Friday, September 30, 2022

16 years of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Celebrating 16 years of our minigolf adventures.


We played the Victory Trail course at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea, Hampshire on this day in 2006.

Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea, Hampshire
Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea

At the end of our 9-hole round on Saturday 30th September I won a free game by firing the cannon on the lucky last hole.

Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea, Hampshire
My free game card from Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea - never used!

We've been putting on our crazy golfing adventures ever since!

Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea, Hampshire
Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea

When our travels began in 2006 there were around 600 courses in the UK. There are now more than 1,000, and there are lots of new courses opening all the time.

We've now been to 1,004 courses overall in the last 16 years, with 959 of those courses in the British Isles.

You can see all of the courses we've visited on this Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list.


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Thursday, September 29, 2022

Video Rentals at The Village Top Shop in Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham

Spotting an old video shop in Rotherham.


Video Rentals at The Village Top Shop in Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham

It's always interesting finding lost shops and old signs on my travels and I recently drove past this former video rental shop at The Village Top Shop in Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham!

Video Rentals at The Village Top Shop in Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham

There are still traces of other former video shops to be found on the streets of the UK. Most of those are old Blockbuster Video stores. But there are remnants of independent video shops to be seen if you're lucky.


Blockbuster Video stores we've visited to date:

Mr Mulligans Crazy Golf in Norwich

There are plans for a new two-course Crazy Golf venue to open at Norwich's Riverside area.


There are plans for a new 24-hole Crazy Golf course as part of a venue at Norwich's Riverside area

Two indoor 12-hole courses are planned to be created at the new Mr Mulligans centre.

Visit the Mr Mulligans website for more information and details about other Mr Mulligans Adventure Golf courses in Basildon, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Cheltenham, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Sidcup, Stevenage, Tonbridge and Worcester.


It'll be another new place to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on a return trip to Norwich.

World Crazy Golf Championships 2023 in Hastings

Entries are now open for the World Crazy Golf Championships 2023.


The 2023 World Crazy Golf Championships will be taking place on the Crazy Golf course at Hastings Adventure Golf in Hastings, East Sussex, England on the 9th,10th & 11th June.

Entries are now open via the Hastings Adventure Golf website.


We both made our debuts in the 2007 edition of the event back when it was known as the Virgin Money World Crazy Golf Championships. It was Emily's first ever miniature golf tournament.

The World Crazy Golf Championships at Hastings Adventure Golf
Playing hole 2 at the 2014 edition of the World Crazy Golf Championships

The competition is played on the 18-hole Crazy Golf course at Hastings Seafront. The layout is of the Arnold Palmer Putting Course variety. The course was the 39th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in October 2007.

The World Crazy Golf Championships began in 2003. The current champion is Adam Kelly who is enjoying his first reign as world champion.

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

New Adventure Golf course in Redcar

A new penguin-themed adventure golf course is opening in Redcar, Teesside.


A new penguin-themed adventure golf course is opening in Redcar, Teesside

The 18-hole layout is opening in the Coatham area of the seaside town.

It'll be another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Bognor Regis Mini Golf

A revisit to Bognor Regis Mini Golf in West Sussex.


Bognor Regis Mini Golf

I recently replayed the excellent Bognor Regis Mini Golf course.

Bognor Regis Mini Golf

It's always fun finding Arnold Palmer Putting Courses and the Bognor Regis example is superb.

We first visited this particular Crazy Golf course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in October 2011 when it became the 275th course played on our travels.

Bognor Regis Mini Golf

The Bognor Regis Mini Golf course was built in 1993 and was the last new Arnold Palmer Putting Course layout to be created.

Check out Bognor Regis Mini Golf on Facebook for more information.


Photos of the 18-hole layout.

Bognor Regis Mini Golf
Hole 1

Bognor Regis Mini Golf
Hole 2

Bognor Regis Mini Golf
Hole 3

Bognor Regis Mini Golf
Hole 4

Bognor Regis Mini Golf
Hole 5

Bognor Regis Mini Golf
Hole 5

Bognor Regis Mini Golf
Hole 6

Bognor Regis Mini Golf
Hole 7

Bognor Regis Mini Golf
Hole 7

Bognor Regis Mini Golf
Hole 7

Bognor Regis Mini Golf
Hole 8

Bognor Regis Mini Golf
Hole 8

Bognor Regis Mini Golf
Hole 9

Bognor Regis Mini Golf
Hole 10

Bognor Regis Mini Golf
Hole 11

Bognor Regis Mini Golf
Hole 12

Bognor Regis Mini Golf
Hole 12

Bognor Regis Mini Golf
Hole 13

Bognor Regis Mini Golf
Hole 14

Bognor Regis Mini Golf
Hole 15

Bognor Regis Mini Golf
Hole 15

Bognor Regis Mini Golf
Hole 16

Bognor Regis Mini Golf
Hole 17

Bognor Regis Mini Golf
Hole 18

Putt Club opening in Eastleigh, Southampton

A new Putt Club indoor crazy golf course is opening in Eastleigh, Southampton in October.


