A dull evening in Manchester

We had an enjoyable evening of mild excitement at the Dull Men's Club Anorak of the Year Award event in Manchester yesterday evening.

It was good to catch-up with our fellow dullsters and see presentations on topics including roundabouts, boredom and drains.

The evening was topped off with the presentation of the 2019 Anorak of the Year Award which this year went to Archie Workman for his outstanding work in celebrating the ordinary in his passionate pursuit of drainspotting.

Archie was presented with his certificate and a hi-vis waistcoat, rather than an actual anorak, by Leland Carlson Assistant Vice President of the Dull Men's Club and Kevin Beresford of the UK Roundabout Appreciation Society who was also the outgoing Anorak of the Year from last year.

I was delighted to be able to give a presentation to the group about the crazy world of minigolf, the history of the game, the sporting side and tournaments, equipment used and the wide-range of ephemera and collectibles related to miniature golf.

Dr Boredom with some of the delightfully dullest men in Britain at Anorak of the Year event in Manchester. The discussion of the merits of various mini golf balls was a real lowlight. @dullmensclub @RoundaboutKevin @TheLengthsman @putting_gott pic.twitter.com/gOQmymv1x2

— Sandi Mann (@SandiPsych) November 27, 2019

For more information visit the Dull Men's Club website.

HM Adventure Golf at the NEC

While at the Family Attraction Expo and Holiday Park & Resort Innovation Show at the NEC I swung by the HM Adventure Golf stand.

I've played one of HM Adventure Golf's modular minigolf courses at the Palace Fun Centre in Rhyl. There's also an indoor Adventure Golf version of it at the Blackpool Tower that we've yet to play on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The first hole of the indoor minigolf course in Rhyl

Having a minigolf layout on an exhibition stand is a brilliant way to engage delegates and entertain visitors.

Exhibition minigolf at the NEC

Playing the Marsh Industries hole-in-one challenge minigolf course.

I've been down in Birmingham attending the Family Attraction Expo and Holiday Park & Resort Innovation Show at the NEC today. On my way out of the exhibition I was surprised and pleased to find a very nice 3-hole minigolf layout on the Marsh Industries stand.

I had so much fun playing the course and chatting to the Marsh Industries team on the stand I almost missed my train home!

I didn't manage to get an ace with my first three goes to enter the prize draw. But I did get a hole-in-one on my fourth go.

Having a miniature golf layout on a trade or exhibition stand is a brilliant way to engage delegates and entertain visitors.

Check out the Marsh Industries website for more info on what they do.

The second and final day of the shows is tomorrow, Thursday 7th November. Find out more on the Family Attraction Expo and Holiday Park & Resort Innovation Show websites.

Halloween in the City monster at Screamfields in Manchester

A look at the Halloween in the City monster at Spinningfields in Manchester.

The tentacled monster at Spinningfields

One of the monsters on the Manchester Monster Invasion: Return of the Monsters art trail is at Screamfields, aka Spinningfields.

Some very find gardening

Pest control will need a lot of bug spray to get rid of this monster

'Manchester Monster Invasion: Return of the Monsters' continues until Halloween night. Visit the Halloween in the City website for more information.

Manchester's Halloween in the City

Following the Manchester Monster Invasion: Return of the Monsters art trail.

We had a brilliant day out in Manchester yesterday and followed the Manchester Monster Invasion: Return of the Monsters art trail around the city.

Look up! Look out! Beware!

The Mayfield Depot monster

The Royal Exchange monster

A monster on Ducie Street

Halloween in the City is a brilliant way to get people out and about exploring Manchester.

The entrance to the Poisonous Maze!

A grim sign for MCR

'Manchester Monster Invasion: Return of the Monsters' continues until Halloween night. Visit the Halloween in the City website for more information.

Manchester Monster Invasion: Return of the Monsters

Halloween in the City is up and running.

This Manchester street scene looks a little different to normal

It was very nice to see one of the invading monsters appear above the Treetop Adventure Golf sign at The Printworks in Manchester city centre.

A brilliant inflatable

There are ten monsters to spot as part of Halloween in the City.

