Friday, September 28, 2018

12 years of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

This Sunday marks 12 years since we began our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour down on the south coast of England at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea, Hampshire.


At Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea on the tenth anniversary of our tour
At Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea on the tenth anniversary of our tour

At the end of the round on the Victory Trail Adventure Golf course I fired the cannon on the Lucky Last Hole to win a FREE GAME and our minigolf travels have rolled on since then. How different would our lives have been if I'd missed my shot on the final hole?



Adding another FREE GAME card to my collection
Adding another FREE GAME card to my collection

We last played the course on the 30th September 2016 and I won another FREE GAME. I also won a FREE GAME when we revisited the course on the fifth anniversary of our tour on the 30th September 2011. Incredibly I won again on the 7th August 2015!

Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea
Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea

I've never used the prize vouchers - instead they are safely deposited in the Crazy Golf Museum.

A FREE GAME PASS from Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea
The infamous FREE GAME PASS!

Since 2006 we've visited a total of 846 miniature golf courses in the UK and overseas. 38 of the courses have been overseas, with 808 of them in the British Isles.

We've certainly logged some miles and spent some dough on our pursuit!

While we've been able to play a lot of the courses multiple times, some of those locations we've visited have been closed, derelict or abandoned. As of last weekend we've played a total of 500 different courses, with number 500 being the unique indoor miniature golf course at Holey Molies in Skelton-in-Cleveland.

Playing at Holey Molies Miniature Golf in Skelton-in-Cleveland
Playing at Holey Molies Miniature Golf

When our travels began on the 30th September 2006 there were approximately 600 courses in the UK. That number has skyrocketed and the figure is now closer to the 1,000 mark. A phenomenal number, especially when you consider how many courses have closed in the last decade too.

The game is experiencing a real boom, with a range of unique and interesting minigolf layouts opening up. From Crazy Golf bars, to jungle-themed Adventure Golf courses, to traditional seaside courses and classic putting greens there is a rich variety of courses to play.

Earlier this year we had a crazy 42-hours in Sweden where we were able to visit nine courses, including our 800th overall - at Swing by Golfbaren in Stockholm.

Swing by Golfbaren in Stockholm
At Swing by Golfbaren in Stockholm

Since that trip in February it's amazing to think we've reached the 846 mark!

We're looking forward to the next 12 years and beyond. It won't be long until we hit the magical 1,000 courses visited milestone either.

Check out our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list of courses for links to the places we've been.

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Treetop Adventure Golf at The Printworks in Manchester

A visit to the new indoor Treetop Adventure Golf course at The Printworks in Manchester.


Treetop Adventure Golf course at The Printworks in Manchester

On Thursday 6th September we visited the new Treetop Adventure Golf venue at The Printworks in Manchester city centre. It's a superb setting.

Treetop Adventure Golf course at The Printworks in Manchester
The Tropical Trail Adventure Golf course, #800 on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour travels

The visit to the brilliant courses also made a new piece of minigolf history as they were the 799th and 800th courses we've visited in the British Isles, bringing our total to 838 courses visited since September 2006.

Treetop Adventure Golf course at The Printworks in Manchester
We really liked the big features on the course,

The first Treetop Adventure Golf location opened in Cardiff in 2015 and like that site the new Manchester location features two 18-hole courses.

Treetop Adventure Golf course at The Printworks in Manchester
I really liked the snake on the 17th hole

The venue has excellent theming and very playable holes. It's not an easy layout and that's a good thing. You can plan your shots to get some skillful holes-in-one.

Treetop Adventure Golf course at The Printworks in Manchester
Although neither of us managed to score an ace on the Lucky Last Hole

Treetop Adventure Golf course at The Printworks in Manchester
The Lucky Last Hole

In our first game on the Ancient Explorer course Emily stormed to victory with a round of 37 to my 40, scoring three holes-in-one in the process.

Treetop Adventure Golf course at The Printworks in Manchester
The Rules

Treetop Adventure Golf course at The Printworks in Manchester
Emily on her way to victory

Treetop Adventure Golf course at The Printworks in Manchester
There are some really tricky greens on the course

In our second game, played on the Tropical Trail course I managed to win with a score of 37 to Emily's 45.

Treetop Adventure Golf course at The Printworks in Manchester
The Rules

Treetop Adventure Golf course at The Printworks in Manchester
A big tree that plays a part in three of the holes

Treetop Adventure Golf course at The Printworks in Manchester
You really have to see hole 8 of the Tropical Trail course in real life in order to get a sense of how difficult it is!

Treetop Adventure Golf course at The Printworks in Manchester
I was as happy as this tree with my win on the Tropical Trail

Emily won the Aces Championship, shooting five in total compared to my three.

Treetop Adventure Golf course at The Printworks in Manchester
The theming and attention to detail at the course is excellent

We're looking forward to a return visit to see if we can reach the top of the leader-board.

Treetop Adventure Golf course at The Printworks in Manchester
Simi, the Treetop mascot

Treetop Adventure Golf course at The Printworks in Manchester
Treetop Golf is a high quality venue and well worth a visit

The team at Treetop Adventure Golf are also opening a course at the Highcross Shopping Centre in Leicester. We're looking forward to playing there on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour when it opens in 2019.

Related blog posts:
Treetop Adventure Golf
Indoor Adventure Golf
Manchester

Links:
Treetop Adventure Golf website
The Printworks website

Friday, September 21, 2018

Happy Miniature Golf Day

Today is Miniature Golf Day 2018!


Happy Miniature Golf Day. Where will you be playing a game (or two) of 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.

We played the Crazy Golf course at Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea on Miniature Golf Day last year

The Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea became the 462nd played and 781st visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

After this particular Miniature Golf Day the next is National Miniature Golf Day. That 'minigolf day' falls on the second Saturday in May. In 2019 it'll be on Saturday 11th May.

Related blog posts:

Saturday, September 08, 2018

It's a year since the American Golf National Adventure Golf Championships

Looking back at the Grand Final of the American Golf National Adventure Golf Championships on Sky Sports Golf.


Peter Jones and I competed in the tournament held at The Belfry Hotel & Resort on the 8th September 2017, with the event shown on Sky Sports Golf in November last year.



The minigolf tournament was part of the Family Championship episode as shown on Sky Sports Golf last November. The National Adventure Golf Championships can be seen from 26m 55s.

The American Golf National Adventure Golf Championships at The Belfry
Peter in action on the 3rd hole in the semi-final


The American Golf National Adventure Golf Championships at The Belfry
Playing hole 3 in the final

The American Golf Championship Tour Season Review programme can also be watched on the American Golf YouTube Channel with the Adventure Golf event at 31m 33s.

A pre-final interview with Gemma Care from Sky Sports
A pre-final interview with Gemma Care from Sky Sports

Links:
American Golf Finals 2017 - Family Golf and Adventure Golf Championships
American Golf

Related blog posts:
American Golf
The American Golf Adventure Golf National Pairs Championship Final
Ryder Legends Mini Golf at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield