May 1, 2017

Meet George Boznos of Par-King Skill Golf

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to George Boznos.

George, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Par-King originated in the late 1950′s in Morton Grove, Illinois at George’s Gorgeous Golfing Garden. Soon thereafter, in 1965, it was branded by the country’s leading trade magazine as “Minigolf’s Taj Mahal” and noted to be the most elaborate 18-hole minigolf in the nation.

In 1977, our current course in Lincolnshire opened, doubling the size of its predecessor and setting a new standard with its imaginative design and attention to detail. Two 18-hole courses, 19 moving obstacles and 7 water holes guarantee you’ll find both a fun and challenging experience for pros and first time golfers alike

Now Par-King has not only become a Chicagoland tradition but is also recognized as one of the best miniature golfs in America.

Has it been a smooth road?
Every business faces its own particular struggles, especially smaller businesses that present a unique product. One of our greatest concerns has been that our golf courses could become stale to the consumer. Hence, we continually update our courses and make improvements in both design and presentation. Each winter every feature (statue, mechanical object, etc.) is taken down and either put into protective storage or refurbished and improved. This is a time consuming process and keeps us at work throughout most of the winter, but the result is always noticeable and appreciated by both our new golfers and established clientele.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Par-King Skill Golf story. Tell us more about the business.
Par-King is one of the most imaginative miniature golf experiences you can have. What sets us apart from all other courses across America is our lack of a design theme. This allows us to seasonally create new entertaining golf features without restriction. Since we both design and construct everything ourselves, it’s all one-of-a-kind. No matter what your favorite, you’ll probably find it here… a golf ball roller coaster, spaceship, Statue of Liberty, giant roulette wheel and even the Chicago Sears Tower!

Another aspect of Par-King that we take great pride in is our garden-like setting. The original course from the 1950’s was called “George’s Gorgeous Golfing Garden” and we’ve carried on that idea for over 55 years. Not only will you find an impressive variety of unique trees and topiary, but also 10,000 flowers planted annually throughout the grounds. This creates an impressive and colorful display during most of our summer and fall season.

Sidenote: Par-King has a height requirement in place for the safety of younger children. Due to the large number of moving obstacles, water pools and changes in grade, children must be at least 48 inches in height to be admitted onto the course.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Miniature golf is a “Classic” form of family entertainment. We’ve seen many trends come and go within our industry, but in the long run the original format has always been the most successful… that’s what keeps it fun and entertaining for children and adults.

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