Lucky Last Holes in minigolf

Hitting the 'Top Hole' in minigolf.

Lucky 19th Hole at the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Great Yarmouth in 2011

One of the aims of the game of minigolf is - once the 9, 12 or 18-holes of regulation play is done, and if they have one - to 'WIN A FREE GAME' on the 'Lucky Last Hole', aka the 'Top Hole'.

Lucky 10 Hole at the Arnold Palmer Mini Crazy Golf Putting Course in Whitby in 2015

Not every minigolf course has one of these 'Lucky Last Holes', but those that do come with a variety of obstacles in your way to the top hole, and that prized free game!

Lucky 13 Hole - Top Hole - at Broadstairs Minigolf in 2008

When you do 'Ace' the top hole you may find a cannon is fired, a bell rung, or a voice talks to you!

On our very first minigolf course visit on the 30th September 2006 I managed to Fire the Cannon and win a free game at the Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea - that was one of the things that really sparked off our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour!

Emily about to win a FREE GAME on the Lucky Last Hole at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea

I seem to have had a lot of luck winning FREE GAMES at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea over the years

But I then had to wait until the 4th of September 2009 and my 150th course visit to the Arnold Palmer Masters Putting Course, aka Crazee Golf, in Southport until my next win!

Playing the Free Game Hole at The Masters Putting Course in Southport

And winning a FREE GAME on it

A look at some of the Lucky Last Holes we've found on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since 2006.

Emily playing the Lucky Last Hole at the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf in Skegness in 2015

Lucky 19 Hole at the Little Oasis Crazy Golf course in Cliftonville, Margate in 2007

Lucky 19 Hole at the Little Oasis Crazy Golf course in Cliftonville, Margate in 2009

Lucky Hole 10 at Saltburn Minigolf course in 2019

Lucky Last Hole at Hastings Adventure Golf in 2017

Playing the Lucky Last Hole at the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Great Yarmouth in 2007

Playing the Lucky Last Hole at the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Great Yarmouth in 2011

And winning a FREE GAME pass

Winning a FREE GAME pass on the Lucky Last Hole at the Crazy Mini Golf course at Hesketh Park in Southport in 2016

Lucky Last Hole at the Crazy Golf course at Southport's Botanic Gardens in 2016

Playing Lucky Last Hole 13 at Peterborough Minigolf at Dobbies Garden Centre in 2015

Lucky Last Hole at Bognor Regis Crazy Golf in 2011

Emily playing the Lucky Last Hole at Bognor Regis Crazy Golf in 2011

Playing the Lucky Last Hole at Bognor Regis Crazy Golf in 2011

Lucky Last Hole at Bognor Regis Crazy Golf in 2022

Lucky Last Hole at Bognor Regis Crazy Golf in 2022

Lucky Last Hole at Crazy Hills Putting Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf Course in Weston-Super-Mare in 2011

Playing the Lucky Last Hole at Crazy Hills Putting Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf Course in Weston-Super-Mare in 2011

Winning another FREE GAME pass

Lining up a shot on the Lucky Last Hole at Paradise Island Adventure Golf in Sheffield in 2016

Top Hole Lucky 19 at Prestatyn Crazy Golf in 2017

Related blog posts:

• Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf in Whitby

A look back at our visit to play the Arnold Palmer Minigolf course in Whitby, North Yorkshire.

We originally visited the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Whitby in March 2014 and returned to play it in August 2015.

The 9-hole Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Whitby was the 545th visited overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and became the 385th played.

Arnold Palmer Putting course at Pop’s Meadow in Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk

A look at the old Arnold Palmer Putting course at Pop’s Meadow in June 2010.

Miniature Golf of one sort or another has been played on the site since the early to mid-1900's.

There used to be an Arnold Palmer Putting Course at Pop’s Meadow Putting Green in Gorleston-on-Sea. In May 2009 that layout became the 100th visited overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

We played the 9-hole Arnold Palmer Putting Course that was at Pop’s Meadow back in June 2010.

There is still a crazy golf course at Pop’s Meadow. The area is now Pop’s Meadow Kids Amusement Park and Café.

Check out the Pop’s Meadow Kids Amusement Park and Cafe Facebook Page for more information.

