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One of the best parts of summer is uncovering fun things to do that were totally off your radar — a street fair, a chance encounter with the ice cream truck, an impromptu cookout with friends. Google gets that (and the need for surprising marketing tactics that help sell its products), and this season, the brand’s touring the country, making multi-day stops at various cities nationwide with its pop-up mini golf course.
The course itself is totally free — you walk inside, grab a putter and pull a ball from a gumball machine, then choose one of two routes. Each one has three holes, making it a relatively short diversion, but a completely worthwhile one. Every obstacle’s meant to teach you about Google Home Mini, its voice-activated assistant (much like Amazon’s Alexa) that you can use to learn the day’s weather, play music, turn off and on lights, and even hear a joke or two. While putting, you’ll shout a command to Google Home, like adjusting the temperature on a Nest thermostat or casting YouTube clips or shows to your TV. You learn a new feature, which — in turn — takes that hole of the course to the next level (like turning on a fan setting a windmill in motion).
The best part, though? At the very end, you’ll go to a faux-tool shed, where you play a Plinko-style game to return your golf ball. If you get a hole in one there, you score a free Google Home Mini. If you don’t, you’ll snag some Google-branded, argyle golf socks. Fashun!
New York’s run has just ended, but Google’s got three more stops before its tour ends. Here’s where (and when) you can find the course near you:
- Chicago, June 14-17
- Los Angeles, June 30-July 5
- Atlanta, July 26-July 29
Find the exact locations — and get more info — here.