Some of the monsters I saw on my trip into Manchester

Check out my blog post for a look at Treetop Adventure Golf at The Printworks.

Related blog posts:
- Halloween in the City 2019
- Treetop Adventure Golf at The Printworks in Manchester

Halloween in the City 2019

A look at some of the monsters that have invaded Manchester city centre.

The first monster I saw was atop the old Mayfield Station

Halloween in the City has kicked off and the city centre has been invaded by ten monsters.

A monster on top of Next at the Manchester Arndale

I was in Manchester yesterday afternoon and managed to spot five of the beasts.

Two of the monsters at Selfridges in Exchange Square

Emily and I are looking forward to finding them all this weekend.

The Depot at Mayfield monster

Halloween in the City is a superb idea to get people out and about exploring Manchester.

There's a dragon at The Printworks

Visit the Halloween in the City website for more information and to download the Monster Invasion: Return of the Monsters map.

Pretty much every tree in the city centre is full of pumpkins!

Dull Men's Club - Anorak of the Year

A dull event is being planned to announce 'Anorak of the Year'. It will take place in Manchester on Tuesday 26th November, 6pm to 8.30pm.

The Dull Men's Club celebrates the ordinary.

If you'd like to see more simple, everyday, run-of-the-mill things visit the Dull Men's Club website.

Comic Con at the Merseyway Shopping Centre in Stockport

A visit to The Comicon-Way.

I was in my element at the free Merseyway Comic Con!

We had a brilliant time at the free Comic Con at Stockport's Merseyway Shopping Centre on Saturday.

Cars from Transformers were among the attractions

This wasn't the Gottfried they were looking for. Move along

Fingers crossed there'll be another one in the future.

Meeting an Imperial Gunner at the event

There was plenty of 'plastic crack' on sale too!

The event was organised by the teams at the Merseyway and North West Comic Cons.

Happy Miniature Golf Day

Today is Miniature Golf Day 2018!

Happy Miniature Golf Day. Where will you be playing a game (or two) of minigolf today?

Each year there are two quasi-official annual 'days' to celebrate the game. The second of these awareness days is Miniature Golf Day and it's ALWAYS on the 21st of September.

We played the Crazy Golf course at Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea on Miniature Golf Day last year

The Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea became the 462nd played and 781st visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

After this particular Miniature Golf Day the next is National Miniature Golf Day. That 'minigolf day' falls on the second Saturday in May. In 2019 it'll be on Saturday 11th May.

Related blog posts:

- Miniature Golf Day

- Key minigolf dates for the year ahead

Happy Miniature Golf Day 2017!

Today is Miniature Golf Day 2017.

Happy Miniature Golf Day. Where will you be playing minigolf today?

Each year there are two quasi-official annual 'days' to celebrate the game. The second of these awareness days is Miniature Golf Day and it's ALWAYS on the 21st of September.

Playing at Championship Adventure Golf in New Brighton on National Miniature Golf Day 2017

After Miniature Golf Day the next is National Miniature Golf Day which is on Saturday 12th May 2018.

Miniature Golf Day Eve

Tomorrow is Miniature Golf Day 2017.

Where will you be playing minigolf tomorrow? Check out the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list of 780 courses we've visited over the last eleven years - there may be a course near you.

Crazy Golfing at North Marine Parade in Bridlington

Each year there are two quasi-official annual 'days' to celebrate the game. The second of these awareness days is Miniature Golf Day and it's ALWAYS on the 21st of September.

Where our Crazy Travels began back in September 2006

After tomorrow's Miniature Golf Day the next BIG minigolf day is National Miniature Golf Day which is on Saturday 12th May 2018.

Crazy Golf at the Mid Sussex Business Expo

Golf-themed business expo in Burgess Hill, West Sussex this Thursday.

The team at Network Xpress are organising the golf-themed Business Expo at The King's Centre in Burgess Hill this Thursday, 7th September. The Sussex-based business event organisers are offering a fresh approach to networking with new, fun and themed-events. In addition to the 60 exhibitors, keynote speakers, workshops and seminars there will be a Crazy Golf tournament running all day.

It sounds great.