A new Putt Club indoor crazy golf course is opening in Eastleigh, Southampton in October 2022

You can find Putt Club minigolf course in Hull, Leicester, Edmonton, London Docklands and Watford.

Visit the Putt Club website for more information.

Happy Miniature Golf Day

Today is Miniature Golf Day.


Playing The Himalayas - the world's first miniature golf course - at the St Andrews Ladies' Putting Club in 2012
Playing The Himalayas - the world's first miniature golf course - at the St Andrews Ladies' Putting Club in 2012

Each year there are two Miniature Golf Days - National Miniature Golf Day on the second Saturday in May and Miniature Golf Day on the 21st September.

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

UV Crazy Golf at Total Enigma in Carlisle

There's an indoor UV Crazy Golf course at the Total Enigma Escape Rooms & Laser Tag centre in Carlisle, Cumbria.


There's an indoor UV Crazy Golf course at the Total Enigma Escape Rooms & Laser Tag centre in Carlisle, Cumbria

It's another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The course opened in the summer of 2021.

Check out the Total Enigma website for more information.

Miniature Golf Day Eve

Tomorrow is Miniature Golf Day.


Richard Gottfried playing at Putt In The Park Mini Golf at Battersea Park in London, England on Miniature Golf Day 2015. Photo by Emily Gottfried
Putt In The Park Mini Golf at Battersea Park in London, England on Miniature Golf Day 2015

Each year there are two Miniature Golf Days - National Miniature Golf Day on the second Saturday in May and Miniature Golf Day on the 21st September.

Minigolf courses in Great Yarmouth
Tomorrow is also the last day of the Big Mini Golf Tour in Great Yarmouth

Scrapyard Golf at Worcester Bowl

There's a new indoor crazy golf course at Worcester Bowl.


There's a new indoor crazy golf course at Worcester Bowl

Find out more about the Scrapyard Golf course on the Worcester Bowl website.

Monday, September 19, 2022

Minigolf Monday

Today is Minigolf Monday - the last before Miniature Golf Day and the end of the 2022 Big Mini Golf Tour this Wednesday.


Mini Golf courses on the Big Mini Golf Tour
Mini Golf courses on the Big Mini Golf Tour

Friday, September 16, 2022

Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing

A look at the Splash Point Mini Golf course in Worthing's Denton Gardens.


I swung by Splash Point Mini Golf on my recent trip to Worthing, West Sussex.

Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing

It's one of our favourite courses and one we've played many many times on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and in British Minigolf Association competitions.

Visit the Splash Point Mini Golf website for more information.

100 days until Christmas

There are 100 days until Christmas Day!


Christmas Crazy Golf
Christmas Crazy Golf courses from our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

One week until Miniature Golf Day

This time next week it'll be Miniature Golf Day.


Playing The Himalayas - the world's first miniature golf course - at the St Andrews Ladies' Putting Club in 2012
Playing The Himalayas - the world's first miniature golf course - at the St Andrews Ladies' Putting Club in 2012

Each year there are two Miniature Golf Days - National Miniature Golf Day on the second Saturday in May and Miniature Golf Day on the 21st September.

Monday, September 12, 2022

Putting course at Marine Gardens in Worthing

A look at the grass Putting course at Marine Gardens in Worthing, West Sussex.


Putting course at Marine Gardens in Worthing

I swung by the Putting course at Marine Gardens in Worthing on my recent trip to the seaside town.

Putting course at Marine Gardens in Worthing

Putting course at Marine Gardens in Worthing

We first visited the course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2010.

The Big Mini Golf Tour 2022

The Great Yarmouth area has an excellent selection of mini golf courses for a round or two.


The Big Mini Golf Tour 2022

Miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business Improvement Area have come together to promote the game this season. Find out more on the Big Mini Golf Tour blog.

You can plan your visit to the participating miniature golf courses by checking out the Big Mini Golf Tour map.


Friday, September 09, 2022

Minigolf Taivallahti in Helsinki, Finland

A look at Minigolf Taivallahti in Helsinki, Finland.


