Wednesday, March 27, 2019

The Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes

A visit to the Arnold Palmer Mini Golf course in Cleethorpes.



Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes

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


Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes

We'd visited Cleethorpes once before, back in May 2011. Unfortunately the course was closed on that occasion. Luckily the 18-hole course was open this time and I enjoyed a few games on the excellent layout during our few days in town.

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes

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

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes

Photos from my visit on the 19th May 2018.


Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes

Monday, March 25, 2019

Terry's Traditional Crazy Golf course and Putting Green in Cleethorpes

Playing Terry's Traditional Crazy Golf and Putting in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire.


Terry's Traditional Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes

On our holiday in Cleethorpes last May we revisited a number of miniature golf courses, two of which were Terry's Traditional Crazy Golf and Putting Green.

Terry's Traditional Crazy Golf course and Putting Green in Cleethorpes

Terry's Traditional Crazy Golf course and Putting Green in Cleethorpes

Luckily the courses were open during our stay so we were able to have a round.

Terry's Traditional Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes

Terry's Traditional Putting Green in Cleethorpes

Terry's Traditional Crazy Golf course was the 483rd played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. The Putting Green was the 484th played.

Terry's Traditional Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes

We'd originally visited the two courses in May 2011.

Terry's Traditional Crazy Golf course.

Terry's Traditional Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes

Terry's Traditional Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes

Terry's Traditional Putting Green.

Terry's Traditional Putting Green in Cleethorpes

Terry's Traditional Putting Green in Cleethorpes

Terry's Traditional Putting Green in Cleethorpes

Terry's Traditional Putting Green in Cleethorpes

Terry's Traditional Putting Green in Cleethorpes

Terry's Traditional Putting Green in Cleethorpes

Related blog posts:
Cleethorpes
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
Terry's Traditional Crazy Golf and Putting in Cleethorpes (2011)
- Terry's Traditional Crazy Golf and Putting in Cleethorpes (2018)

Gluten free in Leeds

A gluten free day out in Leeds.


Last Saturday we visited the Gluten Free Food Fair organised by Leeds Coeliac Group at Pudsey Civic Hall. It was the first gluten free food fair we've been to in a while and it was nice to buy some cakes and savouries from some new suppliers.

About to eat my first Jam Doughnut in over a decade!
About to eat my first Jam Doughnut in over a decade!

We bought some brilliant food and drink from Wildcraft Gluten Free Bakery, Lottie's BakehouseK&N's Gluten Free Kitchen, Gluten Freekz, Barkat and Green's Beers.

We couldn't be near Leeds and not have a meal at our favourite restaurant, The Oxford Place. Once again we had a superb meal, although after scoffing the jam doughnut from Wildcraft Bakery earlier in the day I only had room for two courses.

Gluten free meal at The Oxford Place in Leeds
I had the Pan Seared King Scallops with Samphire, Tomato and Shallot to start

Gluten free meal at The Oxford Place in Leeds
Emily had the Duncombe Park Shot Pheasant & Black Pudding Terrine, Homemade Piccalilli and Sweet Onion Marmalade for her starter

Gluten free meal at The Oxford Place in Leeds
We both had a Gourmet Beef Burger with Smoked Mango Chutney, Harrogate Blue Cheese & Skinny Frites for our main course

Gluten free meal at The Oxford Place in Leeds
A very happy Coeliac

Sunday, March 24, 2019

Watch me on The Chase

I've been reliably informed that my episode of The Chase is being repeated on Challenge next Tuesday, 2nd April. It's one day late if you ask me!

Richard Gottfried on The Chase
You can watch my appearance on The Chase at 8pm on Tuesday 2nd April. It's repeated again at 1am on the 3rd

I was a contestant on Series 5, Episode 39 of the long-running ITV quiz show. The episode was filmed in 2011 and aired in March 2012.

Related blog posts:
- Appearing on ITV's The Chase!
- The Chase

Thursday, March 21, 2019

Playing Dino Falls Adventure Golf at the Trafford Golf Centre

A revisit to the Dino Falls Adventure Golf course at the Trafford Golf Centre.



Dino Falls Adventure Golf course at the Trafford Golf Centre
Hole 1 of the 18-hole Dino Falls Adventure Golf course

Yesterday evening we visited the Trafford Golf Centre in Manchester for a round on one of our local minigolf courses. Our friend and new minigolf rival Celine joined us for the round - and almost won!

