Friday, May 31, 2019

Crazy Golf at Malkins Bank Golf Club in Sandbach

Playing the Crazy Golf course at Malkins Bank Golf Club in Betchton, Sandbach, Cheshire.


Crazy Golf at Malkins Bank Golf Club in Sandbach

Last weekend we visited three miniature golf courses, the first of which was the 9-hole Swedish Felt Crazy Golf course at Malkins Bank Golf Club in Betchton, Sandbach.


Crazy Golf at Malkins Bank Golf Club in Sandbach
Playing hole 2

The course became the 518th course played and 888th visited overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


Crazy Golf at Malkins Bank Golf Club in Sandbach
Hole 1 is a clown's mouth obstacle

In our minigolf match-up Emily took the win with a score of 21 to my 22.

Crazy Golf at Malkins Bank Golf Club in Sandbach
Emily putting to victory on hole 9

We enjoyed playing the course, and while it could've done with a bit of a sweep (much of the course is underneath some trees), we couldn't grumble as it was FREE to play!

Crazy Golf at Malkins Bank Golf Club in Sandbach
Emily on hole 4

It'd be nice to spend a bit more time playing the course as there were definitely some hole-in-one opportunities on the layout.

Crazy Golf at Malkins Bank Golf Club in Sandbach
Playing hole 8

Crazy Golf at Malkins Bank Golf Club in Sandbach
On hole 9

It was interesting to see the course as it was a mixture of the Swedish Felt format of miniature golf with fibreglass Crazy Golf obstacles.

Crazy Golf at Malkins Bank Golf Club in Sandbach
Hole 1

Crazy Golf at Malkins Bank Golf Club in Sandbach
Hole 2

Crazy Golf at Malkins Bank Golf Club in Sandbach
Hole 3

Crazy Golf at Malkins Bank Golf Club in Sandbach
Hole 4

Crazy Golf at Malkins Bank Golf Club in Sandbach
Hole 5

Crazy Golf at Malkins Bank Golf Club in Sandbach
Hole 6

Crazy Golf at Malkins Bank Golf Club in Sandbach
Hole 7

Crazy Golf at Malkins Bank Golf Club in Sandbach
Hole 8

Crazy Golf at Malkins Bank Golf Club in Sandbach
Hole 9

Check out the videos below to see me playing each of the 9-holes.



















There was also a nice looking Putting Green at Malkins Bank Golf Club, but we didn't have time for a go on it. The green closest to the Crazy Golf course looked great too.

The Putting Green at Malkins Bank Golf Club in Sandbach
The Putting Green

For more information visit the Malkins Bank Golf Club website.

The Golf course at Malkins Bank Golf Club in Sandbach
The Golf course at Malkins Bank Golf Club

When we decided to have a day out in Crewe we hadn't expected to play any courses, but Emily had spotted a Mini Golf course at Queens Park in Crewe and then I found out about the course at Malkins Bank Golf Club in a follow-up search!

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When our travels began in September 2006 there were around 600 miniature golf courses in the UK. We've now reached 890 course visits, including 39 overseas.

Do you know of any new courses opening up in your area?

Do you know of an existing or old course that we haven't yet visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour?

Are you planning to open a course?

Then do get in touch and let us know. We'd love to visit and play the course, or advise on your plans.

Thursday, May 30, 2019

Adventure Golf at Worldham Golf Club in Alton

A look at the Adventure Golf course at Worldham Golf Club in Alton, Hampshire.


Adventure Golf course at Worldham Golf Club in Alton, Hampshire

Many thanks to our friend, minigolf rival and fellow Crazy Golf explorer Matt Dodd for sending over some snaps from his recent visit to the 12-hole Adventure Golf course at Worldham Golf Club in Alton, Hampshire.

Adventure Golf course at Worldham Golf Club in Alton, Hampshire
A tyre loop-di-loop

Adventure Golf course at Worldham Golf Club in Alton, Hampshire
More wheels

Adventure Golf course at Worldham Golf Club in Alton, Hampshire
That's a fine line to putt over!

For more information visit the Worldham Golf Club website.

Matt, Helen and their family have visited over 170 minigolf courses on their own Crazy Golf travels. We've met up with them - and competed against the pair - on some of them too. Check out Matt's other guest minigolf blog posts.

Putt-Putt in Cape Town, South Africa

A look at the Putt-Putt miniature golf courses at Moullie Point in Cape Town, South Africa.


Many thanks to my friend and world traveller PJ Goedhals for sending over some photos from his visit to his home town Putt Putt course in Cape Town, South Africa.


The Putt-Putt miniature golf course in Three Anchor Bay in Moullie Point Sea Point, Cape Town, South Africa by PJ Goedhals 2 May 2019
The Putt-Putt miniature golf course in Three Anchor Bay in Moullie Point / Sea Point, Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by PJ Goedhals

PJ managed to shoot an even par and the lowest round of the day!


Local champion PJ Goedhals on the Putt-Putt leaderboard in Cape Town
Local champion PJ Goedhals on the Putt-Putt leaderboard

PJ said that the courses used to be blue and orange, with the course closest in the photo being the orange course. According to his old stats, it plays about 3-4 shots tougher than the blue course.

Putt-Putt scorecard from Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by PJ Goedhals, 2 May 2019
PJ's scorecard from the round - a round of 36 on a Putt-Putt course is solid

I've blogged about the course before, the first time was after buying a postcard of it, the second time was when Adam Trigg sent me a snap of it while he was there.

Check out PJ's other guest blog posts on the Ham & Egger Files.

This year marks the 65th anniversary of the first Putt-Putt course, set-up by Don Clayton in Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA back in 1954.

We're yet to play the Putt-Putt brand of miniature golf. Sadly there are no longer any Putt-Putt courses in the UK. Hopefully we'll get to play the format on our travels in the future.

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club

Playing the Crazy Putting Challenge minigolf course at Hamptworth Golf Club.


Crazy Putting Challenge minigolf course at Hamptworth Golf Club

Our recent trip to Southampton saw us visit 18 more courses, playing eight of them. One of the courses we had a round on was the Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club in Wiltshire.


Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
On hole 4

The excellent 9-hole course was the 875th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and the 511th played.


Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
At course number 875!

We really enjoyed our game on the Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club. The staff at the club were very welcoming and we could've easily spent a few more hours enjoying the course.

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
The Rules of the Crazy Putting Challenge course

In our match-up over 18-holes I won with a score of 41 (20 and 21) to Emily's 44 (22 and 22).

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Playing hole 4

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Emily on hole 1

I played two further rounds to try to shoot a sub-20 score, but hit another 21 and 20. It's the sort of course I could've played over and over again.

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Playing hole 5

Check out my blog post with videos of me playing each of the 9-holes.


Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Teeing-off on hole 8

There was a nice little Putting Green at the Club too and a number of people were enjoying a round on the big golf course. Big being the operative word, as Hamptworth Golf Club is home to a 666 yard par-6 hole!

Putting Green at Hamptworth Golf Club
The Putting Green

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 9 was the longest hole on the Crazy Putting Challenge course

Photos of the 9-hole Crazy Putting Challenge course.

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 1

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 2

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 3

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 3

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 4

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 5

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 6

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 6
 
Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 7

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 7

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 7

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 8

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 9

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 9

Visit the Hamptworth Golf Club website for more information, opening times and prices.

Minigolf at O'Learys bar in Norrtull, Stockholm, Sweden

A look at the music-themed minigolf course at O'Learys bar in Norrtull, Stockholm, Sweden.


Many thanks to my friend and world traveller PJ Goedhals for sending over these photos from his visit to the music-themed minigolf course at O'Learys sports bar in Norrtull, Sweden.


Minigolf at O'Learys sports bar in Norrtull, Stockholm by PJ Goedhals May 2019
Hole 1

Minigolf at O'Learys sports bar in Norrtull, Stockholm by PJ Goedhals May 2019
Hole 2

Minigolf at O'Learys sports bar in Norrtull, Stockholm by PJ Goedhals May 2019
Hole 3

Minigolf at O'Learys sports bar in Norrtull, Stockholm by PJ Goedhals May 2019
Hole 4

Minigolf at O'Learys sports bar in Norrtull, Stockholm by PJ Goedhals May 2019
Hole 5

Minigolf at O'Learys sports bar in Norrtull, Stockholm by PJ Goedhals May 2019
Hole 6

Minigolf at O'Learys sports bar in Norrtull, Stockholm by PJ Goedhals May 2019
Hole 7

Minigolf at O'Learys sports bar in Norrtull, Stockholm by PJ Goedhals May 2019
Hole 8

Minigolf at O'Learys sports bar in Norrtull, Stockholm by PJ Goedhals May 2019
Hole 9

Visit the O'Learys website for more information, opening times and prices for the 9-hole miniature golf course.

Last year we visited nine courses on a 42-hour trip to Sweden. One of those was the Sports World Minigolf course at O'Learys in the Mall of Scandinavia. It was the 473rd course we played, 801st visited overall and the 32nd we'd been to overseas. We've now visited 890 courses since September 2006.

There's certainly plenty to see and do in Stockholm and hopefully when we return we'll have more than a couple of days to fit stuff in!

Check out PJ's other guest blog posts on the Ham & Egger Files.

We've also got a lot of other blog posts about Sweden on the site.