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

Sunday, May 15, 2022

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour update

We have now been to 992 courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


Crazy World of Minigolf Tour update

947 of them have been in the British Isles (UK home nations, Jersey & the Isle of Man) plus 45 in eleven overseas countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden and the USA.

In 2006 we set out to visit every miniature golf course in the UK. When we began there were around 600 courses in the UK. There are now more than 1,000, with new courses opening all the time.

Where will the 1,000th one be???

Sunday, May 08, 2022

Getting close to 1,000 courses

We're edging closer to our 1,000th minigolf course visit!


Crazy Putting Challenge minigolf course at Hamptworth Golf Club (May 2019)
Crazy Putting Challenge minigolf course at Hamptworth Golf Club - the 875th course we visited during a road-trip to Southampton in 2019

Where will it be...?

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

In 2006 we set out to visit every miniature golf course in the UK. When we began there were around 600 courses in the UK. There are now more than 1,000, with new courses opening all the time.

At the Adventure Golf Course at the Pleasure Beach Gardens in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk in 2016
At the Adventure Golf Course at the Pleasure Beach Gardens in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk during a tour of the Norfolk coast in 2016

We have visited 983 courses in total (944 in the British Isles (UK home nations, plus Jersey & the Isle of Man) plus 39 in eleven overseas countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden and the USA).

Playing the Mini Golf Pitch and Putt course at Onchan Park on the Isle of Man in July 2018
Playing the Mini Golf Pitch and Putt course at Onchan Park on the Isle of Man in July 2018

Where will the next ones be...?

Saturday, April 09, 2022

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

Looking back at our visit to the Mini Golf course in Taunton's Vivary Park.


Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

The 380th course we played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour was the 18-hole Mini Golf course at Vivary Park in Taunton, Somerset.

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

The layout was the 62nd visited and 17th played on our tour of the South West of England in the summer of 2015. It became the 640th we visited in the UK, and the 661st overall.

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

We've now been to 983 courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

In our minigolf match up at Vivary Park on the 12th June 2015 Emily scored 45 and I shot a par round of 36.

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

Check out the photos below to see the 18-holes.


Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton

Visit the Vivary Golf & Adventure Centre website for more information.

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Championships 2021

The PIAG Open Championships are back for 2021.


The Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Championships are once again taking place at the indoor Paradise Island Adventure Golf courses around the country. The events were cancelled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Tiki Hut Trail course at Paradise Island Adventure Golf in the Trafford Centre, Manchester
The Tiki Hut Trail course at Paradise Island Adventure Golf in the Trafford Centre, Manchester 

This year's event runs from the 15th to the 18th July.


Emily Gottfried - Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Champion in 2019

Richard Gottfried - Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Champion in 2018

More details of the event and the PIAG courses in Manchester, Cheshire Oaks, Glasgow, Livingston, Sheffield, Derby, Rushden Lakes and Plymouth can be found on the Paradise Island Adventure Golf website.

Monday, May 10, 2021

The Minigolf Nations Cup 2008

We made our Great Britain team debuts at the 2008 Nations Cup of Minigolf in Tampere, Finland thirteen years ago today!


The 2008 Minigolf Nations Cup

Our Great Britain Minigolf team, sponsored by UrbanCrazy, finished the tournament in 13th place. In the individual rankings I finished in 51st place and Emily was 53rd.

In action at the Minigolf Nations Cup in Tampere, Finland
In action at the Minigolf Nations Cup in Tampere, Finland

The 2008 Great Britain squad - Jouni Valkjarvi (coach), John 'Big Top Ted' McIver, Marion 'Mation' Homer, Sean 'Freebird' Homer, Tim 'Ace Man' Davies, Steve 'F1' Gow, Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried, Andy 'Sarge' Booth, 'Squire' Richard Gottfried
The 2008 Great Britain squad - Jouni Valkjarvi (coach), John 'Big Top Ted' McIver, Marion 'Mation' Homer, Sean 'Freebird' Homer, Tim 'Ace Man' Davies, Steve 'F1' Gow, Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried, Andy 'Sarge' Booth, 'Squire' Richard Gottfried

Richard Gottfried - International Minigolfer

Emily Gottfried - International Minigolfer

We've also played for the Great Britain national team in World Minigolf Sport Federation and European Minigolf Sport Federation tournaments in Stockholm, Sweden and Hastings, England.

