I managed to capture this shot of the superb course and its classic crazy golf colours during a gap in players on the course during a busy and very warm summer afternoon |
A blog about our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. With a sprinkling of nostalgia and urban exploration for good measure.
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Prestatyn Crazy Golf
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.
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 minigolf, competitive isolation, social distancing, the boom in minigolf and competitive socialising, artainment, 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
National Windmill Day
Today is National Windmill Day - and National Miniature Golf Day.
The windmill hole on the grass putting miniature golf course at the Palm Bay Café in Cliftonville, Margate back in 2007 |
Playing a windmill hole in Skegness on a previous National Miniature Golf Day |
Emily playing a windmill hole at the Rhos Fynach Crazy Golf course on Miniature Golf Day in 2017 |
A Dutch-themed hole at Glo-Golf indoor Crazy Golf at the Riverside Bowl in Andover |
Playing the windmill hole on the Crazy Golf course at Penwith Pitch & Putt in Cornwall |
Happy National Miniature Golf Day
There are two 'miniature golf days' each year.
Playing the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Skegness on National Miniature Golf Day 2015 |
Friday, May 10, 2024
Tomorrow is National Miniature Golf Day 2024
Tomorrow is National Miniature Golf Day.
Minigolf courses we've played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on previous Miniature Golf Days |
Mini Golf Days
Tuesday, May 07, 2024
Minigolf courses in Manchester & Greater Manchester
A look at minigolf courses in Manchester & Greater Manchester.
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
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
Saturday, May 04, 2024
One week until National Miniature Golf Day
There are two 'miniature golf days' each year.
Playing the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Skegness on National Miniature Golf Day 2015 |
Jabba the Putt
Wednesday, May 01, 2024
The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing ebook
I published my minigolf marketing ebook seven years ago today.
Minigolf Marketing
The Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
The minigolf boom
Buy The Minigolfer’s Guide to Marketing ebook on Amazon.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Minigolf at Leopoldpark in Blankenberge, Belgium
A visit to Leopoldpark in Blankenberge, Belgium.
Emily visited three courses and a new country on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour when she went to Blankenberge, Belgium back in 2016
What a sight for minigolf fans |
The seaside resort is home to a Minigolf course, a Crazy Golf and a Snookergolf layout. The three 18-hole courses at Leopoldpark became the 710th, 711th and 712th visited on the tour.
The Minigolf course (left) and Crazy Golf course (right) at Leopoldpark |
Photos of the Minigolf course at Leopoldpark, Blankenberge.
Photos of the Crazy Golf course at Leopoldpark, Blankenberge.
Photos of the Snookergolf Billiards course at Leopoldpark, Blankenberge.
We've got some great old postcards from Blankenberge that show the miniature golf courses which used to be at Leopoldpark. It's great to know there are still courses on the same spot today.
The whole place looks marvelously bright and colourful.
The Petanque terrain at Leopoldpark in Blankenberge |
Visit the Leopoldpark website for more information.
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Minigolf around the world - Bali Mini Golf in Indonesia
A look at the Bali Mini Golf course at Luwak Coffee Garden in Indonesia.
Bali Mini Golf at Luwak Coffee Garden in Indonesia. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2018 |
Bali Mini Golf at Luwak Coffee Garden in Indonesia. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2018 |
Bali Mini Golf at Luwak Coffee Garden in Indonesia. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2018 |
Bali Mini Golf at Luwak Coffee Garden in Indonesia. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, October 2018 |
The Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
The Mini Masters miniature golf tournament in Manchester
Looking back at the 'Mini Masters' miniature golf tournament in Manchester.
Mini Master |
Lining up a big minigolf win |
A long tee-shot over and past several obstacles! |
Emily putting on the big miniature golf course |
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.
Visit The Beacon Museum website for more information.
New Golf Fang opening in Bristol
A new Golf Fang indoor minigolf venue is planned to open in Bristol in 2024.
Saturday, April 06, 2024
The Dino Falls Masters Adventure Golf competition in Manchester
Looking back at the Dino Falls Masters Adventure Golf competition at the Trafford Golf Centre in Manchester.
Playing Dino Falls Adventure Golf in Manchester |
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At Dino Falls Adventure Golf in Manchester |
The Trafford Golf Centre is home to two 18-hole adventure golf courses. Check out Trafford Golf Centre and Dino Falls Adventure Golf websites for more information on the courses.
Sunday, March 31, 2024
Teezers Retro Golf in Coventry
A look back at our visit to Teezers Retro Golf in Coventry.
We were still friends after our minigolf match-up |
In our match-up on the intriguing layout I defeated Emily with a score of 48 to 56.
I didn't hit the bulllseye on this hole, scoring a 3 |
Playing the 16th hole |