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.

Winning the Weymouth Mini Golf Open

I won the Weymouth Open minigolf competition on this day in 2008.

The inaugural Weymouth Open minigolf tournament was held on the 18-hole Pirate Adventure Mini Golf course at the Weymouth Sea Life Centre at Lodmoor Country Park in Weymouth, Dorset on Sunday 12th October 2008.

Snaps of the Weymouth Pirate Adventure Golf course between 2008 and 2011

I had an excellent career record in Weymouth Open events. As well as winning the individual title in 2008, my team-mate Chris Harding and I were the Weymouth Open doubles champions in 2011.

I was also runner-up in the 2009 and 2011 events and seventh in 2010. In the 2009 tournament Kevin Moseley and I were tied after two rounds and it took 4-holes of a sudden-death play-off to separate us.

The Pirate Adventure Mini Golf course was the 77th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We've now been to 1,065 courses since September 2006.

A winner in Weymouth

Sweet Claw Adventure Crazy Golf at Iford Golf Centre

There's an Adventure Golf course at Iford Golf Centre in Christchurch, Dorset.

Check out the Iford Golf Centre website for more information.

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

Crazy Golf at the Gaggle of Geese pub in Buckland Newton, Dorset

There's a Crazy Golf course at the Gaggle of Geese pub in Buckland Newton, Dorset.

Check out the Gaggle of Geese website for more information.

It's another course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour next time we're down in Dorset.

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.

Adventure Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset

A look at the Adventure Golf courses at Parkdean Resorts Sandford Holiday Park, Dorset.

Adventure Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

There are two minigolf courses at Parkdean Resorts Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset.

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Many thanks to my friend and minigolf rival Martyn Williams for sending me these snaps of the two Crazy Golf courses at the Parkdean Resorts Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset.

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

The holiday park is home to a 9-hole Jurassic Crazy Golf course, as well as a 13 hole Pirate Crazy Golf layout.

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Check out the Parkdean Resorts Sandford Holiday Park website for more information.

It's always interesting to see some of the more 'hidden' courses around the UK as generally holiday park courses are only accessible to guests staying at the resort. Although this isn't always the case, so it's worth checking if the holiday camp has a day visitor pass, or if the minigolf course is available to play for non-residents too.