Thursday, February 25, 2021

Crazy Golf in London

A look back at the CLUB GOLF pop-up minigolf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London.


Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London

My last trip down to London took place on the 25th February last year and I was lucky enough to get a game in on the pop-up Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross.

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London

It was the last new minigolf course I played before the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.

The 9-hole rave-inspired art installation crazy golf course was the 948th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and the 542nd played.

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London

Artists Baker & Borowski created the 9-hole themed Crazy Golf layout inspired by the rave culture in the King's Cross area back in the 1980's and 1990's.

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London

I shot a round of 23 in my game - the scorecard noted that the maximum score allowed was 63! A seven on each hole.

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London

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New Adventure Golf course at Golf Rossendale

There are plans for a new Adventure Golf course to be created at Golf Rossendale in Rawtenstall, Lancashire.


There are plans for a new Adventure Golf course to be created at Golf Rossendale in Rawtenstall, Lancashire

The new course is part of a redevelopment of the venue by American Golf.

Visit the Golf Rossendale website for more information.


We're looking forward to visiting on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Rawtenstall is fairly local to us here in the North West.

Monday, February 22, 2021

Jurassic Links Adventure Golf at Kingsway Golf Centre

A new Jurassic Links Adventure Golf course is opening at Kingsway Golf Centre in Melbourn, Cambridgeshire this Spring.


Jurassic Links Adventure Golf is opening at Kingsway Golf Centre in Melbourn in Spring 2021

Visit the Jurassic Links Adventure Golf website for more information.

The 18-hole Jurassic Links Adventure Golf course is being built by the team at HM Adventure Golf.

Crazy Golfing at Kingsway Golf Centre

We've played minigolf at Kingsway Golf Centre on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour before. The golf centre was home to a Crazy Golf course that became the 200th we visited on our travels in 2009. That layout was replaced with the Himalayas Putting Course in 2010.

Minigolf in Melbourn

Melbourn has been a bit of a hotbed of minigolf over the years. As well as the crazy golf, putting course and adventure golf courses at Kingsway Golf Centre the village has been home to pop-up miniature golf courses at the annual fete and The Dolphin pub was once home to a 4-hole crazy golf course!

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Sunday, February 21, 2021

Putt18 World Pro League Results - Season Two, Week Three

I teed-off in week three of the Putt18 World Pro League on Saturday evening.



I shot rounds of 75, 72, 75 and 76 for a total of 298.

Richard Gottfried - Putt18 player

You can watch my rounds on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Facebook Page.

Putt18 World Pro League

21 players from the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the USA are competing in the seven event series to find the world's best putter on the Putt18 Golf Putting Game System.

Putt18 Golf Putting Game Mat

Check out the Putt18 website for more information.

Monorail, monothingy

One of my favourite monorails.

But where is it?

One of the monorails I've travelled on during my travels

Saturday, February 20, 2021

New indoor crazy golf course in Billericay

A new crazy golf course and escape room is planned to open in Billericay, Essex.


A new crazy golf course and escape room is planned to open in Billericay, Essex

The indoor venue will be located in the former Argos store in the town centre.

Check out the Hackers website for more information.


Retailtainment and minigolf

Boom: Battle Bar Aberdeen

There are plans for a new Boom: Battle Bar in Aberdeen.


There are plans for a new Boom: Battle Bar in Aberdeen

The indoor competitive socialising venue in the former Aberdeen Market will be home to a crazy golf course and other games including axe throwing, curling, pool, shuffleboard and darts.

Visit the Boom: Battle Bar website for more information.

Retailtainment and crazy golf

Thursday, February 18, 2021

New minigolf course in Peterhead

There are plans for a new minigolf course in Victoria Park, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.


There are plans for a new minigolf course in Victoria Park, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire

The 9-hole minigolf course will be created on former bowling greens in the park. The community park will also be home to a BMX track, exercise area, new pavilion and more.

The project is being led by Peterhead Area Community Trust (PACT) and further information on the Victoria Park project can be found on the trust's website.

We haven't been up to Scotland for a few years and are looking forward to returning to visit some more courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Putt18 World Pro League - Season Two, Week Three

I'll be teeing-off in week three of the Putt18 World Pro League at 6pm on Saturday 20th February.

You can watch my rounds live via the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Facebook Page.

Putt18 2021 World Pro League

Putt18 World Pro League

21 players from the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the USA are competing in the seven event series to find the world's best putter on the Putt18 Golf Putting Game System.

I am currently in 13th place on 24 points and in 15th place in the strokeplay standings.

Visit the Putt18 website for more information.

Toys R Us in Ipswich

A look at the old Toys R Us store in Ipswich, Suffolk.


Many thanks to my sister-in-law Annette for sending over a snap of the closed Toys R Us store in the Interchange Retail Park at Copdock Mill, Ipswich.

Toys R Us store in Ipswich, Suffolk. Photo by Annette Harper, February 2021
This sign is still up. But for how much longer?

Sadly Toys R Us closed in the UK in April 2018. Luckily there are still remnants of the brand on some retail parks in the UK. I worked in the Gipsy Lane store in Luton, Bedfordshire back in the year 2000.

Check out the blog posts below about other former Toys R Us stores:

Friday, February 12, 2021

Swing by Golfbaren minigolf in Stockholm, Sweden

We visited Swing by Golfbaren in Stockholm, Sweden in February 2018 to celebrate the first birthday of the course. It doesn't seem like that long ago!



Swing by Golfbaren minigolf in Stockholm, Sweden

Head to the Swing by Golfbaren website for more information.


It's going to be superb to play there again in the future.

Boom: Battle Bar heading to Eastbourne

A Boom: Battle Bar is opening in the seaside town of Eastbourne.


There are plans to create a Boom Battle Bar in Eastbourne, East Sussex

There are plans to create a Boom: Battle Bar in Eastbourne, East Sussex.

Boom: Battle Bars are competitive socialising locations and home to indoor minigolf courses (known as crazier golf), axe throwing, electric darts, shuffleboard and more.

There are Boom: Battle Bars in Norwich and Cardiff and plans for others in Liverpool, Glasgow, Oxford, Coventry and West Thurrock.

Check out the Boom: Battle Bar Eastbourne Facebook Page for more information.

New golf venue planned for Glasgow

A new golf facility is planned to open in Glasgow next year.


The R&A has submitted plans for what it describes as a new community golf facility to open on the site of the public golf course at Lethamhill in Glasgow.

The golf centre will include a 9-hole golf course, a par-3 course, an adventure golf course, a driving range, putting greens and a short game area.

A new golf facility is planned to open in Glasgow next year. The venue in Lethamhill will include an Adventure Golf course

The venue will also include a café, indoor golf simulators and more.

Further information can be found on the R&A website.

Thursday, February 11, 2021

Lost shops - Sainsbury's on Warren Street in Stockport town centre

A look at Sainsbury's on Warren Street in Stockport town centre.


Now a lost shop.

Sainsbury's on Warren Street in Stockport town centre

It closed on the 31st January this year.

Boom: Battle Bar heading to Lakeside

The Lakeside Shopping Centre in West Thurrock, Essex will be home to a new Boom: Battle Bar.


Boom: Battle Bars are competitive socialising venues and home to minigolf (known as crazier golf), axe throwing, electric darts, shuffleboard and more.

The Lakeside Shopping Centre in West Thurrock, Essex will be home to a new Boom: Battle Bar

There are other Boom: Battle Bars in Norwich and Cardiff and plans for others in Liverpool, Glasgow, Oxford and Coventry.

Visit the Boom: Battle Bar Lakeside Facebook Page for more information.


Boom: Battle Bars are a relatively new entrant to the world of competitive socialising and retailtainment. A number of shopping malls, town centres and retail parks are adding minigolf, crazy golf, adventure golf and other experiential entertainment and activity leisure offerings to their sites to attract and retain customers.

Read more in my blog post about the retailtainment and minigolf boom.

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

New minigolf course in Reading

A new minigolf course is being created as part of an activity centre at Prospect Park in Reading, Berkshire.


A new minigolf course is being created as part of an activity centre at Prospect Park in Reading, Berkshire

The centre will also include a climbing wall and rope course.

It'll be another new course to play on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in the future.

Miniature Golf in Reading

A new indoor adventure golf course is also planned to open at The Oracle shopping centre in Reading. The new venue will replace the House of Fraser department store. As well as indoor minigolf the location will also be home to a food hall and tenpin bowling.

There are also plans for a Mini Golf & Bowling Lounge at the Broad Street Mall in the town.

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Tuesday, February 09, 2021

A Happy Shopper

I've added another nice retro badge to my collection.


A Happy Shopper badge

It'll look good next to my Happy Eater badges.

Check out my other Happy Shopper and badge blog posts.

New minigolf course opening in Weston-super-Mare

A new indoor minigolf course is opening in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.


