Tuesday, March 31, 2020

A postcard from Butlin's Pwllheli

A look at The Putting Greens and Lawns at Butlin's Pwllheli.


The recent Stockport postcard fair was a goldmine of old miniature golf postcards.


One of which was this card showing The Putting Greens and Lawns at Butlin's Pwllheli.


Butlin's Pwllheli The Putting Greens and Lawns. CT1306. 1 June 1964
Butlin's Pwllheli The Putting Greens and Lawns. CT1306. Posted from the camp to Boston, Lincolnshire on the 1st June 1964

My family often went on holiday to Butlin's holiday camps in Minehead, Bognor Regis and Ayr - and I spent many summers in the 80's and 90's at the Barry Island Holiday Camp, which was formerly a Butlin's camp.

Butlin's Somerwest World Monorail. From the Gottfried family photo archive 2019
My brother Christopher foudnd this snap of us riding the monorail at Butlin's Minehead back in the early 90's while looking through some old family photos

Scorecards from Swansea Crazy Golf

A pair of old scorecards from Swansea Crazy Golf.


I bought two old Swansea Crazy Golf scorecards at the last postcard fair I attended in Stockport.


One is an adult ticket/scorecard and the other is for a child.


They're lovely items.

Scorecard from Swansea Crazy Golf

Scorecard from Swansea Crazy Golf

Scorecard from Swansea Crazy Golf

Scorecard from Swansea Crazy Golf

Very rulesy!

Has anyone ever met a Crazy Golf course Ticket Inspector?

We played the two Crazy Golf courses in Swansea back in 2009. I'll have to dig out the scorecards from those games to compare.

Crazy Golf at Southend Park in The Mumbles Swansea
Crazy Golf at Southend Park in The Mumbles Swansea

It's interesting to note the scorecards were printed in Ashton-under-Lyne. Looking online Williamson was a big printing business and produced tickets for all many of events, activities and transport. The business was sold in the late 1970's.

Printed in Ashton-under-Lyne for a course in Swansea and bought in Stockport from a seller from Southport.

Minigolf on the Great Orme in Llandudno

One of the funniest things I've seen during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown are the photos and videos of the mountain goats roaming around Llandudno town centre. They've got free reign as streets are free of people.

We really like visiting Llandudno and the Great Orme. The mountain is home to three miniature golf courses!

Alpine Adventure Golf course on the Great Orme in Llandudno

We haven't seen any mountain goats up there, but it was fun seeing the sheep there roaming freely near the toboggan run


The Rocky Pines Adventure Golf course at the summit is the highest minigolf course in the British Isles.

Rocky Pines Adventure Golf in Llandudno

Half way down is the Alpine Adventure Golf course at the Llandudno Ski and Snowboard Centre.

Alpine Adventure Golf course on the Great Orme in Llandudno

If you head down to the town centre you'll find a Pitch & Putt course.

Great Orme Family Golf in Llandudno

Once the world re-opens we're really looking forward to getting back out to the seaside.

Half way up the Great Orme in Llandudno

Monday, March 30, 2020

Happy National Pencil Day

A selection of minigolf pencils from our travels.


Minigolf pencils

Thanks to the Derwent Pencil Museum for reminding us of this important day.


We love playing minigolf courses and it's brilliant when we find one that has branded pencils to score the game with.


It's a superb bit of minigolf marketing too.

If you'd like your minigolf course pencil (or other items of merch and ephemera) displayed and archived in the Crazy Golf Museum please do get in touch.

Just one of the many minigolf pencils in the Crazy Golf Museum - from the Wye Valley Miniatvre Golf course in Symonds Yat West
Just one of the many minigolf pencils in the Crazy Golf Museum - from the Wye Valley Miniatvre Golf course in Symonds Yat West

You can see miniature golf course pens and pencils on the Crazy Golf Museum website
.

