A #GetUpandGo experience at the Travelodge in Hastings

Travelling to Hastings for a minigolfing #GetUpandGo experience.

Greetings from Hastings - minigolf kit laid out and ready for a weekend of Crazy Golf action in Hastings

On our travels around the UK on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Emily and I often stay in Travelodge hotels, and on our many trips to compete in Mini, Crazy and Adventure Golf tournaments in the mecca of minigolf - Hastings, East Sussex - we'll often be found checking in at the Travelodge on Bohemia Road.

Playing the skull hole on the Pirate Golf course in Hastings

The hotel is in a good spot, has nice clean rooms, parking and great customer service. It all helps to make a stay there pleasant and with the introduction of new and very comfortable beds we're ready to #GetUpandGo in the many individual and team tournaments we play in at the seaside resort.

The Midlands Minigolf Club line-up ahead of the 2014 BMGA British Club Championships in Hastings

On my latest trip to the town I finished 11th of 26 players in the two-round, 36-hole Planet Hastings Crazy Golf Club Open competition played on the 18-hole Adventure Golf course on the seafront.

On the 18th at Hastings' Pirate Golf

I look forward to more stays at Travelodge hotels in the future.

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Hastings

Links:
- Travelodge
- Travelodge on Twitter
- Travelodge on Facebook
- #GetUpandGo
- Hastings Adventure Golf 

The old Crazy Golf course in Camber Sands

A revisit to the site of an old Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Camber Sands.

After playing the fun Crazy Golf course at Pontins Camber Sands Holiday Park and before we headed to Hastings for a weekend playing in the World Crazy Golf Championships, Emily and I had a drive down the Old Lydd Road in Camber to have a look at what had become of the old Crazy Golf course.

Not a lot to be honest.

The site of an old Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Camber Sands. Now just a patch of dusty gravelly land used as a car park. A real shame

Back in September 2010 we'd visited the site and found that the course had been ripped up to make way for a new Car Park. At least the old hut/kiosk was still there then.

You can see photos of the course as it was in 2002 on the excellent minigolf website MiniatureGolfer.com.

Related blog posts:
- Minigolf course location visited but no course to play - Camber Sands (Old Lydd Road)
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Link:
- Camber Sands Crazy Golf course on Miniature Golfer

Revisit to Rye's Mini Golf course

The Putting Green in Rye remains unplayed by us.

The Putting Green on Fishmarket Road, Rye wasn't open. Again

Back in 2010 we visited Rye in East Sussex and spotted a Mini Golf Putting course on Fishmarket Road. On our recent visit the area looked to have changed a bit, most notably in the removal of the hut/kiosk and the brick backs that were on some of the elevated greens.

A view of the Putting course layout in Rye

We did get some good views of the putting and bowling green from the lookout in the town centre though.

A view of the Bowling and Putting Greens in Rye from the lookout point

The plaque on the lookout point in Rye

Related blog posts:
- Minigolf course visited but not played - Rye - Putting Course - Closed for the day
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

National Town Criers Championships in Hastings

Historic Hastings to Host Hollering Battle.

My friend and minigolf rival John 'Big Top Ted' McIver let me know that the 62nd edition of the annual National Town Criers Championships is coming up soon.

A Town Crier being stentorian in Hastings at the 60th National Town Crier Championships in 2012

The Town Criers, representing towns around the country, will gather at the Priory Meadow Shopping Centre in the town on Saturday 18 October between 11am and 5pm where they will be judged on volume, diction, clarity and inflection.

I don't know what the collective term is for a group of Town Criers, but here's a gathering of a few at the 2012 National Town Criers Championships in Hastings

Back in 2011 we visited the 59th edition of the National Town Criers Championships and we went along for a watch at the 60th event in 2012 too. The competition is a great spectacle.

Hastings is a great seaside town to visit, with plenty of community and cultural events going on. We're often there for Mini, Crazy and Adventure Golf tournaments down on the seafront.

Looking at the website of the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers there's a thriving competition circuit!

I wonder if Worthing's new Town Crier (the former Mayor and all-round character) Bob Smytherman will be competing over the border in East Sussex?

My home town of Abingdon on Thames has a very special event held on special occasions. Bun Throwing sees the townsfolk scramble for hot cross buns thrown from the roof of the old County Hall. Here's me, my brother Jon, and my dad Chris with Abingdon's Town Crier after the April 2011 Royal Bun Throwing

Links:
- The Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers
- Visit 1066 Country
- The 62nd National Town Criers Championship on the 1066 Country website
- National Town Criers Championship on the Hastings Borough Council website

Related blog posts:
- The 59th Annual National Town Criers Championships in Hastings
- Hastings
- World of Bun Throwing

The Piece of Cheese Cottage in Hastings

While in Hastings old town recently I spotted a very eye-catching building - the Piece of Cheese Cottage!

In all my many visits to the town for Crazy and Mini Golf tournaments I've never seen the place before. It's certainly very different.

One of the sides of the building - the only three-sided cottage in England - has a blue heritage plaque on it that makes an interesting claim!

The cottage was built for a £5 bet in 1871 and is the second smallest in the country. The Piece of Cheese Cottage is also available to stay in from only £55 per night! I may be making a booking soon as it's very close to the seafront and the town's Miniature Golf courses.

Link:

- The Piece of Cheese Cottage

A surprise meeting with Big Bird in Hastings!?

I always enjoy a trip to Hastings. There’s obviously the brilliant Minigolf courses to play, meeting up with friends, visits to some very good pubs, excellent seafood, the great 1066 Cake Stand, the Amusement Arcades, some interesting events and of course the wonderful Post Office Tea Rooms in nearby St Leonards. But wandering along the seafront while in town during our latest visit for the WMF World Adventure Golf Masters tournament I randomly got to meet Big Bird out of Sesame Street!

Me and Big Bird, from Sesame Street, in Hastings

Eastbourne - Fort Fun Adventure Golf Course - Minigolf Course Played #222

After playing the Putting course in Princes Park, Eastbourne we headed over the road to play the 18-hole Adventure Golf course at Fort Fun!

The course became the 222nd course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

It's not the best example of an Adventure Golf course, but we had a fun and competitive Irregular Mini Golf Tour round, with me coming out the winner by five shots.

Some of the theming is good - especially the Crocodile/Alligator!

Interestingly, and happily for me, I also managed to win a free game on the Top Hole! This was the first I have won since the 150th course played in Southport in September 2009!!! It's also only the third free game I've won in all the courses I've played!? The first was won at the very first course visit in September 2006 in Portsmouth!

The Top Hole Ticket Stub Champion

Related blog posts:

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

- Eastbourne

- Fake Crocodiles! Or are they Alligators?

Minigolf course visited but not played - Rye - Putting Course - Closed for the day

Mini Golf course visit in Rye.

Driving from Camber Sands and Dymchurch we passed through Rye, and out of the corner of my eye I spotted a Minigolf Putting Course Course next to the Bowling Green!

However, it was not to become the 199th course played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour as it had been closed for the day (early too, as some of the Bowlers said there hadn't been many customers so it was shut early at 4pm).

It was a good looking Putting Course, with some raised greens, which would make for some interesting shots.








Perhaps the Irregular Mini Golf Tour's 'Race to Play Near Rye' competition could actually now take place in Rye itself!

Other course visits on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.