Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 04, 2019

Christmas Jumper Day

Save the Children's Christmas Jumper Day is on Friday 13th December.


Which Christmas Jumper shall I wear for it - Snowman or Pac-Man?


In my snowman Christmas jumper for the Chrizy Golf Masters
In my snowman Christmas jumper for the Chrizy Golf Masters

My Pac-Man Christmas jumper
My Pac-Man Christmas jumper

Visit Save the Children's Christmas Jumper Day website for more information and details on how to donate.

Tuesday, December 03, 2019

Ludicrous Christmas trees in Stockport

What a pair!

Christmas tree in Stockport
Festive street furniture
 
Christmas tree in Stockport
So Christmassy

Christmas tree in Stockport
How the second tree looked in 2016

Related blog posts:
- Christmas
- Christmas Trees

Monday, December 02, 2019

Hastings Adventure Golf wants you to get naked this Christmas and ditch the wrapping

Results of a Christmas survey by Hastings Adventure Golf.


The team at Hastings Adventure Golf in East Sussex love the festive season and recently carried out a survey which revealed that the majority of adults in Sussex would prefer to receive ‘help’ rather than a gift this Christmas.


Father Christmas at Hastings Adventure Golf
What do you want for Christmas?

The survey revealed that 75% of those polled said help with dog walking, gardening, babysitting or cleaning is the gift they would prefer to receive this Christmas.


Despite this, 51% said that they generally gift in excess of 20 presents at Christmas, with a further 14% gifting in excess of 40 presents. 45% of respondents said they have no intention of cutting back on the number of presents they buy this year, with almost 9 in ten people (87%) intending to give wrapped gifts, in paper with sellotape. 

As a result, Sussex residents will bin up to 136,000 rolls of wrapping paper over the holiday season and around four black bags of gift packaging per household. Nationally that’s 108 million rolls of wrapping paper going to landfill. 

Given this, its unsurprising that half of those surveyed agreed that their household generated more waste last Christmas than could fit in their bins.

Hastings Adventure Golf has now launched its Naked Christmas campaign to encourage the reduction of  wrapping. The Naked Christmas campaign is hoping to persuade people to give unwrapped gifts this Christmas and help make the festive season less waste producing.

Hastings Adventure Golf mascot Caddie Bear wants you to go naked this Christmas
Hastings Adventure Golf mascot Caddie Bear wants you to go naked this Christmas

Simon Tompkins of Hastings Adventure Golf said: “The figures associated with Christmas gift wrapping are astounding. By running this campaign we are hoping to highlight the astounding levels of needless waste and associated landfill costs of using wrapping paper, while outlining ways of solving the situation by giving ‘naked’ or unwrapped gifts. This one small effort alone can make a massive difference. Gift vouchers for experiences or home made vouchers that gift your help make a great alternative.”

Tips on cutting back on the use of packaging and wrapping this Christmas, include:

  1. Don’t wrap gifts - you can explain to the recipient why
  2. If you need to wrap - choose your wrapping paper carefully. Not all paper is recyclable and before recycling remove any sticky tape and decorations such as ribbons and bows as these cannot be recycled.
  3. Gift someone your time instead of a present – make your own gift vouchers for babysitting, dog walking, gardening, cleaning.
  4. Think about vouchers for an experience - these create fun memories - plus the bonus of no waste, no packaging.


For more helpful tips on having a Naked Christmas visit the Hastings Adventure Golf website.

Survey conducted by Hastings Adventure Golf among residents of Sussex in October and November 2019. There were 496 respondents.

Related blog posts:
- Christmas
- Hastings Adventure Golf

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Chrizy Golf

A look back at the Chrizy Golf Masters in Manchester.


Chrizy Golf Christmas-themed Crazy Golf in Manchester

Seven years ago this evening I won the first and to-date only Chrizy Golf Masters crazy golf tournament.


