The Golf Show by American Golf at Event City, Manchester

A visit to the American Golf Show in Manchester.

This afternoon Emily and I swung into day one of The Golf Show by American Golf at Event City in Manchester. We're glad we did as there were plenty of putting opportunities. And Golf Darts!

Minigolfing Adventurers at our 729th course!

First up was a round on the TomTom Sports Adventure Putting course. The 6-hole layout became the 729th course we've visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. It's the 702nd we've been to in the UK and the 429th we've played since our minigolfing travels began in 2006.

Emily playing hole 1 en route to victory on the Adventure Putting layout

In our minigolf match-up Emily picked up the win 13-14 and landed a spot in tied second place on the leaderboard.

Next we had a go on teeofftimes.co.uk's incredibly lengthy Long Putt Challenge.

Emily putting on the loooooooooooong putt challenge hole

While neither of us managed to ace it, we did get close.

The elevated green on the Long Putt Challenge hole

We then noticed the giant inflatable Dartboard at the end of the hall. It looked brilliant.

I need a bigger back garden so I can get one of these dartboards!

The team at Golphin had set-up the Golf Darts game to promote their training programme for youngsters and I must say it was a great way to get non-golfers into giving the game a go. A fine crossover sport.

In our match-up I overturned the minigolf defeat to Emily by scoring 53 with my five chips/throws to her 0!

Emily on her way to five 'throws' out of the board!

We then had to go back to the Adventure Putting for another round. This time I picked up the win 13-14.

More minigolfing

Finally I stepped up to have a go on the Pressure Putt Challenge in the Skills Zone.

The Pressure Putt Challenge was tough

The tricky charity putting challenge saw me attempted to sink a succession of putts from two-foot intervals. It's a lot more difficult than you think. Especially when you're against the clock.

If you miss any of your putts you have to return to the first two-footer and work your way back. I finished on the 8 foot mark, which wasn't too bad. Good fun for the £2 charity donation to the On Course Foundation.

Check out our videos from the event on YouTube.

The Golf Show at Event City is on until Sunday and tickets are free. Book your place online via the American Golf website.

Three weeks ago today we were in Wrexham for another one of American Golf's free events - the Adventure Golf Pairs Championship. Peter Jones and I won the regional qualifier at Clays Golf Centre and will be playing in the Grand Final at The Belfry in September.

Give the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a Like on Facebook, watch our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter @putting_gott and @Ems_Lems. Please do sign-up to receive our miniature golf newsletter too.

Crazy Golf at Hope Park in Keswick

My mate and minigolf rival Simon 'Practice' Hall sent me a snap of the Crazy Golf course he spotted at Hope Park while on holiday in Keswick, Cumbria.

A view of the Crazy Golf course. Locally its known as 'Obstacle Golf'

Emily and I visited Keswick as part of a big minigolf roadtrip in 2012. On that occasion we played the Putting Course at Hope Park as the Crazy Golf course was very busy.

Minigolf in Armenia

Armenia to host first national minigolf tournament.

The Mini-Golf Association of Armenia is holding the country's first minigolf tournament on Sunday 30th April. The event is to be held at Ararat Valley Country Club and places in the Open competition are still available.

Entry is 3000 AMD (converting the Armenian Dram to Sterling it works out at just under £5!). For further information on the event and registration please contact the Mini-Golf Association of Armenia.

You can see photos of Ararat Valley Country Club's miniature golf course on the Mini-Golf Association of Armenia's Facebook Page. It looks like an interesting, hilly and loopy layout.

The Mini-Golf Association of Armenia is one of 62 members of the World Minigolf Sport Federation.

Visit the National Golf Association of Armenia's website to find out more about minigolf developments in the country.

Mr Mulligan's Dino Golf at Tonbridge Golf Centre

New Mr Mulligan's Adventure Golf course now open in Kent.

There's a new Adventure Golf course in Tonbridge, Kent as Mr Mulligan's Dino Golf is now open at Tonbridge Golf Centre.

The 18-hole Adventure Golf course looks very good and is certainly a lot different to the course I found there back in 2011.

Check out the Tonbridge Golf Centre and Mr Mulligan websites for more info, opening times and prices.

We've played Mr Mulligan's Adventure Golf courses in Castleford, Milton Keynes, Sidcup, Stevenage and Woking. We've yet to visit the Nottingham course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

With Mr Mulligan at the indoor 'underwater' Adventure Golf course in Stevenage

A Mr Mulligan's Adventure Golf course is also planned to open in Cheltenham.

Latest report from the Woodstock Petanque Club

Yesterday we spent a nice afternoon playing Boules at Woodstock Pétanque Club in Edgeley, Stockport. The day was even nicer as I won all three of my games! Emily also played well on her first appearance of the new season, with two wins from three games.

Throwing in game 1

In my first game I was teamed up with Richard J to take on Barbara and Joan. Richard had won the first session of the season so was undefeated in his three games so far. It was also the first-time we'd been paired together, but what a team we made, picking up the victory 13-4.

Playing across the newly refurbed terrain at Alexandra Park

Next up was a game against Emily and Hilary J. For this contest I was paired with Andrew and in a close match we won 13-11.

My final game of the afternoon was a three-on-two game pitting me and David C against the trio of Cath, Hilary J and Jean W. The match was also the last to finish as we battled to a 13-8 victory, the scoreline not showing how close the game actually was.

A head scratcher

My record at Woodstock Pétanque Club is now 6 wins and 4 defeats.

All-time

• Played 10, won 6, lost 4

2017

• Played 4, won 4

2016

• Played 6, won 2, lost 4

Woodstock Pétanque Club meets on the piste at Alexandra Park in Edgeley, Stockport on the second and fourth Sundays of the month. Membership for the year is £10, with a £1 fee for each afternoon you play. A bargain of a price to spend playing a fun and skillful game in great company.

Visit the Petanque in Manchester Facebook Group and Ptonk in the Park Twitter account for more info.

Not sitting down in Stockport

Having a wander round Stockport at the weekend I quite fancied a sit down. Alas, it wasn't to be at this point of my amble.

No sitting down here

Check out the Park Bench Appreciation Society and the Dull Men's Club for more thrilling imagery and posts.

150 years of miniature golf

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the world's first miniature golf course.

The world's first miniature golf course

The Himalayas Putting course at St Andrews was created in 1867 specifically for female players to use. We visited and played The Himalayas in 2012. It's a wonderful layout and a must-do for fans of minigolf or 'regular' golf.



To mark the occasion, The British Golf Museum at St Andrews has created a special exhibition - Shining Examples: 150 years of the St Andrews Ladies’ Putting Club - which runs until March 2018.

What a view

You can read more about the history of the St Andrews Ladies’ Putting Club on their website. It's interesting to note there had previously been a small putting area set-up before 1860, while the 9-hole course opened in 1867.

The first hole on the 9-hole course sees you putting across a path

Today there is a 9-hole and an 18-hole course, both open to the public for a nominal charge.

A nice long tee-shot

We're looking forward to a return visit to St Andrews, a visit to the exhibition and a few more games on the famous links minigolf course.

Emily putting on The Himalayas

Visit The British Golf Museum at St Andrews and the St Andrews Ladies’ Putting Club websites to find out more.

The British Golf Museum was closed on our visit to St Andrews. Still, not going in gave us even more time to play The Himalayas

The Himalayas is a real pleasure to play

The Himalayas sits next to the Old Course at St Andrews

A long minigolf hole

 

Lots of challenging lumps and bumps

Look how hilly that route to the cup is

Playing the first hole on the 9-hole layout

The Rules

Other key dates in world minigolf are:

• 1916 - The first minigolf course in the USA. James Barber opened the 'Thistle Dhu' layout in Pinehurst, NC.
• 1926 - The very first Crazy Golf course in the UK opened on South Parade in Skegness, Lincolnshire, England.
• 1926 - The first artificial miniature golf course in the USA. Garnet Carter created the 'Tom Thumb' miniature golf course near Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, TN.
• National Miniature Golf Day always falls on the second Saturday in May. In 2017 this will be on Saturday 13th May.
• Miniature Golf Day is always on the 21st of September, which is on a Thursday in 2017.
• 30th September marks the day we visited our first course on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2006.

Visit the World Minigolf Sport Federation's website for details of World Championships taking place this year, as well as events from their 62 member nations.

Check out the online Crazy Golf Museum for more information about the history of minigolf.

Give the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a Like on Facebook, watch our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter @putting_gott and @Ems_Lems. Please do sign-up to receive our miniature golf newsletter too.

Mighty Claws Adventure Golf in Bournemouth

New Adventure Golf course opening at Playgolf Bournemouth.

There's a new 18-hole Adventure Golf course opening at Playgolf Bournemouth next month. The Mighty Claws Adventure Golf layout is prehistoric themed and features moving dinosaurs.

We're really looking forward to a return visit to Bournemouth to play the new course.

Once completed you'll be able to find the course at Playgolf Bournemouth, Riverside Avenue, Bournemouth BH7 7ES. Check out the Mighty Claws Adventure Golf website for more information, opening times and prices.

May is National Golf Month

Next month is National Golf Month!

While we're BIG fans of miniature golf, Emily and I do occasionally play a bit of regular golf, albeit mostly Pitch & Putt. We also enjoy playing grass Putting courses and we've visited a fair few of those on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Emily playing the brilliant Putting course in Cromer

The National Golf Month campaign is coordinated by the British Golf Industry Association and its members. This year's National Golf Month is focused on getting more women golfing.

