Happy Summerween!

Today is Summerween.

Summerween is celebrated annually on the 22nd June. 

The quirky event is also on the second to last Friday of the month of June. So you get two bites of the cherry (or should that be watermelon) to celebrate it.

Happy birthday Putt-Putt - 71 years old today

Today marks 71 years since the world's first Putt-Putt course opened.

The first Putt-Putt Golf course was set-up by Don Clayton in Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA on this day back in 1954.

Putt-Putt is the only patented game of miniature golf and began in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1954. In the 1960's Putt-Putt franchises began opening outside of the US, in locations such as South Africa, Australia and Japan. There were also courses in the UK, the first of which opened in Sunderland in 1968. Others followed at Flamingo Land in Yorkshire and in Buxton, Derbyshire. However, information on these UK courses is limited. You can read the Putt-Putt story on the Putt-Putt Fun Centres website.

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

Ephemera from the Putt-Putt Golf centre at Moullie Point in South Africa. From PJ Goedhals

A Putt-Putt Postcard from South Africa

A selection of Putt-Putt tokens

On the competitive side of the game, Putt-Putt tournaments have been played since 1959. You can read about the history of the PPA and APA on the Professional Putters Association website.

A Putt-Putt Puzzle of a very crazy Miniature Golf course. Published by Hallmark Cards Inc. Many thanks to our friend 'Hacksaw' Jon Drexler for sending it across the pond to live in the Crazy Golf Museum

Check out the Putt-Putt Golf website for more information on Putt-Putt brand minigolf. You can find out more information about Putt-Putt tournaments on the Professional Putters Association (PPA) website.

Happy Summer Solstice

Today marks midsummer and is the 'longest day' and 'shortest night' of the year.

Stonehenge The Big Mini Golf course in Hemsby, Norfolk (August 2021)

Did you know there's a Stonehenge-themed minigolf course in Hemsby, Norfolk?

Stonehenge The Big Mini Golf was the 174th course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in June 2010 when it was a 15-hole layout. We first visited it in May 2009 when it was a 12-hole course. It's now an 18-hole course.

Here are two videos of us playing the course in June 2010.

Here are some videos of the course on our most recent visit in May 2022.

Minigolf sharks

We've seen a few different shark obstacles at minigolf courses we've been to on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour over the years.

Sharks on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Do you know of any courses with shark obstacles or themes? Do let us know in the comments.

The Mini-Golf course at Halwyn in Cornwall is now open

A new Mini-Golf course has opened in Crantock, Cornwall.

There outdoor mini-golf course is as part of the new Halwyn feasting barns, driving range and mini-golf venue in Crantock, Cornwall.

Check out the Halwyn website for more information.

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

Summerween Eve (again)!

Tomorrow is Summerween.

Summerween is celebrated annually on the 22nd June. 

The quirky event is also on the second to last Friday of the month of June. So you get two bites of the cherry (or should that be watermelon) to celebrate it.

Dynamite Adventure Golf in Midsomer Norton, Somerset

A new adventure golf course has opened in Midsomer Norton, Somerset.

Dynamite Adventure Golf can be found at the Dragonfly Leisure Centre in Midsomer Norton.

The 18-hole outdoor Adventure Golf has a coal mining theme.

Check out the Dragonfly Leisure Midsomer Norton and Dynamite Adventure Golf websites for more information.

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

Handforth Miniature Railway at Meriton Road Park

A look at the Miniature Railway at Meriton Road Park in Handforth, Cheshire.

We first found the miniature railway at Meriton Road Park in Handforth back in April 2021. Here are some snaps from a visit in April this year.

Visit the Handforth Model Engineering Society website and Handforth Miniature Railway Facebook Page for more information.

Nearby miniature railways

Handforth is in Cheshire East and borders the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport. The borough is home to three miniature railways - at South Park in Cheadle Hulme, Brookside Miniature Railway at the Garden Centre in Poynton and the Dragon Miniature Railway at the Garden Centre in Marple.

Related blog posts:

• Miniature Railways
• Handforth

Jaws is 50

Jaws was released in the USA on this day in 1975.

Playing the Jaws hole at Teezers Retro Golf in Coventry

It's one of my all-time favourite films.

Jaws Crazy Golf

We've seen a few shark obstacles at minigolf courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour!

Watermelon Specialists

As today is Summerween - a day to carve a Jack-o-Melon - here's a look at one of my all-time favourite niche businesses.