A scorecard and pencils from Disney's Winter Summerland Miniature Golf in Orlando, Florida from our friend Shelley Barrett
A scorecard and pencils from Disney's Winter Summerland Miniature Golf in Orlando, Florida from our friend Shelley Barrett

Arnold Palmer Putting Courses Crazy Golf pencils from the course in Prestatyn
Arnold Palmer Putting Courses Crazy Golf pencils from the course in Prestatyn

A pencil from Lumberjax Mini Golf in New Zealand from our friend James Astrop
A pencil from Lumberjax Mini Golf in New Zealand from our friend James Astrop

A pencil from Urban Putt in San Francisco from our friend and minigolf rival (and sometimes team-mate) Kevin Moseley
A pencil from Urban Putt in San Francisco from our friend and minigolf rival (and sometimes team-mate) Kevin Moseley

Doug Fishbone's Leisure Land Golf minigolf pencil
A pencil from Doug Fishbone's Leisure Land Golf

Minigolf pencil from Swing by Golfbaren in Stockholm, Sweden
Minigolf pencil from Swing by Golfbaren in Stockholm, Sweden 

A pencil from Swingers Crazy Golf in London
A pencil from Swingers Crazy Golf in London

A pencil from the CLUB GOLF crazy golf pop-up at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
A pencil from the CLUB GOLF crazy golf pop-up at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London. This was the last course I played before the UK went into coronavirus pandemic lockdown / quarantine

An old postcard from the Putting Green, Denton Gardens, Worthing

Minigolf was first played in Denton Gardens on Tuesday 1st July 1924.


You can still enjoy a round of miniature golf on the Splash Point Mini Golf course there.


Splash Point Mini Golf was the 181st played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


Putting Green, Denton Gardens, Worthing. Photogravure by S. & E. Ltd., Hastings. Postally unused. Undated
Putting Green, Denton Gardens, Worthing. Photogravure by S. & E. Ltd., Hastings. Postally unused. Undated

Related blog posts:
A Putting Green postcard from Denton Park in Worthing
Splash Point Mini Golf
Worthing

An old Crazy Golf course at Alum Chine in Bournemouth

A look at an old minigolf course at Alum Chine in Bournemouth.


I bought a number of superb old postcards at the last fair I attended, one of them was this cracking old card showing a temporary / portable Crazy Golf course at Alum Chine, Bournemouth. It was printed by Deardon & Wade Bournemouth. It's postally unused and undated.


Postcard of Alum Chine, Bournemouth. Printed by Deardon & Wade Bournemouth.Postally unused. Undated
Postcard of Alum Chine, Bournemouth. Printed by Deardon & Wade Bournemouth.Postally unused. Undated

It's brilliant seeing old, long-gone miniature golf courses depicted on postcards. Portable and pop-up minigolf courses are very often seen as a modern thing. However there have been a number of seasonal set-ups at seaside locations over the years.



We were really looking forward to revisiting Bournemouth, Boscombe, Southbourne, Poole and Sandbanks next month. That trip is now postponed until next year.

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Richard Gottfried - Minigolf Player Profile

Richard Gottfried is a minigolf enthusiast and has played the game since he was a child.


A five-time winner on the UK national minigolf circuit, including two BMGA British Club Championships, he has been a four-time finalist in the World Crazy Golf Championships, and has represented Great Britain in Nations Cup international tournaments in Finland and Sweden.

He was runner-up in American Golf's Adventure Golf Pairs Championship National Final, televised on Sky Sports, and is a winner of several independent Open and Masters titles.

As a global miniature golfer, Richard is currently a member of the American Mini Golf Alliance (AMA) and Putt18 World Pro League. A winner of  The Putt Park Annual Mini-Golf Tournament in Las Vegas, he has also been a member of domestic minigolf clubs including the Midlands Mini Golf Club (MMGC), the Green Mini Golf Club (GMGC), and the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club.

Richard is featured in the 2024 Guinness World Records as the record holder for "Most miniature golf courses visited" (902 at the time of going to press).

His minigolfing exploits have received coverage in online, broadcast and print media including the BBC, ITV, Sky Sports, Channel 5, The Guardian, The Independent, The Daily Telegraph, Metro, The Mirror, The Sun, The Star, The Daily Mail, the Manchester Evening News, Eastern Daily Press, Today's Golfer, GolfPunk Magazine, InterGame, InterFun, In A Pub Magazine, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC local and regional radio, Heart Radio, talkSPORT, and more.

Richard's involvement in the world of minigolf extends beyond competitions, and includes blogging, media relations, sponsorship, course design, advice and consultancy, content generation, digital marketing and new technology, event organisation and promotion.

