Showing posts with label Emily Gottfried. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Emily Gottfried. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

20 years of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Celebrating two decades of our crazy minigolfing adventures.


The Crazy World of Minigolf Tour teed-off 20 years ago today!

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea

How it started.

We played the Victory Trail course at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea, Hampshire, England on this day in 2006.

At the end of our 9-hole round on Saturday 30th September I won a free game by firing the cannon on the lucky last hole!

Richard Gottfried playing the Lucky Last Hole at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea

From 600 courses in the UK to more than 1,500.

When our crazy golfing travels began in 2006 there were around 600 miniature golf courses in the UK and wider British Isles.

There are now more than 1,500 - and there are lots of new places to play the game opening all the time.

Unfortunately, several courses have closed over the years. But on a brighter note, some others have been refurbished, redeveloped, or completely transformed into new layouts.

When we originally set off to visit as many courses as possible the target list was 600 in the British Isles. And 20 years later, we have around 50 of those original courses to visit.

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

We've now been to 1,131 courses overall in the last 20 years, with 1,062 of those locations in the British Isles.

Together with my brother Christopher - a charter member of the tour - and his family, we've visited a total of 1,189 courses.

Minigolf record makers.

Our travels have been recognised by the Guinness World Records, and I'm a record holder for "Most miniature golf courses visited" (902 at the time of going to press).

Check out the Guinness World Records 2024 book to see a lot more minigolf records too!

Minigolfing around the world.

Within the British Isles Emily and I have been to courses in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Jersey and the Isle of Man. We've also travelled to courses in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Finland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Spain (including Lanzarote & Tenerife in the Canary Islands, and Majorca in the Balearic Islands), Sweden and the USA.

Christopher and his family have travelled around the UK, as well as to courses in Türkiye, Spain (the Balearic Island of Majorca), Italy, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Indonesia, Croatia, the USA, Thailand, and Canada.

That's a combined total of 22 countries visited outside the UK / British Isles. Interestingly our tour has only been to two of the same countries in both branches - Spain and the USA!

Our list of miniature golf courses visited - 2006-2026.

You can see all of the courses we've visited on this Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list.

Blogging about minigolf around the world.

As well as the blog posts about our own crazy golf travels, we've also posted guest blogs from friends and family from their visits to courses around the world.

It's brilliant receiving photos, information and updates from - and about - crazy golf, minigolf, miniature golf putting, pitch & putt, adventure golf, and Putt-Putt courses around the world. There's such a wide-range and variety of courses out there.

We've met so many people and made some great friends on our travels since 2006. Many of whom have contributed to our travels by telling us about new courses, letting us know about course refurbs, or by sending over photos of courses they've been too. We've also received excellent photos of miniature golf courses from our family, friends, our networks, and course owners, managers, designers and builders themselves.

Minigolf guest blog posts from 31 countries - and international waters!

Over the last 20 years of blogging we've published guest blog posts about courses in England, Wales, Scotland, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Croatia, the Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guernsey, Indonesia, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Luxembourg, Morocco, the Netherlands, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain (including Lanzarote, Tenerife and Majorca), Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, the USA, on the high seas onboard the MSC Opera cruise ship (sailing from Italy - to Montenegro - to Greece), and even North Korea!

A BIG thank you to everyone we've met or spoken to on our crazy minigolf adventures over the pas two decades.

Related blog posts:

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Tuesday, September 29, 2026

20 for 20 - World Adventure Golf Masters Championship

20 for 20: 20 years of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


This month we're celebrating two decades of our crazy minigolfing adventures.

Emily is a two-time Women's World Adventure Golf Masters Champion - winning the international title at the World Adventure Golf Masters (WAGM) events held at Hastings Adventure Golf in 2011 and 2013.

Emily Gottfried - WMF World Adventure Golf Masters Women's Champion
Emily Gottfried - WMF World Adventure Golf Masters Women's Champion in 2011

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Thursday, September 24, 2026

Mini Golf at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

A look back at our visit to play the Lister Gardens Mini Golf course in Lyme Regis, Dorset.


Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

The 601st course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour was the Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset.

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

The 18-hole Mini Golf layout was the second played on our tour of the South West of England in the summer of 2015 and the 365th played overall on our tour.

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

It was a very nice course, with some brilliant views of the seafront and The Cobb harbour area.

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Check out the Lyme Regis Town Council website for more information on the course.


Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

20 for 20 - The WMF Nations Cup minigolf tournament in Stockholm, Sweden

20 for 20: 20 years of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


This month we're celebrating two decades of our crazy minigolfing adventures.


Emily at the start of her record breaking round on the Miniaturegolf course
Emily at the start of her record breaking round on the Miniaturegolf course

At the event Emily set the British women's record score on the Miniaturegolf (Eternit) format of the game after scoring a round of 24 (-12) on the 18-hole course during the 2011 WMF Nations Cup tournament.

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Thursday, September 17, 2026

20 for 20 - The World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings

20 for 20: 20 years of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


This month we're celebrating two decades of our crazy minigolfing adventures.

Emily and I both made our debuts in the 2007 edition of the World Crazy Golf Championships back when it was known as the Virgin Money World Crazy Golf Championships. It was Emily's first ever miniature golf tournament.

The event is held on the 18-hole outdoor Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course at the seafront Hastings Adventure Golf complex.

Emily Gottfried playing at the 2014 World Crazy Golf Championships

Richard Gottfried playing at the 2014 World Crazy Golf Championships

Emily and The Gommery Trophy at the 2014 World Crazy Golf Championships. Emily is a two-time winner of the trophy awarded for most holes-in-one by players who finish outside the final top 18
Emily and The Gommery Trophy at the 2014 World Crazy Golf Championships. Emily is a two-time winner of the trophy awarded for most holes-in-one by players who finish outside the final top 18


Related blog posts:

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

20 for 20 - Winning the Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Championship

20 for 20: 20 years of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


This month we're celebrating two decades of our crazy minigolfing adventures.

We've both won the Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Championship - I lifted the trophy in 2018 and Emily won the title in 2019.

Richard Gottfried - Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Champion 2018

Emily Gottfried - Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Champion 2019

Related blog posts:

Friday, September 11, 2026

20 for 20 - Playing for Great Britain at the 2008 Nations Cup of Minigolf in Tampere, Finland

20 for 20: 20 years of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


This month we're celebrating two decades of our crazy minigolfing adventures.


Emily Gottfried and the GB Minigolf team on the Beton Concrete Minigolf course at the Manse Ratagolf Club in Tampere, Finland in 2008
Emily playing on the Beton Concrete Minigolf course in Tampere, Finland during a practice session

Richard Gottfried playing the Eternit Miniature Golf course at the Manse Ratagolf Club in Tampere, Finland

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Thursday, September 10, 2026

20 for 20 - 'The Butler Cup' On The Buses Crazy Golf Tournament at Prestatyn Crazy Golf

20 for 20: 20 years of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


This month we're celebrating two decades of our crazy minigolfing adventures.

In 2014 we travelled to Prestatyn, Wales to compete in 'The Butler Cup' On The Buses Crazy Golf Tournament at Prestatyn Crazy Golf - and Emily won the tournament.

Emily Gottfried playing at Prestatyn Crazy Golf

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Thursday, September 03, 2026

20 for 20 - The Himalayas miniature golf course at St Andrews

20 for 20: 20 years of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


This month we're celebrating two decades of our crazy minigolfing adventures.

We visited The Himalayas course at the St Andrews Ladies' Putting Club in 2012 - the course is the world's first miniature golf course.

Emily Gottfried Putting at The Himalayas Miniature Golf course at St Andrews, Scotland

Richard Gottfried Putting at The Himalayas Miniature Golf course at St Andrews, Scotland

Related blog posts:

Tuesday, September 01, 2026

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour is 20 years old this month

We're celebrating two decades of our crazy minigolfing adventures.


Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea, Hampshire

How it started.

We played the Victory Trail course at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea, Hampshire, England on Saturday 30th September 2006.

Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea, Hampshire

And at the end of our 9-hole round I won a free game by firing the cannon on the lucky last hole!

Lucky Last Hole Free Game Hole at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea

Travelling the UK (and the world) playing minigolf.


When we originally set off to visit as many courses as possible the target list was 600 in the British Isles. And 20 years later, we have around 50 of those original courses to visit.

As well as playing minigolf in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Jersey and the Isle of Man we’ve travelled to minigolf courses in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Finland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Spain (including Lanzarote & Tenerife in the Canary Islands, and Majorca in the Balearic Islands), Sweden and the USA.

From 600 courses in the UK to more than 1,500.

When our crazy golfing travels began in 2006 there were around 600 miniature golf courses in the UK and wider British Isles.