Dino Falls Adventure Golf course at the Trafford Golf Centre
Celine playing a shot on hole 2 of the course

In our match-up I took the win with a round of 42. Emily was second on 43, with Celine third on 48. Emily and Celine had both completed the front-9 with scores of 20, while I hit 22.

Dino Falls Adventure Golf course at the Trafford Golf Centre
Emily and a T-Rex

Dino Falls Adventure Golf course at the Trafford Golf Centre
Playing a shot at Dino Falls Adventure Golf

Check out the Dino Falls Adventure Golf course website for more information, opening times and prices.

Dino Falls Adventure Golf course at the Trafford Golf Centre

The team at the Trafford Golf Centre have plans to open a second 18-hole adventure golf course at the site. You can understand why when you see how busy and popular the course is, especially when the sun is out.

Dino Falls Adventure Golf course at the Trafford Golf Centre

Dino Falls Adventure Golf was the 476th course played and 792nd visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Dino Falls Adventure Golf course at the Trafford Golf Centre

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Entries open for the 2019 World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings

Entry to the World Crazy Golf Championships is now open.

The 2019 World Crazy Golf Championships will be hosted at Hastings Adventure Golf

Entries to the 2019 World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings are now open.

For the first time in its 17-year history the World Crazy Golf Championships is including a new junior competition category too.

Taking place at Hastings Adventure Golf in East Sussex from the 7th to 9th June the World Crazy Golf Championships boasts a £4,500 prize fund.

Each category competes for a separate prize fund. A £3,000 prize fund is allocated to the professional category, with the overall winner scooping £1,000 - the largest winner's prize in minigolf. A separate prize fund of £1,500 is allocated to the novice category. There are also opportunities for team entries in both the novice and professional categories. The junior category will have awards for first, second and third place.

The reigning and defending World Crazy Golf Champion - Marc 'The Force' Chapman
The reigning and defending World Crazy Golf Champion - Marc 'The Force' Chapman

The junior category is open to those aged 8 to 14 and will be played on Friday 7th June at 5.30pm. The novice competition category, that was introduced two years ago, will continue to be played over one day, Saturday 8th June, while the Crazy Golf Professional category is played over two days, Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th June.

Simon Tompkins of Hastings Adventure Golf said “We are thrilled to introduce the junior category to this year’s championships. The three separate competitive categories - professional, novice and junior, help make the championships even more inclusive."

He added “The novice category was established two years to give non-professionals an event of their own. Now the addition of the junior category makes the championships an open playing field for younger players too. So get the putters polished and start practicing!”

All competitors must beat the windmill and watermill as well as negotiate the bends, twists and ramps on the traditional seaside course at Hastings Adventure Golf – dubbed the UK’s ‘spiritual home of mini golf’.

The windmill hole at Hastings. One of the 18-holes competitors will have to tackle in the World Crazy Golf Championships
The windmill hole at Hastings. One of the 18-holes competitors will have to tackle in the World Crazy Golf Championships

Following last year’s fantastic efforts, there will again be prizes for 'best dressed' and 'personality of the competition'.

This is the 17th year that Hastings Adventure Golf has hosted the World Crazy Golf Championships - an event that is now firmly considered the pinnacle competition for Crazy Golfers in the UK and beyond.

Competitors can enter the 2019 World Crazy Golf Championships via the Hastings Adventure Golf website. All entrants are entitled to half price practice on the Crazy Golf course at the complex.

2018 saw the largest number of competitors in the field since 2005. Marc 'The Force' Chapman from Kent was crowned the World Crazy Golf Champion and scooped the £1,000 top prize. His score was 226, 26 under par, beating the 2017 top score of 235, 17 under par recorded by the Czech Republic’s Olivia Prokopova.

Commenting on his big win Marc said “It felt amazing to finally become the World Crazy Golf Champion! It was a great personal ambition of mine to win the event and I had been close to it a few times before - which made the win even more amazing!”

Adam Kelly took the runner-up prize of £750 and Michael Smith, former World Crazy Golf Champion, took home £500 for third place.

The novice title and £500 went to Russell Smith from Tunbridge Wells. The runner-up Chris Horn took home £300, while third place went to Italian player Mark Berezicki who won £200.