Champion minigolfer Richard Gottfried

Miniature Golf Player Profile - Richard Gottfried


Nickname
Squire

Putter
Fun-Sports

Laterality
Right-handed

Favourite Minigolf Balls
Finnish Heavy Gentlemen 100-Year Anniversary (3D)
NIFO 2
Tim 'Ace Man' Davies Legends Ball (M&G)

Tour Memberships
American Mini Golf Alliance (AMA) 2022-present
Putt18 World Pro League 2020-present
British Minigolf Association (BMGA) 2007-2018
American Golf Championship Tour 2017

British Minigolf Association (BMGA) Membership
Member 2016-2018
BMGA Tour Pro 2011-2015
Full member 2007-2010

BMGA Tour Debut
2007 - BMGA British Masters

Minigolf Club Membership
2020-2024 - Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club
2007-2020 - Midlands Minigolf Club (MMGC)
2010-2011 - Green Mini Golf Club (GMGC)

BMGA Tour Competition Victories
BMGA British Club Championships (w/ Midlands MGC) 2015
BMGA & Putterfingers Oswestry Games Minigolf Championship 2012
Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open 2009
Manchester Miniature Open 2009
Manchester Mini Masters 2009
Weymouth Open 2008
BMGA British Club Championships (w/ Midlands MGC) 2008

Richard Gottfried - Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Champion 2018
Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Champion 2018

Other Notable Wins
Winner - Putt18 Battle of the Brits 2021
Winner - Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Championships 2018
Winner - Low Score of the Week (qualifying for the end of season tournament) at Southwold Putting & Cafe on the Green 2018
Winner - The DinoFalls Masters 2018
Winner - MMGC DinoFalls Invitational Tournament 2018
Winner - The Butler Cup 2017
Winner (w/ P. Jones) - American Golf's Adventure Golf Pairs Championship Regional Qualifier (Wales) at Clays Golf Centre 2017
Winner - Southend Arnold Palmer Classic 2016
Winner - Southend Pier Invitational Tournament 2016
Winner - Hole-In-One Charity Challenge at the BMGA British Championships 2015
Winner - Dunton Hills Invitational 2015
Winner - Hole-In-One Charity Challenge at the BMGA British Championships 2014
Aces Champion - BMGA British Masters 2014
Winner - Chrizy Golf Masters - 2012
Winner - Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Championship August Playoff - Final - 2012
Winner - Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Championship June Playoff - 2012
Winner - The Putt Park Annual Mini-Golf Tournament (Las Vegas) - 2011
Winner - Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament) 2011
Winner (w/ C. Harding) - Weymouth Open Team Tournament - 2011
Winner - First edition of the Green Mini Golf Club (GMGC) Club Tournament 2010
Winner (w/ M. Smith & J. Davies) - Kent Open Team Tournament 2010
Aces Champion - Midland Open 2010
Five-time Scrap Iron Cup Champion

Other Notable Results
Runner-up (w/ S. Kukielka) - Welsh Mini Golf Club Doubles Championship 2019
Runner-up (w/ P. Jones) - American Golf's Adventure Golf Pairs Championship National Final 2017
Runner-up - Great Northern Minigolf Open - 2017
Runner-up - National Miniature Golf Day Tournament 2016 & 2019
Runner-up - Surrey Invitational Tournament 2014 & 2016
Runner-up (w/ Midlands Minigolf Club 1st team - M.Smith, C.Harding, R.Gottfried & C.Smith) - BMGA British Open Team Championship 2014
Runner-up - Category 2 BMGA British Minigolf Championships 2012
Runner-up - The Brewmaster's Open 2012
Runner-up - Birdies Pop Up Golf Official Launch Night Competition 2011
Runner-up - Putterfingers Micro Putt Mini Golf Competition 2011
Runner-up - 1st Annual Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt 2011
Runner-up (w/ W. Collins) - Lost World Adventure Golf Pro-Am Classic 2011
Runner-up - London Invitational Tournament 2011
Runner-up - BMGA British Matchplay Championships 2010
Runner-up - Midlands Invitational Tournament 2010
Runner-up (w/ Leo Kukielka) - Codonas Classic 2010
Runner-up - Spring Classic 2010
Runner-up - Weymouth Open 2009
Runner-up - London Open 2009
Runner-up - Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament) 2009
Runner-up - Adventure Island Mini Golf League 2008
3rd - Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Championships 2019
3rd - Surrey Invitational Tournament 2019
3rd - The Butler Cup 2018
3rd - Midlands Invitational Tournament 2015
3rd - Midlands Open 2015
3rd (w/ Midlands Minigolf Club) - BMGA British Club Championships 2011, 2012 & 2013
3rd (w/ John Moore & Ed Odametey) BMGA Oswestry Games Pro-Am Minigolf Classic 2012
3rd (w/ Kevin Moseley) - BMGA British Doubles Championships 2010
3rd - Midlands Invitational Tournament 2008
4th (w/ B. Shepherd, E. Gottfried & J. Trubridge) - Caddyshackers Open 2019
4th - BMGA British Masters 2013
4th - Midlands Open 2010
4th - London Invitational Tournament 2010
4th - BMGA English Open 2008
4th - Midlands Invitational Tournament 2007
5th - BMGA Players Championships 2007
7th - BMGA British Minigolf Championships 2012
9th - BMGA British Masters 2011
10th - BMGA British Adventure Golf Open 2013

