Eleven years of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Today we're celebrating eleven years of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour!

Back on the 30th September 2006 we played the Victory Trail course at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea, Hampshire.

Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea - where our crazy golf adventures began

At the end of the round I fired the cannon on the Lucky Last Hole to win a FREE GAME and our minigolf travels have rolled on since then.

Last year I won ANOTHER FREE GAME PASS!

Here's the blog post from our revisit to Treasure Island Adventure Golf last year.

At Treasure Island Adventure Golf

Check out this Crazy World of Minigolf Tour blog post to see the full list of courses we've visited so far.

Minigolfing in the Midlands

Earlier this month we were at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield to compete in the American Golf Adventure Golf National Championships. Travelling there and back we ticked off a fair few more minigolf courses on our to visit list and we'll have a lot of blog posts about them to come in the next few weeks.

With Humpty at Beacon Park in Lichfield

During our road-trip we visited courses in Sutton Coldfield, Lea Marston, Dorridge, Birmingham, Tamworth, Lichfield, Walsall and Stafford.

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Pennywise the Clown's amusement arcade. In Rhyl

I wonder if the pool balls float down there?

Related blog posts:
- Clown
- Pool
- Rhyl
- Amusement Arcades

Holiday on the Buses in Prestatyn

We've just returned from a Holiday on the Buses weekender at Pontins in Prestatyn.

On our roadtrip we played and revisited a number of courses in Rhos on Sea, Abergele & Pensarn, Prestatyn and Rhyl, taking our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour tally up to 783 visits overall!

The Crazy Golf course at Pontins Prestatyn Sands Holiday Village has had a lick of paint since our last visit in 2014

We've got a lot of blog posts to follow in the coming weeks.

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Holiday on the Buses

Dull, Boring Summit

“Dull, Boring Summit” to take place in Preston, Lancashire in November.

The first “Dull, Boring Summit” will take place at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) in Preston, Lancashire on Tuesday 14th November.

The Dull Men's Club - where dull men, and women who appreciate dull men, share thoughts and experiences about ordinary things

At the event keynote speaker Dr Sandi Mann, UCLAN Senior Psychology Lecturer, author of The Science of Boredom: The Upside (and Downside) of Downtime will explore the science of boredom, dull hobbies, and more.

The Dull, Boring Summit will open with an introduction from Leland Carlson, assistant vice president (the highest office) of the Dull Men’s Club, author of Dull Men of Great Britain: Celebrating the Ordinary. The event will also host the first Golden Yawny Awards, with prizes awarded to winnners of categories including:
- Person with the Most Bizarre Activity/Collection/Hobby
- Hobbyist with the longest-suffering spouse
- Public Service Award to hobbyist who does most public good
- Most expensive hobby
- Cheapest hobby

For more information about the Dull, Boring Summit visit the Dull Men's Club website.

Ghetto Golf in Digbeth, Birmingham

A sneak peak at the new Ghetto Golf indoor Crazy Golf course at The Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham.

On a recent trip to Birmingham I had a couple of hours to kill before my train back to Stockport so I had a wander to The Custard Factory in Digbeth to see if I could see any sign of the new Ghetto Golf course that is being built there.

Looking around I couldn't see any signs or branding for the course and having had a good walk around the area I guessed it could only be in one location - a hall next to an arch in the railway viaduct - so I made my inquiries there. I was right as the brand new 18-hole indoor Crazy Golf is under construction inside.

What's in the box?

It was great to meet Kip and Dan - the brains behind Ghetto Golf - and have a walk around the course. There are a LOT of things I wasn't expecting to see there and plenty of obstacles and hole designs I haven't seen before. Quite an achievement as the course visit was the 780th on my Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since 2006! It was nice to see there's going to be an indoor black light UV section of the layout too.

I can't give too much away, but if you like your minigolf to be quirky and enjoy a drink and a laugh you'll enjoy Ghetto Golf. The team at the course have been posting some teaser photos from the course on their Facebook page so do give it a like to see what's in store (quite literally in terms of the Blockbuster hole they've created!).