Chrizy Golf Christmas-themed Crazy Golf in Manchester
The Chrizy Golf Master

The event took place on the pop-up Chrizy Golf course set up at Piccadilly Place in Manchester on Friday 30th November 2012.


The 9-hole indoor minigolf course was open for six weeks in the run-up to Christmas 2012.

Chrizy Golf Christmas-themed Crazy Golf in Manchester

The Chrizy Golf course was the 313th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Do you know of any Christmas-themed Crazy Golf courses popping-up this festive season?

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Plonk Golf's Christmas pop-up in London

The team at Plonk Golf are creating a festive-themed pop-up Crazy Golf course in London this Christmas.


There's a Plonk Golf Christmas pop-up minigolf course in London

The Plonk Golf pop-up minigolf course will launch on Sunday 1st December and is open all the way through to Christmas Eve.


You'll be able to find the Plonk Golf Winter Wonderland Miniature Golf course at their Hoxton Clubhouse near Old Street.


For more information visit the Plonk Golf website.

Plonk Golf in Shoreditch
Plonk Golf in Shoreditch, one of a number of Plonk Golf courses we've visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Monday, November 25, 2019

Christmas Mini Golf

It's a month until Christmas Day!


Have you heard of any Christmas-themed Crazy Golf courses popping-up this year?

Christmas Crazy Golf
A Christmas-themed course we played in London back in 2009

Tuesday, September 03, 2019

Christmas-themed Crazy Golf courses

Will there be any festive minigolf this year?


Summer is almost over and the shops have already started selling Christmas stuff, so now is the perfect time to ask whether there will be any Christmas-themed miniature golf courses this year?


The first Christmas-themed minigolf course we saw was set-up in London ten years ago

We love seeing courses getting involved in different events and seasonal activities. On our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour we've seen a few Christmas-themed layouts, including the Chrizy Golf course in Manchester back in 2012!


In 2012 there was a six-week pop-up Crazy Golf course at Piccadilly Place in Manchester

Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida is home to two permanent 18-hole minigolf courses known as Disney's Winter Summerland Miniature Golf. Our friend Shelley Barrett has played them.

The story-line side of the Disney Winter Summerland Miniature Golf course

Minigolf is becoming more and more popular and has grown from being a traditional outdoor seaside summer activity to become a year-round game that can be played indoors, outdoors and at pretty much any time of the day.

Many businesses are also booking Christmas parties at miniature golf courses around the UK and there are certainly a lot of venues suited to cater for groups, with many minigolf centres now featuring bars and restaurants too.

Given the minigolf boom I wonder how many specifically Christmas-themed courses we'll see this festive season? If you know of any, please do get in touch.

Christmas Crazy Golf in years gone by


I won the Chrizy Golf Masters tournament in November 2012

In 2017 the Lakeside Village Shopping Centre in Doncaster had a free-to-play Christmas Crazy Golf course set up for shoppers to play during the festive season.

In 2013 the Queensgate Shopping Centre in Peterborough hosted the Christmas-themed 9-hole Miniature Golf course from Mini Golf and Games. I'd played the course when it was set-up, without the festive decorations, in Letchworth Garden City that summer.

Christmas minigolf course in Peterborough. Photo by Mini Golf and Games, 2013
A very nice Christmas-themed pop-up minigolf course

Back in 2009 we played a Christmas-themed minigolf course at Devonshire Square, London.

Part of the first Christmas-themed minigolf course we played back in 2009

Fun Fore All Family Fun Park in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania hosts an annual Holiday Lights Mini Golf event and it looks superb.

Holiday Lights Mini Golf at Fun Fore All, photo courtesy of Fun Fore All Family Fun Park. Photo by Hot Metal Studio-75 / Fun Fore All Family Fun Park
Holiday Lights Mini Golf at Fun Fore All, photo courtesy of Fun Fore All Family Fun Park

Related blog posts:
- Christmas

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Merry Christmas from Stockport

Christmas has come early. Too early.


Merry Christmas from our local B&M in Cheadle Heath, Stockport!