Many thanks to my friend, minigolf rival and team-mate Kevin Moseley for sending over some snaps of these two miniature golf courses he spotted on his recent trip to Helsinki, Finland.

Minigolf Taivallahti in Helsinki, Finland. Photo by Kevin Moseley, August 2022
Minigolf Taivallahti in Helsinki, Finland

Minigolf Taivallahti in Helsinki, Finland. Photo by Kevin Moseley, August 2022
Minigolf Taivallahti in Helsinki, Finland

The two courses can be found at Minigolf Taivallahti.

Visit the Minigolf Taivallahti website for more information.

Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki in Finland

A look at Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki in Finland.


A big thank you to my friend, minigolf rival and team-mate Kevin Moseley for sending over photos of the Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki indoor minigolf course from his recent trip to Helsinki, Finland.

Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki in Finland. Photo by Kevin Moseley, August 2022
Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki in Finland

A quick look shows "Hohtogolf" translates as "Glitter Golf". There doesn't look to be much glitter in that sh...portable toilet hole!

Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki in Finland. Photo by Kevin Moseley, August 2022
Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki in Finland

Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki in Finland. Photo by Kevin Moseley, August 2022
Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki in Finland

The rest of the layout looks shiny though.

Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki in Finland. Photo by Kevin Moseley, August 2022
Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki in Finland

Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki in Finland. Photo by Kevin Moseley, August 2022
A scorecard from Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki in Finland

Check out the Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki website for more information.

Thursday, September 08, 2022

Inca Island Adventure Golf in Sutton Valence, Kent

There's a new Adventure Golf course at The Ridge Golf Club in Sutton Valence, Kent.


There's a new Adventure Golf course at The Ridge Golf Club in Sutton Valence, Kent

Inca Island Adventure Golf is an 18-hole, outdoor course at The Ridge Golf Club in Sutton Valence.

Visit the Inca Island Adventure Golf website for more information.


It's another course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

A Happy Shopper shop in Burton upon Trent

A look at an old Happy Shopper shop in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire.


A Happy Shopper shop in Burton upon Trent

We drove via Burton upon Trent on our journey home from the south coast last week to take a look at a Happy Shopper shop in the town. We're lucky we did as the shop was in the process of being gutted as it's now closed. The business has moved to a new unit over the road, where some of the old branded shelving is now in use.

A Happy Shopper shop in Burton on Trent

A Happy Shopper shop in Burton-on-Trent

I've since found out there's ANOTHER Happy Shopper shop in Burton upon Trent! We'll have to swing by S & A Singh on Sydney Street next time we're passing...

Happy Shopper nostalgia


We've felt very nostalgic during the pandemic and one of the old brands from our childhood we thought about was 'Happy Shopper' - the name alone conjures up images of the 1980's.

We didn't think there would be many - or any - of the original orange and yellow branded shops still around, but we were proven wrong when we saw one in Preston in September 2020.

Since then we've been lucky enough to spot and snap a few more. Take a look at my posts about other Happy Shopper shops in:

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour update

We have now been to 1,002 courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


We have now been to 1,002 courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

957 of the courses have been in the British Isles (UK home nations, Jersey & the Isle of Man) plus 45 in eleven overseas countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Spain (& Lanzarote, Canary Islands), Sweden and the USA.

In 2006 we set out to visit every miniature golf course in the UK. When we began there were around 600 courses in the UK. There are now more than 1,000, with new courses opening all the time.

Toys R Us in Reading, Berkshire

Spotting an abandoned Toys R Us store in Reading, Berkshire.


We were surprised to see an old Toys R Us store while driving through Reading last Friday!

Toys R Us in Reading, Berkshire
It still looks new

The shop unit at Gateway retail park looked in great condition and most of the signage and branding was still on display.

This particular branch of Toys R Us was only open for five months before the brand ceased trading in the UK.

Toys R Us closed in the UK in April 2018. It's been very interesting to find that there are still remnants of the brand on some retail parks in the UK and we've visited a number of these closed, abandoned, derelict and demolished Toys R Us locations on our travels.

My first job while at university in the year 2000 was as one of Geoffrey's helpers at the Luton store. I worked on the video game and electronics section.

Toys R Us in Reading, Berkshire
With Geoffrey in Reading

Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central

A visit to Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central Shopping Centre in Islington, London.


Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central
Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central

Emily swung by Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central Shopping Centre in Islington, London, making it course number 1,002 on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central
Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central

Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central
Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central

Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central
Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central

Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central
Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central

Check out the Birdies Crazy Golf website for more information.


Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central
Advertising on the tube for the venue

You can also find Birdies Crazy Golf venues at Battersea and Roof East.