There are now more than 1,500 - and there are lots of new places to play the game opening all the time.

Minigolf record makers.

Our travels have been recognised by the Guinness World Records, and I'm a record holder for "Most miniature golf courses visited" (902 at the time of going to press). Check out the Guinness World Records 2024 book to see a lot more minigolf records too!

Related blog posts:

Wednesday, July 01, 2026

Minigolf in Valencia, Spain

A look at a minigolf course in Valencia, Spain.


Minigolf in Valencia, Spain


Minigolf in Valencia, Spain

The answer was the minigolf course in the park near Pont del Regne in Valencia, Spain.

Minigolf in Valencia, Spain

Minigolf in Valencia, Spain

Minigolf in Valencia, Spain

The course became the 739th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour when Emily swung by in June 2017.

Minigolf in Valencia, Spain

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - courses we've visited to date

Information about our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Details of the 1,100+ miniature golf courses we've visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

At the Crazy Golf course in Prestatyn (photo by Seth Thomas)
At the Crazy Golf course in Prestatyn

A wide-range of minigolf courses.

We've seen the good, the bad and the ugly of minigolf courses on our travels, but feel that each and every one of them is worth a look in its own right.

The game of minigolf is one of fun and frustration and mixes skill and luck to tackle the obstacles set-up to trip you up and trick you as you play.

A BIG minigolf thank you.

We'd like to thank course owners, operators and suppliers everywhere for building, running and maintaining miniature golf courses of all shapes, sizes and types and look forward to playing and revisiting courses for more minigolfing fun in the future.

We'd also like to thank our family, friends, minigolf rivals, the wider minigolf community, and everyone who has let us know about a course over the years!

Southend Pier Crazy Golf course
Visiting the Crazy Golf course at the end of the Pier in Southend-on-Sea

How many minigolf courses have we visited so far?

Below is the list of the 1,131 miniature golf courses visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour to date. 1,062 of them have been in the British Isles.

As well as playing minigolf in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Jersey and the Isle of Man we’ve travelled to minigolf courses in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Finland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Spain (including Lanzarote & Tenerife in the Canary Islands, and Majorca in the Balearic Islands), Sweden and the USA.

We've been able to play a total of 596 of them as many have been found to be abandoned, closed, out-of-season or derelict on our initial visit. Luckily some courses that were closed on our original visit have since been played. And we've played some of these courses many many times over as they're so good. It's interesting to return to a course some time later to see what has, or hasn't, changed.

Richard & Emily Gottfried at the World's First Miniature Golf Course - The Himalayas Putting Course in St Andrews, Scotland
The Himalayas at St Andrews - the world's first Miniature Golf course

The list of minigolf courses we've been to.

Please be aware that courses come and go and this list is not a 'live' list of miniature golf courses. If you find that a course is no longer there, or has significantly changed, please let us know by leaving a comment.

Here's a list of the courses we've played between the 30th September 2006 and the 7th May 2026.


Here's a list of the courses we have visited, but not played, between the 30th September 2006 and the 29th August 2026.


Crazy Golf course in Ayr
An abandoned Crazy Golf course in Ayr



* Due to closure, flooding, dereliction, or a number of other reasons. Some of these layouts have since been revisited and played.

Another branch of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

My brother Christopher was with us when we played the first minigolf course on what would become the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Christopher and his family have visited courses around the British Isles as well as visits to courses in Türkiye, Spain (the Balearic Island of Majorca), Italy, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Indonesia, Croatia, the USA, Thailand, and Canada.

The Minigolf course at Vista Alegre in Porto Cristo, Majorca by Nina Dukes 120415
The Minigolf course at Vista Alegre in Porto Cristo, Majorca

Here's a list of minigolf courses visited by Christopher Gottfried on he and his family's branch of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour 2011-2025.


The combined Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The combined total of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour is now at 1,189 courses visited!

New minigolf courses in the UK.

Minigolf is an incredibly popular leisure and sporting activity for all ages, and we're seeing an exciting boom in new courses opening up across the UK. From vibrant indoor venues in towns and city centres to sprawling outdoor adventure golf parks, the game continues to evolve and captivate players all year round.

While minigolf was traditionally a seaside summer pastime in the UK, the last decade or so has seen its growth into more urban settings, with many venues now catering to a late night audience. It can be the perfect activity for groups of friends, families, and young and old alike.

The UK minigolf landscape: How many courses are there?

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