A selection of Christmas items at B&M in Cheadle Heath, Stockport

This is the earliest we've ever seen a Christmas aisle in a shop.


I know the weather has been bad this summer, but surely it's too soon to be thinking about Christmas shopping.

Monday, December 24, 2018

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

We wish you a very merry Christmas.

This course is at the Solna Bangolfklubb in Stockholm. It was one of nine courses we visited on our 42-hour trip to Sweden back in February
This course is at the Solna Bangolfklubb in Stockholm. It was one of nine courses we visited on our 42-hour trip to Sweden back in February

Have a wonderful break and all the very best for the year ahead.

Happy Putting throughout 2019.

Richard and Emily

Friday, November 30, 2018

The Chrizy Golf Masters in Manchester

A look back at the Chrizy Golf Masters minigolf competition in Manchester.


Chrizy Golf - Christmas-themed Crazy Golf in Manchester
The Chrizy Golf course was nicely decked out in Christmas-theming

Six years ago today I headed up to Manchester while my friend and minigolf rival John Moore travelled down from Newcastle to compete in the first - and to-date only - Chrizy Golf Masters tournament.

The pop-up Crazy Golf course was the 313th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Check out the retrospective blog post from last year for more details about my BIG Christmas minigolf win.

Monday, December 25, 2017

Merry Christmas

Happy Christmas. We hope you have a great day.

Merry Christmas

Friday, December 15, 2017

Happy Christmas Jumper Day

There was only one choice of festive knit to wear on Save the Children's Christmas Jumper Day this year.


Happy Christmas Jumper Day

On Save the Children's Christmas Jumper Day people all over the UK will be pulling on a seasonal jumper and donating to the great cause.

Check out Save the Children's Christmas Jumper Day website for more info and ways to donate.

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Chrizy Golf in Manchester

A look back at the Chrizy Golf Masters competition.


Chrizy Golf - Christmas-themed Crazy Golf in Manchester
The Chrizy Golf course was decked out in Christmas-theming

Five years ago I headed up to Manchester while my friend and minigolf rival John Moore travelled down to compete in the first - and to-date only - Chrizy Golf Masters tournament.

Chrizy Golf - Christmas-themed Crazy Golf in Manchester
One of the holes on the tricky indoor layout

The one night only event was held on an Christmas-themed indoor pop-up Crazy Golf course at Manchester Piccadilly. Played over one 9-hole round I managed to beat John by one-shot to take the victory with a score of 20(+2).

Chrizy Golf - Christmas-themed Crazy Golf in Manchester
Our scorecards from the tourney

Chrizy Golf - Christmas-themed Crazy Golf in Manchester
Another trophy to sit on shelf

After the 2012 festive season was over the course was gone and the building remained empty, or used for other pop-ups, until the team at Junkyard Golf made it their home a couple of years ago. They too have since moved on to a permanent venue at First Street.

It was great to compete in the Chrizy Golf Masters competition and it's still one of the few courses I've played that has been decked out for Christmas. It was certainly the only bespoke festive-themed course I've played.

Back then the journey up to Manchester from Luton seemed like a very long way, now it'd be less than half hour from Cheadle Hulme!

Related blog posts:
Chrizy Golf
- Christmas

Sunday, November 26, 2017

Even Father Christmas is playing the Circle Game!

Is anybody safe from the Circle Game?

Santa Claus playing the Circle Game
Don't look at Santa's right hand!

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Christmas Crazy Golf at Lakeside Village Shopping Centre in Doncaster

The Lakeside Village Shopping Centre has a free-to-play Christmas Crazy Golf course set up for shoppers to play during the festive season!

We visited Lakeside Village Shopping Centre to play the summer Crazy Golf course last year. The unique layout was good fun and became the 397th played and 678th visited overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Crazy Golf at Lakeside Village Shopping Centre in Doncaster
The Crazy Golf Adventure Golf course in summer 2016

Visit the Lakeside Village Shopping Centre website for more info.

