The Mini Masters miniature golf competition in Manchester

Looking back at the 'Mini Masters' miniature golf tournament in Manchester.

I won the 'Mini Masters' miniature golf tournament in Manchester back on the 11th April 2009. Time certainly flies!

Mini Master

The Mini Masters was the first of two tournaments I won on the 9-hole Championship Miniature Golf course at what was then Playgolf Manchester. The second event being the Miniature Open in July 2009.

Lining up a big minigolf win

My Mini Masters scores.

I won the Mini Masters with a three round total of 81 (-24) after scoring 26, 27, and 28.

Playing a very long tee-shot over and past several obstacles!

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The course was the 84th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Back then the course wasn't one of our local layouts as we still lived in Luton, Bedfordshire and travelled up for the events.

We've now been to 1,116 courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since 2006.

Emily putting on the big miniature golf course

Championship Miniature Golf in New Brighton.

The Championship Miniature Golf course is no longer at the centre, but you can find an expanded Championship Miniature Golf layout with two 18-hole courses in New Brighton. We've played both layouts there.

The Trafford Golf Centre.

The location is no longer a Playgolf venue either. It's now known as the Trafford Golf Centre and is home to two 18-hole dinosaur adventure golf courses. I won the Dino Falls Masters Adventure Golf competition there in 2018 too! Visit the Trafford Golf Centre website for more information on the courses.

One month until National Miniature Golf Day

There is one month to go until National Miniature Golf Day 2026.

There are two 'miniature golf days' each year.

National Miniature Golf Day is always on the second Saturday in May. In 2026 that will be Saturday 9th May.

The other minigolf day, Miniature Golf Day, is always on the 21st September. In 2026 the 21st falls on a Monday.

Outdoor Professional Products at The National Outdoor Expo

Axe throwing and retailing with Outdoor Professional Products at The National Outdoor Expo in Birmingham.

I was part of the team supporting and promoting my brother Christopher's business - Outdoor Professional Products - at The National Outdoor Expo held at The NEC in Birmingham last weekend.

All set for the big show

Our stand was part retail store / part inflatable axe throwing game and saw thousands of visitors and customers over the big two-day event!

Christopher hitting the target at the event

Outdoor Professional Products

Outdoor Professional Products has been sourcing cutting-edge products for outdoor professionals since 2009. The business is based in Wymondham, Norfolk and supplies customers locally, and online nationwide.

You can find out more on the Outdoor Professional Products and CEuk websites.

The National Outdoor Expo

The National Outdoor Expo is one of the biggest community meet-ups of the year, celebrating the enjoyment of the outdoors all under one roof.

Marketing and events

Check out my website - RG Marketing & Events - for more information on my marketing and events services.

Get in touch if you'd like to tap into my big bag of marketing knowledge! (Thanks to the team at Deuter for the brilliant photo opportunity on their stand)

Photos from the Outdoor Professional Products stand at The National Outdoor Expo in Birmingham

Bullseye!

Business networking event at Roxy Ball Room Arndale in Manchester

We attended the business networking event at Roxy Ball Room Arndale in Manchester last Thursday.

It was nice to catch-up with Gavriela from the Roxy team and network with fellow guests over quite a few games of pool during the evening!

Roxy Ball Room, and its sister venue King Pins, have hosted several business networking events since opening and we've enjoyed attending the events, such as the King Pins Summer Mixer. They are really nice locations and excellent places to meet other people, have a drink, and enjoy some competitive fun games such as tenpin bowling, crazy pool, minigolf, shuffleboard, darts, ice-free curling and more!

Check out the Roxy Ball Room website for more information on the Manchester Arndale venue, and other locations around the UK.

Talk & Putt minigolf at Wigan Library

Wigan Library is hosting a Talk & Putt crazy golf event this Thursday, 12th March.

The pop-up minigolf event aims to encourage conversation, connections and improve mental wellbeing.

Find out more and book your place on the Wigan Libraries Eventbrite page.

Coeliac Awareness Week 2026

This year Coeliac Awareness Week takes place from the 18th to the 24th May.

Find out more on the Coeliac UK website.

What is Coeliac Disease?

Coeliac Disease is a lifelong autoimmune condition, where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. In Coeliac Disease the immune system mistakes substances found inside gluten as a threat to the body and attacks them. This can trigger a number of painful, horrible, stressful and uncomfortable symptoms.

In the UK it's estimated that 1 in 100 people have the condition.

Living a gluten free life

I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease 18 years ago. And so began my journey into the gluten free world.

Having suffered from a range of symptoms for around ten years I finally received a positive diagnosis of Coeliac Disease following some 'interesting' and in-depth tests and procedures in 2008. It came as a relief to finally have a name for the mysterious cause of my illnesses and ailments, but at the time I was only given a brief summary and told that I'd have to "cut down on bread and beer". It was only later when I met with a Gastroenterologist and a dietitian that I found out that the only treatment for people with Coeliac Disease is a strict, life-long gluten free diet.

While having a life-long condition such as Coeliac Disease can be a pain - and horrible if I 'get glutened' - having the disease has had some positives. I've met great people since my diagnosis and have made some brilliant friends who I've met through Coeliac groups. I've also blogged a lot about living with the condition and the great Free From food & drink I've found since 2008.

For more information on Coeliac Disease visit the NHS Choices and Coeliac UK websites.

Happy Groundhog Day 2026

There will be six more weeks of winter.

Punxsutawney Phil has predicted there will be six more weeks of Winter after seeing his shadow at the Groundhog Day ceremony at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, USA.

Link:

• Punxsutawney Groundhog Club

2026 British Minigolf Association Calendar of Events

Details of the British Minigolf Association Tour Calendar of Events for the 2026 Season.

The British Minigolf Association - the National Governing Body for the sport of minigolf in the UK - has released details of its 2026 Tour Calendar of Events.

18 events have been announced, with the Thanet Open at Lost Island in Margate, Kent teeing-off the season on the 1st February 2026. The 2026 BMGA Tour season is capped off with the British Indoor Minigolf Open at Volcano Falls in Castleford, West Yorkshire on the 29th November 2026.

Find out more

Check out the BMGA website for information about the British Minigolf Association, minigolf competitions, minigolf clubs and more.

The 2025 BMGA Tour Season.

The current BMGA Tour Season draws to a close on the 7th December with this years British Indoor Minigolf Open at Volcano Falls in Castleford.

Playing on the BMGA Tour.

Emily and I were full members of the BMGA from 2007 to 2015 and played in hundreds of minigolf, crazy golf and adventure golf tournaments around the UK during that time.

I'm a seven-time winner on the UK national minigolf circuit, including two BMGA British Club Championships in 2008 and 2015, and a four-time finalist in the World Crazy Golf Championships. Through the BMGA I represented Great Britain in Nations Cup international tournaments in Finland and Sweden in 2008 and 2011.

Emily made her debut in the 2007 Virgin Money World Crazy Golf Championships and won 'The Gommery' Aces Title at the World Crazy Golf Championships in 2014 & 2015. A two-time WMF World Adventure Golf Masters Women's Champion, Emily is also the British Women's Record Holder on the Eternit system of Miniature Golf with an 18-hole round of 24 (-12) at the Nations Cup in Stockholm in 2011.

Links:

• British Minigolf Association
• European Minigolf Sport Federation
• World Minigolf Sport Federation

Related blog posts:

• BMGA
• BMGA Tour
• British Minigolf Association
• Richard Gottfried's Minigolf Player Profile
• Emily Gottfried's Minigolf Player Profile
• In the Crazy Golf Museum - minigolf membership cards

Mini Golf at the Maidenhead Christmas Lights switch-on event

There will be mini golf course at the Maidenhead Christmas Lights switch-on event.

The Maidenhead Christmas Lights switch-on event on Saturday 22nd November will feature a mini golf course for visitors.

Find out more.

Check out the Visit Windsor and Charlie's Mini Golf websites for more information.

Halloween Night Golf at MiniLinks in Fleetwood

The MiniLinks golf venue in Fleetwood is running a Night Golf event.

MiniLinks Golf in Fleetwood, Lancashire is hosting a Halloween Night Golf event across the Pitch & Putt miniature golf and Crazy Golf courses at the outdoor venue in the seaside town.

You can play Night Golf at MiniLinks from Sunday 26th October to Sunday 2nd November.

Find out more.

Visit the MiniLinks website for more information on the venue, its courses and events it hosts throughout the year.

