Lost minigolf courses - Abingdon-on-Thames Crazy Golf

A look back at the old Crazy Golf course at the Abbey Meadows in Abingdon-on-Thames.

One of the courses we've visited and played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour travels but has since become a 'lost' course was the 10-hole Crazy Golf layout at the Abbey Meadows in my home town of Abingdon.

The course was the first one I ever played way back in the early 1980's.

The course had been in the park since the 1950's but was removed at the end of the 2016 season as part of renovations to the area.

It's always sad to see an old miniature golf course removed. Especially so when it's not replaced by a new one.

The last hole of the first course I ever played

In August 2007 the course became the 31st played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Playing hole 5 in 2007

Playing hole 5 in 2012

Playing hole 5 for the very last time in 2016

We also revisited in June 2012 and December 2014.

The course was very mossy on our visit in 2014

A snowy day at two lost minigolf courses in Luton

A look back at a snow day on the minigolf courses in Wardown Park, Luton.

Snow play allowed. This was back in January 2010

When we lived down in Luton, Bedfordshire our local park had two miniature golf courses. One was a 9-hole grass Mini Golf layout, the other was a 9-hole fibreglass Crazy Golf course.

That's hole 1 of the Crazy Golf course under the snow

The grass course at Wardown Park opened in 1934 and was an interesting one to play. It was too big to be considered to be a Putting Green, but not large enough to be classed as a Pitch & Putt, even though you were issued with an iron and a putter when you played.

You also received a paper ticket every time you played a round on the courses. A really nice touch and something we've rarely seen elsewhere on our travels

Sadly both courses are now long gone. Luckily we played a lot of games there in the latter half of the noughties.

The area where the two courses were was turned into a mini meadow in 2015.

Minigolf in Wardown Park

There is a new minigolf course near to where the other courses were. We visited it back in 2021.

Wardown Adventure Golf in Luton (2021)

You can find out more on the Wardown Adventure Golf website.

Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf at Cabot Circus in Bristol has closed

The indoor Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf centre at Cabot Circus in Bristol has closed.

We first visited the two courses - the 'Jungle' and the 'Secret Swamp' - back in February 2010 when were in the city to compete in the BMGA English Open minigolf competition at the then new 36-hole two-course. They were the 207th and 208th courses visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Playing at Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf in 2010

You can find Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf courses in Birmingham, Brighton, Glasgow and London. Visit the Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf website for more information.

The Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in Cliftonville, Margate

A look at the remains of the Little Oasis Crazy Golf in Margate.

Many thanks to our fellow minigolf adventurer Matt Dodd for sending over these photos of what's left of the former Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cliftonville, Margate, Kent.

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cliftonville, Margate. Photo by Matt Dodd, 15th March 2024

The location was once home to two 18-hole Arnold Palmer miniature golf layouts. It closed for good in 2014.

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cliftonville, Margate. Photo by Matt Dodd, 15th March 2024

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cliftonville, Margate. Photo by Matt Dodd, 15th March 2024

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cliftonville, Margate. Photo by Matt Dodd, 15th March 2024

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cliftonville, Margate. Photo by Matt Dodd, 15th March 2024

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cliftonville, Margate. Photo by Matt Dodd, 15th March 2024

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cliftonville, Margate. Photo by Matt Dodd, 15th March 2024

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cliftonville, Margate. Photo by Matt Dodd, 15th March 2024

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cliftonville, Margate. Photo by Matt Dodd, 15th March 2024

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cliftonville, Margate. Photo by Matt Dodd, 15th March 2024

We first visited the Little Oasis Crazy Golf course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in September 2007.

We first played the 'North' course in September 2007, and played the 'South' course in April 2011.

Check out this blog post about Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in the UK.

Quest Krazy Golf

A look back at the Quest Krazy Golf course at Merry Hill shopping centre in Dudley.

We headed to Dudley to play the Krazy Golf course at Merry Hill shopping centre nine years ago this weekend.

Krazy Golf course at Merry Hill shopping centre

The challenging 9-hole course was the 528th we visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Sadly the unique and colourful layout is no longer there.

Krazy Golf course at Merry Hill shopping centre

15 years ago today

A look back at the 10th course played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

We visited the 10th course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on this day in 2006. On a bitterly cold 23rd December 2006 Emily, Christopher and I headed along to the Horse and Harrow Pub in West Hagbourne, Oxfordshire to have a game on their beer garden Crazy Golf course.