Information about the Network Xpress Mid Sussex Expo 2017

Visit the Network Xpress website for more information on the Mid Sussex Expo and other events they run.

As a marketer I'm all for innovation in business and events. Over the years I've seen the good, the bad and the ugly of events and so it'll be interesting to hear the feedback from the Mid Sussex Expo.

Crazy Golf is experiencing a boom and is getting more poplar as a business tool. The team at Putting Edge are receiving a number of bookings from the corporate market and for events in my local area in the North West, while UrbanCrazy's range of minigolf games and course layouts have been going strong for well over a decade. One of the first portable courses I played was an UrbanCrazy layout at the International Direct Marketing Fair in May 2007. Our friends at Putterfingers also offer Crazy Golf layouts for a number of different business and leisure events.

The Trade On Tap Hole-in-One challenge from Plumb Center and Parts Center at the CIH Housing 2016 Exhibition

More recently I played a very nice bespoke minigolf hole at the CIH Housing Conference and Exhibition at Manchester Central and a two-hole layout at the Prolific North Live Show at EventCity.

The Putting Edge layout at the Prolific North Live Show earlier this year

If you enjoy minigolf and marketing crossovers you'll like my ebook too - check out The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing on Amazon. There's a preview of the book below.



If you'd like to know more about my marketing work and how I can help you and your business please do get in touch via my website.

Related blog posts:
- Business
- Marketing
- West Sussex
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing

Happy September

Happy September. Don't forget it's Miniature Golf Day on the 21st!

Each year there are two quasi-official annual 'days' to celebrate the game.

Playing at Championship Adventure Golf in New Brighton on National Miniature Golf Day (Saturday 13th May 2017)

The second of these awareness days is Miniature Golf Day and it is ALWAYS on the 21st of September.

Miniature Golf Day appears as an important date in the Dull Men's Club Calendar for 2017

After Miniature Golf Day the next is National Miniature Golf Day which is on Saturday 12th May 2018.

Fellow Stockport resident Dave Shaw is the Dull Men's Club pin-up for September. His interest is in vintage radios

Minigolf competitions in July

There are lots of opportunities to get into the competitive swing of things this month.

As we know, there's no such thing as a 'friendly' game of minigolf - everyone wants to win when they play. Well, this month there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in the competitive side of the game.

Putt 'n BBQ in Prestwick
There's a Putting event taking place at Putting Plus in Prestwick this coming weekend. Players at the event on Sunday 9th July will receive free entry to the Scottish Open Putting Championship where there are a range of category prizes up for grabs! There's also a BBQ at the Parkstone Hotel on the Prom. Visit the Putting Plus Facebook page for more info.

British Open in Hastings
The 20th annual BMGA British Open championships are taking place in Hastings this weekend, with action teeing-off on the brilliant Pirate Course on Saturday 8th July. Entries to take part have closed, however spectators are always welcome to watch the action. More details on the British Minigolf Association and Hastings Adventure Golf websites.

Worthing Mini Golf Club Open at Splash Point
If you're looking to compete with the BMGA pro players you won't have to wait long though, as the next stop on the tour is the excellent Splash Point Mini Golf course at Worthing's Denton Gardens. The venue hosts the first Worthing Mini Golf Club Open on Saturday 15th July. The event has an evening tee-off time of 5pm, which will give ample time to practice during the day. Check out the event info on the Worthing Mini Golf Club Facebook page.

Holeymolies Crazy Golf
The team at Holeymolies Crazy Golf course in Skelton-in-Cleveland are organising a minigolf tournament to celebrate a successful first year for the course. The open event is offering a top prize of £1,000 to the overall champion. Qualifying is taking place between Monday 10th July and Saturday 15th July, with the finals held on Sunday 16th July. More info on the format and rules can be found on the Mini Golf 1k Competition Facebook event listing.

MiniLinks Mini Open in Lytham Saint Annes
The team at MiniLinks Golf organise a number of competitions throughout the year, including four Mini Majors. Next up is the Mini Open taking place on the Par-3 miniature golf course from the 20th-23rd July. For more info check out the MiniLinks Golf website.

