Showing posts with label Minigolf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Minigolf. Show all posts

Monday, March 18, 2024

Golf Fang Crazy Golf planned for Bristol

A new Golf Fang indoor Crazy Golf course could be opening in Bristol.


Golf Fang

There are plans for a new indoor minigolf course to open in the former Wilko store on Union Street in Bristol.

Visit the Golf Fang website for more information on the brand's existing courses in Liverpool, Bimingham, Newcastle, Glasgow, Sheffield and Cardiff.


It'll be another new venue for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Hollywood Bowl Mini-Golf at Teesside Park in Stockton-on-Tees

A new Mini-Golf course is opening at Teesside Park in Stockton-on-Tees.


The 12-hole indoor Mini-Golf course is set to open as part of an expanded Hollywood Bowl centre.

The layout will be a Puttstars Mini-Golf course and is opening on Friday 22nd March.

Puttstars Mini-Golf in Rochdale (June 2021)
Puttstars Mini-Golf in Rochdale (June 2021)

Visit the Hollywood Bowl and Puttstars websites for more information.


We've played at Puttstars before, and been to Teesside Retail Park - but not done both together. We visited the old Toys R Us store there in April 2021.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire

A look at the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire.


The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire

We had a brilliant break in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire in May 2018. The seaside resort has a number of minigolf courses, one of which is the classic Arnold Palmer Putting Course near the pier.

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire

The Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes was the 482nd played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire

The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing ebook

You can buy The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing on Amazon.


The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing ebook

My ebook to help minigolf players better market themselves, their clubs, tournaments and courses is available to purchase from Amazon.


As a minigolfer with over a decade of experience as a tournament competitor and years of experience in marketing and communications I designed the guide so that anyone interested or involved in minigolf could help promote the game. It’s a niche title, but an audience and subject I know a lot about.

Writing the book was brilliant and enabled me to bring two areas of my life together. I’ve worked in marketing since 2003 and have played minigolf since I was a child. Stepping up to compete on the national minigolf tour circuit and in international tournaments opened my eyes to the potential of the game. I’ve also had the honour of serving on the committees of the British Minigolf Association (BMGA) and the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF).

As a minigolfer with over a decade of experience as a tournament competitor and years of experience in marketing and communications I designed the guide so that anyone interested or involved in minigolf could help promote the game. It’s a niche title, but an audience and subject I know a lot about.

Writing the book was brilliant and enabled me to bring two areas of my life together. I’ve worked in marketing since 2003 and have played minigolf since I was a child. Stepping up to compete on the national minigolf tour circuit and in international tournaments opened my eyes to the potential of the game. I’ve also had the honour of serving on the committees of the British Minigolf Association (BMGA) and the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF).

Minigolf is a sport for all. People of all ages, sexes, backgrounds and abilities can pick up a putter and play the game.

When Emily and I began travelling around the country on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour there were around 600 courses in the UK. We’ve now visited more than 1,000 courses, including 47 overseas.

My sports, games and travel blog at the Ham & Egger Files contains over 5,400 posts that have attracted 3.2 million page views.

There are a huge amount of interesting and fun stories to tell and positive aspects to highlight to potential players, the media, sponsors and the wider sporting community. The Minigolfer’s Guide to Marketing should give federations, associations, courses, clubs and fellow players ideas, inspiration and support in their marketing efforts.

Much of the guidance could also be applied to a number of other sports clubs and organisations to help raise their profile and boost memberships.

Buy The Minigolfer’s Guide to Marketing ebook on Amazon.

Saturday, March 09, 2024

Refurbishment of the Adventure Golf at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull

The Adventure Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull is getting a makeover.


The 18-hole outdoor Adventure Golf course at the Four Ashes Golf Centre is closing for a refurbishment on Monday 8th April. Following approximately two weeks of work the venue will be unveiling a brand new course!

Adventure Golf at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull. September 2017
Adventure Golf at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull. September 2017

Visit the Four Ashes Golf Centre website for more information.


Adventure Golf at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull. September 2017
Playing the Adventure Golf course at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull. September 2017

We played the Adventure Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in September 2017. The layout was the 770th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

We've visited the Four Ashes Golf Centre a lot over the years to play tournaments on the centre's 12-hole Mini Golf course. It was originally course number 72 visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in September 2008.

The old 12-hole minigolf course at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull. March 2015
The old 12-hole minigolf course at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull. March 2015

Friday, March 08, 2024

New crazy golf courses in the UK

Information about new adventure golf, crazy golf and miniature golf courses in the UK.


Information about new adventure golf, crazy golf and miniature golf courses in the UK

For information about new minigolf, crazy golf, and adventure golf courses opening in the UK take a look at the posts with the New course tag here on the Ham & Egger Files minigolf blog.

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour


Up to Saturday 30th December 2023 we had visited a total of 1,044 miniature golf courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. 997 of these have been in the British Isles.