Arnold Palmer Putting Courses.

Arnold Palmer Putting Courses are a design classic and include all the elements that make a Crazy Golf course great – the Windmill, the Waterwheel, an Obelisk, ledges, bunkers, traps, flat loops, hills and plateaus – everything laid out to make a course interesting, testing and most of all fun!

The Arnold Palmer branded miniature golf courses were part of the Arnold Palmer Enterprises empire set-up in 1961 that saw the legendary golfer's name licensed and franchised to a wide-range of activities and products including Dry Cleaning centres and an Arnold Palmer brand foot detergent.

By 1966 there were 130 Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in the USA, with ten in Japan and some in South Africa.

Take a look at this blog post about "Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in the UK" for further information.

Related blog posts:

• Pop's Meadow
• Gorleston-on-Sea
• Arnold Palmer Putting Courses

Happy National Miniature Golf Day

Today is National Miniature Golf Day.

Playing the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Skegness on National Miniature Golf Day 2015

There are two 'miniature golf days' each year.

• National Miniature Golf Day is always on the second Saturday in May.
• The other minigolf day, Miniature Golf Day, is always on the 21st September. In 2026 the 21st falls on a Monday.

Crazy Golf at Fantasy Island on Canvey Island

A look at the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course at Fantasy Island on Canvey Island, Essex.

Last week I asked the question "Where in the world was this crazy golf course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour?".

The answer was the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course at Fantasy Island on Canvey Island in Essex.

At the time I visited and played the course in April 2009 it was a 9-hole layout - it had originally been an 18-hole course. We revisited the course in 2011.

It's now a lost course. However, Fantasy Island is still home to a crazy golf course - one we're yet to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Find out more on the Fantasy Island Canvey Island Facebook Page.

The Masters Putting Green in Southport - celebrating 60 years in 2025

The Masters Putting Green crazy golf course in Southport, Merseyside is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

The Masters Putting Green Crazy Golf course at King's Gardens in Southport in 2016

The 18-hole crazy golf course opened for business back in 1965.

The course on a very busy Miniature Golf Day in 2019

The Masters Putting Green in Southport is of the Arnold Palmer Putting Course variety, and opened under the Arnold Palmer branding in 1965.

Playing The Masters Putting Green at King's Gardens in Southport back in September 2009

Find out more.

You can find out more about The Masters Putting Green on the Southport Crazy Golf website.

The Masters Putting Green in Southport, 23rd November 2016

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The Masters Putting Green in Southport was the 150th course we played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We've revisited the course in October and November 2016, January and October 2018, and September 2019.

September 2009

October 2016

November 2016

A revisit is long overdue!

The Windmill at The Masters Putting Green in Southport, 23rd November 2016

Winning a FREE GAME at The Masters Putting Green Crazy Golf course at King's Gardens in Southport, 4th September 2009

Winning a FREE GAME at The Masters Putting Green Crazy Golf course at King's Gardens in Southport, 4th September 2009

The Masters Putting Green Crazy Golf at King's Gardens in Southport, 1st January 2018

The Masters Putting Green Crazy Golf at King's Gardens in Southport, 1st January 2018

Arnold Palmer Putting Courses.

Arnold Palmer Putting Courses are a design classic and include all the elements that make a Crazy Golf course great – the Windmill, the Waterwheel, an Obelisk, ledges, bunkers, traps, flat loops, hills and plateaus – everything laid out to make a course interesting, testing and most of all fun!

They're my favourite type of minigolf course and I've visited most of those that still remain in the UK.

The Arnold Palmer branded miniature golf courses were part of the Arnold Palmer Enterprises empire set-up in 1961 that saw the legendary golfer's name licensed and franchised to a wide-range of activities and products including Dry Cleaning centres and an Arnold Palmer brand foot detergent.

By 1966 there were 130 Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in the USA, with ten in Japan and some in South Africa.

Southport's Crazy Golf course lays claim to being the first Arnold Palmer Putting Course in the UK (there is also some information that a course in Coventry opened as the first in 1965 and was part of an Arnold Palmer Driving Range in the city). An Arnold Palmer Putting course was also located at a Driving Range in Sheffield.

Take a look at my blog post about "Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in the UK" for further information.