In California and Arizona, the largest name in miniature golf is Golfland Entertainment Centers, and in Sunnyvale, not only does the park have the distinction of being one of the first built in California, but the general manager, Jason Kenney, 30, is a third-generation member of the Golfland family. Today, he carries on the business his grandfather, Ben Kenney, started in the late 1950s in Arizona, still bringing family entertainment to the masses and living up to the original motto of "Clean, Green and Safe."

"That's what people want, they want a sanctuary to go to and not have to worry about their kids," Kenney said. "It's an escape from the world, you're kind of in a fantasy world, it's like a little Disneyland right here."

And with spring finally here—ushering in warm weather and new loves—Golfland USA, long a staple for families looking to spend the evening together or dates looking for an alternative to dinner and a movie, is about to move to the Sunnyvale foreground as it enters its busiest season.

And just as the facility weathers rainy skies and relatively empty courses during the winter months each year, Golfland has played on through the rise of Silicon Valley, the dot.com boom and bomb and the city's changing demographics.

Putt, putt, putting along ...

Nestled between a flower nursery and local stores on El Camino Real, Golfland has been providing family fun in the area for almost 50 years, without changing much of its facility. The 19 holes—two 18-hole courses and the all-important 19th Hole—decorated with dragons, pagoda buildings and tiki huts turn a day of golf into a colorful escape from the world, among babbling brooks and rising drawbridges.

As evident in the brisk crowd playing after school on a warm day last week, Golfland USA has lost little of the appeal it had in the '50s, reflected in the lack of major changes over the last half century.

The company's mascots, a blue, red and yellow trio of dragons—that have been with the facility since it was built—were the favorite attraction for 5-year old Mason Moore recently as he played a round of golf with his father, Randall. The two have been coming to Golfland after school since the weather improved, and in just three visits, Mason has mastered the art of using his club to get his ball out of a river without getting his long-sleeved school uniform wet.

"The park is perfect for him," his father said. "There are a lot of structures for him to play around and they're all kept up pretty well."

The park's charm extends beyond colorful balls and dragons, and it has even become a training ground for "big" golfers seeking to improve their putting games.

Kenney—who has been working in the park since he was 8—said he even sees people come into the park with their own golf clubs.

A group of freshmen from St. Lawrence Academy's "Hackers' Club," were there on a field trip with their adviser, John Bennett, practicing putting techniques.

"I think it actually will help their golf games," he said. "Putting is important; it's all about the short game."

The club—which teaches students about "big" golf—meets once a month at golfing facilities in the area to work on techniques.

One of the Hackers, Jasprit Samra, 14, said the Sunnyvale facility is the cleanest of all the Golflands he has seen, and that he enjoys being able to wander through the grass and trees outside.

But as it would for any good 14-year-old high school boy, Jasprit's praise of the park extends beyond its putting practice. The outdoor environment and playful competition inherent in the activity make it ideal for dates.

"You know, if the girl is having trouble trying to hit it, you could help her with it," Jasprit said, forming his future plans. "You could even let her win."

Jasprit's fellow Hacker Erin Daring, who wouldn't need any help winning, had similar ideas on the romantic benefits of minigolf.

"It's more active than going to a movie, where you just sit there and can't talk," she said.

And Hacker Devin Salac agreed.

"It's fun filled, and it gives you something to laugh about instead of just a movie, or dinner where you just sit there for an hour," Devin said.

Erin, 15, also said that playing at Golfland reminded her of old memories of when she would come play and pretend to be a "real, grown-up golfer."

Can't beat the real thing

Kenney said that over the years, there's been a misconception that the golf portion of Golfland's appeal has lost its hold to the arcade section.

Sunnyvale's Golfland USA offers around 90 video games, which is a relatively low number of games compared to the number of games at other local facilities, such as Golfland's Milpitas location, which has more than 200 games in two large game rooms.

"That's what everyone says, they think the arcades are the big thing, but golf is huge, especially at this location," Kenney said.

Kenney said that instead of a rise in video-game playing at Golfland, the facility has seen a drop, as those people interested in video games can now stay home and play on consoles or the Internet for less money than they'd pump into the machines.

"It's catering to something totally different," Kenney said. "Staying at home and playing video games is something you do alone or with a small group of friends, it's not a real family activity."

In addition to weathering the rise of video games, Golfland also survived the "dot.bomb" that hit the Silicon Valley. Kenney says that like most businesses in the area, Golfland USA boomed with the technology industry, but when the boom died down, the core group of devoted golfers kept the facility going, allowing it to survive through tougher economic times, although there was a dip in patronage.

"You feel it, but it's not as severe as it was for retail, it's not putting us out of business," Kenney said. "Everybody still needs to unwind, still needs to spend time with their family, still needs to date."

Golfland has also benefited from the wholesome image Ben Kenney started when he first opened his doors. By providing an alternative to crowded malls and theaters filled with increasingly violent movies, a quiet game of minigolf has remained a popular attraction.

Inside the arcade, there are signs posted letting customers know that the use of alcohol, tobacco, or drugs and other questionable behaviors are not tolerated.

"Everything's really mellow here, and we really discourage any trouble," Kenney said. "We stay on top of it and don't let it escalate into big problems."

To make sure rules are followed, Kenney personally oversees the training of all staff members, to prepare them to handle any obstacle they encounter during their work. Because of that dedication, Kenney says his employees have gained a positive reputation with local families.

"[The employees] are good with the kids, and I think parents trust us with their kids, because we're careful with them," Kenney said.

Always room for minigolf

For its almost 50 years in business, through economic times that would make even a giant volcano or tiki god tremble, Golfland has been drawing crowds of all ages and skill levels.

"There's no violence, it's outdoors, you get to talk to your friends and you don't really have to focus on it, you just get to have fun," Hacker Chris Hendey, 14, says.

Hackers Club adviser John Bennett said the same things that attracted him to Golfland when he was younger are still there.

"It was always a good place to take a date, and I think that's still true," Bennett said. "It's a nice place, I think the kids have fun here, and I think you always do at Golfland."

That combination is what Kenney credits with keeping the store and his family's vision going all these years, and he says he can't see it slowing down anytime soon.

"It's just fun, I can't see it dying out," Kenney said, looking over the holes on both courses. "You can't get bored with a 4-foot anthill."