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Many thanks to the team at MiniLinks for letting us know about the Night Golf event. We're yet to make it back over to Fleetwood since MiniLinks took on the site on the Esplanade. We have previously visited the Pitch & Putt and Crazy Golf courses there, but that was when they were abandoned. MiniLinks Golf has spend a lot of time and effort getting the venue and its courses up and running. We're looking forward to giving them a play on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Halloween Crazy Golf at Wakefield Exchange

Wakefield Exchange will have a crazy golf course as part of its Halloween event.

Wakefield Exchange in Wakefield, West Yorkshire is hosting a Halloween event from Saturday 25th October to Sunday 2nd November.

One of the free activities on offer is crazy golf! 

Find out more.

Check out the Wakefield Exchange website for more information on the Halloween at WX event.

Pop Up Crazy Golf in St Albans - Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th September

There will be a pop up crazy golf course in St Albans, Hertfordshire this month.

The pop up crazy golf layout will be set up at Civic Close in the city on Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th September.

The crazy golf activity is free of charge. It is being organised by the St Albans City Centre BID to help celebrate the city's golfing heritage - which includes being the birthplace of The Ryder Cup.

Find out more.

Visit the Enjoy St Albans website for more information.

One week until Miniature Golf Day 2025

Miniature Golf Day takes place on the 21st September each year.

Emily playing at The Himalayas on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in 2012. The course is the world's first miniature golf and home to the St Andrews Ladies' Putting Club

This year Miniature Golf Day is on Sunday 21st September.

Playing Miniature Golf on the Moon at Mr Mulligan's Space Golf in Newcastle on Miniature Golf Day in 2018

Two 'Miniature Golf Days'.

There are two 'miniature golf days' each year.

• National Miniature Golf Day is always on the second Saturday in May.
• The other minigolf day - Miniature Golf Day - is always on the 21st September.

Minigolf courses we've played on 'Miniature Golf Days' in previous years

Miniature Golf Day - a day of many names.

Much like the many different names for 'Miniature Golf' itself, Miniature Golf Day (and its sister appreciation day in May, National Miniature Golf Day) goes by many many many different names!

We've seen the days called:

• Global Mini Golf Day
• Global Miniature Golf Day
• Global Minigolf Day
• International Mini Golf Day
• International Miniature Golf Day
• International Minigolf Day
• Mini Golf Day
• Miniature Golf Day
• Minigolf Day
• National Mini Golf Day
• National Miniature Golf Day
• National Minigolf Day
• World Mini Golf Day
• World Miniature Golf Day
• World Minigolf Day
• Worldwide Mini Golf Day
• Worldwide Miniature Golf Day
• Worldwide Minigolf Day

Whatever you call Miniature Golf Day (or Miniature Golf) it's brilliant to see the day and game being celebrated worldwide.

Emily playing Crazy Golf at Southport Botanic Gardens on Miniature Golf Day in 2019

Related blog posts:

• Miniature Golf Day
• National Miniature Golf Day
• Definitions of Miniature Golf
• 100 names for Miniature Golf
• Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

NFL Experience Watch Party at Courts Club in Manchester

Visiting the NFL Experience New York Jets Vs Pittsburgh Steelers Watch Party at Courts Club in Manchester.

I had a fun afternoon at the NFL UK Experience New York Jets Vs Pittsburgh Steelers Watch Party at Courts Club in Manchester on Sunday.

Met some mascots, saw the Vince Lombardi trophy, and played some mini-games.

With Edgar - one of the three Baltimore Ravens mascots

With Jaxson de Ville - aka Union Jaxson - the mascot of the Jacksonville Jaguars

I watched a LOT of American Football over the weekend!

Hopefully there'll be more NFL events in Manchester in the future.

Find out more.

Visit the NFL UK & Ireland and Courts Club websites for more information.

Free Crazy Golf in Skipton on Friday 1st August

There will be a free-to-play Crazy Golf course in Skipton, North Yorkshire on Friday 1st August.

Skipton BID is organising a day of activities to celebrate Yorkshire Day on Friday 1st August.

One of the activities on offer will be a free-to-play 9-hole Crazy Golf course set-up in the Canal Basin in the town.

Find out more.

You can find out more about the Yorkshire Day celebrations in Skipton on the Welcome to Skipton website.

Mini Golf at English Heritage sites this summer

There will be Mini Golf at six English Heritage sites this summer.

Six English Heritage locations will have Mini Golf activities this summer.

Summer Mini Golf at Osborne

The Mini Golf courses at English Heritage sites are part of a summer of activities in partnership with the TV show Taskmaster.

Summer Mini Golf at Kenilworth Castle

The pop-up mini golf courses have been created at six of English Heritage locations around the country including Audley End House and Gardens, Carisbrooke Castle, Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden, Osborne, Pendennis Castle, and Wrest Park.

Summer Mini Golf at Pendennis Castle

Where to play Mini Golf.

The six English Heritage sites with Mini Golf courses in July and August 2025 are:

1. Audley End House and Gardens - Saffron Walden, Essex
2. Carisbrooke Castle - Newport, Isle of Wight
3. Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden - Kenilworth, Warwickshire
4. Osborne - East Cowes, Isle of Wight
5. Pendennis Castle - Falmouth, Cornwall
6. Wrest Park - Silsoe, Bedfordshire

When to play Mini Golf.

The Crazy Golf courses at the English Heritage locations will be playable from Saturday 19th July to Sunday 31st August 2025.

Summer Mini Golf at Kenilworth Castle

Find out more.

Visit the English Heritage website and the Taskmaster at English Heritage sites page for more information.

Summer Mini Golf at Wrest Park

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

It's always excellent to find out about new minigolf courses - whether they're permanent, pop-ups, or refurbs - and the English Heritage pop-up activities look like the courses are in nice spots for a round during the summer.

My little brother Christopher, a charter member of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, has been a member of English Heritage and he and his family have been to a lot of English Heritage properties over the years (including Audley End House and Gardens, Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden, Pendennis Castle, and Wrest Park). It'll be interesting to see if they will be going to any of the six sites with Crazy Golf this summer.

Crazy Golf at The Last Day of Summer event in Liverpool

There will be Crazy Golf at The Last Day of Summer event in Liverpool.

Liverpool's waterfront will be hosting The Last Day of Summer event on Saturday 30th August.

The day of activities begin at 11am and finish at 5pm and will see a 9-hole Crazy Golf course as one of the attractions.

Find out more.

You can find out more about The Last Day of Summer event in Liverpool, as well as two other summer events taking place, on the Visit Liverpool website.

Summer Mini Golf in Slough

There will be a Summer Mini Golf course event in Slough, Berkshire at the end of this month.

Slough BID have organised a Summer Mini Golf event with a pop-up course set-up in Town Square, Slough on Tuesday 29th, Wednesday 30th and Thursday 31st July. 

Find out more.

Visit the Slough BID website for more information.

The PIAG Open Championship 2025 tees-off today

Information about the PIAG Open Championship 2025.

The Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Championship has returned.

Your chance to win six months of unlimited adventure golf and the PIAG Open trophy.

The PIAG Open tees-off today, Thursday 17th July, with Paradise Island Adventure Golf courses around the UK offering players the chance to enter the event when they play a round at a PIAG course.

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

About the PIAG Open adventure golf championship.

The PIAG Open Championship is taking place across Paradise Island Adventure Golf courses between Thursday 17th and Sunday 20th July.

Paradise Island Adventure Golf have eight venues in England and Scotland.

Find out more on the Paradise Island Adventure Golf website.

Winning the PIAG Open Championship.

I won the PIAG Open Championship at the Manchester Trafford Centre venue in 2018, with Emily winning the competition in 2019.

PIAG Open Champion in 2019

PIAG Open Champion in 2018

Find your nearest Paradise Island Adventure Golf course.

Visit the Paradise Island Adventure Golf website for more information on the PIAG courses in Glasgow, Livingston, Cheshire Oaks, Manchester, Sheffield, Derby, Rushden Lakes and Plymouth.

Street Life event in Ashton-under-Lyne

A look at the Street Life event in Ashton-under-Lyne.

We attended the free Street Life event in Ashton-under-Lyne on Saturday and had a superb time.

It was the first time I've been INSIDE a DMC DeLorean!

The community event saw the town centre come alive with a real mix of pop culture events, activities and attractions!

There was a huge Star Wars AT-ST at the event!

I'm a BIG fan of pro-wrestling, but it was the first time I've seen a show live outdoors - and in the morning! 

Visit the Tameside Official website for more information.