Par-3 Miniature Golf events
T13th - MiniLinks Mini US Open 2017 (Par-3 Miniature Golf tournament debut)
15th - MiniLinks Mini Open 2017
T24th - MiniLinks PGA Championship 2017

Richard Gottfried playing hole 2 in the 2014 World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings
Richard Gottfried playing hole 2 in the 2014 World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings

International Tournaments
16th - Putt18 World Pro League 2021
18th - Putt18 World Pro League 2020
4th - Putt18 4 Nations Cup 2020
20th - World Crazy Golf Championships 2015
32nd - World Crazy Golf Championships 2014
21st - Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships 2013
5th - Great Britain Team at the WMF World Adventure Golf Masters 2013
12th - WMF World Adventure Golf Masters (Male Category) 2013
20th - WMF World Adventure Golf Masters 2013
17th (Finalist) - Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships 2012
4th - Great Britain Team at the WMF World Adventure Golf Masters 2012
11th - WMF World Adventure Golf Masters (Male Category) 2012
14th - WMF World Adventure Golf Masters 2012
25th - Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships 2011
34th - Great Britain Player at the WMF Nations Cup (Male Category), Stockholm, Sweden 2011
41st - Great Britain Player at the WMF Nations Cup, Stockholm, Sweden 2011
10th - Great Britain Team at the WMF Nations Cup, Stockholm, Sweden 2011
11th - WMF World Adventure Golf Masters (Male Category) 2011
18th (Finalist) - WMF World Adventure Golf Masters 2011
17th  (Finalist) - Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships 2010
17th  (Finalist) - Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships 2009
17th  (Finalist) - Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships 2008
51st - Great Britain Player at the WMF Nations Cup, Tampere, Finland 2008
13th - Great Britain Team at the WMF Nations Cup, Tampere, Finland 2008
39th - Virgin Money World Crazy Golf Championships 2007

Personal Best Competition Rounds (18-holes)
MOS (Adventure, Crazy, Mini-Golf) = 27(-9)
Miniaturegolf (Eternit) = 28(-8)
Concrete (Beton) = 33(-3)
Feltgolf (Swedish Felt) = 34(-2)

Course Records (Current)
Blackpool Pleasure Beach Adventure Golf (12-holes) - 24(par)

Course Records (Previous)
2010 Birmingham Adventure Island Mini Golf at Star City (18-holes) - 28(-8) - Joint Record
2009 Weymouth Pirates Adventure Golf at Lodmoor Country Park (18-holes) - 41(+5) - Joint Record
2008 Wroxham Barns Minigolf (18-holes) - 34(-2)
2007 Hastings Seafront Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf (18-holes) - 32(-4) - Joint Record

Highest BMGA Rankings Position
BMGA Strokeplay Order of Merit Rankings - 5th - 14/04/2013 - 12/05/2013
BMGA Season Only Ranking - 5th - 15/07/2012 - 23/09/2012 & 14/10/2012 - 11/11/2012 (End of Season)
BMGA Order of Merit Ranking - 7th - 04/07/2010 - 19/09/2010
BMGA Matchplay Order of Merit Rankings - 9th - 25/04/2012 - 22/07/2012

