Bournemouth's Lower Gardens Mini Golf course

A revisit to the Lower Gardens Mini Golf course in Bournemouth.

We first visited and played the Mini Golf course at the Lower Gardens in Bournemouth, Dorset in June 2009 and revisited the course in July 2013 while in the area for the BMGA British Matchplay Championships that were to be played in nearby Boscombe.

Emily swung by for a look at the course on her recent trip to the seaside town.

The course location is one of the oldest sites of Miniature Golf in the UK. According to information on a board near the course a Putting Green was introduced to the Lower Gardens in 1931 and the present Mini Golf course was extensively remodelled in 2007.

We've got a fair few postcards in our collection showing the course over the years (here are links to a couple of them - 1 / 2). I've also got several photos of my parents playing the course in the 1970s!

The abandoned minigolf course on Bournemouth's Exeter Road

A look at the derelict minigolf course on Exeter Road in Bournemouth.

Back in June 2009 we found a derelict minigolf course in Bournemouth and when we revisited in July 2013 it was still there. On Emily's recent trip to the seaside town she found it was still in place.

The former 18-hole course is on Exeter Road and next to the cafe/restaurant.

The course is very similar in design to the busy course that can be found over the road in the Lower Gardens and the championship course in the Boscombe Chine Gardens, though in an entirely unplayable state.

Crazier Nolf at Boom Battle Bar in Bournemouth

A look at the Crazier Nolf course at Boom Battle Bar in Bournemouth, Dorset.

Emily recently visited Boom Battle Bar in Bournemouth with some work colleagues for a social do, and saw Crazier Nolf there. A first for the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Boom Battle Bar calls its crazy golf courses 'Crazier Golf' (and we've played the location in Norwich). Crazier Nolf is Crazier Golf, but played without putters!

Hole 1

Hole 2

Hole 3

Hole 4

Hole 5

Hole 6

Hole 7

Hole 8

Hole 9

Emily didn't get a chance for a game of Crazier Nolf on this occasion as some of the electronic holes were out of order. But she did get to play some of the darts and shuffleboard there.

Visit the Boom Battle Bar Bournemouth website for more information.

Check out this post to see all the different types and variants of miniature golf we've visited and played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour to date.

Minigolf old and new in Bournemouth

Two minigolf courses in one spot.

Emily took this snap of two very different minigolf courses in one location while in Bournemouth, Dorset last May.

The old minigolf course on Bournemouth's Exeter Road has been derelict for quite some time. The Mr Mulligan's indoor adventure golf opened in 2018.

Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf in Bournemouth

A look at the Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf course on Pier Approach in Bournemouth.

Emily swung by for a look at the Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf course on Pier Approach in Bournemouth on a trip to the seaside town in May this year.

Visit the Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf website for more information on the course.

Putt Above Mini-Golf in Bournemouth

There are plans for a new Putt Above Mini-Golf centre to open in Bournemouth, Dorset.

Bournemouth could soon be home to a new minigolf course as a Putt Above Mini-Golf centre is planned to open in the former Argos shop in the town centre.

The venue would be Putt Above's second location, following the created of their high-tech mini golf venue in Dudley, West Midlands.

We haven't had a chance to play Putt Above's version of the game yet. It sounds like they've got an interesting twist on the minigolf experience. Rather than moving from hole to hole as you play the course, games at Putt Above are played out on the same 'hole', but with different interactive elements shown on the digital 'lane'!

Visit the Putt Above website for more information.

Crazy Golf at Tuckton Tea Gardens in Bournemouth

A look at the Crazy Golf at Tuckton Tea Gardens in Bournemouth.

Thank you to my friend and minigolf rival Matt Dodd for these photos of the Crazy Golf course at Tuckton Tea Gardens in Bournemouth, Dorset.

Visit the Tuckton Tea Gardens website for more information about the Crazy Golf course and Putting Green there.

Matt and his family have visited hundreds of courses on their crazy golf adventures and it's always nice to meet up with them for a game. Matt has managed to track down and play quite a lot of courses that we're yet to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour!

We're looking forward to a return visit to Bournemouth and playing the two miniature golf courses at Tuckton Tea Gardens.

Picture Postcard Magic - Bournemouth

Check out my guest post about minigolf postcards from Bournemouth on the Picture Postcard Magic blog from Reflections of a Bygone Age.

Guest blogger Richard Gottfried, King of mini-golf with a postcard collection to match, makes his debut in Picture Postcard Magic. What do you think of this theme for collecting? ⛳️https://t.co/H8hYRTKGei#MiniGolf pic.twitter.com/d2AldN0zOO

— Brian Lund (@Postcard_World) April 28, 2020

Minigolf postcards from Bournemouth

Check out my guest post for the Picture Postcard Magic blog from Reflections of a Bygone Age.

