Showing posts with label Holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holiday. Show all posts

Sunday, May 01, 2022

The Big Mini Golf Tour tees-off in Greater Yarmouth this month

The Big Mini Golf Tour 2022 tees-off on National Miniature Golf Day - Saturday 14th May.


Miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business Improvement Area are coming together to promote the game.

The Big Mini Golf Tour 2022

We've played in and organised lots of miniature golf competitions, tournaments, challenges and events over the years and this year we are excited to be a part of the Big Mini Golf Tour in the seaside resort of Great Yarmouth.

The four-month event highlighting miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth area tees-off on National Miniature Golf Day, Saturday 14th May 2022 and runs until Miniature Golf Day on Wednesday 21st September 2022.

Mini Golf course map

You can plan your visit to the nine miniature golf courses in Hemsby, Clippesby, Great Yarmouth and Gorleston-on-Sea by checking out the Big Mini Golf Tour map.


Follow the Big Mini Golf Tour


Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA

Funding from Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA has helped to bring you the ‘Big Mini Golf Tour’. Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA uses money raised from a business improvement district levy which is designed to raise the profile of the area, increase the number of people visiting and staying, improve the visitor experience and increase repeat visits, encourage people to stay longer and to visit more attractions and to provide incentives and opportunities to spend more in local businesses.

Thursday, April 28, 2022

The Big Mini Golf Tour - teeing-off in Greater Yarmouth next month

The Big Mini Golf Tour 2022 tees-off on National Miniature Golf Day - Saturday 14th May.


Miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business Improvement Area are coming together to promote the game.

The Big Mini Golf Tour 2022 tees-off on National Miniature Golf Day - Saturday 14th May
The Big Mini Golf Tour - teeing-off in Greater Yarmouth in May 2022

Miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business Improvement Area have come together to promote the game.

The four-month event highlighting miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth area tees-off on National Miniature Golf Day, Saturday 14th May 2022 and runs until Miniature Golf Day on Wednesday 21st September 2022.

Mini Golf course map

You can plan your visit to the nine miniature golf courses in Hemsby, Clippesby, Great Yarmouth and Gorleston-on-Sea by checking out the Big Mini Golf Tour map.


Follow the Big Mini Golf Tour


Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA

Funding from Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA has helped to bring you the ‘Big Mini Golf Tour’. Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA uses money raised from a business improvement district levy which is designed to raise the profile of the area, increase the number of people visiting and staying, improve the visitor experience and increase repeat visits, encourage people to stay longer and to visit more attractions and to provide incentives and opportunities to spend more in local businesses.

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

An East Anglian Minigolf Road-Trip

Visiting and playing some minigolf in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.


We've just returned from a trip to East Anglia to visit family and friends in the area. It's the first time we've been there since 2019 and there were a few new minigolf courses to swing by on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We also managed to revisit some of our favourite layouts on the trip.

Minigolf courses visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour trip to East Anglia

Before the holiday Emily and I had visited a combined total of 967 courses since September 2006. My little brother Christopher is a founding member of the tour and with the courses he has been to we were at 998 courses. With his wife Nina joining the adventures the tally stood at 999 courses before the trip!

In total we managed to visit thirteen courses, with six of them being new to our tour. Some of the courses we had played at before had undergone some changes, with new names and the addition of new holes to extend the layouts.

We also hit the 1,000th course visit milestone on the trip. Twice. The first was at Glo Golf in Peterborough, the second was at Crazier Golf at Boom: Battle Bar in Norwich.

Here's a look at the lucky thirteen courses and the stats from our trip.

Pitch & Putt at Orton Meadows Golf Course in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire


Pitch & Putt at Orton Meadows Golf Course in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

  • Course visit 968 by Richard & Emily Gottfried.
  • Number 929 in the British Isles.
  • The 998th visited on the three founding members Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.
  • The 999th visited on our combined travels.

Glo Golf in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire


Glo Golf in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire


Crazier Golf at Boom: Battle Bar in Norwich, Norfolk


Crazier Golf at Boom: Battle Bar in Norwich, Norfolk

  • Course visit 970 by Richard & Emily.
  • Number 931 in the British Isles.
  • The 552nd played.
  • The 1000th visited on the founders tour.
  • The 1001st visited on the combined tour.

