which come with an amazing grilled pita," Dagenais said. "We also have Shiitake pot stickers, those are amazing — you don't miss the meat at all."

Natick Mall has become a hub for entertainment options

The attraction is the latest entertainment option to come to the mall, replacing more traditional retail options. Level99, a series of escape rooms and games, opened in June 2021 on the second floor of the former Sears location. Arcade and restaurant chain Dave & Buster's opened in 2019.

Last June, the mall also saw the opening of Gamebox, an immersive motion-sensing video game experience, which opened at the former LIT Custom Shop.

'Easy to pick up': Gamebox brings immersive gaming to the Natick Mall

Gradilla said Puttshack chose the Natick Mall based on prior relationships and the promise of attracting a different flow of clientele than its Boston location.

"We have partnered with Brookfield Properties, which owns the mall, at other locations and this area is such a vibrant, family-filled area and Puttshack is a game for everyone," Gradilla said. "In the city, it's obviously attractive to young adults, while being in the suburbs we expect to have more families coming in."

In Natick, reservations can be made online or in person. Each round at Puttshack costs $18 for adults and $10 for children under age 12.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Puttshack, mini-golf with arcade and bar, opens Feb. 10 at Natick Mall