Logman Ltd - a business on Caledonian Road in London that specialises in watermelons

Today is Summerween!

Happy Summerween.

Summerween is celebrated annually on the second to last Friday of the month of June.

The quirky event is also on the 22nd June. So you get two bites of the cherry (or should that be watermelon) to celebrate it.

Blockbuster Golf & Games and Block Party

A look back at Blockbuster Golf & Games and Block Party venues in the USA.

With the news that the first Netflix House location will be home to a mini-golf course among the activities on offer, it's interesting to note how it's predecessor Blockbuster Video had some similar concepts back in the 1990s.

Blockbuster Golf & Games

Blockbuster Golf & Games was an entertainment centre that gathered together mini golf, batting cages, a giant arcade and more in one location. It didn't go as far as Netflix House in its use of popular brands and licences from the world of TV, film and entertainment though, with the Blockbuster branding being prominent.

Blockbuster Golf & Games was located in Sunrise, Florida, USA and opened in 1994. It closed in the year 2000.

Every so often old golf balls from Blockbuster Golf & Games appear for sale, however there isn't a lot of information or photos of the actual course available online.

Block Party

Also in 1994 Blockbuster Video opened two 'Block Party' locations - one in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and another in Indianapolis, Indiana. They closed in 2002.

Block Party was an indoor entertainment centre that brought together recreational activities in a retail environment including virtual reality games, laser tag, arcade games, indoor rides, 4D experiences and more.

Dead Mall Walking did a nice deep-dive into Block Party (and includes Blockbuster Golf & Games) and you can watch it at this link and the video below.

Did you ever visit Blockbuster Golf & Games or Block Party? Do you have memories of the place and the minigolf course at Blockbuster Golf & Games?

Blockbuster Video nostalgia

Nowadays there is nostalgia for the Blockbuster brand, and while there is still one solitary Blockbuster Video store still operating - in Bend, Oregon - you are more likely to see the Blockbuster name adorning pop-ups at events. One of the more recent was a collaboration with KitKat.

Blockbuster Crazy Golf

Interestingly there are 'Blockbuster' store-themed minigolf holes in the UK! They're part of the Golf Fang indoor crazy golf courses. This was the one at The Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham back in 2017.

Blockbuster Video crazy golf hole at Golf Fang in Digbeth, Birmingham (November 2017)

The remains of Blockbuster Video in the UK

I've enjoyed researching the lost brand and seeking out remnants of old Blockbuster stores over the last few years.

I found the preserved remains of a Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield, Manchester in 2019. Sadly that location was demolished in January 2024. This is what it looked like shortly before it was lost forever.

During the pandemic my interest in lost brands and retail history was piqued and since then I've been to several former Blockbuster Video stores around the UK, as well as finding some other old, and some still open, video shops on our travels!

Blockbuster Video store in Nuneaton, Warwickshire (May 2021)

At its peak in 2004 there were more than 9,000 Blockbuster Video stores around the world. 500+ of which were in England, Scotland and Wales. Interestingly in Northern Ireland the Xtra-Vision brand was used by the owners in-line with the Republic of Ireland. The last Blockbuster Video shop ceased trading in the UK in December 2013.

Crazy Golf at Fenton Manor Sports Complex in Stoke

Looking back at our visit to the Crazy Golf course at Fenton Manor Sports Complex in Stoke.

Having a wander round the course at Fenton Manor Sports Complex back in 2019 we were struck with how crazy the layout and obstacles looked.

The Crazy Golf course in Fenton was loopy!

It was only later that we realised that the course had been set up so that each hole was in the shape of a letter and the 9-holes spelled out the words CRAZY GOLF!

This is a C

We have seen that before on some fibreglass Crazy Golf courses, but never on a permanent, landscaped course.

Clearly an R

A

Z

Y

G

O

L

F

Summerween Eve

Tomorrow is Summerween.

Summerween is celebrated annually on the second to last Friday of the month of June.

The quirky event is also on the 22nd June! So you get two bites of the cherry (or should that be watermelon) to celebrate it.

Mini-Golf at the new Netflix House at the King of Prussia Mall in Philadelphia

There will be a Mini-Golf course at the new Netflix House at the King of Prussia Mall in Philadelphia, USA.

The first of three planned Netflix House locations will have a mini-golf course.

