A blog about our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. With a sprinkling of nostalgia and urban exploration for good measure.
Showing posts with label Postcards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Postcards. Show all posts
Saturday, June 20, 2020
Picture Postcard Magic - Abingdon-on-Thames
Check out my latest guest post on the Picture Postcard Magic blog from Reflections of a Bygone Age. It's about my home town of Abingdon.
Labels:
Abingdon,
Abingdon-on-Thames,
Blog,
Blogging,
guest blog,
old postcard,
old postcards,
Picture Postcard Magic,
Postcard,
Postcards,
Reflections of a Bygone Age,
Writing
Location:
Abingdon, UK
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Monday, June 08, 2020
New minigolf postcards?
We love seeing, sending and receiving minigolf, crazy golf and adventure golf postcards.
One of two postcard designs you can find at Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing |
Do you know of any new/contemporary ones?
Does your course produce them?
Please do get in touch.
Does your course produce them?
Please do get in touch.
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Picture Postcard Magic - Barry Island
Check out my new guest post about Barry Island postcards on the Picture Postcard Magic blog from Reflections of a Bygone Age.
Labels:
Barry Island,
Blog,
Blogging,
guest blog,
old postcard,
old postcards,
Picture Postcard Magic,
Postcard,
Postcards,
Reflections of a Bygone Age,
Wales,
Writing
Location:
Barry Island, Barry CF62 5AJ, UK
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Tuesday, June 02, 2020
Miniature golf postcards from Brighton
A look at four old minigolf postcards from Brighton.
I've enjoyed spending some time looking through our minigolf postcard collection during lockdown. Emily and I have found some brilliant old postcards at fairs, charity shops, car boot sales, antique shops and online over the years. Some are quite new and date from the 2000's while some are from the early 1900's. We also really enjoy finding brand new postcards on sale at minigolf courses we visit.
Three of the same location
One of the first minigolf course postcards I bought is also the earliest dated card I have of Brighton. The colourised card shows the 'Miniature Golf Links, Brighton' and was posted from Brighton to West Harrow on the 29th August 1927.
Miniature Golf Links, Brighton. Postally used 29 August 1927. Publisher unknown |
The next dated card I have shows the 'New Miniature Golf Course and Carpet Gardens, Brighton' - the same course as above - and was posted from Wolverton in Buckinghamshire to Rochester, Kent on the 27th May 1928.
New Miniature Golf Course and Carpet Gardens, Brighton. Postally used 27 May 1928. Publisher unknown |
The Tuck's card No. 2162 I have shows the same area and is captioned 'Lower Parade & Miniature Golf course, Brighton'. It was posted from Brighton to Fulham on the 10th October 1928. However, looking at the course, surrounding area and the clothing people are wearing I would suggest the course was the first to be on the site and was there pre-1927.
Lower Parade & Miniature Golf course, Brighton. Postally used 10 October 1928. Tuck's Photogravure Postcard No. 2162 |
The pier in the background of those three postcards is the West Pier.
One of a different old course
The next dated card was posted from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire to Lancing, Sussex on the 15th April 1945. This card is captioned 'Aquarium & Palace Pier showing Miniature Golf Links, Brighton'.
Aquarium & Palace Pier showing Miniature Golf Links, Brighton. Postally used 15 April 1945. Publisher unknown |
Playing minigolf in Brighton
We've played minigolf in Brighton a number of times over the years but haven't been to the south coast seaside resort since 2011. Where have the last nine years gone!
The 12th course visited on our travels. This was back in July 2007 |
One of the first courses played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour was the Crazy Golf on the seafront near the Palace Pier back in 2007.
Labels:
Brighton,
East Sussex,
ephemera,
history,
Miniature Golf,
Minigolf,
old postcard,
old postcards,
Postcard,
Postcards
Location:
Brighton, UK
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Your private green minigolf postcard
A playable postcard from the Netherlands.
I found this fun minigolf postcard at the last postcard fair I attended in Stockport.
The Dutch text reads Vouw de ansichtkaart langs de stippellijnen, en druk het balletje uit de kaart (Fold the postcard along the dotted lines and push the ball out of the card) |
It was published by GreenCards and can be turned into a putting cup by folding along the perforations and popping out the golf ball in the middle.
Labels:
Miniature Golf,
Minigolf,
old postcard,
old postcards,
Postcard,
Postcards,
Putt at home,
Putting Green
Location:
Netherlands
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Sunday, May 24, 2020
A crazy golf postcard from Butlinland Minehead
A look at an old crazy golf postcard from Butlin's Minehead.
