East Park Mini Golf course in Southampton, Hampshire

A visit to the East Park Mini Golf course in Southampton, Hampshire.

We were recently down in Southampton and while there swung by the East Park Mini Golf course.

We played the 18-hole course in May 2019 when it became the 881st visited and 513th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Nu Game Arcade in Southampton

It was a nice surprise to find the Nu Game Arcade in Southampton last month. It was also brilliant that we happened to be the first customers on the opening day too!

We spotted the sign for the Nu Game Arcade on the first floor as we were leaving the Marlands shopping centre. We're glad we did as it's been a while since I've played at an arcade.

It was brilliant to have a go on two of my favourite games - Metal Slug on the Neo Geo MVS and Robocop.

Check out the Nu Game Arcade Facebook Page for more information.

Elephant Parade in Southampton

Finding an art trail in Southampton.

We enjoy finding and following art trails on our travels and we spotted two while in Southampton. The first was The Mayor's Mayflower Mosaic Trail and the second was the Elephant Parade - the world’s largest art exhibition of decorated elephant statues - where there were 25 elephant statues at the Westquay shopping, dining and entertainment centre.

Visit the Elephant Parade section of the Westquay website for more information.

Toys R Us in Southampton

A visit to the old Toys R Us store on the Western Esplanade in Southampton, Hampshire.

We made a trip to the former Toys R Us store at Western Esplanade in Southampton last month.

There was still a lot of signage up on the large old unit.

I worked in the Gipsy Lane Toys R Us store in Luton, Bedfordshire back in the year 2000.

Toys R Us closed in the UK in April 2018. It's interesting to see that there are still remnants of the brand on some retail parks in the UK. 

Check out my blog posts below about other former Toys R Us stores:

• Brighton Hill Retail Park in Basingstoke
• Central Retail Park in Manchester
• Deepdale shopping centre in Preston
• Enfield Retail Park in Enfield
• Festival retail park in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent
• Gemini Retail Park in Warrington
• Interchange Retail Park at Copdock Mill, Ipswich
• Riverside Retail Park in Nottingham
• Teesside Retail Park in Stockton-on-Tees
• Western Esplanade in Southampton
• Wyvern Retail Park in Derby

Blockbuster Video in Southampton

A visit to the former Blockbuster Video store in Southampton.

We made a visit to the old Blockbuster Video store on Portswood Road in Southampton, Hampshire last month.

Work was underway to open the location as a new business but luckily there were still some traces of the Blockbuster brand on the wonderful Art Deco building.

One of the best things still visible was this elaborate QuikDrop box!

With our interest piqued by the discovery of the abandoned Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield in 2019 we've now visited a number of former Blockbuster locations, including:

• Abingdon, Oxfordshire
• Barnsley, South Yorkshire
• Basingstoke, Hampshire
• Billingham, Teesside
• Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester
• Chester, Cheshire
• Chorley, Lancashire
• Colne, Lancashire
• Fallowfield, Manchester
• Felixstowe, Suffolk
• Great Moor, Stockport, Greater Manchester
• Hastings, East Sussex
• Leigh, Greater Manchester
• Marple, Greater Manchester
• Nuneaton, Warwickshire
• Oldham, Greater Manchester
• Prescot, Lancashire
• Southampton, Hampshire
• Telford, Shropshire
• Wythenshawe, Manchester

Toys R Us in Basingtoke

A visit to the old Toys R Us store at the Brighton Hill Retail Park in Basingstoke, Hampshire.

We visited the old Toys R Us store in Basingstoke last month. There was still a lot of signage on display at the former store.

I worked in the Gipsy Lane Toys R Us store in Luton, Bedfordshire back in the year 2000.

Toys R Us closed in the UK in April 2018. It's amazing to see that there are still remnants of the brand on some retail parks in the UK. 

Check out my blog posts below about other former Toys R Us stores:

• Brighton Hill Retail Park in Basingstoke
• Central Retail Park in Manchester
• Deepdale shopping centre in Preston
• Enfield Retail Park in Enfield
• Festival retail park in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent
• Gemini Retail Park in Warrington
• Interchange Retail Park at Copdock Mill, Ipswich
• Riverside Retail Park in Nottingham
• Teesside Retail Park in Stockton-on-Tees
• Western Esplanade in Southampton
• Wyvern Retail Park in Derby

Blockbuster Video in Basingstoke

A visit to the former Blockbuster Video store in Basingstoke, Hampshire.

We took a look at the old Blockbuster Video store at the Chineham shopping centre in Basingstoke last month. The unit is still vacant, but somewhat recognisable as a Blockbuster shop - especially as the QuikDrop box is still there.