Pirates Island Adventure Golf at Norfolk Premier Golf in Blofield, Norfolk


Pirates Island Adventure Golf at Norfolk Premier Golf in Blofield, Norfolk


Lost World Adventure Golf in Hemsby, Norfolk


Lost World Adventure Golf in Hemsby, Norfolk


Stonehenge Mini Golf in Hemsby, Norfolk


Stonehenge Mini Golf in Hemsby, Norfolk


Thatched Roof Putting / Kirkley Cliff Putting Green in Lowestoft, Suffolk


Thatched Roof Putting / Kirkley Cliff Putting Green in Lowestoft, Suffolk

  • A revisit to the 264th course played.
  • The easternmost Putting course in the British Isles.

Family Adventure Golf at Little Joe's Ice Cream Shack in Lowestoft, Suffolk


Family Adventure Golf at Little Joe's Ice Cream Shack in Lowestoft, Suffolk


Magical Golf at Mannings in Felixstowe, Suffolk


Magical Golf at Mannings in Felixstowe, Suffolk

  • A revisit to the 5th course played.

Fantasia Adventure Golf in Felixstowe, Suffolk


Fantasia Adventure Golf in Felixstowe, Suffolk

  • A revisit to the 7th course played.

Skull Point Adventure Golf in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex


Skull Point Adventure Golf in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex

  • Course visit numbers 972 / 1002 / 1003.

Greensward Adventure Golf in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex


Greensward Adventure Golf in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex

  • Course visit numbers 973 / 1003 / 1004.

Pavilion Adventure Golf at the Pavilion Fun Park in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex


Pavilion Adventure Golf at the Pavilion Fun Park in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex

  • A revisit to the 94th course played.
  • It was an 11-hole course, now a 14-hole Adventure Golf course with a different theme.

Check out our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour page to see details of all the courses we've been to since September 2006.

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, December 04, 2020

Travel in 2020

I've barely travelled outside of Greater Manchester this year so it was nice to 'get away from it all' with a trip to Miami, California and Italy this afternoon.

Miami Sun Centre, California Wines Express and Little Italy on Wigan Road in Deane, Bolton
Miami Sun Centre, California Wines Express and Little Italy on Wigan Road in Deane, Bolton

These shops are all on the Wigan Road in Deane, Bolton.

Related blog posts:

- Holidays at home - Stockport, 2020

- A postcard from Stockport

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

On holiday - two years ago today

Looking back at our holiday to Lytham St Annes two years ago.


We were on holiday on the Fylde Coast this time two years ago.

How times change.

MiniLinks Crazy Golf course in Lytham St Annes
With Humpty at the MiniLinks Crazy Golf course in Lytham St Annes

The MiniLinks Crazy Golf course was the 48th visited and played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in April 2008.

The MiniLinks in Lytham Saint Annes is home to three miniature golf courses - the Crazy Golf, a Pennines Putting course and a Par-3 layout.


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Monday, August 17, 2020

A postcard from Stockport

Dropping you a line from the Greater Manchester High Risk Coronavirus Protection Area Lockdown Zone.

A postcard from Stockport

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

A holiday at Barry Island

A holiday at Barry Island, Wales.


A view of Nell's Point in Barry Island, once home to a brilliant holiday camp
A view of Nell's Point from the beach in Barry Island. The area was once home to a brilliant holiday camp

My family used to go on holiday to Barry Island in the late 80's and 90's and loved it there. The holiday camp was absolutely marvellous, with everything from swimming to Crazy Golf, to snooker and darts, to the fun fair and more - all free of charge once you had checked in.

The slides on the outdoor pool at Barry Island. 1989. Photo from the Gottfried family archive
The slides on the outdoor pool at Barry Island

My brothers and I would spend hours going from one activity to another and then spend the evening in the arcades on the camp and on the seafront playing games such as Blasteroids, Xybots, Double Dragon and Wardner. Halcyon days.

A view towards the fun fair outside the camp looking across the outdoor pool. 1989. Photo from the Gottfried family archive
A view towards the fun fair outside the camp looking across the outdoor pool

A view of the outdoor pool area and indoor pool building. 1989. Photo from the Gottfried family archive
A view of the outdoor pool area and indoor pool building

We were lucky that on our first few holidays there we were able to ride the chair lifts too as they were removed in 1989.