Highest BMGA Rankings (as at End of Season)
BMGA Strokeplay Order of Merit - 11th - 2013
BMGA Strokeplay Order of Merit - 15th - 2012
BMGA Season Only Rankings - 5th - 2012
BMGA Order of Merit Rankings - 11th - 2009/10
BMGA Strokeplay Order of Merit Rankings - 15th - 2012
BMGA Matchplay Order of Merit Rankings - 15th - 2012

Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Rankings
October 2010 - 26th
October 2009 - 31st
June 2009 - 45th

WMF World Minigolf Men's Rankings (General Class)
March 2016 - 408th
December 2015 - 387th
March 2015 - 409th
December 2014 - 383rd
March 2014 - 397th
December 2013 - 372nd
March 2013 - 406th
November 2012 - 391st
March 2012 - 345th
November 2011 - 406th
March 2011 - Unranked
November 2010 - 413th
March 2010 - 358th
November 2009 - 418th
March 2009 - 352nd
November 2008 - 425th

Sports and Minigolf Awards
Guinness World Record Holder for "Most miniature golf courses visited" 2024
Named 'The nation's 'craziest' putting couple' w/ Emily Gottfried by Today's Golfer magazine, March 2021
Named 'UK's Biggest Adventure Golf Enthusiasts' w/ Emily Gottfried by ITV Granada Reports, 2017
Named 'Mini-golf's iron man' by the Eastern Daily Press, 2017
Named 'Britain's Barmiest Golfers' w/ Emily Gottfried by Today's Golfer magazine, November 2016
Named 'Officially Britain’s Craziest Golfer' by Today's Golfer magazine, October 2015
3rd place - Oswestry Games Oslympics Open Quiz - 2012
Genius Gluten Free Christmas Hero - 3rd Dec 2012
#Minigolf Internet Champion - 2012
Runner-up - "Best Bow Tie" Award - 2011 - ALT-LSN Awards
"Best Bow Tie" Award - 2008, 2009 & 2010 - ALT-LSN Awards
"Sports Man of the Year" - 4th (tied) - The Luton Sports Network Luton Sports Awards for 2010
"Sports Man of the Year" - Top 6 - The Luton Sports Network Luton Sports Awards for 2009
"Sports Man of the Year" - 4th - The Luton Sports Network Luton Sports Awards for 2008
"Most improved player on the BMGA Tour" - Winner - MiniatureGolfer.com Awards 2008

Other Honours
2013 Great Britain Minigolf Sport Squad Member
2012 Great Britain Minigolf Sport Squad Member
2011 Captain of the Great Britain (B) Team at the WMF Nations Cup
2011 Great Britain Minigolf Sport Squad Member
2009 & 2013 Captain of the Midlands Minigolf Club 'A Team' in the BMGA British Club Championships
2008 Great Britain Minigolf Sport Squad Member

Richard Gottfried teeing-off in the final of the 2009 'Castle Golf' World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings
Richard Gottfried teeing-off in the final of the 2009 'Castle Golf' World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings

Give the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a Like on Facebook, watch our YouTube channel and follow Richard on Twitter. You can also now sign-up to receive our miniature golf newsletter.

The Lost Valley Adventure Golf course at Amazonia in Bolton

A look at The Lost Valley Adventure Golf course at Amazonia in the Market Place Shopping Centre in Bolton.


The Lost Valley Adventure Golf course at Amazonia in Bolton

In 2016 The Lost Valley Adventure Golf course at Amazonia in Bolton became the 420th course played and 720th visited overall on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


The Lost Valley Adventure Golf course at Amazonia in Bolton

We revisited on Saturday 14th March.


The Lost Valley Adventure Golf course at Amazonia in Bolton
  
The Lost Valley Adventure Golf course at Amazonia in Bolton

Check out The Lost Valley Adventure Golf website for more information.

Do read my blog posts about the growth of shopping centre minigolf and minigolf courses in Greater Manchester.

Monday, March 23, 2020

It's Minigolf Monday - Putt at home!

Happy Minigolf Monday.

Putt at home!

Happy Minigolf Monday - Putt at home!

Keeping minigolf rolling

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic the minigolf and wider competitive socialising sectors were booming. Something we're very keen to continue once the world gets back to a semblance of normality.


