Showing posts with label Mini-Golf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mini-Golf. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Minigolf consultancy

As a marketing professional I use my extensive knowledge and skills in supporting and promoting the game I enjoy as a hobby, a competitive sport and a leisure activity.

My marketing activity sees me work across the minigolf industry, from traditional British seaside crazy golf courses, to new inland adventure golf layouts, competitive socialising venues and within retailtainment.

Since 2006 Emily and I have visited more than 1,000 minigolf courses in the UK and overseas. This has given me an insight into many aspects of minigolf including course operators, pop-ups, competitions, equipment, national associations, international federations, clubs, suppliers, designers, builders and technology providers.

My involvement in the world of minigolf includes blogging, media relations, sponsorship, course design, advice and consultancy, content generation, digital marketing and new technology, event organisation and promotion, and participation in tournaments around the world.

I have consulted on a number of minigolf business concepts in the UK and USA including Princess Parade Crazy Golf in Blackpool; the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club in Knowle West, Bristol; Tea Green Golf in Luton; Burray Crazy Golf in Orkney; Prestwick Putting and Crazy Golf; Portaputt Crazy Golf; Aces Minigolf Gloucester; Southend Pier Crazy Golf; Knaresborough Mini Golf; Glory Holes art-based Crazy Golf in Saltaire; Putting at the Kiosk in Bedford; Visionary Crazy Golf at the London Design Festival, and The Big Mini Golf Tour in Great Yarmouth.

Richard Gottfried - Minigolfer

As a volunteer I served three terms on the Executive Committee of the British Minigolf Association and was a member of the World Minigolf Sport Federation’s Marketing and Media Committee for six years.

My sports, games and travel blog at the Ham & Egger Files contains over 5,500 posts that have attracted 3.3 million page views. Read my posts about the next normal rules of minigolfcompetitive isolationsocial distancing, the boom in minigolf and competitive socialisingartainment, the concept of retailtainment, as well as the increase in shopping mall and garden centre miniature golf courses. You can also sign-up to receive my minigolf enewsletter.

My specialist knowledge and experience in the worlds of minigolf and marketing were demonstrated in InterGame’s discussion of the opportunities and challenges of operating a mini-golf venue amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the Let’s Talk Leisure feature with Briq Bookings.

You can read my top 20 must-do tips for venues in the InterFun Guide for Operators.

As a consultant I contributed to the Guinness World Records 2024.

You can buy my ebook, The Minigolfer’s Guide to Marketing, on Amazon.

Please do get in touch to find out how I can help with your minigolf, crazy golf and adventure golf activities.

Saturday, May 11, 2024

Happy National Miniature Golf Day

There are two 'miniature golf days' each year.


Today is National Miniature Golf Day!

Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf in Skegness on National Miniature Golf Day 2015
Playing the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Skegness on National Miniature Golf Day 2015

Each year there are two Miniature Golf Days - National Miniature Golf Day on the second Saturday in May and Miniature Golf Day on the 21st September.

Friday, May 10, 2024

Tomorrow is National Miniature Golf Day 2024

Tomorrow is National Miniature Golf Day.


Minigolf courses we've played on Miniature Golf Days
Minigolf courses we've played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on previous Miniature Golf Days

National Miniature Golf Day is always marked on the second Saturday in May.

Mini Golf Days

Each year there are two 'minigolf days', the second of which is Miniature Golf Day. It is always on the 21st September. This year that will be a Saturday.

Tuesday, May 07, 2024

Minigolf courses in Manchester & Greater Manchester

A look at minigolf courses in Manchester & Greater Manchester.


A look at minigolf courses in Manchester & Greater Manchester

There are a number of options for minigolfing in Greater Manchester, with a variety of courses to play, ranging from traditional crazy golf to indoor minigolf to new adventure golf layouts. The city centre itself has seen an increase in courses over the last few years and there are more to open in the coming months too!