With our interest piqued by the discovery of the abandoned Blockbuster Video store in Fallowfield in 2019 we've now visited a number of former Blockbuster locations, including:

• Abingdon, Oxfordshire
• Barnsley, South Yorkshire
• Basingstoke, Hampshire
• Billingham, Teesside
• Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester
• Chester, Cheshire
• Chorley, Lancashire
• Colne, Lancashire
• Fallowfield, Manchester
• Felixstowe, Suffolk
• Great Moor, Stockport, Greater Manchester
• Hastings, East Sussex
• Leigh, Greater Manchester
• Marple, Greater Manchester
• Nuneaton, Warwickshire
• Oldham, Greater Manchester
• Prescot, Lancashire
• Southampton, Hampshire
• Telford, Shropshire
• Wythenshawe, Manchester

A Scooby Doo Ice Cream Van

Spotting a Scooby Doo Ice Cream Van at Mayflower Park in Southampton.

It's always fun seeing ice cream van artwork and we saw this Scooby Doo Ice Cream Van at Mayflower Park in Southampton, Hampshire last month.

The Mayor's Mayflower Mosaic Trail in Southampton

Finding an art trail in Southampton.

It's always fun finding art trails when out exploring and while in Southampton we found two. The first was The Mayor's Mayflower Mosaic Trail.

The 400 mosaics were placed around the city to mark the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower from the UK to America.

The other art trail was the Elephant Parade - the world’s largest art exhibition of decorated elephant statues.

Visit the The Mayor's Mayflower Mosaic Trail section of the Southampton council website for more information.

Crazy Golf at Run About in Farnborough

There's a new Crazy Golf course at the Run About soft play centre in Farnborough, Hampshire.

The new crazy golf course opens at Run About in Farnborough on Monday 17th May.

Visit the Run About website for more information.

Crazy Golf on Southsea Beach

There are plans for a new Crazy Golf course on Southsea Beach.

A new Crazy Golf course is planned to open at Southsea Beach in Hampshire.

The minigolf layout has been proposed by South Parade Pier and would be located on the shingle beach to the west of the pier.

Visit the South Parade Pier website for more information.

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour began in Southsea back in 2006 and we've played a number of miniature golf courses there over the years. One of those courses was a 12-hole Swedish Felt layout on South Parade Pier in 2010. That course can now be played on Southend Pier!

It'll be nice to get back down to visit again in the future.

14 years of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Celebrating fourteen years of our crazy golf travels.

We played the Victory Trail course at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea, Hampshire on this day in 2006. At the end of our round on Saturday 30th September I won a free game by firing the cannon on the lucky last hole.

Our minigolfing adventures have been rolling ever since!

How different would our lives have been if I'd missed my shot on the final hole?

From the archives - Check out the blog post looking at our first game at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea.

We last played the Treasure Island Adventure Golf course in Southsea on the 30th September 2016 to celebrate ten years of our travels. I won another free game then too. I also won a free game when we revisited the course on the fifth anniversary of our tour on the 30th September 2011. Incredibly I won again on the 7th August 2015.

Joining us on that first course visit was my brother Christopher. He's also played a fair few courses on his own branch of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. The latest being the Alton Water Mini Golf course in Ipswich, Suffolk. That brought the combined total course visits to 982!

We've now visited 956 courses, 39 of which have been overseas.

From the archives - Check out the results of our first-ever game of Adventure Golf against each other in 2003.

The growth of minigolf

When our travels began in 2006 there were around 600 courses in the UK.

Minigolf has grown in popularity and has moved from only being a traditional outdoor seaside summer activity to become a year-round game that can be played indoors, outdoors and at pretty much any time of the day.

A number of new courses have come and gone during the last decade and we have been to a number of pop-up courses too. There are still new courses being planned, developed, built and opened.

When we first set out to visit all the courses in the country there were only two indoor courses, one in Felixstowe and one in Great Yarmouth. Both are still open and have been joined by around 100 other indoor minigolf venues!

Hitting 900

We visited our 900th course overall when we played the North Bay Mini Golf course in Scarborough, North Yorkshire in June 2019.

North Bay Crazy Golf in Scarborough

We visited our 900th course in the UK when we played the indoor Pirates Cove Adventure Golf course at the New York Thunderbowl in Kettering, Northamptonshire last December.

Pirates Cove Adventure Golf in Kettering

The original 600

Before the coronavirus pandemic we were closing in on visiting the final 40 courses of the original 600 we set out to play in 2006. We're also very close to hitting 1,000 course visits overall.

We had a very strong start to the year and visited 20 courses in the first 20 days of 2020.

We've been to a total of 46 courses this year. Fifteen of those are new courses added to our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour total and eight of them have been visited in the time of coronavirus.

Course visits by year

• In 2019 we went to 82 courses.
• In 2018 we visited 64 courses.
• In 2017 we went to 74 courses.
• In 2016 we visited 47 courses.
• In 2015 we went to 84 courses.

Next year

It'll be interesting to see whether we'll be able to get down to Southsea to celebrate the 15th anniversary of our minigolfing tour next year.