The Chair Lifts at Barry Island holiday camp. 1989. Photo from the Gottfried family archive
The Chair Lifts at Barry Island holiday camp

I recently had my family's cinefilm footage digitised and it was wonderful to see there was film from our holiday to the camp in 1989.

Gottfried family on holiday at Barry Island in 1989
On holiday, from l-r my brother Jon, my mum, my brother Christopher and me on holiday at Barry Island in 1989. This photo was taken near the outdoor pool and and the entrance to the main arcade

Old postcards of the camp

Barry Island holiday camp opened as a Butlin's site in 1966. In 1986 the camp on Nell's Point closed as a Butlin's and re-opened the next year under the new ownership of Majestic Holidays.

I've only got a couple of postcards of the camp, but I always keep my eyes peeled for more.

Butlin's Outdoor Pool and Playhouse Theatre, Barry Island. PT28469. Photo Precision Limited. Posted. Date unknown
Butlin's Outdoor Pool and Playhouse Theatre, Barry Island. PT28469. Photo Precision Limited. Posted. Date unknown

The final season for the camp came in 1996 and it was eventually demolished to make way for housing.

Butlinland Barry Island. The Pig and Whistle Bar and Stage. John Hinde Limited. 12 August 1980
Butlinland Barry Island. The Pig and Whistle Bar and Stage. John Hinde Limited. 12 August 1980

A look at the site, May 2019

I returned to Barry Island for only the third time since the 1990's while heading home from a weekend in Aberavon last year.

Barry Island, 13 May 2019
Pointing out where the holiday camp once was

I first went back to the town in 2009 during our road-trip around the Welsh coast and then swung by the following year for a brief visit while visiting friends nearby.

Barry Island, 13 May 2019
The entrance to the holiday camp

It was nice that Barry Island was still recognisable from my time there 30 years ago, even though the holiday camp has been knocked down to make way for housing and a public car park.

Barry Island, 13 May 2019
The exit view

Walking up through the old gates at the entrance to the holiday camp brought back so many memories and I could still picture the swimming pool to the left, the main building and walkway/arcade ahead of me and the chalets to the right.

Barry Island, 13 May 2019
Walking up towards where the camp once stood. On the left is where the swimming pool was

Barry Island, 13 May 2019
This spot was once home to the outdoor swimming pool and slides
  
Barry Island, 13 May 2019
The approach to the main arcade. The photo of me, my mum and my brothers was taken in the area just to the left of the yellow barrier 

Barry Island, 13 May 2019
A view of the seaside resort from inside what was once a thriving holiday camp

A look at the seafront


Barry Island, 13 May 2019
On the prom

A view of the beach

Barry Island, 13 May 2019
The distinctive building and shelter housing a number of takeaways, shops and arcades on the promenade

Barry Island Resort Information & Entertainment Guide

As a big fan of the British seaside and traditional holiday entertainment I was pleased to find a Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide while sorting through some paperwork at home.

Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide

Seeing the Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide brought back many happy memories.

Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide

Check out the six-page Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide. As a former holidaymaker at the camp, fan of the British seaside, postcard collector and marketer it makes for interesting reading - especially some of the adverts!

Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide

Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide

Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide

Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide


More old postcards of Barry Island

Looking at the postcards I've collected of Barry Island I noticed all of them were sent in August during the peak summer season.

Figure 8 Railway, Barry Island. Posted 24 August 1915
Figure 8 Railway, Barry Island. Posted 24 August 1915

The oldest card I have of Barry Island is also one of the oldest postcards I have. It shows the Figure 8 Railway and was posted on the 24th August 1915. I bought it at the North Wales Postcard Club Fair in Llandudno a couple of years ago and it only cost me ten pence!

Crazy Golf Course & Eastern Shelter, Barry Island. P47856. Plastichrome by Colourpicture Publishers Inc. Posted 27 August. Year unknown
Crazy Golf Course & Eastern Shelter, Barry Island. P47856. Plastichrome by Colourpicture Publishers Inc. Posted 27 August. Year unknown

Promenade and Gardens, Barry Island. PT28091. Posted 14 August 1968
Promenade and Gardens, Barry Island. PT28091. Posted 14 August 1968

Promenade and Gardens, Barry Island. WT.665R. By Valentine. Posted 2 August 1969
What a summer holiday scene!

Promenade and Gardens, Barry Island. WT.665R. By Valentine. Posted 2 August 1969

Friday, April 24, 2020

Holidaying at home - a postcard from Bournemouth

A blog post about not going to Bournemouth.