Here's a list of the minigolf courses in Manchester


  • Paradise Island Adventure Golf at the Trafford Centre - two indoor adventure golf courses
  • Junkyard Golf at First Street - three indoor crazy golf courses.
  • Treetop Adventure Golf at The Printworks in Manchester - two indoor adventure golf courses
  • Dino Falls Adventure Golf at the Trafford Golf Centre - two outdoor adventure golf courses
  • Roxy Ball Room on Deansgate - indoor mini golf course
  • Roxy Ball Room on Withy Grove - indoor crazy pool (think of a cross-between pool and crazy golf)
  • Putters Crazy Golf at the Urban Playground in Manchester Arndale - indoor crazy golf
  • Crazy Golf at Challenge Point Manchester - indoor crazy golf
  • Mini Golf at King Pins at the Manchester Arndale - indoor mini golf

Here's a list of the minigolf courses in Greater Manchester


  • The Lost Valley Adventure Golf at Amazonia, Market Place Shopping Centre, Bolton - an indoor adventure golf course
  • Haigh Woodland Park, Wigan - an outdoor adventure golf course
  • Haigh Woodland Park, Wigan - an outdoor crazy golf course
  • UV Crazy Golf at One Adventure in Droylsden - an indoor crazy golf course
  • Pitch & Putt at Bruntwood Park in Cheadle, Stockport - an outdoor miniature golf course
  • Puttstars at Rochdale Riverside - three indoor minigolf courses
  • Park Square, Cheadle Heath, Stockport - an outdoor Putting Green (for tenants only)
  • Parr Fold Park in Walkden - a Pitch & Putt course
  • Kearsley Golf Range - Pitch & Putt and Putting Greens
  • Victoria Park in Pendlebury, Swinton - an outdoor putting green
  • Buile Hill Park in Salford - a Pitch & Putt course
  • Woodheys Park in Sale - a Pitch & Putt course
  • HUKD Golf in Bury - indoor crazy golf

Minigolfing in Manchester


We've been travelling to play minigolf in Manchester on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since 2009 when I won the Mini Masters and Mini Open at the Trafford Golf Centre. I also won the Chrizy Golf Masters at Piccadilly Place in 2012. We moved to Stockport in 2016 and have continued to compete in events. Emily won the Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open in 2019, while I won the tournament in 2018. I also won the DinoFalls Masters at the Trafford Golf Centre in 2018.

Former courses


  • Championship Miniature Golf at the Trafford Golf Centre - an outdoor miniature golf course
  • Chrizy Golf at Piccadilly Place - pop-up Christmas-themed crazy golf course
  • Tea Party Mini Golf at Spinningfields, Manchester - a pop-up mini golf course
  • Junkyard Golf at the Great Northern Warehouse and at Piccadilly Place - indoor crazy golf courses
  • Alexandra Park in Edgeley, Stockport - an outdoor crazy golf course
  • Walkden Town Centre - pop-up crazy golf course

Derelict and abandoned courses


  • Stamford Park, Stamford Street, Stalybridge, Tameside - an outdoor crazy golf course
  • Wythenshawe Park, Wythenshawe - an outdoor crazy golf course


Please do get in touch and let us know of any other minigolf, crazy golf, adventure golf, pitch & putt, or putting layouts we don't yet know about in the area.

Saturday, May 04, 2024

One week until National Miniature Golf Day

There are two 'miniature golf days' each year.


Next Saturday is National Miniature Golf Day.

Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf in Skegness on National Miniature Golf Day 2015
Playing the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Skegness on National Miniature Golf Day 2015

Each year there are two Miniature Golf Days - National Miniature Golf Day on the second Saturday in May and Miniature Golf Day on the 21st September.

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Plans for a Mini-Golf course at Hawley Garden Centre in Kent

There are plans for a Mini-Golf course to be created at Hawley Garden Centre in Sutton at Hone, near Dartford, Kent.


There are plans for a Mini-Golf course to be created at Hawley Garden Centre in Sutton at Hone, near Dartford, Kent

Visit the Hawley Garden Centre website for more information.


It'll be another new location to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Sunday, April 14, 2024

Thursday, April 11, 2024

Cumberland Golf planning a tour of Cumbria

Mini Golf Cumberland Edition will soon close at The Beacon Museum in Whitehaven, Cumbria. But there are plans for it to move to a new location, or locations in the future.


Cumberland Golf planning a tour of Cumbria

The Mini Golf course opened at The Beacon Museum in Whitehaven, Cumbria last October and closes on Sunday 14th April.

Mini Golf Cumberland is a 9-hole layout, with obstacles themed on Cumberland landmarks.

Visit The Beacon Museum website for more information.


As Curators of The Crazy Golf Museum it was nice to see another museum including minigolf as an interactive exhibit to facilitate learning.

We visited Cumbria last year, but didn't have time to visit Whitehaven.

Hopefully we'll get to have a game on the Mini Golf Cumberland Edition course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in the future.

Saturday, March 30, 2024

Mini Golf at Hollywood Bowl Stockton

A new Mini Golf course is now open at the Hollywood Bowl at Teesside Park in Stockton-on-Tees.


The 12-hole indoor Mini Golf course has opened as part of an expanded Hollywood Bowl centre.

Puttstars Mini-Golf in Rochdale (June 2021)

Visit the Hollywood Bowl website for more information.


We've played one of the Hollywood Bowl mini golf courses before, and been to Teesside Retail Park - but not done both together. We visited the old Toys R Us store there in April 2021.

It's another new course for us to check out on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Thursday, March 21, 2024

Japanese-themed mini golf course planned for London

A new indoor mini golf venue could be opening on Fleet Street in London.


A new Tokyo-themed indoor mini golf venue could be opening on Fleet Street in London

Tokyo Hit is planned to be a Japanese-themed mini golf course, complete with bars and food served in an immersive Tokyo environment.

Emily has been to Japan before and I'm hoping to visit one day too. In the mean-time Tokyo Hit sounds like it could be really cool.

It'll be interesting to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

A minigolf move in Basingstoke

There are plans for a new Great Wolf resort in Basingstoke, Hampshire.


A proposed Great Wolf resort in Basingstoke would be created on the site of Basingstoke Golf Centre and would feature a mini golf course

The proposed Great Wolf resort in Basingstoke would be created on the site of Basingstoke Golf Centre.

The new Great Wolf resort is an indoor water park - that would also feature a mini golf course as one of the activities.

Basingstoke Golf Centre is home to a Knights Realm Adventure Golf course. We haven't played the Knights Realm course yet, but did play the course it replaced several times, including some tournaments.

Visit the Basingstoke Golf Centre and Great Wolf Lodge resort websites for more information.


Hopefully we get back to Basingstoke to play the Knights Realm Adventure Golf course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour before it is removed. And we'll have to return again to have a game on the new Great Wolf mini golf course when that opens in the future.

Work is underway on the first Great Wolf Lodge in the UK that is set to open in Chesterton, Bicester, Oxfordshire. Like the US locations, that site looks set to be home to a miniature golf course too.

Monday, March 18, 2024

Golf Fang Crazy Golf planned for Bristol

A new Golf Fang indoor Crazy Golf course could be opening in Bristol.


Golf Fang

There are plans for a new indoor minigolf course to open in the former Wilko store on Union Street in Bristol.

Visit the Golf Fang website for more information on the brand's existing courses in Liverpool, Bimingham, Newcastle, Glasgow, Sheffield and Cardiff.


It'll be another new venue for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Hollywood Bowl Mini-Golf at Teesside Park in Stockton-on-Tees

A new Mini-Golf course is opening at Teesside Park in Stockton-on-Tees.


The 12-hole indoor Mini-Golf course is set to open as part of an expanded Hollywood Bowl centre.

The layout will be a Puttstars Mini-Golf course and is opening on Friday 22nd March.

Puttstars Mini-Golf in Rochdale (June 2021)
Puttstars Mini-Golf in Rochdale (June 2021)

Visit the Hollywood Bowl and Puttstars websites for more information.


We've played at Puttstars before, and been to Teesside Retail Park - but not done both together. We visited the old Toys R Us store there in April 2021.

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Garden Centre Minigolf

You can find minigolf, crazy golf and adventure golf courses at several garden centres in the UK.