Emily teeing-off at Bruntwood Park's Pitch & Putt course in Cheadle. The layout is combined with a Footgolf course, hence the BIG cup

This year marks the 150th of the world's first miniature golf course. The Himalayas Putting course at St Andrews was created in 1867 specifically for female players to use. It's a wonderful course and location and a real pleasure to play.

Emily playing The Himalayas Putting course at St Andrews in 2012

Each year there are two quasi-official annual 'days' when you can celebrate the game. National Miniature Golf Day falls on the second Saturday in May. In 2017 this will be on Saturday 13th May. So even more reason to get out and have a round of (mini)golf next month!

Emily playing the Putt in the Park course at Battersea Park on Miniature Golf Day 2015

Check out the National Golf Month website and social media channels for more info and updates.

Playing on Stockwood Park's 'Mini Golf' course in Luton. My last round on the 9-hole course before we moved north last summer

From the archives - Hastings Minigolf course

A look back at the Minigolf course in Hastings.

Hastings seafront minigolf course in 2008

Back in October 2007 the Minigolf course in Hastings became the 40th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. While it looks innocent enough, it was one of the trickiest courses we've ever played!

Emily in a practice round ahead of the 2008 World Crazy Golf Championships

There are always a lot of seagulls down Hastings seafront!

Emily in action

The old first hole

The old last hole

The course in 2010

The course was replaced by a new Pirate Adventure Golf course in May 2011, which we revisited last month.

Visit the Hastings Adventure Golf course website for more information, opening times and prices. You can also download a new Hastings Adventure Golf App for Android and iPhone which allows you to earn rewards each time you play the course.

Videos:
- British Championships practice 2009
- Planet Hastings Crazy Golf Club Open 2010

Winning the American Golf Adventure Golf Pairs Regional Qualifier in Wrexham

Minigolf pairs success for Stockport and Rhyl combination.

Minigolf champs of Wrexham

Peter Jones and I have qualified for the Grand Final of American Golf's 2017 Adventure Golf Pairs Championship.

A long second putt on the first hole at Clays Golf Centre

Over the weekend we heard we'd won the Regional Qualifier played at Clays Golf Centre in Wrexham and in doing so have booked our place in the final to be played at The Belfry in September.



We can't wait to take on the challenge on the 12-hole Ryder Legends Mini Golf course there!

Playing the par-5 fifth hole at Clays Golf Centre

Links:
- American Golf
- Clays Golf Centre
- The Belfry Hotel and Resort

Related blog posts:
- Mini Golf at Clays Golf Centre in Wrexham
- 2017 American Golf Adventure Golf Championship

Videos:
- Adventure Golf at Clays Golf Centre in Wrexham 1 of 4
- Adventure Golf at Clays Golf Centre in Wrexham 2 of 4
- Adventure Golf at Clays Golf Centre in Wrexham 3 of 4
- Adventure Golf at Clays Golf Centre in Wrexham 4 of 4

The Geoff Capes Driving School in Stockport

I reckon you'd have a strong chance of passing your test if you learn to drive with Geoff Capes!

Crazy Golf at Haigh Woodland Park in Wigan

Playing the Crazy Golf course at Haigh Woodland Park in Wigan.

On Saturday 8th April we headed to Haigh Woodland Park in Wigan to compete in the first-ever Great Northern Minigolf Open competition played out on the two miniature golf courses in the park.

The course was open and proving popular

The second course we played was the old Crazy Golf course operated by the Friends of Haigh Country Park group.

The view from hole one

At £1 per game the course is the lowest price we've ever found for an 18-hole course on our travels. Amazing value for money.

My first hole in one of the day - scored on the 'windmill with no blades labyrinth' hole!

The course was incredibly popular and had a good throughput of players all day. It's an interesting layout as the course has been added to over the years so has quite a hotch potch of obstacles. Not that that is a bad thing, it was certainly unique.

The course is quite crazy

The Haigh Woodland Park Crazy Golf course was the 728th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and the 701st in the UK. It became the 428th played on our travels since September 2006. 

Some holes have newer fibreglass obstacles

Others have older obstacles

While others have a mixture of traditional and modern elements

 

A bowler hatted spider!

Humpty!!!

The tank obstacle was particularly odd and quite out of place on the course. It was an interesting and very tough hole

What a steep ramp

Emily playing the tank

The 17th

The 'green' of the 18th hole

In the second and final round of the Great Northern Minigolf Open tournament the scores were:
1st - Scott Lancley - 38
2nd - Richard Gottfried - 44
3rd - Emily Gottfried - 49
4th - John Moore - 50
5th - Russ Dent - 51
6th - Cat Patterson - 59

The competitors in the Great Northern Minigolf Open competition

Visit the Friends of Haigh Country Park website for further information and course opening times. Back in 2012 the course was partly derelict, but the Friends group have done a brilliant job of getting it spruced up and fully open again.