WEST TOWN — Matt Dolan has been spending a lot of time on the golf course this summer.
But he hasn’t been hitting long drives off the tee or chip shots out of the bunker, nor has he had to debate which iron to use for a mid-range fairway stroke.
Instead, he’s focused pretty much exclusively on his short game.
That’s because Dolan hasn’t been playing on a traditional golf course. His links are neatly stored inside his West Town garage, where he’s spent the past few months crafting a high-end mini golf course that fits comfortably in the back of a van.
What started as an idea he had while lying in bed this spring has evolved into a full-fledged company called PutterBird — and it’s quickly becoming a hit.
Since renting out the nine holes for a graduation party in June, inquiries for different events — from weddings to birthday parties — have flooded Dolan’s inbox. The course is booked every weekend through October, with different packages available ranging from $200-$1,000 that include putters, balls, setup and takedown.
Dolan is finalizing branding and trademark details for PutterBird, as well as designing an additional nine holes to bring his total to 18. For the self-described perfectionist, he said the response to his hobby-turned-company has been satisfying, but not totally surprising.
“I knew, as I was building these, they would be enjoyed, because I liked it so much, right?” Dolan said. “I was like, this is going to work.”
Matt Dolan created PutterBird mini golf in his West Town garage, as seen on Aug. 26, 2025. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
‘Every Hole Has A Strategy’
Like many other people around the country, Dolan first got into woodworking during the pandemic.
He had always been creative — he worked in advertising for years and currently plays in a band called The Staleys — and making stuff in his garage came pretty quickly to him.
“I started building furniture for neighbors, and started building some real high-end, premium stuff. I had a neighbor contract me to build him a huge farmhouse table,” Dolan said.
He learned how to use saws and other tools, and started taking on jobs around the house, too. But woodworking was still mostly a hobby until the end of 2024, when Dolan was laid off from his corporate job and suddenly had a lot of time on his hands.
Knowing he wanted to be his own boss, he started testing out ideas — including a possible home improvement video series — but nothing quite stuck.
“I just decided, I don’t want to do the corporate thing anymore,” he said. “I don’t want to do the golden handcuffs lifestyle where I’m working for somebody else.”
One night before going to bed, he watched a video about someone who built a mini golf hole in their yard — and instantly thought he could do better job. He expected it would be a quick turnaround, as he initially told his wife.
“I said, ‘Give me three days, I’ll build one of these things,’” Dolan said. “Two months later, I’m still building these things in the garage.”
The project grew more time-intensive as Dolan decided to handcraft nine “luxury” holes, each with their own set of challenges. His process included sanding and staining the wood, sourcing the perfect carpet to simulate grass and constantly tweaking the obstacles, bumpers and other features to make them more interesting — and fun.
“I have video of me hitting like 100 putts, and I forgot the camera’s on, and then I would go stand in the corner, literally filming myself, and I’d be standing there for like, 10 minutes, just thinking,” he said with a laugh.
Matt Dolan at work this spring on his portable mini golf course in West Town. Credit: Provided
Dolan’s goal was to give players a real sense of strategy for each hole, in some ways closer to a board game than the cheap thrills of traditional mini golf.
It’s possible to complete each hole in one stroke if you set up the perfect shot — or get lucky, Dolan said.
“Every hole has a strategy. There’s this really fun gameplay with it, like a board game,” he said. “Once you get some more experienced players and golfers, they go, ‘This is really well thought out.’”
PutterBird offers various rental options, with the full nine-hole course coming in at $1,000 for a six-hour period, with fewer holes available at cheaper rates. That comes with putters, balls and guidance from Dolan, plus a handmade putter stand he built in his garage.
“Part of the package is me being there, selling myself, seeing my enthusiasm,” he said. “Dropping them off, laying them out optimally, just because I feel like I have an eye for how they should go.”
As for the windmills and water features typically found at mini golf courses? Don’t expect those to be included, although Dolan said he would take on custom work for possible future clients.
“I wanted to avoid the cheesiness,” he said. “You know those Scrabble boards you can buy that are made out of mahogany? You can pay like $300 and get a premium. That was kind of in my head. I want this premium.”
Matt Dolan created PutterBird mini golf in his West Town garage, as seen on Aug. 26, 2025. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Matt Dolan created PutterBird mini golf in his West Town garage, often accompanying sets with colorful chalk boards for special occasions, as seen on Aug. 26, 2025. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Early Success — And Plans For The Future
After finishing the first set of holes this spring, Dolan began sharing pictures with friends and family.
To his surprise, a cousin asked if he could rent them for a graduation party in June. It was an immediate success.
“By an hour into the party, everyone’s playing, and there’s cornhole boards over there that no one’s touching,” Dolan said. “I’m feeling bad for the cornhole boards.”
That led to more inquiries, with people wanting to use the course for a kid’s birthday around the annual Masters pro golf tournament, or for a wedding. Dolan also posted on Facebook groups and built a website to get the word out.
It’s working. PutterBird is now booked through October and Dolan is back in the garage building additional holes. He’s even talking about building a replica set for a friend in Texas to kick off a franchise of sorts.
As Dolan eyes growing his company, he’s consulting with a lawyer about trademarking and other business necessities. He’s also designed a logo based on a bird called a putter, also known as a European goldfinch.
Dolan’s excited about where PutterBird could go next, even if the future is still uncertain. One thing he knows for sure is that it’s been a lot more fun than going back to an office.
“I think we all sit around and go, ‘What can I do that I could run my own show, that I could just be successful?’ And it never is right there under your nose,” he said. “You just have to start a few things, and all of a sudden it appears. This came out of just sheer grinding, which is how I run. I just started building stuff.”
Matt Dolan created PutterBird mini golf in his West Town garage, as seen on Aug. 26, 2025. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
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