The Beton Concrete Mini Golf course at the Manse RG Club in Tampere was the 50th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. The Eternit Miniature Golf course was the 51st and the Swedish Felt Minigolf course there was the 52nd played. We've now been to 958 courses since 2006.

Monday, March 15, 2021

Happy 9th Anniversary to KISS by Monster Mini Golf!

Today is the 9th Anniversary of KISS by Monster Mini Golf in Las Vegas.


Congratulations to the Monster Mini Golf team on the milestone.

KISS by Monster Mini Golf in Las Vegas


Emily putting into The Demon's mouth at KISS Monster Mini Golf in Las Vegas
Emily putting into The Demon's mouth at KISS Monster Mini Golf

You can now find KISS by Monster Mini Golf at the Rio Hotel & Casino. Visit the Monster Mini Golf website for more information.

I was last in Las Vegas ten years ago so haven't played the course yet.

We're looking forward to a return to Las Vegas in the future and playing both the KISS Monster Mini Golf and Twilight Zone Mini Golf courses in the city.

Tuesday, February 02, 2021

Porth Island Krazy Golf in Newquay

A look at the Porth Island Krazy Golf course in Newquay, Cornwall.

We played the Porth Island Krazy Golf course in Newquay on our road-trip around the South West coast of England back in June 2015.

Porth Island Krazy Golf in Newquay

The course was similar to a Beton Concrete type of miniature golf course and interesting, if a little too difficult, to play.

The course was the 47th visited on our two-week holiday, the 377th played overall and the 646th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Visit the Newquay Football Golf website for more information on the Porth Island Krazy Golf course.

Tuesday, December 08, 2020

Dull Men's Club Calendar for 2021

Looking ahead to next year. Now.


The Dull Men's Club's brand new calendar for 2021 arrived yesterday and we're looking forward to reading up about our fellow dullards as the year progresses.

Dull Men's Club Calendar for 2021
What does next year have in store?


You'll be able to find an update on our adventures within the 2021 edition too.

Dull events

This year has certainly been a strange one. While not completely dull, it has had its moments.

We had an enjoyable evening of mild excitement at the Dull Men's Club Anorak of the Year Award event in Manchester last November. I can't believe the world has changed so much since then.

I was also a speaker at the Dull Men's Club's 'Delightfully Dull, Brilliantly Boring Evening' at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in Preston back in 2018.

I'm moderately excited about speaking at Dull Men's Club events again the future.

About the Dull Men's Club

The Dull Men's Club celebrates the ordinary and the life-changing magic of simple, everyday, run-of-the-mill things.

Visit the Dull Men's Club website for more information.


The Dull Men's Club Calendar for 2021 will be available from Amazon.

Monday, December 07, 2020

Oregon Fried Chicken

We had planned to visit Oregon on holiday this year.


Oregon Fried Chicken in Rochdale
The closest we're getting to Oregon anytime soon is Oregon Fried Chicken in Rochdale

What's the most obscure US State you've seen used in a chicken shop name?

There's an Alaska Fried Chicken in Gatley, Stockport. That automatically makes me think of the cold.

Friday, November 27, 2020

The Dull Men's Club 2021 Calendar

A look ahead to the Dull Men's Club Calendar for 2021.


The Dull Men's Club

The new Dull Men's Club Calendar will be available shortly.

The Dull Men's Club 2021 Calendar

We featured in the club's 2017 calendar for our relentless mission to visit and document every miniature golf course in the UK.

You'll be able to find us somewhere in the 2021 edition too.