Hastings Adventure Golf survey finds technology losing ground on Christmas lists

Results of a Christmas list survey by Hastings Adventure Golf.

The team at Hastings Adventure Golf has conducted a survey which reveals that technology is slipping down the Christmas wish list of adults in Sussex.

Father Christmas at Hastings Adventure Golf
What's on your Christmas wish list?

The survey revealed that technology, including mobile devices, PC and games, was not in the most desired category of gifts this year.

The unexpected revelation showed that the most wanted category of Christmas gifts was ‘clothes or accessories’. In close second place, was ‘an experience’ to include tickets to events, days out and mini-breaks. Technology took third place.

When asked specifically about ‘gift vouchers’ for days out or experiences, 50 percent of the adults surveyed agreed that the gift of an experience or day out was a great present.

With many people already owning more tech devices than ever before, active, fun and memorable experiences are becoming more popular as a gift choices.

Hastings Adventure Golf is always keen to get more people active and they run a number of events, competitions and promotions throughout the year. They have three outdoor minigolf courses on the seafront site - a classic Crazy Golf, an Adventure Golf layout and a Pirate Golf course. We've visited and played them a LOT on our Crazy Golf adventures since 2007!

While new technology might not be top of Christmas wish lists the Hastings Adventure Golf App has proved to be a popular free download to help people make the most of the experience.

Players visiting Hastings Adventure Golf can download the scorecard and loyalty app to keep a record of their visits and results, use the on-course selfie spot feature, and receive offers.

Visit the Hastings Adventure Golf website for more info.

Related blog posts:
- Hastings Adventure Golf
- Hastings
- Survey

The survey was commissioned by Hastings Adventure Golf and conducted by One Poll, with a sample of 400 adults (50:50 Male:Female) in Sussex.

Friday, November 17, 2017

Holiday Lights Mini Golf at Fun Fore All

Finding out about the Holiday Lights Mini Golf and festivities at Fun Fore All Family Fun Park in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania.


Holiday Lights Mini Golf at Fun Fore All, photo courtesy of Fun Fore All Family Fun Park
A view of the Holiday Lights Mini Golf course

We love sharing what's going on in the world of minigolf through our blog and social media channels and it's brilliant to see courses getting involved with different festivities.

Holiday Lights Mini Golf at Fun Fore All, photo courtesy of Fun Fore All Family Fun Park

One such course is Fun Fore All in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. The team there love theming their two 18-hole courses and recently had a successful Halloween. Now attention has turned to Christmas and their Holiday Lights Mini Golf which runs from November 17th to January 2nd.

View the Holiday Lights Mini Golf Teaser video.



Fun Fore All Family Fun Park's two 18-hole miniature golf courses are being transformed into a fully playable walk-through holiday lights experience.

Holiday Lights Mini Golf at Fun Fore All, photo courtesy of Fun Fore All Family Fun Park

The courses will have a variety of themed festive lights including Country & Western, penguins, the Taj Mahal, under the sea, and a Victorian Christmas. Holiday Lights Mini Golf will also have a walk-through light tunnel, a twenty-foot Christmas tree, and a holiday musical show that plays several times an hour.

Holiday Lights Mini Golf at Fun Fore All, photo courtesy of Fun Fore All Family Fun Park

It sounds brilliant. We love seeing courses getting involved in different events and seasonal activities. On our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour we've seen a few Christmas-themed layouts, including the Chrizy Golf course in Manchester back in 2012!

I'm still the reigning minigolf champion of Christmas having won the Chrizy Golf Masters in 2012!

Running from November 17th through to January 2nd from 5-10pm each night, the event is also packed with many other holiday inspired activities for the festive season including live reindeer, free pictures with Santa Claus every Friday and Saturday night, Christmas cookie decorating, a drop off for letters to Santa, a holiday concert, face painting, balloon art, caricature art, and great holiday food and drinks like hot chocolate, hot apple cider from Soergel Orchards, smores, and gourmet Kettle Korn, cinnamon roasted nuts & caramel apples from J.D.’s Popcorn. For a complete list of events, visit the Fun Fore All Holiday Lights website.

