Showing posts with label England. Show all posts
Showing posts with label England. 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:

Link:

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

Sunday, May 31, 2026

The Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - May 2026

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour adventures continue.


This month we've played 'Europe's largest adventure golf course' (it's in Cheshire) and Emily has visited several minigolf courses in Tenerife.

Richard Gottfried playing hole 2 of Australian Adventure Golf at Adlington Golf Centre
Playing hole 2 of the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre in Adlington, Macclesfield, Cheshire

How many minigolf courses have we visited so far?

We've been to 1,125 miniature golf courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour to date. 1,056 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.

How our travels began.

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, England was the first place we visited on what would become our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

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

When we got home from the weekend away we found a list of 600 or so minigolf courses in the UK and wider British Isles. We thought it'd be fun to see how many of them we could visit on day trips and weekends away to the seaside.

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

Related blog posts:

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Hole 13 - Dunny - at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre

Playing the 'Dunny' hole at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre in Adlington, Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK.


Richard Gottfried playing Hole 13 of Australian Adventure Golf at Adlington Golf Centre
Playing Hole 13 of Australian Adventure Golf at Adlington Golf Centre

The Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre became the 1,117th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.


The gigantic course lays claim to the title of being the largest Adventure Golf course in Europe and features 18-holes of outdoor adventure golf that are played over 1500sqm of greens and a 10,000sqm site.


The theming is superb and very immersive, with lots of interactive elements. And the holes, obstacles and very large greens are a very tricky - but still fun - playing area to tackle.

Hole 13 - Dunny - at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre

Hole 13 - Dunny - at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre

Hole 13 - Dunny - at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre

Hole 13 - Dunny - at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre

Hole 13 - Dunny - at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre

Find out more.

Check out the Adlington Golf Centre website for more information on the Australian Adventure Golf course.

Videos:


Related blog posts:

Saturday, May 16, 2026

Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre

A view of the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre in Adlington, Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK.



The Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre became the 1,117th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

Find out more.

Check out the Adlington Golf Centre website for more information on the Australian Adventure Golf course.

Videos:


Related blog posts:

Didgeridoo hole at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre

Playing hole 12 - Didgeridoo - on the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre in Adlington, Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK.



The Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre became the 1,117th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

Find out more.

Check out the Adlington Golf Centre website for more information on the Australian Adventure Golf course.

Videos:


Related blog posts:

Sydney Opera House hole at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre

Playing hole 9 - Sydney Opera House - on the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre in Adlington, Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK.



The Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre became the 1,117th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

Find out more.

Check out the Adlington Golf Centre website for more information on the Australian Adventure Golf course.

Videos:


Related blog posts:

Boomerang hole at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre

Playing hole 7 - Boomerangs - on the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre in Adlington, Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK.




The Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre became the 1,117th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

Hole 7 - Boomerangs - at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre

Hole 7 - Boomerangs - at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre

Find out more.

Check out the Adlington Golf Centre website for more information on the Australian Adventure Golf course.

Videos:


Related blog posts:

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

A look at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre

Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre in Adlington, Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK.



The Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre became the 1,117th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

Hole 9 of the Australian Adventure Golf at Adlington Golf Centre
Hole 9 of the Australian Adventure Golf at Adlington Golf Centre

Find out more.

Visit the Adlington Golf Centre website for more information on the Australian Adventure Golf course.

Videos:


Related blog posts:

Hole 5 at Adlington Golf Centre's Australian Adventure Golf course (May 2026)

Playing hole 5 (Spider Cave) at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre in Adlington, Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK.



The Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre became the 1,117th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

Emily Gottfried playing hole 5 - Spider Cave - at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre
Emily playing hole 5 - Spider Cave - at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre

Richard Gottfried stuck in a spider's web at Australian Adventure Golf at Adlington Golf Centre
Stuck in a spider's web at Australian Adventure Golf at Adlington Golf Centre

Find out more.

Visit the Adlington Golf Centre website for more information on the Australian Adventure Golf course.

Videos:


Related blog posts:

Sunday, May 10, 2026

Hole 4 of the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre (May 2026)

Playing hole 4 (Aussie Truck) at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre in Adlington, Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK.



The Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre became the 1,117th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

Emily playing hole 4 - Aussie Truck - at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre
Emily playing hole 4 - Aussie Truck - at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre

Find out more.

Check out the Adlington Golf Centre website for more information on the Australian Adventure Golf course.

Videos:


Related blog posts:

A view of the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre (May 2026)

A look at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre in Adlington, Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK.



The Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre became the 1,117th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

Hole 9 - Sydney Opera House - at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre
Hole 9 - Sydney Opera House - at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre

Find out more.

Check out the Adlington Golf Centre website for more information on the Australian Adventure Golf course.

Videos:


Related blog posts:

Hole 5 of the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre (May 2026)

Playing hole 5 (Spider Cave) at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre in Adlington, Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK.


Hole 5 - Spider Cave - at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre

The Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre became the 1,117th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

Emily Gottfried playing hole 5 - Spider Cave - at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre
Emily playing hole 5 - Spider Cave - at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre

Richard Gottfried stuck in a spider's web at Australian Adventure Golf at Adlington Golf Centre
Stuck in a spider's web at Australian Adventure Golf at Adlington Golf Centre

Find out more.

Check out the Adlington Golf Centre website for more information on the Australian Adventure Golf course.

Videos:


Related blog posts:

Thursday, May 07, 2026

Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre

Playing the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre.


Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre

We visited the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre in Adlington, Macclesfield today.

Emily Gottfried playing at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
Emily tees-off on hole 1

The Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre became the 1,117th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

Richard Gottfried playing at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
A very tricky second putt

Emily Gottfried playing at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
Emily almost got a hole-in-one at the Sydney Opera House

Richard Gottfried playing at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
Playing a snakey hole 2

Emily Gottfried playing at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Richard Gottfried at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre
Getting unstuck from some of the theming was almost as tricky as some of my second (and third) putts on the very big greens!

The 18-hole outdoor Australian-themed adventure golf course is absolutely massive - like, really really really big for a minigolf course!

Emily Gottfried playing at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
Emily playing hole 3

Richard Gottfried playing at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
Look at the size of that green!

The theming is superb and very immersive. And the holes, obstacles and very large greens are a very tricky - but still fun - playing area to tackle.

Richard Gottfried playing at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
Can you guess what my favourite hole theme and obstacle was?

Australian Adventure Golf at Adlington Golf Centre

For one reason or another it's taken us a while to get to the venue - even though it's only around 7 miles from us and just over the border in Cheshire, it's not a part of the county we've ever been to in the decade we've lived up here! We're glad we finally had time to make it there and handy that it was just a short drive from where we'd been in Poynton earlier in the afternoon.

Richard & Emily Gottfried on their Crazy World of Minigolf Tour at the Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre

The largest minigolf course in Europe.

The Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre lays claim to the title of being the largest Adventure Golf course in Europe and features 18-holes of outdoor adventure golf that are played over 1500sqm of greens and a 10,000sqm site.

Australian Adventure Golf course at Adlington Golf Centre

Find out more.

Check out the Adlington Golf Centre website for more information on the Australian Adventure Golf course.