* Players are classified as a novice if they:
- have not entered the World Crazy Golf Championships before.
- are not a recognised international player.
- have not finished in the top ten of a British Minigolf Association tour event.

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in the UK

A look at Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in the UK.


Crazy Golf course in Prestatyn
A view of the Arnold Palmer Putting course in Prestatyn

Arnold Palmer Putting Courses are a design classic and include all the elements that make a Crazy Golf course great – the Windmill, the Waterwheel, an Obelisk, ledges, bunkers, traps, flat loops, hills and plateaus – everything laid out to make a course interesting, testing and most of all fun!


The Windmill at Hastings Crazy Golf course - home of the World Crazy Golf Championships
The Windmill at Hastings Crazy Golf course - home of the World Crazy Golf Championships

Crazy Golf - and Arnold Palmer Putting Courses - are as much a part of the British seaside as fish & chips, sunburn, buckets & spades and drizzle.


The Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Whitby
Emily playing the Windmill hole at Whitby

The Arnold Palmer branded miniature golf courses were part of the Arnold Palmer Enterprises empire set-up in 1961 that saw the legendary golfer's name licensed and franchised to a wide-range of activities and products including Dry Cleaning centres and an Arnold Palmer brand foot detergent.

Pencils from the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Prestatyn
Pencils from the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Prestatyn

A scorecard from the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleehorpes
A scorecard from the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleehorpes
  
My brother Christopher recently found this Free Game Pass for the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Hastings while looking through our old family photo albums. One of us must have won it on a holiday there in the 80's or 90's!

I managed to win a free game at the Whitby Arnold Palmer course
I managed to win a free game at the Whitby Arnold Palmer course on our visit in 2015

A scorecard from the Arnold Palmer Minigolf course in Southend-on-Sea
A scorecard from the Arnold Palmer Minigolf course in Southend-on-Sea

By 1966 there were 130 Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in the USA, with ten in Japan and some in South Africa.

The Masters Putting Course in Southport was one of the first Arnold Palmer Putting Courses to open in the UK
The Masters Putting Course in Southport was one of the first Arnold Palmer Putting Courses to open in the UK

The first Arnold Palmer Putting Course in the UK opened in Coventry in 1965 and was part of an Arnold Palmer Driving Range. A course was also located at a Driving Range in Sheffield.

A scorecard from the Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in Skegness
A scorecard from the Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in Skegness - this has a wonderful listing of other courses. Some of these still exist, while others have closed

Sadly over the years a number of Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in the UK have been closed, abandoned, demolished or converted beyond recognition.

The Oval, Cliftonville, PT4419. Postally used postcard postmarked from Thanet, Kent on the 24 September 1975. By Photo Precision Limited, St. Ives, Huntingdon
The Oval, Cliftonville, PT4419. Postally used postcard postmarked from Thanet, Kent on the 24th September 1975. By Photo Precision Limited, St. Ives, Huntingdon

In recent years the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Exmouth has been demolished, while the two Arnold Palmer courses in Great Yarmouth have been replaced by one Adventure Golf course. The two courses in Cliftonville, Margate were closed in 2014 and removed shortly after. The course that was once in Folkestone is no longer playable - as it was used to make an art installation.

18-holes Crazy Golf Art Installation in Folkestone
This is what happened to the Folkestone Arnold Palmer Putting Course!

Luckily, one of the very best examples of an Arnold Palmer Putting Course can still be found at Hastings Adventure Golf in East Sussex. The 18-hole Crazy Golf course is celebrating it's 44th birthday this year, having opened on Saturday 21st March 1975.

A postally unused Hastings Mini Golf postcard C6911 by Judges Limited Hastings
A postally unused Hastings Mini Golf postcard C6911 by Judges Limited Hastings. The player is on hole 12. That hole looks the same today

A postally used postcard showing Hastings Crazy Golf. Postmark of 29 July 1976. Published by Photo Precision Limited. Code PLX3778
A postally used postcard showing Hastings Crazy Golf. Postmark of 29th July 1976. Published by Photo Precision Limited. Code PLX3778

Hastings Crazy Golf in 2015
Hastings Crazy Golf in 2015

The Hastings course was the 39th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2007 and is one of our favourite layouts. We've played there a number of times over the years and competed in the World Crazy Golf Championships on the course between 2007 and 2015.