Mini Golf at Lane7 in Newcastle
Playing Mini Golf at Lane7 in Newcastle

In the meantime if you have any minigolf course news, ideas, suggestions or information, or if you would like to guest blog on the Ham & Egger Files please do get in touch.


Jungle Safari Adventure Golf at Ravenmeadow Golf Centre in Worcester
Emily playing Jungle Safari Adventure Golf at Ravenmeadow Golf Centre in Worcester

We have created a Big Mini Golf Bucket List with fun ideas and things to do over the coming days, weeks and months.


Big Mini Golf Bucket List

We also run the Crazy Golf Museum and are keen to continue gathering items and stories from the world of miniature golf.


Crazy Golf Museum - the virtual collection

We've been playing minigolf seriously for 14 years and grew up playing the game on holidays and day trips around the UK.

On our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour travels we've been to a total of 948 courses since September 2006.

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With twenty years of marketing and sales experience each we offer consultancy services to people and businesses looking to set-up courses, review their operations, hole designs, contests, tournaments and more. Do get in touch for a chat to see how we can help and work together.

Crazy Golf in Prestatyn
Putting in Prestatyn

Saturday, March 21, 2020

Happy Birthday Hastings Crazy Golf

The 18-hole Crazy Golf course at Hastings Adventure Golf in East Sussex is 45 years old today, having opened on Saturday 21st March 1975.


It's one of the very best examples of an Arnold Palmer Putting Course.


Hastings Crazy Golf course
Hole 7 of the course on our last visit in 2015

We're looking forward to playing there again in the future.


Check out the Hastings Adventure Golf website for more information.

The course was the 39th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in October 2007.

A postally unused Hastings Mini Golf postcard C6911 by Judges Limited Hastings. The player is on hole 12
A postally unused Hastings Mini Golf postcard C6911 by Judges Limited Hastings. The player is on hole 12 

My brother Christopher 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!
My brother Christopher 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!

Related blog posts:

- Hastings
- Crazy Golf in Hastings
- A postcard of Hastings Mini Golf
- Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in the UK

Friday, March 20, 2020

The Big Mini Golf Bucket List

Ideas to while away the hours, days, weeks and months of lockdown.


The Big Mini Golf Bucket List

In these unprecedented times there is a huge amount of change taking place in our daily lives. With the playing and watching of sports and games taking a big hit.


Just because your local minigolf course may be closed over the coming few months doesn't mean you can't keep up with your putting practice and have some crazy golf fun.


Before the coronavirus pandemic hit, Emily and I were closing in on visiting the final 40 courses of the original 600 we set out to play in 2006. We're also very close to hitting 1,000 course visits overall.

This time last year we were putting the finishing touches to the Summer Minigolf Checklist.

As we're practicing safe social distancing we won't be heading out to a minigolf course until given the all clear to do so, but in the meantime we've put together a minigolf bucket list with ideas and suggestions of things to do in the world of miniature golf.

The Big Mini Golf Bucket List

1. Create a minigolf hole at home
2. Go even further and build an entire crazy golf layout in your home or garden
3. Play a minigolf videogame
4. Send a minigolf postcard to someone you know
5. Write a guest blog post for the Ham & Egger Files
6. Post about minigolf on social media and use the hashtags #minigolf #minigolfmonday #puttathome and #minigolfbucketlist
7. Recommend a course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
8. Play an online minigolf game
9. Visit Minigolfnews.com
10. Read a book about minigolf
11. Watch and share a minigolf video online
12. Download a minigolf app ready for when you can hit a course again

If you have any ideas of your own to add to the bucket list please do let us know.

The Big Mini Golf Bucket List

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Once the world is back open for business we're looking forward to getting out and replaying some of our favourite courses, playing at the last of the courses on our original 'to visit' list and visiting new courses.

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We've been playing minigolf seriously for 14 years and grew up playing the game on holidays and trips to the seaside around the UK.

Crazy Golf Museum - the virtual collection

If you own, operate or manage a minigolf course we'd love to share information about your venue.


With an ever-growing collection of minigolf items, ephemera and memories the Crazy Golf Museum reaches a worldwide audience through its website, blogs and social media.


Crazy Golf Museum - the virtual collection

The collection will eventually be housed in a bricks and mortar museum and exhibition space. Since July 2010 the online museum has been the premier space for sharing the history of the game.