We were supposed to be starting our holiday in Bournemouth today and were going to be staying at the Miramar Hotel. The hotel was once home to a Putting Green.

Sea and South Frontage, Hotel Miramar, Bournemouth. Eversheds. St Albans. Postally unused
Sea and South Frontage, Hotel Miramar, Bournemouth. Eversheds. St Albans. Postally unused


We'd planned visits to 16 miniature golf courses in the Bournemouth, Boscombe, Southbourne, Poole and Sandbanks area of Dorset on the trip. We've now been to 948 courses since September 2006.

We've collected quite a few old postcards of minigolf courses in the area. Some are still there, such as the Lower Gardens course in Bournemouth, while others, like the Alum Chine course are long gone.

Postcard of Alum Chine, Bournemouth. Printed by Deardon & Wade Bournemouth.Postally unused. Undated
Postcard of Alum Chine, Bournemouth. Printed by Deardon & Wade Bournemouth.Postally unused. Undated

Miniature Golf in Central Gardens, Bournemouth. Postcard by The Photographic Greetings Cards Co Ltd, London. Posted 24 July 1970
The 'Miniature Golf in Central Gardens, Bournemouth' postcard by The Photographic Greetings Cards Co Ltd, London was posted from Bournemouth to Cleveleys in Lancashire on the 24th July 1970

Mini-Golf at the Lower Gardens, Bournemouth, Dorset. J. Arthur Dixon postcard. PDO/89332 Posted August 1990
Mini-Golf at the Lower Gardens, Bournemouth, Dorset. J. Arthur Dixon postcard. PDO/89332 Posted August 1990

A Boscombe Crazy Golf postcard. JH 40 Plastichrome by Colourpicture. Pub. by J. Hammersley, Boscombe, Bournemouth. Posted in 1967
A Boscombe Crazy Golf postcard. JH 40 Plastichrome by Colourpicture. Pub. by J. Hammersley, Boscombe, Bournemouth. Posted in 1967

Crazy Golf and Rockery, Sandbanks, Poole. P.2674 Dennis Productions Postcard. Postally used. Date unknown
Crazy Golf and Rockery, Sandbanks, Poole. P.2674 Dennis Productions Postcard. Postally used. Date unknown

The Isle of Wight from Highcliffe-on-Sea. PT3098
The Isle of Wight from Highcliffe-on-Sea. PT3098

We're looking forward to visiting the area on holiday next year.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Crazy Golf at Medmerry Park in Earnley

A look at the Crazy Golf course at Medmerry Park holiday village in Earnley, West Sussex.


Crazy Golf at Medmerry Park in Earnley. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2019

My brother Christopher has visited another course on his branch of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. The 9-hole course is at Medmerry Park in Earnley, West Sussex.


Crazy Golf at Medmerry Park in Earnley. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2019

He said it's the nicest looking course he's ever seen on his travels.


Crazy Golf at Medmerry Park in Earnley. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2019

It does look very smart and there appear to be some nice hole-in-one opportunities on the layout. I'd love to give it a play.

Crazy Golf at Medmerry Park in Earnley. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2019

Looking online the course Christopher saw is relatively new and replaces the old Crazy Golf course which was on the same spot.

Crazy Golf at Medmerry Park in Earnley. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2019
A nice spot for a sit down

Visit the Windrush Holidays website to find out more about Medmerry Park.

Here are more snaps of the Crazy Golf course.

Crazy Golf at Medmerry Park in Earnley. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2019

Crazy Golf at Medmerry Park in Earnley. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2019

Crazy Golf at Medmerry Park in Earnley. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2019

Crazy Golf at Medmerry Park in Earnley. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2019

Crazy Golf at Medmerry Park in Earnley. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2019

Crazy Golf at Medmerry Park in Earnley. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2019

Crazy Golf at Medmerry Park in Earnley. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2019

Crazy Golf at Medmerry Park in Earnley. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2019

Crazy Golf at Medmerry Park in Earnley. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2019

Crazy Golf at Medmerry Park in Earnley. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2019

Christopher Gottfried has now been to 31 courses in the UK and nine overseas countries on his own branch of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Altogether we've visited 948 courses.

Emily and I have also played in Earnley. That was the 15-hole Millennium Crazy Golf course at Earnley Gardens back in October 2011. It was the 270th course played on our tour.