Ghetto Golf opens at The Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham on Friday 13th October. Check out the Ghetto Golf website for more information, opening times, prices and booking details.

If you can't wait that long you can visit the original Ghetto Golf course at Cains Brewery in Liverpool. We need to find some time to get over to Liverpool for a round there soon.

Links:
- Ghetto Golf website
- Ghetto Golf Birmingham on Facebook
- Ghetto Golf Birmingham on Twitter
- Ghetto Golf Liverpool on Facebook
- Ghetto Golf Liverpool on Twitter
- The Custard Factory website

Related blog posts:
- Graffiti
- Birmingham
- Indoor Mini Golf
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

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.

Bench with a view at the Chasewater Country Park Steam Railway

Bench with a view at the Chasewater Country Park Steam Railway in Walsall.

What a view

Related blog posts:
- Bench
- Railway

Videos:

- Steam Engine at Brownhills West station at Chasewater Country Park

- Steam Engine at Brownhills West station on the Chasewater Railway

- Departure from Brownhills West station on the Chasewater Railway

- Steam Engine at Chasewater Country Park

Link:

- Chasewater Railway

Happy Miniature Golf Day 2017!

Today is Miniature Golf Day 2017.

Happy Miniature Golf Day. Where will you be playing minigolf today?

Each year there are two quasi-official annual 'days' to celebrate the game. The second of these awareness days is Miniature Golf Day and it's ALWAYS on the 21st of September.

Playing at Championship Adventure Golf in New Brighton on National Miniature Golf Day 2017

After Miniature Golf Day the next is National Miniature Golf Day which is on Saturday 12th May 2018.

Miniature Golf Day Eve

Tomorrow is Miniature Golf Day 2017.

Where will you be playing minigolf tomorrow? Check out the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list of 780 courses we've visited over the last eleven years - there may be a course near you.

Crazy Golfing at North Marine Parade in Bridlington

Each year there are two quasi-official annual 'days' to celebrate the game. The second of these awareness days is Miniature Golf Day and it's ALWAYS on the 21st of September.

Where our Crazy Travels began back in September 2006

After tomorrow's Miniature Golf Day the next BIG minigolf day is National Miniature Golf Day which is on Saturday 12th May 2018.

Crazy Golf at Rowley Park Stadium in Stafford

A visit to the Crazy Golf course at Rowley Park Stadium in Stafford.

The 9-hole Crazy Golf course in Stafford

The 778th course we visited overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, and the last on our recent midlands road-trip, was at Rowley Park Stadium in Stafford. It was also the 750th minigolf we've visited in the UK!

Another unplayed course on our tour

The 9-hole Crazy Golf course looked like it'd been there for many many years and was in need of a bit of TLC.

Quite a water hazard

The course was an Eternit type of Miniature Golf layout, more often found in Continental Europe, although there are still a few knocking about the UK. Photos of the course from our visit on Sunday 10th September are below.

Hole 1

Hole 2

Hole 3

Hole 4

Hole 5

Hole 6

Hole 7

Hole 7's 'green' 

Hole 8

Hole 9

The 750th course visited overall was the Crazy Golf course at Coate Water Country Park in Swindon. We've also visited 28 courses overseas. As well as playing minigolf in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Jersey, we’ve travelled to minigolf courses in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden and the USA.

Link:
- Rowley Park Stadium

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Staffordshire

Have a break...

...have a KitKat.

It looks like this in-store promotion took the brand's tagline literally.

Back soon

Related blog posts:
- Funny
- Business
- Marketing
- Chocolate

Links:
- KitKat
- Nescafe

Another week and another KFC

Last week I spotted a branch of Kingtucky Fried Chicken in Manchester. Yesterday I found this KFC in Stockport.

Related blog posts:
- KFC
- Bootleg
- Stockport
- Manchester

Castle Adventure Golf at Namco Funscape in Tamworth

Playing the new Medieval-themed Adventure Golf course at Namco Funscape in Tamworth.

The Adventure Golf course has some incredible theming

On Sunday 10th September the Castle Adventure Golf course at Namco Funscape in Tamworth became the 774th visited and 460th played overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Head through the portcullis to the Castle Adventure Golf course

In our match up on the Castle Adventure Golf course I picked up the victory with a score of 55 to Emily's 62.