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Before the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour had not yet begun 14 years ago.

It got underway 14 years ago tomorrow.

On the 30th September 2006 I won a free game card on the lucky last hole at the Treasure Island Adventure Golf course in Southsea, Hampshire and our adventures rolled on from there!

Playing the Treasure Island Adventure Golf course in 2016

We've now been to 956 courses on our travels.

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Crazy Golf in Fleet, Hampshire

There was a pop-up crazy golf course in Fleet, Hampshire yesterday.

Fleet's Business Improvement District arranged for a pop-up crazy golf course to be a part of a fun day in Fleet town centre yesterday.

   

Pop-up minigolf

During the summer Lincoln Business Improvement Group created Cornhill Cove, a seaside-style pop-up crazy golf, street food and drinking area in the city centre.

It was one of a number of pop-up minigolf courses we've seen over the last 14 years.

Retailtainment

Minigolf has grown in popularity in the last eight years and has moved from only being a traditional outdoor seaside summer activity to become a year-round game that can be played indoors, outdoors and at pretty much any time of the day.

A number of high streets, retail parks and shopping malls are now home to minigolf courses, with more new venues planned to open.

Minigolf is also a popular addition to boost footfall and create awareness and much like in the Fleet and Lincoln examples is a way to attract people to a location.

Businesses also use portable and temporary minigolf layouts for product launches and promotions.

Competitive socialising

Before the pandemic the phrase 'competitive socialising' had become a popular way to describe going out, with lots of new operators catering to the demand of a public who wanted to compete at something while eating and drinking in a nice setting.

Whether it was table tennis, darts, shuffleboard, bingo, tenpin bowling, arcade games, or minigolf, people were finding new ways to quench their thirst, have fun and compete without signing-up to a full sports league or taking things too seriously.

There are still new competitive socialising venues opening during the pandemic, including the new Roxy Ball Room at Withy Grove in Manchester.

Minigolf in the time of Coronavirus

Take a look at my blog posts about minigolf and competitive socialising in the time of coronavirus and social distancing.

You can also watch episode 1 of the InterGame Video Insights on Minigolf in the time of Covid-19.

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Minigolf marketing

With over twenty years of marketing and sales experience Emily and I offer consultancy services to people and businesses looking to set-up miniature golf courses, review their operations, hole designs, contests, tournaments and more.

Do get in touch for a chat to see how we can help and work together.

You can also buy my minigolf marketing ebook on Amazon and Kobo.

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Mini Golf at Canoe Lake in Southsea

A look at the Mini Golf course at Canoe Lake in Southsea, Hampshire.

The 12-hole course was the 669th visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in August 2015.

It was one of the best grass putting courses I've played on my travels and the sort of course I could play all day long.

We've now visited 954 courses since September 2006. The very first course was also in Southsea!

It'll be marvellous when we're able to get back to the seaside.

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New Iron Age themed Adventure Golf course to be built in Andover, Hampshire

Plans for the new Iron Age themed Adventure Golf course in Andover, Hampshire have been approved.

The new course will be built by Greenspan Projects and it'll completely replace the existing layout at Charlton Leisure Centre.

The existing Adventure Golf course as it looked nine years ago

That Adventure Golf course was the 255th we played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in July 2011. We've now been to 949 courses since 2006.

New minigolf courses

The plans for the new Adventure Golf course in Andover were the first I heard about for a new course since before the coronavirus pandemic.

Since the plans were announced we've heard about a number of other new courses being planned, built and opened during the pandemic.

We're looking forward to getting back out on the road and visiting courses again in the future.

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New Adventure Golf course could be built in Andover

There are plans for a new Adventure Golf course in Andover, Hampshire.

Plans have been submitted for a new Iron Age themed Adventure Golf course in Andover.

The course would be designed and built by Greenspan Leisure and is planned to replace the existing minigolf course at Charlton Leisure Centre.

The current Adventure Golf course there was the 255th we played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in July 2011.

Adventure Golf at Charlton Leisure Centre in Andover, July 2011

On that occasion we took a wrong turn en route to Wales and found the course was open to play!

The plans are the first I've heard about for a new course since before the coronavirus pandemic.

The last new course I'd heard about before lockdown was a new Crazy Golf course being created as part of a new adventure play centre in Dundee.

New Forest Adventure Golf at Lymington Golf Centre

A look at the New Forest Adventure Golf course at Lymington Golf Centre.

We played the layout last May.

The 18-hole course at Lymington Golf Centre was the 873rd visited and 510th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

East Park Mini Golf in Southampton

A look at the East Park Mini Golf course in Southampton.

We played the course last May.

The 18-hole course at East Park was the 881st visited and 513th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Adventure Golf at Romsey Rapids Sports Complex in Southampton

A look at the Adventure Golf course at Romsey Rapids Sports Complex in Southampton.

We visited last May.

The course was the 877th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.