And what a course it was - we'd not seen anything like it before. And we haven't seen anything quite like it since!

Crazy Golf at the Horse and Harrow Pub in West Hagbourne, Oxfordshire - December 2006

We revisited the course in April 2011 and while it was a bit drier, it was still a very mossy layout.

Crazy Golf at the Horse and Harrow Pub in West Hagbourne, Oxfordshire - April 2011

Little did we know back then that our interest in crazy golf would become an obsession and that we'd visit 982 courses in the last 15 years.

Together with Christopher and his family we've now been to a grand total of 1,017 courses since we all picked up a putter on the 30th September 2006.

The Putt Park Annual Mini-Golf Tournament Las Vegas

Looking back at The Putt Park Annual Mini-Golf Tournament Las Vegas.

I won The Putt Park's Annual Mini-Golf Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA back in September 2011.

We had first played miniature golf at The Putt Park on our holiday to Las Vegas the year before. It was the 178th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Playing at The Putt Park

Sadly The Putt Park is no longer there. It was a brilliant 18-hole course and at the time the only outdoor minigolf course in Las Vegas.

No Minigolf at Chester Zoo

The Conservation Golf course at Chester Zoo is no longer there.

We had a day out at Chester Zoo yesterday. Unfortunately the Conservation Golf course that our friend John Mittler snapped for us in January 2018 is long gone.

Check out the guest blog post from John's visit for more photos.

Lost minigolf courses - Castle Grounds, Tamworth

The Crazy Golf course in Tamworth's Castle Grounds has been replaced by a new outdoor gym.

We played the course in March 2015. It was the 356th played and 590th visited overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

A snowy day on two lost minigolf courses

A look back at a snow day on the minigolf courses in Wardown Park, Luton.

Snow play allowed. This was back in January 2010

When we lived down in Luton, Bedfordshire our local park had two miniature golf courses. One was a 9-hole grass Mini Golf layout, the other was a 9-hole fibreglass Crazy Golf course.

That's hole 1 of the Crazy Golf course under the snow

The grass course at Wardown Park opened in 1934 and was an interesting one to play. It was too big to be considered to be a Putting Green, but not large enough to be classed as a Pitch & Putt, even though you were issued with an iron and a putter when you played.

You also received a paper ticket every time you played a round on the courses. A really nice touch and something we've rarely seen elsewhere on our travels

Sadly both courses are now long gone. Luckily we played a lot of games there in the latter half of the noughties.

The area where the two courses were was turned into a mini meadow in 2015.

The Putt Park's Annual Mini-Golf Tournament in Las Vegas

Minigolfing at The Putt Park in Las Vegas.

I won The Putt Park's Annual Mini-Golf Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA back in September 2011. It's always nice to get a win in Vegas.

Wall of Famer

We first played minigolf at The Putt Park on our holiday to Las Vegas in 2010. It was the 178th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We've now been to 956 course since our travels began in September 2006.

Sadly The Putt Park is no longer there. It was a superb 18-hole course and the only outdoor minigolf venue in Las Vegas.

We're hoping to revisit Las Vegas again in the future as a few more miniature golf courses have opened since our last trip.

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Lost Minigolf Courses - Crazy Golf at Fairhaven Lake in Lytham Saint Annes

A look at the lost minigolf course at Fairhaven Lake in Lytham Saint Annes.

We made a quick stop off at Fairhaven Lake in Lytham Saint Annes on our trip to Blackpool last week.

Until this year there had been a Crazy Golf course there.

You can still see the outline of the old course

That course was the 436th course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in June 2017. We'd originally made a flying visit to it in 2008.

How the course looked in June 2017

A new Adventure Golf course at Fairhaven Lake is nearing completion and should be open soon.

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Lost minigolf courses - Galactic Golf in Halifax, West Yorkshire

Galactic Golf in Halifax, West Yorkshire has closed. (Update: May 2021 - the venue has now reopened).

We were sad to find out that Galactic Golf in Halifax closed its doors for the final time on Saturday. The business was a victim of the coronavirus pandemic.

We played at the two course, 36-hole indoor space-themed centre last November. The courses were were the 934th and 935th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Galactic Golf was part of the Electric Bowl in the town. That business is continuing.