World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings
Playing in the 2015 World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings

You can still find playable examples of Arnold Palmer Putting Courses - in varying conditions and some with modifications - in the following locations:

  • Bognor Regis - built in 1993
  • Broadstairs
  • Caister-on-Sea (Haven Holiday Park)
  • Canvey Island (9 holes of an 18 hole course remain)
  • Cleethorpes
  • Filey (Primrose Valley Holiday Park)
  • Gorleston-on-Sea
  • Hastings
  • Mablethorpe (Haven Golden Sands Caravan Holiday Park)
  • Mablethorpe (Hooks Island)
  • Prestatyn
  • Skegness x2 (9 and 18 hole courses)
  • Southend-on-Sea (1 of 2 courses remain - the 'East' course) - upgraded
  • Southport
  • Weston-Super-Mare
  • Whitby


For a time there was also a new type of 'Arnold Palmer Putting Course' in Shanklin on the Isle of Wight. Formerly a Beton-style of Miniature Golf, it received a refurbishment a few years ago and became an oversized version of many of the courses listed above! However, it was recently renovated once again and is now a dinosaur Adventure Golf course.

Crazy Golf course at Shanklin Seafront
The Arnold Palmer-style Crazy Golf course at Shanklin Seafront in 2016

Lost Arnold Palmer Putting Courses:

  • Ayr (Haven Craig Tara Holiday Park, formerly Butlin's)
  • Battersea
  • Blackpool, Starr Gate
  • Bognor Regis (Butlin's)
  • Camber Sands - now a Car Park
  • Cliftonville, Margate (2 courses)
  • Coventry
  • Eastbourne
  • Exmouth
  • Folkestone - now an Art Installation on Beach Huts!
  • Goodrington
  • Great Yarmouth (2 courses) - turned into Castaway Adventure Golf
  • Hornsea Potteries
  • Hove
  • Ladram Bay
  • Leicester
  • Manchester
  • Minehead (Butlin's)
  • Nottingham
  • Prestatyn
  • Pwhelli (Butlin's)
  • Rhyl
  • Scarborough
  • Sheffield
  • South Shields
  • Southend-on-Sea ('West' course demolished)
  • Tynemouth
  • Weymouth
  • Whitley Bay
  • Withernsea


Here's to many more years of enjoyment playing the Arnold Palmer Putting Courses that remain.

Skegness Arnold Palmer Putting Course
Playing at the Skegness Arnold Palmer Putting Course in 2015

If you know of any Arnold Palmer Putting Courses missing from the lists above do get in touch.

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes

We have been travelling on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006 and in that time have visited 859 courses. 821 of them have been in the British Isles and 38 overseas.

At the Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in Skegness
At the Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in Skegness

Of the 859 courses we've visited, 25 have been Arnold Palmer Putting Course locations.

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Great Yarmouth
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Great Yarmouth

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Great Yarmouth
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Great Yarmouth

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Great Yarmouth
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Great Yarmouth

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Blackpool
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Blackpool

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Blackpool
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Blackpool

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Exmouth
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Exmouth

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Exmouth
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Exmouth

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Mablethorpe
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Mablethorpe

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness
  
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Whitby
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Whitby

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Whitby
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Whitby

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Whitby
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Whitby

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Whitby
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Whitby

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Southport
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Southport

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Broadstairs
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Broadstairs

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Broadstairs
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Broadstairs

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Weston-Super-Mare
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Weston-Super-Mare

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Weston-Super-Mare
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Weston-Super-Mare

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Gorleston-on-Sea
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Gorleston-on-Sea

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Gorleston-on-Sea
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Gorleston-on-Sea

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Southend-on-Sea
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Southend-on-Sea

The old Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Southend-on-Sea before it was completely removed
The old Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Southend-on-Sea before it was completely removed 

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course at the Little Oasis in Cliftonville, Margate shortly before it was completely removed
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course at the Little Oasis in Cliftonville, Margate shortly before it was completely removed 

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Canvey Island. This used to be an 18-hole course. When I played it only 9-holes remained
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Canvey Island. This used to be an 18-hole course. When I played it only 9-holes remained 

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Prestatyn
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Prestatyn

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Bognor Regis
The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Bognor Regis

Related blog posts:

- Arnold Palmer Putting Courses
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour