Room Escape Artist

Wormhole-in-one!

Location: Schaumburg, IL

Date Played: April 26, 2025

Team Size: As many as you want; we recommend splitting into groups of 2-6

Duration: about 45 minutes

Price:  $15 per adult, $13 per child

Ticketing: Public… meaning other groups are also on course, but you travel from hole to hole with your group

Accessibility Consideration: all players will need to be able to swing a putter

Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock

Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints

REA Reaction

I love mini golf way too much. (I sat out of playing an escape room in Orlando to play mini golf instead!) Putt Portal combined two of my favorite things into a cohesive 9-hole puzzle-and-putt course. With unique holes, puzzles every step of the way, and a golden putter to be found, we enjoyed playing Putt Portal between escape rooms at 60 to Escape’s Schaumburg location.

While the puzzles were cute, and we appreciated the concluding meta puzzle, most of the puzzles had an opportunity to be more interesting and more integrated with the holes themselves.

The hole design was the most impressive part of the experience. The construction of the course was really well done. We loved the variation in the hole design, both aesthetically and mechanically. Each new hole had our team excited to keep playing. Plus, it was brilliant design decision by 60 to Escape to place the mini golf course on the other side of the mall window so passersby could see all the fun.

As a quick experience with a lower price point, and considering its appeal to families and adults alike, Putt Portal is the perfect addition to a trip to 60 to Escape in Schaumburg, or really any Woodfield Mall adventure.

Who is this for?

• Mini-golf fans
• Scenery snobs
• Families
• Dates
• Any experience level

Why play?

• 9 fun mini-golf courses with creative designs
• A very light layer of puzzles

Story

We mini-golfed our way through time and space, putting and puzzling through obstacles throughout history and fantasy.

Setting

Putt Portal is in 60 to Escape’s location in the Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg. It can be seen through large glass windows from the mall walkway. The space was filled with mini golf-style holes inspired by 60 to Escape’s numerous escape rooms, each with a unique puzzle-y twist.

Gameplay

60 to Escape’s Putt Portal was a 9-hole mini-golf course combined with light puzzle-hunt style puzzles at each hole.

While playing mini golf, players could solve puzzles along the way to win a prize.

Analysis

➕ Putt Portal was polished and well-kept. Each hole felt well maintained, especially considering the amount of children who have presumably walked over and slammed golf clubs into the décor.

➕/➖  The introduction that included getting our balls was adorable, but caused two players in our group to receive the same color balls. This was confusing while we were on the course.

➕ Each hole felt varied and vastly different from the last in terms of both gameplay and aesthetic. With unique mini golf challenges, the holes had their own personalities tied to various escape rooms at different 60 to Escape locations.

➖ The starting place for each hole was typically unclear, leaving our team confused where to start. More obviously identifiable starting spots would make the player experience smoother.

➕ One hole in particular felt similar to a Survivor challenge, and we couldn’t stop playing with it! We found ourselves going back to replay the same hole over and over to prove ourselves. Many of the holes were unique and had incredibly fun mechanics on top of normal mini golf.

➖ The course was designed to be as flat and accessible as possible, but due to the use of multiple ramps per hole, the ball could easily fall out of the putting area.

➕/➖ Each puzzle added an extra layer of fun to the experience, but the puzzle design peaked at the first hole. We wished the puzzles were more interesting and integrated with the holes themselves. Unfortunately, they sometimes felt like an afterthought.

Tips For Visiting

• 60 to Escape Schaumburg is located near the center of the Woodfield Mall. Park wherever you desire.
• Arrive with enough time to navigate the mall. This mall’s layout is a little strange.
• 60 to Escape also has its own bathroom, separate from the rest of the mall.
• The Woodfield Mall and surrounding area are filled with food options. We loved Falafill in the food court.

Book your hour with 60 to Escape’s Putt Portal Mystery Golf, and tell them that the Room Escape Artist sent you.

Disclosure: 60 to Escape comped our tickets for this game.