Holidaying at home - a postcard from Bournemouth

A blog post about not going to Bournemouth.

We were supposed to be starting our holiday in Bournemouth today and were going to be staying at the Miramar Hotel. The hotel was once home to a Putting Green.

Sea and South Frontage, Hotel Miramar, Bournemouth. Eversheds. St Albans. Postally unused

We'd planned visits to 16 miniature golf courses in the Bournemouth, Boscombe, Southbourne, Poole and Sandbanks area of Dorset on the trip. We've now been to 948 courses since September 2006.

We've collected quite a few old postcards of minigolf courses in the area. Some are still there, such as the Lower Gardens course in Bournemouth, while others, like the Alum Chine course are long gone.

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

The 'Miniature Golf in Central Gardens, Bournemouth' postcard by The Photographic Greetings Cards Co Ltd, London was posted from Bournemouth to Cleveleys in Lancashire on the 24th July 1970

Mini-Golf at the Lower Gardens, Bournemouth, Dorset. J. Arthur Dixon postcard. PDO/89332 Posted August 1990

A Boscombe Crazy Golf postcard. JH 40 Plastichrome by Colourpicture. Pub. by J. Hammersley, Boscombe, Bournemouth. Posted in 1967

Crazy Golf and Rockery, Sandbanks, Poole. P.2674 Dennis Productions Postcard. Postally used. Date unknown

The Isle of Wight from Highcliffe-on-Sea. PT3098

We're looking forward to visiting the area on holiday next year.

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

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.

An old postcard from Bournemouth's Lower Gardens minigolf course

A look at an old postcard showing Bournemouth's Lower Gardens minigolf course.

After writing about the old J. Arthur Dixon postcard showing the Mini-Golf course at the Lower Gardens in Bournemouth, Dorset I had a look through our collection to find the earliest posting date we had on a card of the course.

It was this one, posted 40 years ago this year!

The 'Miniature Golf in Central Gardens, Bournemouth' postcard by The Photographic Greetings Cards Co Ltd, London was posted from Bournemouth to Cleveleys in Lancashire on the 24th July 1970

You can see what the Lower Gardens Mini Golf course looks like now on the course's Facebook Page.

We're looking forward to replaying the course later this year.

A mini-golf postcard from Bournemouth

A look at an old mini-golf postcard from Bournemouth.

One of the old postcards we found at the recent Stockport Postcard Fair was this J. Arthur Dixon card showing the Mini-Golf course at the Lower Gardens in Bournemouth, Dorset.

Mini-Golf at the Lower Gardens, Bournemouth, Dorset. J. Arthur Dixon postcard. PDO/89332 Posted August 1990

It was sent from Bournemouth to Uttoxeter, Staffordshire in August 1990.

It's one of a number of postcards we've got that show the Lower Gardens minigolf course. By the look of the card the photo is from at least the early 80's.

We'll be down in Dorset soon and are looking forward to replaying the course.

The Bournemouth Gardens Classic Mini Golf course in the Lower Gardens has been in the gardens for decades. It re-opened following a refurbishment a few years ago. We first visited in 2009 and returned in 2013. The Lower Gardens have been home to miniature golf courses since 1931 when the first Putting Green was introduced to the park.

Minigolf at Bournemouth Lower Gardens

Minigolf in Bournemouth, Boscombe, Southbourne, Poole and Sandbanks

A look at the miniature golf courses in the Bournemouth, Boscombe, Southbourne, Poole and Sandbanks area of Dorset.

We're gearing up for a minigolfing road-trip to the Bournemouth area in the spring and are looking forward to visiting and playing the courses down there.

We've visited the area a number of times over the years but our last trip there was in 2013. Since then a number of new courses have opened up, while some of the others have been refurbished.

If you know of any other minigolf courses in the Bournemouth, Boscombe, Southbourne, Poole or Sandbanks area do let us know.

Boscombe

Boscombe Chine Gardens is home to the Squirrel Café and mini golf. We played competitions on the course in 2009 and 2013.

Boscombe Chine Gardens Mini Golf course in 2009

Boscombe Pier was home to an eco-friendly Crazy Golf course for a while, we're not sure if it's still there though. The balls in use were made of fish food and the last hole had a drop into the sea!

Bournemouth

Mighty Adventures Crazy Golf at Playgolf Bournemouth is a relatively new 18-hole adventure golf course.

