When ActionBehavior Centers planned the welcome reception for their conference at Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora, they wanted something that would get roughly 2,000 attendees mingling on the first night. Music, food and drinks were already covered. They wanted an activity people could walk up to, play for a few minutes and talk about for the rest of the night. That’s where Putt Denver came in.
The plan: an anchor activity on the lawn
The reception was set for Friday, October 16, on the Gaylord’s Mountain View Pavilion Lawn. Our full 9-hole course would act as an anchor station, a place where groups could gather, take a turn and meet people they hadn’t met yet, right alongside the other activations. The team also added our glow-in-the-dark option, so the course would light up as the evening went on.
The curveball: moving inside the day before
Colorado in October can turn cold fast, and it did. The day before the event, the Gaylord team moved the reception indoors to Aurora Hall. Because our holes are modular and everything, including the glow lights, runs on batteries, the change was simple. We updated our load-in plan, rolled the course in through the hall’s doors and laid it out to fit the new space. No outlets, no extra setup time, no stress for the planners.
Why mini golf works at a conference
- It’s an easy icebreaker. Nobody needs instructions. Groups of four can play a hole in a minute or two, which keeps people moving and mixing.
- It works anywhere. Lawns, ballrooms, exhibit halls and convention carpet all work, indoors or outdoors.
- It scales. For big crowds, an on-site Putt Denver Associate keeps groups flowing, and a live leaderboard turns it into friendly competition.
- It can carry your brand. Sponsor signs on every hole give partners visibility and can help offset the cost.
Planning a conference in Denver?
Whether it’s a welcome reception for 2,000 or a team event for 50, we’ll bring a course that fits your space, set it up before your guests arrive and pack it up when you’re done, with certificates of insurance ready for your venue.
See how it works for corporate events, or request a quote.