One of the old miniature golf postcards I found at the last postcard fair I attended before the pandemic lockdown was this superb John Hinde one showing the Crazy Golf and Chair Lift at Butlinland Minehead.
Butlinland Minehead. Crazy Golf and Chair Lift. John Hinde Studios. 24 May 1976 |
The card was posted from Minehead to Devizes in Wiltshire on the 24th May 1976.
I grew up on holidays at Butlin's holiday camps in Minehead, Bognor Regis and Ayr.
I've got brilliant memories of the monorail, funfair, laser tag and arcades there. It's little wonder that even now I'm such a big fan of the British seaside, crazy golf and video-games.
Labels:
Butlin's,
Butlin's Minehead,
Butlins,
John Hinde,
old postcard,
old postcards,
Postcard,
Postcards
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Thursday, May 14, 2020
Crazy Golf postcards from Ilfracombe
A look at a pair of miniature golf postcards from Ilfracombe.
I bought this pair of crazy golf postcards from Ilfracombe, Devon at the last postcard fair I attended.
Mini Golf Course. Sea Front. Ilfracombe. Taw Valley Wholesale Co. 1977 |
Crazy Golf at Ilfracombe. Taw Valley Wholesale Co. Photocolour TV/IF312 |
Both were published by the Taw Valley Wholesale Co, Ilfracombe. Neither are postally used.
We visited the course on our tour of the South West in the summer of 2015. It hasn't changed much at all.
Labels:
Crazy Golf,
Devon,
Ilfracombe,
Mini Golf,
Minigolf,
old postcard,
old postcards,
Postcard,
Postcards
Location:
Ilfracombe, UK
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
A postcard from the Railway Convalescent Home in Herne Bay
A look at an old miniature golf postcard from from the Railway Convalescent Home in Herne Bay, Kent.
One of the nice old minigolf postcards I bought at the last postcard fair I attended was this one by Photochrom Co. Ltd. showing the Railway Convalescent Home in Herne Bay, Kent.
It's postally unused and undated.
The Railway Convalescent Home in Herne Bay was the first of ten homes opened by the railway industry for railwayworkers to recover from sickness and illness.
Labels:
Herne Bay,
Kent,
old postcard,
old postcards,
Postcard,
Postcards,
Putting Course,
Putting Green
Location:
Herne Bay, UK
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Thursday, May 07, 2020
An old postcard from Bridlington
A look at an old miniature golf postcard from Bridlington.
One of the old postcards I found at the last postcard fair I attended before the pandemic lockdown was this one showing Bridlington Princes Parade and The Spa Boating Lake. It was published by Photochrom Co. Ltd. and is unposted and undated.
Bridlington Princes Parade. The Spa Boating Lake. Photochrom Co. Ltd. |
I'd guess that it's from the late 1920's or early 1930's.
Interestingly the minigolf course being played looks to be a portable layout.
Portable and pop-up minigolf courses are very often seen as a modern thing. However there have been a number of seasonal set-ups at seaside locations over the years.
We've really enjoyed our visits to Bridlington. It's a nice seaside town and we've had some fun games of minigolf there. One of those was a temporary course at the Foreshore Sands.
Labels:
Bridlington,
Crazy Golf,
Minigolf,
North Yorkshire,
Postcard,
Postcards
Location:
Bridlington, UK
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Wednesday, May 06, 2020
A Putting Green postcard from Butlin's Luxury Holiday Camp in Pwllheli
A look at a nice old Putting Green postcard from the Butlin's Luxury Holiday Camp in Pwllheli.
Putting Green, Butlin's Luxury Holiday Camp, Pwllheli. Published by Butlin's Photographic Services Ltd. Postally used on 4th June 1951 |
This is the oldest postcard I have showing the Putting Green at Butlin's Pwllheli. The other cards I have were posted in 1964 and 1966.
Butlin's Pwllheli opened in 1947 and closed in 1998.
Labels:
Butlin's,
Butlin's Pwllheli,
Butlins,
Holiday Camp,
old postcard,
old postcards,
Postcard,
Postcards,
Putting,
Putting Green,
Pwllheli
Location:
Pwllheli, UK
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Friday, May 01, 2020
Picture Postcard Magic - Bournemouth
Check out my guest post about minigolf postcards from Bournemouth on the Picture Postcard Magic blog from Reflections of a Bygone Age.