There's also a Crazy Golf course and Pennines Putting layout at MiniLinks. I had a great time playing them during my visit to the seaside town last month. I also finished in tied-13th place in the MiniLinks US Open tournament.

US Pro Minigolf Association Open
Speaking of US Opens, the USPMGA Tour's national Open tournament is taking place at the Bluegrass Miniature Golf course in Oceanport, New Jersey on the 21st and 22nd July. Our friend Pat Sheridan of the Putting Penguin website is competing. Visit the USPMGA and Bluegrass Miniature Golf websites for more details.

Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Championships
The Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Championships are once again taking place at the indoor Paradise Island courses around the country. This year's event runs from the 20th-23rd July and will also see action at the newest Paradise Island Adventure Golf venue in Derby. More details of the event and the other PIAG courses at Cheshire Oaks, Glasgow, Livingston, Manchester and Sheffield can be found on the Paradise Island Adventure Golf website.

World Minigolf Sport Federation
Check out the World Minigolf Sport Federation's website and calendar of events to find out about the sport and how you can get involved. The WMF has member associations in 63 countries around the world and is growing all the time. Visit the WMF website for more info.

Shouting about your success
Don't forget, whether you win or lose there's always a sporting story to tell about your participation in an event. Share your results online, send a report to your local media and be proud of your achievement.

If you want to take things a step further then why not check out my ebook, The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing, to find out how you can help promote yourself, your club, your local course, your national association and the great game. It's available in multiple formats via Amazon and Ganxy.

Give the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a Like on Facebook, watch our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter @putting_gott and @Ems_Lems. Please do sign-up to receive our miniature golf newsletter too.

The Golf Show by American Golf at Event City, Manchester

A visit to the American Golf Show in Manchester.

This afternoon Emily and I swung into day one of The Golf Show by American Golf at Event City in Manchester. We're glad we did as there were plenty of putting opportunities. And Golf Darts!

Minigolfing Adventurers at our 729th course!

First up was a round on the TomTom Sports Adventure Putting course. The 6-hole layout became the 729th course we've visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. It's the 702nd we've been to in the UK and the 429th we've played since our minigolfing travels began in 2006.

Emily playing hole 1 en route to victory on the Adventure Putting layout

In our minigolf match-up Emily picked up the win 13-14 and landed a spot in tied second place on the leaderboard.

Next we had a go on teeofftimes.co.uk's incredibly lengthy Long Putt Challenge.

Emily putting on the loooooooooooong putt challenge hole

While neither of us managed to ace it, we did get close.

The elevated green on the Long Putt Challenge hole

We then noticed the giant inflatable Dartboard at the end of the hall. It looked brilliant.

I need a bigger back garden so I can get one of these dartboards!

The team at Golphin had set-up the Golf Darts game to promote their training programme for youngsters and I must say it was a great way to get non-golfers into giving the game a go. A fine crossover sport.

In our match-up I overturned the minigolf defeat to Emily by scoring 53 with my five chips/throws to her 0!

Emily on her way to five 'throws' out of the board!

We then had to go back to the Adventure Putting for another round. This time I picked up the win 13-14.

More minigolfing

Finally I stepped up to have a go on the Pressure Putt Challenge in the Skills Zone.

The Pressure Putt Challenge was tough

The tricky charity putting challenge saw me attempted to sink a succession of putts from two-foot intervals. It's a lot more difficult than you think. Especially when you're against the clock.

If you miss any of your putts you have to return to the first two-footer and work your way back. I finished on the 8 foot mark, which wasn't too bad. Good fun for the £2 charity donation to the On Course Foundation.

Check out our videos from the event on YouTube.

The Golf Show at Event City is on until Sunday and tickets are free. Book your place online via the American Golf website.

Three weeks ago today we were in Wrexham for another one of American Golf's free events - the Adventure Golf Pairs Championship. Peter Jones and I won the regional qualifier at Clays Golf Centre and will be playing in the Grand Final at The Belfry in September.

Give the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a Like on Facebook, watch our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter @putting_gott and @Ems_Lems. Please do sign-up to receive our miniature golf newsletter too.