Crazy Golf history: from a minigolf course to a hotel

The site of England's first-ever Crazy Golf course is being turned into a hotel.

The Original Crazy Golf course in Skegness (2015)

A new Travelodge hotel and Starbucks drive-thru are being built on the location of England's first Crazy Golf course.

The Original Crazy Golf course on South Parade in Skegness, Lincolnshire has been derelict since 2018, and now work on the site is set to begin soon.

The Original Crazy Golf course in Skegness (2015)

England's first Crazy Golf opened on South Parade in Skegness in 1926 and the game is widely known by that name in the UK. Crazy Golf is seldom, if ever, used overseas except in tourist spots popular with UK holidaymakers.

In May 2015 The Original Crazy Golf course became the 363rd played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

It's sad to hear about the loss of this piece of miniature golf history. I'm glad we got to visit the course when we did in 2011 and 2015.

The Original Crazy Golf course in Skegness (2015)

We've also got some nice old postcards of the course in our collection, including this one when it was known as Craz-e-Golf.

Craz-e-Golf at Skegness by E.T.W Dennis & Sons Ltd S.2142 postally used on 21 June 1977

Skegness is home to several other minigolf courses. We've haven't been there since 2015, but did visit as many as we could the last time. At least one new adventure golf course has opened there since then.

We'll to revisit again soon and see how things have changed...

Container Golf at Ffolkes

A visit to the Container Golf course at the Ffolkes Pub and Hotel in King's Lynn, Norfolk.

My brother Christopher, a charter member of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, and his family recently stayed at the Ffolkes Pub and Hotel in King's Lynn, Norfolk. While there they played the 9-hole Container Golf course.

Check out the Ffolkes website for more information on the Container Golf adventure golf course.

We've now visited a combined total of 1,091 courses on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Minigolf at Bahia Principe in Tenerife, Spain

A look at the minigolf course at the Sunlight Bahia Principe hotel in Tenerife.

Many thanks to my cousin Elaine for sending over these photos from her recent holiday to Tenerife.

It's brilliant seeing different minigolf courses around the world.

We haven't been to Tenerife on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour yet. Emily has been to Spain, Lanzarote and Majorca though.

Check out these other guest blog posts about minigolf in Tenerife.

Swingers Crazy Golf in Las Vegas

A new Swingers Crazy Golf venue is opening in Las Vegas, USA in 2024.

The new Swingers Crazy Golf location will be at MGM's Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

Swingers Crazy Golf Las Vegas will be home to five Crazy Golf course spread across three floors.

Visit the Swingers Crazy Golf website for more information.

Swingers Crazy Golf began as a pop-up in London, England back in 2014 where it now has two permanent locations. You can also find Swingers Crazy Golf courses in New York City and Washington DC.

Swingers Crazy Golf in London on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour visit in 2019

Mini Golf at Hotel Pinija in Croatia

A look at a Miniature Golf course at Hotel Pinija in Petrčane, Croatia.

My brother, and charter member of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, has sent me a few more snaps of the Miniature Golf course at Hotel Pinija in Petrčane, Croatia. It's one of two layouts at the hotel.

Our combined total of course visits now stands at 1,046 since September 2006.

Hotel Pinija Mini Golf in Croatia

A look at the two Mini Golf courses at Hotel Pinija in Petrčane, Croatia.

A sign for the Mini Golf at Hotel Pinija

My brother, and charter member of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, has sent me some snaps of the two Mini Golf courses at Hotel Pinija in Petrčane, Croatia.

One of the two courses at the hotel

This is the newer of the two layouts

The older course is of the Eternit variety of miniature golf

Hole 6

The Eternit Miniature Golf course at Hotel Pinija

Our combined total of course visits now stands at 1,046 since September 2006.

Crazy Golf at The Ffolkes Inn and Hotel in Hillington, Norfolk

A new Crazy Golf course is being created at The Ffolkes Inn and Hotel in Hillington, Norfolk.

The Ffolkes Inn and Hotel in Hillington, Norfolk will be opening a new Crazy Golf course this year as part of development plans at the venue.

Visit The Ffolkes Inn website for more information.