Visiting the Crazy Golf course at the end of the Pier in Southend-on-Sea
Visiting the Crazy Golf course at the end of the Pier in Southend-on-Sea

Our minigolfing adventures began on the 30th September 2006 and in that time we've been able to play a total of 573 courses. Many locations have been found to be abandoned, closed, out-of-season or derelict on our initial visit. Luckily some courses that were closed on our original visit have since been played. And there are some course we've revisited and replayed many many times!

When we originally set off to visit as many courses as possible the target list was 600 in the British Isles. We've still got around 50 of those original courses to visit.

Only two of those original courses were indoor venues. Now the indoor game is booming and you can find minigolf courses indoors at shopping centres, retail parks, and in town and city centres around the country.

Together with my brother Christopher - a charter member of the tour - and his family, we've visited a total of 1,090 courses.

Our travels have been recognised by the Guinness World Records, and I'm a record holder for "Most miniature golf courses visited" (902 at the time of going to press). Check out the Guinness World Records 2024 book to see a lot more minigolf records too!

Check out the full list of courses we've visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Thursday, March 07, 2024

World Book Day - The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing

Today is World Book Day.


My ebook to help minigolf players better market themselves, their clubs, tournaments and courses is available to purchase from Amazon.

The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing
The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing

I’ve been really pleased to see the ebook bought and used by a number of minigolf associations and federations, course owners and managers, bloggers, course reviewers and competition players around the world.

As a minigolfer with over a decade of experience as a tournament competitor and years of experience in marketing and communications I designed the guide so that anyone interested or involved in minigolf could help promote the game. It’s a niche title, but an audience and subject I know a lot about.

Writing the book was brilliant and enabled me to bring two areas of my life together. I’ve worked in marketing since 2003 and have played minigolf since I was a child. Stepping up to compete on the national minigolf tour circuit and in international tournaments opened my eyes to the potential of the game. I’ve also had the honour of serving on the committees of the British Minigolf Association (BMGA) and the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF).

Minigolf is a sport for all. People of all ages, sexes, backgrounds and abilities can pick up a putter and play the game.

When Emily and I began travelling around the country on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour there were around 600 courses in the UK. We’ve now visited more than 1,000 courses, including 47 overseas.

My sports, games and travel blog at the Ham & Egger Files contains over 5,400 posts that have attracted 3.1 million page views.

There are a huge amount of interesting and fun stories to tell and positive aspects to highlight to potential players, the media, sponsors and the wider sporting community. The Minigolfer’s Guide to Marketing should give federations, associations, courses, clubs and fellow players ideas, inspiration and support in their marketing efforts.

Much of the guidance could also be applied to a number of other sports clubs and organisations to help raise their profile and boost memberships.

Buy The Minigolfer’s Guide to Marketing ebook on Amazon.


Saturday, February 24, 2024

Mini Golf at Gulliver's Land Theme Park Resort in Milton Keynes

A look at the Mini Golf course at Gulliver's Land Theme Park Resort in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.


Mini Golf at Gulliver's Land Theme Park Resort in Milton Keynes. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, February 2024

My brother Christopher and his family visited Gulliver's Land Theme Park Resort in Milton Keynes and sent these snaps of the mini golf course there.

Mini Golf at Gulliver's Land Theme Park Resort in Milton Keynes. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, February 2024

Mini Golf at Gulliver's Land Theme Park Resort in Milton Keynes. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, February 2024

Mini Golf at Gulliver's Land Theme Park Resort in Milton Keynes. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, February 2024

Mini Golf at Gulliver's Land Theme Park Resort in Milton Keynes. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, February 2024

Mini Golf at Gulliver's Land Theme Park Resort in Milton Keynes. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, February 2024

Mini Golf at Gulliver's Land Theme Park Resort in Milton Keynes. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, February 2024

The combined total of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour is now at 1,090 courses visited since September 2006!

Check out the Gulliver's Land Theme Park Resort website for more information.

Crazy Golf Meets the Movies! at Uredale Mill in Askrigg

A pop-up crazy golf course is opening at Uredale Mill in Askrigg for Easter.


A pop-up crazy golf course is opening at Uredale Mill in Askrigg for Easter

The Crazy Golf Meets the Movies! 18-hole indoor minigolf course will be open at Uredale Mill in Askrigg, North Yorkshire from the 23rd March to the 7th April.

Visit the Uredale Mill website and Incredible Artists Facebook Page for more information.

World Crazy Golf Championships 2024

The 2024 World Crazy Golf Championships will be held in Hastings, East Sussex from the 7th to the 9th June.


Entries are open for the 2024 World Crazy Golf Championships at Hastings Adventure Golf.

The major miniature golf tournament will see the main event take place on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th June. A juniors event will be held on Saturday 8th June. And a team event will be held on Friday 7th June.

You can find out all the details on the Hastings Adventure Golf website, and the new Facebook Page for the World Crazy Golf Championships.


Richard Gottfried playing in the World Crazy Golf Championships
Richard Gottfried playing in the World Crazy Golf Championships

We both made our debuts in the 2007 edition of the event back when it was known as the Virgin Money World Crazy Golf Championships. It was Emily's first ever miniature golf tournament.

Emily Gottfried playing in the World Crazy Golf Championships
Emily Gottfried playing in the World Crazy Golf Championships

The competition is played on the 18-hole Crazy Golf course at Hastings Seafront. The layout is of the Arnold Palmer Putting Course variety. The course was the 39th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in October 2007.