Hopefully we'll get to visit Fun Fore All Mini Golf on our future Crazy World of Minigolf Tour travels.

Holiday Lights Mini Golf at Fun Fore All, photo courtesy of Fun Fore All Family Fun Park

A portion of the proceeds raised during the Holiday Lights Mini Golf event are going to benefit Highmark’s Caring Place, which provides support for children grieving the loss of a loved one. Visit the Highmark’s Caring Place website to learn more about. Holiday Lights Mini Golf is $10 per person for one course or $15 for both courses.

For more information and the schedule for the Holiday Lights Mini Golf check out the Fun Fore All Fun Park website. You can take a Virtual Tour of Fun Fore All online too.

Links:
- Fun Fore All Family Fun Park website
- Fun Fore All on Facebook
- Fun Fore All on Twitter

Related blog posts:
- Guest blog
- Christmas
- USA

Photos courtesy of Fun Fore All Family Fun Park.

Monday, October 30, 2017

Christmas-on-Sea

With the festive season fast approaching Southend-on-Sea has got it's Christmas lights up already. Although they're not yet lit. The 'Christmas-on-Sea' lights on the Southend Central bridge were quite eye catching.

Southend-on-Sea is Christmas-on-Sea!
Welcome to Christmas-on-Sea!

It was great to see Southend nice and busy during our all-too-brief visit over the weekend. It was the first time we've been to the seaside town and NOT had time to play any minigolf. The courses we're proving a hit with the holidaymakers, locals and day-trippers.

Related blog posts:
- Southend-on-Sea
- Christmas
- Seasides

Link:
- Christmas-on-Sea

Thursday, January 12, 2017

A return to the Leopoldpark minigolf courses in Blankenberge

A revisit to the Mini Golf courses at the Leopoldpark in Blankenberge, Belgium.


Emily recently returned to Blankenberge in Belgium she noticed there was a large Christmas decoration still standing next to the miniature golf courses at the Leopoldpark.

Not a wacky waving inflatable, but a decent looking snowman Christmas decoration
Not a wacky waving inflatable, but a decent looking snowman Christmas decoration

Leopoldpark Snookergolf course in Blankenberge
You can see the snowman to the left of the snookergolf course

While there Emily also took a few more snaps of the colourful minigolf, crazy golf and snooker golf courses at the Leopoldpark. They do look marvellous and we can't wait to return and actually play them!

Leopoldpark minigolf course in Blankenberge
The Blankenberge Crazy Golf course

Leopoldpark minigolf course in Blankenberge
Hole 1 of the Mini Golf course at the Leopoldpark
 
Leopoldpark Snookergolf course in Blankenberge
The Snookergolf layout

The three 18-hole courses at Leopoldpark became the 710th, 711th and 712th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Leopoldpark Snookergolf course in Blankenberge
Another view of the Snookergolf course. It looks like a brilliant game

On her last visit Emily spotted there was also a Petanque terrain at the Leopoldpark. This time she spotted there are some undercover pistes there too. Looks like a great spot to play some boules.

The uncovered Petanque pistes

The undercover Boulodrome

Visit the Leopoldpark website for more information about the courses, opening times and prices.

Related blog posts:
- Minigolf at Leopoldpark in Blankenberge
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Give the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a Like on Facebook, watch our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter @putting_gott and @Ems_Lems. Please do sign-up to receive our miniature golf newsletter too.

Friday, December 30, 2016

Santa's Stockport Grotto

Over the past month or so I've seen some pretty dreary Christmas trees, but while having a wander down Prince's Street in Stockport I spotted what must rank as the worst looking festive thing ever!

Grotty more like it!

Related blog posts:
- Christmas
- The worst Christmas trees of 2016