The Ffolkes Inn and Hotel is near King's Lynn and that is something of a regular stopping point for us when travelling to visit family in Norfolk. It's great to know there'll be a new place there to play on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The Garfield Hotel in Blackpool

Spotting The Garfield Hotel in Blackpool.

We noticed The Garfield Hotel while walking around Blackpool last week. What a gimmick.

We might have to stay there on a future visit to the seaside resort to see what it looks like inside.

Check out The Garfield Hotel's Facebook Page for more information.

Art Deco in Doncaster

We're big fans of Art Deco style, design and architecture and we've been remembering our trip to Doncaster last year and our stay at the superb Earl of Doncaster Hotel in Bennetthorpe.

Roaring twenties in the 2020s.

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We couldn't have asked for a better spot - Art Deco magnificence and the hotel was right next door to a park with a Crazy Golf course in it.

The Crazy Golf course at Elmfield Park

Danum House was another nice Art Deco building in the town centre.

We're looking forward to getting back out on our travels, exploring new places and revisiting our favourite spots when it's safe to do so in the future.

Mini Golf Putting at Luccombe Hall Hotel in Shanklin, Isle of Wight

Finding out about a hotel Putting Course in Shanklin, Isle of Wight.

A big thank you to our friend Philip Walsh for sending over some snaps of a grass Putting Course he found during his recent stay on the Isle of Wight.

It looks like a nice little course for a putt around.

Visit the Luccombe Hall Hotel website for more information.

We're looking forward to a return visit to the Isle of Wight on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We've had a couple of day trips there in the past and played quite a few courses, but need at least a long weekend to play them all.

Philip has also been to the brand new Shanklin Crazy Golf course, Rylstone Crazy Golf and Tea Gardens in Shanklin and the Mini Golf course and Billiard Golf tables in Puerto Colón, Tenerife this year.

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Miniature Golf at Thermal Hotel Guayarmina on Gran Canaria

Who would like to be on holiday in the Canary Islands right now?

I found this old postcard of the Thermal Hotel Guayarmina in the Agaete Valley in the Canary Islands while looking for minigolf postcards at the most recent Stockport Town Hall postcard fair.

In among the advertised health and tranquility benefits of staying at the Thermal Hotel on Gran Canaria is Miniature Golf! I wonder what the course was like?

Emily was actually due to go on holiday to the Canary Islands this summer, with a trip to Lanzarote booked and now cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Check out the blog posts below for photos and details of courses friends and family have sent to us from their travels to the Canary Islands.

Mini Golf in Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote by Jo Tubby

Rooftop Mini Golf in Puerto Del Carmen, Lanzarote by Steve Lovell and Brian Butterworth

Mini Golf in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote by Richard Rochester

Mini Golf Aquarium in Lanzarote by Les Tubby

Minigolf San Antonio in Lanzarote by Les Tubby

Mini Golf at the Mediterranean Palace Hotel in Tenerife by Jason Mayne 

Mini Golf course in Puerto Colón, Tenerife by Philip Walsh  

Billiard Golf tables in Puerto Colón, Tenerife by Philip Walsh

Elmfield Park Crazy Golf course in Doncaster

A visit to the Crazy Golf course at Elmfield Park in Bennetthorpe, Doncaster.

We visited our 943rd miniature golf course while in Doncaster earlier this month.

Unfortunately it was out-of-season so we couldn't game on the Crazy Golf course at Elmfield Park in Bennetthorpe.

Check out videos from our visit to the course.

The Crazy Golf course is next to the bowls greens

We had a brilliant time in Doncaster. We've previously played minigolf courses on the outskirts of the town and nearby, but never been to the centre.

We were really impressed by the town's markets and enjoyed visiting a few different pubs. We stayed at the wonderful Earl of Doncaster hotel, a marvellous Art Deco hotel right next to Elmfield Park.

The Earl of Doncaster is a fantastic Art Deco building

The lobby

The restaurant

Travelling around the UK visiting minigolf courses has taken us to so many interesting places, many of which wouldn't be considered a 'normal' tourist spot. We really enjoyed our time in Doncaster and look forward to going back again in the future.