Netflix House is a new entertainment concept from the streaming service, with the physical locations offering people the chance to play and experience branded activities based on TV and film properties.

The first two Netflix House locations are planned for Philadelphia and Dallas in 2025, with a third venue opening in Las Vegas in 2027.

The Netflix House mini-golf at the King of Prussia Mall in Philadelphia will be a high-tech course called "Top 9" and feature nine holes inspired by fan-favourite stories.

Netflix House is the latest branded entertainment centre that aims to bring together multiple games and activities under one roof.

It'll be interesting to see what the location looks like and how the mini-golf course plays. I wonder if there are future plans to roll-out Netflix Houses in other countries too...

Check out the Netflix House website for more information.

The Gluten Free World in Runcorn

There's a 100% gluten free bakery in Runcorn, Cheshire.

I recently found out there's a 100% gluten free bakery in Runcorn. Brilliant to know and somewhere for me to check out in the future.

Visit The Gluten Free World's website for more information.

Charity Adventure Golf Championship at Folkestone Harbour Adventure Golf

A Charity Adventure Golf Championship is taking place at Folkestone Harbour Adventure Golf.

The Channel Rotary group in Folkestone, Kent is organising a Charity Adventure Golf Championship hosted at the 12-hole Folkestone Harbour Adventure Golf course behind the Harbour Arm in the seaside town.

All proceeds from the event go to local Rotary charities.

The Charity Adventure Golf Championship at Folkestone Harbour Adventure Golf will see entrants compete during dedicated qualifying times between Monday 14th and Friday 18th July.

You can find out the rules and qualifying criteria on the Channel Rotary website.

The Secret Garden Adventure Golf course now open in Ware

The new Adventure Golf course at Van Hage Great Amwell garden centre in Ware, Hertfordshire is now open.

The outdoor Adventure Golf course can be found at the Blue Diamond Van Hage Great Amwell garden centre.

Find out more on The Secret Garden Adventure Golf Facebook Page.

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

Simply G Free Gluten free shop in Halifax

There's a gluten free shop at The Piece Hall in Halifax.

I've just found out there's a new gluten free shop at The Piece Hall in Halifax, West Yorkshire.

I'll have to check it out next time I'm there.

Visit the Simply G Free Facebook Page and The Piece Hall website for more information.

Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea

The Crazy Golf course at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea, Wales is being refurbished.

The outdoor Crazy Golf course at the Rhos Fynach pub and restaurant in Rhos on Sea will shortly be receiving a refurbishment. This will see the course closed from Monday 16th June and reopening on Saturday 28th June.

We're looking forward to seeing what the refreshed course looks like.

We played the 9-hole Crazy Golf course at the Rhos Fynach pub and restaurant in Rhos on Sea on Miniature Golf Day back in 2017. The course was the 462nd played and 781st visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

We've got a nice old postcard showing a previous course that was in the same location.

Putting Course. Rhos-on-Sea. C1542. E.T.W. Dennis & Sons Ltd

If you look past the course and to the right of Emily you can see the arched window on the seafront that also appears in the old postcard above

Check out the Rhos Fynach website for more information.

Happy International Axe Throwing Day

Today is International Axe Throwing Day aka World Axe Throwing Day.

International Axe Throwing Day aka World Axe Throwing Day is observed annually on the 13th June.

How apt that this year International Axe Throwing Day is on FRIDAY THE 13TH of June!

Axe Throwing at The No Work Club in Lincoln

Last summer we met our friends Laura and Martin in Lincoln and booked in to do some Axe Throwing for the first time. That was at The No Work Club. The venue also has an indoor Crazy Golf course.

An Axe Throwing-themed Crazy Golf hole at The No Work Club in Lincoln 

You can often find minigolf and axe throwing at the same location. As competitive socialising venues have boomed in popularity new places are opening and offering a range of games and activities.

Emily lining up a throw in Lincoln

Bullseye!

There's axe throwing and an outdoor adventure golf course at the Go Wild centre in Haverhill, Suffolk. I swung by there last year too.

I've also had a go at an Axe Throwing arcade game!

An Axe Master axe throwing arcade game in Southend-on-Sea

Playing an axe throwing arcade game in Southend-on-Sea

An axe throwing arcade game at King Pins in the Manchester Arndale centre - the venue also has a Crazy Golf course

International Axe Throwing Day was established by the World Axe Throwing League (WATL).