The Dull Men's Club celebrates the ordinary and the life-changing magic of simple, everyday, run-of-the-mill things.

Check out the Dull Men's Club website for more information.

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Social distancing on an escalator

I've been documenting a number of aspects of the coronavirus pandemic here and on my social media. One of my areas of interest is the variety of warnings, instructions and directional signage there is around social distancing, so I loved seeing this photo Emily took of the social distancing measures in place on an escalator in M&S!

Social distancing signage on an escalator
Kind of like chevrons on the motorway

Surely the 2 metre apart distance stickers should be on the moving walkway as well, rather than the static sides of the escalator? I wonder how many people are adhering to the rule and waiting for the person ahead of them to reach the first marker?

Check out my Instagram account and the various highlights for snaps of the social distancing, coronavirus and Covid-19 signs I've seen on my (limited) travels this year.

Social distancing floor sign at the Burlington pub in Chesterfield
Social Distancing World Champion! I don't think anyone is winning this year

Social distancing floor signs at the Burlington pub in Chesterfield
Social distancing floor signs at the Burlington pub in Chesterfield

Monday, September 21, 2020

666

A look back at the 666th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

For the 666th blog post of the year here's a look at the 666th course we visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Bridlington.

Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Bridlington

The Treasure Island Adventure Golf course was the 384th played on our travels when we swung by on the 31st July 2015.

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Saturday, August 08, 2020

A Mini Golf Apocalypse

A look back at the Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course in London.


Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course in London

As we're in the midst of a pandemic I thought it'd be interested to look back at an apocalypse - the Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course from 2012.

Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course in London

Looking back to 2012

We played the Golf Apocalypse miniature golf course back in August 2012. The layout had been created as part of the London Pleasure Gardens, an area set-up to tap into the passing trade between the DLR and the London 2012 Olympic Games at the ExCel centre.

Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course in London

Obey street art in London
A BIG piece of OBEY street art in the distance

Golf Apocalypse was the first really really really mad-cap pop-up course we played on our travels.

Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course in London
What a sight!

A crazy set-up

The layout contained all manner of strange minigolf obstacles and we found ourselves playing through the fuselage of a crashed aeroplane, around a pinball machine, a snooker table and into a volcano.

Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course in London
What a thing to putt through

Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course in London
Pinball wizard

Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course in London
Snooker loopy

Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course in London
The End

Pop-up crazy golf

The pop-up miniature golf course was the first to use reclaimed materials in its construction. Something that has become commonplace these days and we've seen and played a number of funky, junky, scrap, ghetto, trash, garbage, graffiti, wreck and art-based courses since.

Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course in London
Playing hole 2

Competitive minigolf

In our minigolf match-up Emily picked up the win with a score of 25. I was second with 26, with Gareth Holmes third with 27 and Alan Norman on 28.

Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course in London
Emily playing hole 3

Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course in London
22 was a very good score to get on the 9-hole course

The course’s designer and owner, Dave Lovatt, was also responsible for the 9-hole Crazy Golf course that staged the Welsh Open Crazy Golf Championships as part of the Newport Big Splash Festival in 2010. Following the 2012 pop-up in London the course moved on to Bristol.

Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course in London
Crazy golfing at the end of the world - from l-r Gareth Holmes, Richard Gottfried, Emily Gottfried, Dave Lovatt, Alan Norman

Our challenge match with Dave went to a sudden-death play-off between Dave and Alan after both players had shot rounds of 22. Dave picked up the win on the deciding hole to take the title. I had finished on 24, Gareth had a 25 and Emily had shot a 29.

Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course in London
Alan snookered

Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course in London
Gareth putting on hole 1

Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course in London
A different sort of podium

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

The 9-hole Golf Apocalypse course was the 304th course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

More photos of the Golf Apocalypse course.


Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course in London

Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course in London

Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course in London

Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course in London

Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course in London

Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course in London

Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course in London

Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course in London

Golf Apocalypse crazy golf course in London

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