Finding some of the Space Invader street art in Paris.
Emily was in Paris last month and while there managed to spot a few Invader street art pieces while walking around.
Invader around the world.
To date the French street artist Invader has created 4,382 Invaders in 87 territories around the world!
Invader was here - in the UK.
Here in the UK Invader has invaded Manchester, London and Newcastle (and a bit of Gateshead) and we've managed to find a few of his pieces on trips to the cities.
A view of Hastings Adventure Golf from West Hill in Hastings, East Sussex.
A view of Hastings Adventure Golf from West Hill in Hastings, East Sussex in March 2013
Hastings Adventure Golf is home to three 18-hole outdoor minigolf courses - an Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf layout, an Adventure Golf course, and a Pirate Golf layout.
We've been to Hastings Adventure Golf a lot on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and to play in many many many minigolf, adventure golf & crazy golf tournaments over the years.
A look at an old Blockbuster Video shop in Hastings, East Sussex.
We spotted this old Blockbuster Video store in Hastings while in the seaside town for a minigolf tournament. The former video shop had been turned into a book store called Book-Buster.
Book-Buster former Blockbuster Video store in Hastings in October 2013
At its peak in 2004 there were more than 9,000 Blockbuster Video stores around the world. 500+ of which were in England, Scotland and Wales. Interestingly in Northern Ireland the Xtra-Vision brand was used by the owners in-line with the Republic of Ireland.
The last Blockbuster Video shop ceased trading in the UK in December 2013.
Amazingly we've been able to find traces of the brand at 29 former store locations. This has ranged from QuikDrop boxes to parking signage to full shopfronts!
Posts about former Blockbuster Video stores we've been to:
Looking back at The Flintstones Crazy Golf course at Bowleaze Cove in Weymouth, Dorset.
I visited and played The Flintstones Crazy Golf course at Bowleaze Cove in Weymouth on the 11th October in both 2008 and 2009 while in town for the Weymouth Open Adventure Golf tournament at the Pirate Adventure Golf course at the nearby Sea Life Centre.
It's the only time I've seen a Flintstones-themed miniature golf course on my travels.
The Rules of The Flintstones Crazy Golf
Photos of The Flintstones Crazy Golf course at Bowleaze Cove in Weymouth in October 2008.
Photos of The Flintstones Crazy Golf course at Bowleaze Cove in Weymouth in October 2009.
A look at the Dino Adventure Golf course at Broadland Sands Holiday Park in Corton near Lowestoft, Suffolk.
Many thanks to our friend Sophia Cook for sending us more snaps of the Dino Adventure Golf course at Broadland Sands Holiday Park in Corton near Lowestoft, Suffolk.
As a minigolfer with over a decade of experience as a tournament competitor and 20+ 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.
The Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
Emily and I have visited 1,116 courses in the UK and overseas on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. When our travels began in 2006 there were around 600 courses in the UK. We've got 39 from that original list left to visit.
However, they've been joined by hundreds more new courses opening up across the UK, making our travels never-ending!
100+ new courses are being created each year - some are on old sites / locations, some are completely new venues, while others are in planning / development, or under construction.
There are also quite a few other adventure golf, crazy golf and minigolf courses that are short-term 'pop-ups', some of which have been used as proof of concept businesses and developed into permanent courses.
The world of minigolf has 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 gives federations, associations, courses, clubs and our 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.
As a marketing professional I use my extensive knowledge and skills in supporting and promoting the game I enjoy as a hobby, a competitive sport and a leisure activity.
My marketing activity sees me work across the minigolf industry, from traditional British seaside crazy golf courses, to new inland adventure golf layouts, competitive socialising venues and within retailtainment.
My involvement in the world of minigolf includes blogging, media relations, sponsorship, course design, advice and consultancy, content generation, digital marketing and new technology, event organisation and promotion, and participation in tournaments around the world.
I have consulted on a number of minigolf business concepts in the UK and USA including Princess Parade Crazy Golf in Blackpool; the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club in Knowle West, Bristol; Tea Green Golf in Luton; Burray Crazy Golf in Orkney; Prestwick Putting and Crazy Golf; Portaputt Crazy Golf; Aces Minigolf Gloucester; Southend Pier Crazy Golf; Knaresborough Mini Golf; Putting at the Kiosk in Bedford; Visionary Crazy Golf at the London Design Festival, and The Big Mini Golf Tour in Great Yarmouth.
As a volunteer I served three terms on the Executive Committee of the British Minigolf Association and was a member of the World Minigolf Sport Federation’s Marketing and Media Committee for six years.
As a consultant I contributed to the Guinness World Records 2024.
And this blog contains over 6,700 posts that have attracted 8.6 million page views since 2006.
Today (Tuesday 28th April) is National Crazy Pool Awareness Day!
Tuesday 28th April marks 'National Crazy Pool Awareness Day'.
Today is the second-annual National Crazy Pool Awareness Day.
What is Crazy Pool?
The indoor game found at Roxy Ball Room locations is a cross between crazy golf and pool. Played with a pool cue and a golf ball you need to tackle a variety of obstacles on the felt covered tables.
National Crazy Pool Awareness Day was created by the team at Roxy Leisure.
You can find Crazy Pool tables and courses at 13 of Roxy's 19 venues. They are:
Birmingham (Victoria Square)
Bristol (Union Street)
Edinburgh (Rose Street)
Leeds (Boar Lane)
Leeds (Merrion Street) - the original Crazy Pool course at this venue has recently been updated.