The Oasis Fun Centre in Bournemouth is home to an indoor jungle-themed adventure golf course.

Bournemouth Gardens Classic Mini Golf in the Lower Gardens has been in the gardens for decades. It re-opened following a refurbishment a few seasons ago. We visited in 2009 and 2013. The Lower Gardens have been home to miniature golf courses since 1931 when the first Putting Green was introduced.

Mini Golf in the Lower Gardens, Bournemouth in 2013

Smuggler's Cove Adventure Golf on Pier Approach in Bournemouth opened last year and is an 18-hole layout.

Mr Mulligan's Space Golf in Bournemouth is home to three 9-hole indoor adventure golf courses.

There used to be a derelict Crazy Golf near the Lower Gardens on Exeter Road in Bournemouth. It'll be interesting to see if it's still there and what state it's in now.

We checked out the course in 2009 and 2013

There's a Crazy Golf course at Tuckton Tea Gardens, Bournemouth. It looks like a fun layout.

Solent Meads Golf Centre in Bournemouth is home to a par-3 course as well as a Putting Green.

Christchurch

There's a Crazy Golf courses in Christchurch. We've known about it for a while but it's always been slightly off our route.

Poole

Harbour Pirates Glow Golf in Poole is a pirate-themed indoor UV minigolf course.

Poole Park Crazy Golf is a 12-hole outdoor course. We've also played a Putting Course next to the Crazy Golf. The park is also home to a miniature railway.

Poole Park Crazy Golf in 2010

Sandbanks

Sandbanks Crazy Golf is an interesting 18-hole layout. We've played tournaments on the course in the past.

There are some big obstacles on the Sandbanks Crazy Golf course

Southbourne

Cafe Riva in Southbourne is home to a Crazy Golf course. We played the course in 2009 and revisited in 2013. On our return we saw the venue is also home to a Putting course and a Pitch & Putt layout.

The Crazy Golf course at Cafe Riva in Southbourne back in 2013

Holiday parks

Two holiday parks in the area are home to courses:
Sandford Holiday Park in Sandford, Poole has a minigolf course.
Merley Court Touring Park in Merley, Wimborne, near Poole has a 9-hole minigolf course.

It should be a marvellous trip to the seaside.

What are the odds we find a few other hidden putting greens or pop-up crazy golf courses while we're down there?

Putting Green at the Hotel Miramar in Bournemouth

Among the old minigolf postcards we found at a collector's fair in Stockport on Sunday was this one of the Hotel Miramar in Bournemouth.

You can see the flag for hole 3 on the far left of the postcard

We've been to Bournemouth a number of times over the years and are due a Crazy World of Minigolf Tour revisit to the town as some new courses have opened since our last trip to the south coast resort in 2013. I can't believe it's been six years since we were last down there!

Looking on the Hotel Miramar website it doesn't appear to have a minigolf course there anymore.

We've played and visited a few miniature golf courses at hotels on our travels, including those at The Imperial Hotel in Torquay, the Sutton Staithe Hotel in Norfolk, The Riviera Hotel in Weymouth, the Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel, The Imperial Hotel in Exmouth, The Victoria and The Belmont hotels in Sidmouth and the Merlewood Hotel in Saundersfoot.

I wonder how many other hotels have minigolf or crazy golf courses 'hidden' in their grounds that we don't know about?

A Crazy Golf postcard from Boscombe

A look at an old Crazy Golf postcard from Boscombe.

I recently bought 50 more postcards for my collection and among them was this card of the Crazy Golf course near Boscombe Pier.

A Boscombe Crazy Golf postcard. JH 40 Plastichrome by Colourpicture. Pub. by J. Hammersley, Boscombe, Bournemouth. Posted in 1967

The course on the postcard is long gone, but Boscombe Pier itself does now have it's own Crazy Golf course.

We haven't played the Boscombe Pier course yet, however we have played the course at Boscombe Chine Gardens a number of times over the years.

Related blog posts:

- Boscombe

- Postcards

New Adventure Golf course heading to Bournemouth

New Smuggler's Cove Adventure Golf opening in Bournemouth.

Bournemouth will soon be home to another miniature golf course as Bournemouth Council are building a new 18-hole Smuggler's Cove Adventure Golf at Pier Approach.

Bournemouth is a minigolf hotbed as there are four other minigolf venues in the town - in the Lower Gardens, at Oasis Fun, at Playgolf Bournemouth and at Mr Mulligans. There are also a lot of courses in the surrounding area and in the seaside town of Boscombe next door.

We'll need to do a return visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour to add the new courses to our list as many of them opened since we last visited the town in 2013.