Minigolf has become very popular in recent years and has developed from being a traditional outdoor seaside summer activity to become a year-round game that can be played indoors or out.

Charity Crazy Golf at Woburn Sands Emporium in Woburn Sands near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Charity Crazy Golf at Woburn Sands Emporium in Woburn Sands near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

Much like at shopping malls, outlet centres and on the high street, customers are looking to be entertained while they shop, and garden centres are a perfect spot for a game of minigolf.

Aces Minigolf Gloucester at Dobbies Garden Centre
Aces Minigolf Gloucester at Dobbies Garden Centre

Check out these blog posts to find out more about the miniature golf courses that we've found out about, visited, and played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


Crazy Golf at Fletchers Garden Centre in Eccleshall, Stafford
Crazy Golf at Fletchers Garden Centre in Eccleshall, Stafford

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Easter Mini-Golf in Shrewsbury

Free mini-golf at The Darwin shopping centre in Shrewsbury this Easter.


Free mini-golf at The Darwin shopping centre in Shrewsbury this Easter

There will be a pop-up 9-hole mini-golf course at The Darwin shopping centre in Shrewsbury on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th March.

Visit the Shropshire Council website for more information.


We enjoyed two trips to Shrewsbury last year and are looking forward to returning this year. Unfortunately we won't be there in time for the Easter mini-golf event.

Saturday, March 09, 2024

Golf Môn Mini-Golf on Anglesey

A new Adventure Mini Golf course is being built on Anglesey, Wales.


A new Adventure Mini Golf course is being built on Anglesey, Wales

The 18-hole outdoor Adventure Mini Golf course will open at the Mon Golf Complex in Llangefni.

Visit the Golf Môn website for more information.


It'll be another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Friday, March 01, 2024

Pop Playrooms Mini-Golf in Kingston Upon Thames

A new indoor minigolf course is opening in Kingston Upon Thames, Greater London.


Pop Playrooms Mini-Golf is opening at The Rotunda in Kingston Upon Thames

Pop Playrooms Mini-Golf is opening at The Rotunda in Kingston Upon Thames on Thursday 7th March.

The indoor course is a 9-hole layout.

Check out the Pop Playrooms website for more information.


It's another new course for us to check out on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Saturday, January 13, 2024

New mini-golf course at Brunswick Moviebowl in Derry

There are plans for a new mini-golf course at Brunswick Moviebowl in Derry, Northern Ireland.


There are plans for a new mini-golf course at Brunswick Moviebowl in Derry, Northern Ireland

Visit the Brunswick Moviebowl website for more information.

We haven't been to Northern Ireland for a fair few years and the course at the Brunswick Moviebowl will be another to add to our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Monday, January 01, 2024

Minigolf did you knows...?

Did you know these things about minigolf?


Did you know these things about minigolf

  • The world's first miniature golf course was set-up at St Andrews, Scotland in 1867.
  • James Barber opened the first minigolf course in the USA in 1916. The 'Lilliputian' miniature golf course was called 'Thistle Dhu' and located in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
  • A Miniature Golf contest was part of the Olympic Games at the 1904 St Louis Games in the USA.
  • Crazy Golf is 98 years old in 2024. The first course opened on South Parade in Skegness, Lincolnshire, England in 1926.
  • 1926 also saw the first artificial miniature golf course open in the USA. Garnet Carter opened the 'Tom Thumb' miniature golf course near Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
  • The first National Tom Thumb Golf Championship took place on the 23rd October 1930.
  • The first Putt-Putt brand miniature golf course was set-up by Don Clayton in Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA in 1954.
  • There are several Guinness World Records for achievements in Minigolf, Miniature Golf, Crazy Golf, Adventure Golf, and Putt-Putt. The 2024 edition of the Guinness World Records features a whole page about minigolf.

Miniature Golf 'Days' in 2024

There are two 'miniature golf days' each year.


There are two 'miniature golf days' each year

  • National Miniature Golf Day is always on the second Saturday in May. In 2024 that will be Saturday 11th May.
  • The other minigolf day, Miniature Golf Day, is always on the 21st September. In 2024 that will fall on a Saturday.