We're also keen to share information about online contests and courses in the here and now, as well as future tournaments and events. What is current today soon ebbs into history.

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Dodgeball with the Cheadle & Gatley Griffins Dodgeball Club in Stockport

In my last Tuesday night session with the Cheadle & Gatley Griffins Dodgeball Club I played 5, won 4 and lost 1 in games.


We also played a lot of fast-paced METEOR BALL games. That was superb FUN as you're constantly moving, dodging, ducking, dipping, diving and dodging. If you're hit or get caught out you run to the back wall and then re-enter the game.


I'm looking forward to returning to dodgeball action once the coronavirus pandemic is over.


Dodgeball with the Cheadle & Gatley Griffins Dodgeball Club in Stockport
What retro wrestling t-shirt shall I wear for my next dodgeball outing?

My 2020 record stands at 18 games played, 9 wins, 9 losses.

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My all-time Dodgeball Win-Loss Record stands at:

  • 2005-2020: Played 987, Won 451, Lost 492, Tied 44.


By year:

  • 2005-2013: Played 959, Won 437, Lost 478, Tied 44.
  • 2014-2018: Inactive.
  • 2019: Played 10, Won 5, Lost 5, Tied 0.
  • 2020: Played 18, Won 9, Lost 9, Tied 0.


Related blog posts:



Links:

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Famous retro vehicles from the 80s

I've seen a few different vehicles from the 80s on my travels including an Ecto-1 and Ecto-1a from Ghostbusters, a DMC DeLorean, a Star Wars Speeder Bike from Return of the Jedi, and most recently a Back to the Future DeLorean.

Ecto-1a and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man in Urmston, Greater Manchester
Ecto-1a and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man in Urmston, Greater Manchester last Halloween

A Back to the Future DeLorean in Salford, Greater Manchester
With a Back to the Future DeLorean in Salford, Greater Manchester

Next on my bucket list is KITT from Knight Rider and a legit A-Team van. I've seen quite a few bootlegs already.

The A-Team - tile company in Belfast and Lisburn
The best A-Team van I've seen to date

The North Bay Crazy Golf course in Scarborough

A look at the North Bay Mini Golf course in Scarborough.


The North Bay Crazy Golf course in Scarborough

Last June we visited our 900th minigolf course when we played at the North Bay Crazy Golf in Scarborough, North Yorkshire.


The North Bay Crazy Golf course in Scarborough

The 12-hole course was the 861st course we'd been to in the British Isles and the 520th course played at that point.


It was a brilliant and fun layout and well worth playing when you next get the chance.

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Minigolf in the North Bay since 1925


Interestingly The Scarborough News has published a number of photos showing forgotten views of Scarborough. One of those (number 20) shows a miniature golf course at North Bay in 1925.

The course is in the exact same spot as the current Crazy Golf course.

The North Bay Crazy Golf course in Scarborough
While the buildings opposite the course have changed, the steps and pathway remain the same as in 1925

It's wonderful to think that minigolf has been played on the same location for almost 100 years.

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While we were in Scarborough I also played the Holbeck Putting Green. That course has also been open since 1925.

Holbeck Putting Green in Scarborough

The two miniature golf putting courses were among the first to open in the UK. England's first artificial Crazy Golf course opened in Skegness, Lincolnshire in 1926.

Check out my blog post about the miniature golf courses in Scarborough. There are quite a few in the seaside town.

Monday, March 16, 2020

The Lost Valley Adventure Golf course in Bolton

A visit to The Lost Valley Adventure Golf course in Bolton's Market Place shopping centre.


The Lost Valley Adventure Golf course in Bolton

We swung by The Lost Valley Adventure Golf course at Amazonia in Bolton's Market Place shopping centre on Saturday afternoon.


The Lost Valley Adventure Golf course in Bolton

I played the 18-hole indoor course back in December 2016. Time flies!

The Lost Valley Adventure Golf course in Bolton

The course was built by the team at HM Adventure Golf.

It's a nice layout and I really liked the attention to detail with the themed pathway on the course.

Visit the Amazonia website for more information, opening times and prices.

The Lost Valley Adventure Golf course in Bolton

Take a look at my blog posts about miniature golf courses in Greater Manchester and the growth of shopping centre minigolf.