Guest blogger Richard Gottfried, King of mini-golf with a postcard collection to match, makes his debut in Picture Postcard Magic. What do you think of this theme for collecting? ⛳️https://t.co/H8hYRTKGei#MiniGolf pic.twitter.com/d2AldN0zOO— Brian Lund (@Postcard_World) April 28, 2020
Labels:
Blog,
Blogging,
Bournemouth,
Crazy Golf,
Dorset,
guest blog,
Minigolf,
old postcard,
old postcards,
Picture Postcard Magic,
Postcard,
Postcards,
Reflections of a Bygone Age,
Writing
Location:
Bournemouth, UK
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
A Putting Green postcard from Butlin's Pwllheli
A look at The Putting Green at Butlin's Pwllheli.
Butlin's Pwllheli Putting Green. Real Butlin's photograph numbered P8. Postally used on 10th August 1966 |
The Putting Green looks a little more makeshift than on later Butlin's postcards.
I have another postcard showing the Putting Greens and Lawns at Butlin's Pwllheli holiday camp in my collection.
Labels:
Butlin's,
Butlin's Pwllheli,
Butlins,
Holiday Camp,
old postcard,
old postcards,
Postcard,
Postcards,
Putting,
Putting Green,
Pwllheli
Location:
Pwllheli, UK
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Monorail at Butlin's Minehead
A look at an old Butlins postcard from Minehead.
What a view of two monorails crossing above the swimming pool at Butlin's Minehead.
Butlin's Minehead - Monorail over Outdoor Swimming Pool by John Hinde Studios. Postally unused. Undated |
My holidays at Butlin's
My parents met at the Butlin's holiday camp in Clacton-on-Sea in the 1970's. My family often went on holiday to the Butlin's holiday camp in Minehead. We also had one stay at the Bognor Regis and Ayr camps. I spent many summers in the 80's and 90's at the Barry Island Holiday Camp, itself a former Butlin's camp.
We used to ride the monorail at Butlin's Minehead all the time.
Riding the monorail with my brother Jon at Butlin's Somerwest World in Minehead |
Labels:
Butlin's,
Butlin's Minehead,
Butlins,
Holiday Camp,
John Hinde,
Minehead,
Miniature Golf,
Minigolf,
monorail,
old postcard,
old postcards,
Postcard,
Postcards,
Putting,
Putting Green
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Monday, April 27, 2020
Minigolf postcards from Bournemouth
Check out my guest post for the Picture Postcard Magic blog from Reflections of a Bygone Age.
Labels:
Blog,
Bournemouth,
Dorset,
guest blog,
Minigolf,
old postcard,
old postcards,
Picture Postcard Magic,
Postcard,
Postcards,
Reflections of a Bygone Age,
Writing
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
An old postcard from Worthing's Denton Gardens Putting Green
A look at an old postcard from Denton Gardens in Worthing, West Sussex.
Minigolf was first played in Denton Gardens on Tuesday 1st July 1924.
Worthing, Denton Gardens, Putting Green. The Photochrom Co Ltd. Posted to Birchington, Kent on 30 July 1928 |
You can still enjoy a round of miniature golf on the Splash Point Mini Golf course there.
The 18-hole course was the 181st played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.
Related blog posts:
- A Putting Green postcard from Denton Park in Worthing
- Worthing
- Splash Point Mini Golf
Labels:
Denton Gardens,
Denton Park,
history,
old postcard,
old postcards,
Postcard,
Postcards,
Splash Point,
Splash Point Mini Golf,
Worthing
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
The Isle of Wight from Highcliffe-on-Sea. PT3098 |
We're looking forward to visiting the area on holiday next year.
Labels:
Bournemouth,
coronavirus,
Holiday,
Hotel Miramar,
old postcard,
old postcards,
Postcards,
Social distancing,
staycation
Location:
Bournemouth, UK
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Thursday, April 16, 2020
A Typical Butlin Monorail
A look at an old Butlins postcard from Skegness.
I'm always on the lookout for old minigolf postcards and when I'm sorting through them at fairs, car boot sales, or in charity or antique shops I always keep an eye out for holiday camp postcards too.
This is one of the wonderful Butlin's cards from the late 1960's and it ticks a number of my interest boxes.
Firstly it's got a prominent view of a miniature golf course being played.
Secondly it's a Butlin's holiday camp card.
And thirdly it's got a monorail on it!