A new indoor minigolf course is opening in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset

Weston-super-Mare will be home to a new indoor minigolf course as the former Seaquarium is converted into a family-themed restaurant and minigolf venue.

It'll be another new course for us to play when we revisit the seaside resort on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Related blog posts:

Only Cars and Commercials

We spotted this amazing van on our daily walk in Cheadle on Saturday!


Cheadle Car Sales Only Fools and Horses van

I'd literally just said to Emily that I hadn't seen anything fun to photograph recently as we've been locked down in the borough.

Cheadle Car Sales Only Fools and Horses van

Only Fools and Horses is a pop culture icon that has been ripe for bootlegging and parodies over the years.

It's crazy how many Reliant Regal Supervans we've seen on our minigolf travels.

Elsewhere in Stockport you can see a hearse from a business called Shed's Household Independent Traders.

Shawfield Line Marking Specialists Ltd. is another business that operates in Stockport and some less exotic locations like London, Paris and New York.

If you're in Blackpool you can visit Lester's Independent Trading Co.

Monday, February 08, 2021

Putt18 World Pro League Results - Season Two, Week Two

The results are in for the second week of the 2021 Putt18 World Pro League.


Putt18 2021 World Pro League

After shooting rounds of 74, 85, 85 and 80 for a 72-hole total of 324 I am currently in 13th place on 24 points and in 15th place in the strokeplay standings.

Putt18 World Pro League Player Richard Gottfried

21 players from the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the USA are competing in the seven event series to find the world's best putter on the Putt18 Golf Putting Game System.

Matt Ansley, NZL has maintained his lead, with Dave Gomm, GBR in second and Josh Mars, AUS in third place.

You can watch my rounds from week two in the video below.

  

 Visit the Putt18 website for more information.

Minigolf American Football in Sweden

A look at the minigolf course at O'Leary's bar and entertainment centre at the Mall of Scandinavia in Solna.


Sports World Mini Golf at O'Leary's bar and entertainment centre at the Mall of Scandinavia in Solna, Stockholm, Sweden

We visited our 801st minigolf course and 32nd overseas at O'Leary's bar and entertainment centre at the Mall of Scandinavia in Solna, Stockholm, Sweden in February 2018.

Sports World Mini Golf at O'Leary's bar and entertainment centre at the Mall of Scandinavia in Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
Hole 12 was Gridiron themed

Sports World Mini Golf at O'Leary's bar and entertainment centre at the Mall of Scandinavia in Solna, Stockholm, Sweden

The Sports World Minigolf course was a 14-hole indoor layout with sports themed holes.

 


Visit the O'Leary's website for more information.

Tuesday, February 02, 2021

New Adventure Golf course in Skelmersdale

There are retailtainment plans for the Concourse Shopping Centre in Skelmersdale, Lancashire.


There are plans for a new Adventure Golf course at the Concourse Shopping Centre in Skelmersdale

As well as an indoor Adventure Golf course, the WonderWorld attraction at the Concourse Shopping Centre will include a wide-range of activities for adults and children including an inflatable assault course, darts, tenpin bowling, amusements, arcade games and more.

Link:


Retailtainment

More and more shopping centres, retail parks and high streets are adding retail entertainment offerings to increase footfall, attract and retain customers. There are a lot of new minigolf courses, competitive socialising venues and family entertainment centres in development and under construction at the moment, all gearing up to be ready for the post-covid world.

Porth Island Krazy Golf in Newquay

A look at the Porth Island Krazy Golf course in Newquay, Cornwall.

We played the Porth Island Krazy Golf course in Newquay on our road-trip around the South West coast of England back in June 2015.

Porth Island Krazy Golf in Newquay

The course was similar to a Beton Concrete type of miniature golf course and interesting, if a little too difficult, to play.

The course was the 47th visited on our two-week holiday, the 377th played overall and the 646th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Visit the Newquay Football Golf website for more information on the Porth Island Krazy Golf course.

New Adventure Golf course in Henley

Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire could become home to a new Adventure Golf course.


Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire could become home to a new Adventure Golf course

There are plans to create a new 9 or 18-hole Adventure Golf course on the site of the Putting Green at Mill Meadows in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

It'll be another new course to play in my home county!

It's Groundhog Day

Happy Groundhog Day.


Do you want to see six more weeks of Winter or an early Spring?

Monday, February 01, 2021

Lost shops - Debenhams in Stockport town centre

A look at Debenhams in Stockport town centre. Now a lost shop.


Debenhams in Stockport town centre