The World Crazy Golf Championships began in 2003 and has been held at Hastings Adventure Golf every year, except 2020 when the event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic). The current champion is Adam Kelly who is enjoying his second reign as world champion having also won the 2022 event.

Crazy Golf at The Friars Head at Akebar

The Friars Head pub at Akebar in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire has a free-to-play Crazy Golf course.


The Friars Head pub at Akebar in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire has a free-to-play Crazy Golf course

The Friars Head pub at Akebar is reopening on the 1st March and there's a free-to-play Crazy Golf course at the venue.

It'll be a new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Check out The Friars Head website for more information.

Saturday, February 17, 2024

Mini Golf in Maryport, Cumbria, June 2023

Playing a round at the Lake District Coast Aquarium Crazy Golf course in Maryport.


The Lake District Coast Aquarium Crazy Golf course in Maryport
The Lake District Coast Aquarium Crazy Golf course in Maryport

Back in April 2012 we swung by the Lake District Coast Aquarium in Maryport, Cumbria while en route to Scotland as we'd heard about the minigolf course there. Unfortunately we arrived just after 5pm so couldn't have a game. The Maryport Crazy Golf course was the 469th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Luckily in June 2023 we were able to return and this time managed a round on the Swedish Felt B-Run type of minigolf course.






Check out this blog post to see more of the course.

Friday, February 16, 2024

Minigolf at Retrodome in Barnsley

The Retrodome arcade in Barnsley, South Yorkshire is adding a minigolf course.


The Retrodome arcade in Barnsley, South Yorkshire is adding a minigolf course

Retrodome - a retro arcade in Barnsley - will soon be home to a new indoor minigolf course.

Check out the Retrodome website for more information.

As fans of minigolf AND retrogaming this sounds like a superb mix!

It'll be nice to visit Barnsley on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Puttcast minigolf podcast - "Global Mini Golf Trends"

Check out the new episode of the Puttcast minigolf podcast - "Global Mini Golf Trends - An Interview With Richard Gottfried".


Puttcast minigolf podcast

It was brilliant being a guest on the show with my friends, fellow minigolf enthusiasts (and sometimes competition rivals!) Tom Loftus and Pat Sheridan and diving into the world of minigolf as it is now - and what the future may hold...

Sunday, February 11, 2024

New miniature golf courses in the UK

Information about new adventure golf, crazy golf and miniature golf courses opening in the UK.


Information about new adventure golf, crazy golf and miniature golf courses opening in the UK

If you're looking for information about new adventure golf, crazy golf and miniature golf courses in the UK, please do check out this blog post and the New course tag.

If you know of a new course opening, do let me know too.

Friday, February 09, 2024

Indoor Mini Golf at Ballerz Clubhouse in Farnham

There's an indoor minigolf course at Ballerz Clubhouse in Farnham, Surrey.


There's an indoor minigolf course at Ballerz Clubhouse in Farnham, Surrey

Ballerz Clubhouse opened in August 2023. The venue is home to a 9-hole indoor mini golf course.

Check out the Ballerz Clubhouse website for more information.

It's another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Spinners Crazy Golf & Bowling in Solihull

A new indoor minigolf course is opening in Solihull.


A new indoor Spinners Crazy Golf & Bowling venue is opening in Solihull

The Spinners Crazy Golf & Bowling venue will be located in Touchwood shopping centre.

Spinners Crazy Golf & Bowling in Solihull will be the third Spinners location. There are also venues in Reading and Plymouth.

Visit the Spinners Crazy Golf & Bowling website for more information.

Spinners Crazy Golf & Bowling in Reading, September 2022
Spinners Crazy Golf & Bowling in Reading, September 2022

It'll be a new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

One Under Mini Golf opens in Liverpool

A new One Under crazy golf venue is now open at the Lyceum Building in Liverpool.


A new One Under crazy golf venue is now open at the Lyceum Building in Liverpool

The location is home to two indoor 9-hole minigolf courses.

There are also One Under minigolf venues in Glasgow and Brighton.

Visit the One Under website for more information.

The One Under courses will be new additions to our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Sunday, February 04, 2024

Obstacle Golf at Hope Park in Keswick, Cumbria, June 2023

We revisited the Obstacle Golf course at Hope Park in Keswick, Cumbria during our short break in the Lake District last summer.


Obstacle Golf at Hope Park in Keswick, Cumbria
Obstacle Golf at Hope Park in Keswick, Cumbria

There's also a grass Putting layout and a Pitch & Putt at Hope Park (and Boules) and there are some wonderful views of the Skiddaw mountain from the courses.

We first visited the park back in April 2012 and played the Putting course on that occasion.





Check out this blog post to see more of the course.

Mini Golf at Game On! in Carlisle

There's a new minigolf venue in Carlisle, Cumbria.


There's a new minigolf venue in Carlisle, Cumbria

A new minigolf course has opened at Game On! in Carlisle.

The venue is also home to tenpin bowling.

Check out the Game On! website for more information.

It's another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.