A Typical Butlin Monorail. I have two other versions of this card, but with the caption of 'Butlin's Skegness Monorail' instead. One was postally used on 27th July 1971 |
Two firsts
Skegness was the first Butlin's holiday camp and it opened its doors on the 11th April 1936.
The camp at Butlin's Skegness was the location for the UK's first commercial monorail. It opened in 1965.
Holidaying at Butlin's
My parents met at the Butlin's holiday camp in Clacton-on-Sea in the 1970's. My family often went on holiday to the Butlin's holiday camp in Minehead. We also had one stay at the Bognor Regis and Ayr camps. I spent many summers in the 80's and 90's at the Barry Island Holiday Camp, itself a former Butlin's camp.
I have not yet visited the Skegness camp, but have had some brilliant holidays in Skeggy itself.
We also used to ride the monorail at Butlin's Minehead all the time.
My brother Christopher foudnd this snap of us riding the monorail at Butlin's Minehead back in the early 90's while looking through some old family photos |
Labels:
Butlin's,
Butlin's Skegness,
Butlins,
Holiday Camp,
Lincolnshire,
Miniature Golf,
Minigolf,
monorail,
old postcard,
old postcards,
Postcard,
Postcards,
Putting,
Putting Green,
Skegness
Location:
Ingoldmells, Skegness PE25 1NJ, UK
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
A crazy golf postcard from Bridlington
A look at an old minigolf postcard from Bridlington.
One of the very nice old minigolf postcards we found at the Stockport postcard fair was this one showing the Crazy Golf course on Royal Princes Parade in Bridlington.
Royal Princes Parade and North Bay, Bridlington. B.2247, printed and published by E.T.W. Dennis & Sons Ltd, Scarborough & London |
It was posted to a someone called Richard in Grimsby from his Auntie Nellie. Unfortunatley the stamp and postmark are missing so there's no date for when it was sent.
We really liked our visits to Bridlington. Time flies as we were last there in 2015. We must return in the future.
Labels:
Bridlington,
Crazy Golf,
Minigolf,
old postcard,
old postcards,
Postcard,
Postcards,
Yorkshire
Location:
Bridlington, UK
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
A minigolf postcard from Rhos-on-Sea
A look at an old miniature golf course in Rhos-on-Sea.
One of the brilliant old minigolf postcards we bought at the Stcokport postcard fair was this one showing the Putting Course in Rhos-on-Sea.
Putting Course. Rhos-on-Sea. C1542. E.T.W. Dennis & Sons Ltd |
Published by E.T.W. Dennis & Sons Ltd the postcard is postally unused and undated.
We've been to Rhos-on-Sea a couple of times on our travels. The first time was in 2009 and there was no sign of the course. The second time was in 2017 when we played the Crazy Golf course at the Rhos Fynach pub and restaurant on Miniature Golf Day. It was built on the site of the old Putting Course.
If you look past the course you can see the arched window on the seafront that also appears in the old postcard |
Labels:
Crazy Golf,
old postcard,
old postcards,
Postcard,
Postcards,
Putting Course,
Rhos Fynach,
Rhos on Sea,
Wales
Location:
Rhos on Sea, UK
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Thursday, April 09, 2020
Putting at Highcliffe-on-Sea
A look at an old minigolf postcard from Highcliffe-on-Sea.
We bought this nice old postcard showing a Putting Green while we were at the most recent Stockport postcard fair.
The Isle of Wight from Highcliffe-on-Sea. PT3098 |
We hadn't seen this particular card before and had never heard of Highcliffe-on-Sea.
The town is part of Christchurch borough in Dorset.
The card is postally unused, undated and has no publisher details on it. There is a code of PT3098 on it though. The details on the reverse say "The Isle of Wight from Highcliffe-on-Sea".
It's always nice to see old minigolf postcards. Some give us clues of new places to play, while others show long lost miniature golf layouts.
We had planned to visit Dorset at the end of this month, but that trip has been postponed until after the UK coronavirus lockdown. We'll have to go to Highcliffe-on-Sea and see what's at the same spot now.
I'd be very interested to hear from anyone who remembers the course and knows exactly where it was.
Looking online to see if there's still a course there my eye was drawn to the nearby Hoburne Naish Holiday Park in Barton on Sea where I noticed a minigolf course! Another one to add to our list...
Labels:
Dorset,
Highcliffe-on-Sea,
old postcard,
old postcards,
Postcard,
Postcards,
Putting,
Putting Course,
Putting Green
Location:
Highcliffe BH23, UK
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
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