Putting my way to the win

We normally regard each hole on a course as a par-2 - so an 18-hole layout would be a par-36 course. In the case of Castle Adventure Golf the course par of 69 for the 18-holes is far more realistic a target as it's a very tricky course indeed.

Emily on hole 2

The 18-hole layout is certainly not the easiest course we've played! A lot of the holes are very bumpy and uphill, with extra plateaus too. That said, each of the holes is unique and the theming is some of the best we've seen on our travels.

My brother Christopher owns a suit of armour and would love the course. I was half expecting the knight to move!

A tricky circular forge hole

This hole was excellently executed

Hanging around on the Tamworth Adventure Golf course

A Ham and Egger in his element

Interestingly the course is half indoors and half outdoors - not something we've seen all that often either. Some of the outdoor holes were also under shelter too.

One of the outdoor - but under cover - holes

The last hole before heading back inside to play the 17th and 18th

Another tough hole

Under siege!

Emily wasn't on target for a lot of the round!

The 13th - one of two holes I aced

Holes 17 and 18 take you back inside

There are two routes to the hole (in a bucket) on the 18th

Visit the Tamworth Namco Funscape website for more information, opening times and prices.

Links:
- Castle Adventure Golf at Namco Funscape in Tamworth
- Namco Funscape

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Indoor Adventure Golf
- Tamworth
- Namco

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.

Ham and Eggers wanted

I spotted this boxing job advert in Stockport town centre yesterday. The advertiser had spared the expense of doing a proper job on it.

They weren't sparing in the distribution of it either as I saw it plastered all round town.

The American Golf Adventure Golf National Pairs Championship Final

Competing in the American Golf Adventure Golf National Pairs Championship Final at The Belfry.

It was superb to qualify for and compete in the first American Golf Adventure Golf National Pairs Championship Final held at The Belfry on Friday 8th September. The tournament will be broadcast on Sky Sports Golf later this year.

A pre-final interview with Gemma Care from Sky Sports

Peter and I qualified for the American Golf Adventure Golf National Pairs Championship Final by winning the Welsh Regional Qualifier at Clays Golf Centre in April.

The American Golf Adventure Golf National Pairs Championship Final was played over four rounds - two qualifying rounds of strokeplay, followed by a matchplay semi-final and a matchplay final. Peter and I played well as a team and qualified for the semi-final in second place after rounds of 35 and 34 on the 12-hole Ryder Legends Mini Golf course. We were victorious in our semi-final against the Watford qualifiers Simon and Jake Whitby, but unfortunately lost 3&2 in the final against Bristol qualifiers Simon Lee and Steve Gerrish.

Peter in action on the 3rd hole in the semi-final

Earlier this year the American Golf Adventure Golf Championship Regional Qualifying competitions were held at various American Golf centres in England, Scotland and Wales, with the winners of each moving on to the final on the Ryder Legends miniature golf course at The Belfry.

Playing hole 3 in the final

The Adventure Golf tournament was a pairs format and open to all golfers and non-golfers alike. Qualifying took place in March and April at Great Western Golf Clydebank, World of Golf Croydon, Top Golf Watford, Bristol Golf Centre, Trent Lock in Long Eaton and Clays Farm Golf Centre in Wrexham.

The American Golf tournament finals at The Belfry brought together qualifiers from eight different golf formats including 9-Hole pairs and individual, Family, Scratch, Ladies, Senior, Par-3 and Adventure Golf. The American Golf programmes will be on Sky Sports during October and November.

Links:
- American Golf
- The Belfry Hotel and Resort
- American Golf Adventure Golf Championship 2017
- American Golf Adventure Golf Championship 2017 on Today's Golfer

Related blog posts:
- American Golf
- Winning the American Golf Adventure Golf Pairs Regional Qualifier in Wrexham
- American Golf Adventure Golf Championship 2017
- Playing the Ryder Legends Mini Golf at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield

Videos:
- Playing the Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry - hole 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12