A blog about our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. With a sprinkling of nostalgia and urban exploration for good measure.
Saturday, March 29, 2025
Blockbuster Video returning to the UK (for four days)

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.
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.

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, March 14, 2024
The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing ebook
You can buy The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing on Amazon.
Buy The Minigolfer’s Guide to Marketing ebook on Amazon.

Thursday, March 07, 2024
World Book Day - The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing
Today is World Book Day.
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The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing |
Buy The Minigolfer’s Guide to Marketing ebook on Amazon.
Other minigolf books

Thursday, August 03, 2023
Minigolf book - The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing
Check out my minigolf marketing ebook - The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing.

Sunday, May 01, 2022
The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing
I published my minigolf marketing ebook five years ago today.
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The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing |
Minigolf Marketing
The Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
Minigolf is booming
Links:

Friday, September 17, 2021
The Lost City Adventure Golf's Treasure Hunt for Miniature Golf Day
The Lost City Adventure Golf is organising three city-wide treasure hunts to celebrate Miniature Golf Day.
Two pieces of Inca Gold from The Lost City. These are safely tucked away in the vaults of The Crazy Golf Museum |
Visit The Lost City Adventure Golf website for more details.
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Playing in the BMGA English Open minigolf tournament at The Lost City Adventure Golf in 2014 |

Friday, June 04, 2021
Golf Putting Green at Style Carpets in Cleveleys

Saturday, May 01, 2021
The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing
I published my minigolf marketing ebook four years ago today.
Minigolf Marketing
The Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
The minigolf boom
Links:

Tuesday, April 06, 2021
The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing
You can buy my minigolf marketing ebook on Amazon.
Minigolf marketing
The Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
The minigolf boom
Sports marketing
Links:

Thursday, March 04, 2021
World Book Day 2021
Happy World Book Day!
You can buy The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing from Amazon and Kobo.
Other minigolf books

Wednesday, January 13, 2021
The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing
You can buy the ebook from Amazon and Kobo.

Friday, September 25, 2020
The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing
Check out The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing.
My ebook to help minigolf players better market themselves, their clubs, associations, tournaments and courses is available to purchase from Amazon and Kobo.

Wednesday, July 22, 2020
The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing
It's always nice when I start the day seeing purchases of my minigolf marketing ebook
My ebook to help minigolf players better market themselves, their clubs, tournaments and courses is available to purchase from Amazon and Kobo.
Thanks to everyone who has bought a copy, read it, used it and reviewed it.
If you're looking at running a minigolf project do get in touch to see how I can help.
Check out the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Newsletter archive and sign-up to receive future editions

Friday, May 01, 2020
The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing ebook
My ebook to help minigolf players better market themselves, their clubs, tournaments and courses is available to purchase from Amazon and Kobo.
I've been really pleased to see the ebook bought and used by a number of minigolf associations and federations, course owners and managers, bloggers, course reviewers and competition players around the world.
As a minigolfer with over a decade of experience as a tournament competitor and years of experience in marketing and communications I designed the guide so that anyone interested or involved in minigolf could help promote the game. It's a niche title, but an audience and subject I know a lot about.
Playing in the World Crazy Golf Championships |
Writing the book was brilliant and enabled me to bring two areas of my life together. I've worked in marketing since 2003 and have played minigolf since I was a child. Stepping up to compete on the national minigolf tour circuit and in international tournaments opened my eyes to the potential of the game. I’ve also had the honour of serving on the committees of the British Minigolf Association (BMGA) and the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF).
Minigolf is a sport for all. People of all ages, sexes, backgrounds and abilities can pick up a putter and play the game.
When Emily and I began travelling around the country on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour there were around 600 courses in the UK. We've now visited 948 courses, including 39 overseas.
There are a huge amount of interesting and fun stories to tell and positive aspects to highlight to potential players, the media, sponsors and the wider sporting community. The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing should give federations, associations, clubs and our fellow players ideas, inspiration and support in their marketing efforts.
Much of the guidance could also be applied to a number of other sports clubs and organisations to help raise their profile and boost memberships.
Buy The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing ebook on Amazon.
Buy The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing ebook on Kobo.
While a lot of the minigolf world is out of action, plans are still being drawn up for new courses, work is ongoing to finish courses where permissible, and ideas formulated for when it's safe to get back out on the course. If you'd like to have a chat about competitive socialising, minigolf, marketing, or minigolf marketing do get in touch.

Thursday, April 23, 2020
Happy World Book Day
Today is World Book Day.
Please do check out my minigolf marketing ebook.
My ebook to help minigolf players better market themselves, their clubs, tournaments and courses is now available to purchase from Amazon and Kobo.
Minigolf is a sport for all. People of all ages, sexes, backgrounds and abilities can pick up a putter and play the game |
As a minigolfer with over a decade of experience as a tournament competitor and years of experience in marketing and communications I designed the guide so that anyone interested or involved in minigolf could help promote the game. It's a niche title, but an audience and subject I know a lot about.

Thursday, April 16, 2020
The Big Apple Kiosk at the Mumbles in Swansea
A look at the The Big Apple Kiosk in Swansea.
During our road-trip around the Welsh coast in August 2009 we spent a day playing petanque and crazy golf at the Mumbles in Swansea.
While we were there the strange Big Apple building near the pier caught our eye.
From our seaside travels archive
Looking through our photo archives I found this snap of it in a bit of a state. Apparently it had been hit by a vehicle just days prior to our visit!
Looking online it appears that the kiosk was granted listed building status last year.
The Big Apple kiosk was created in the 1930s as part of a promotional campaign for the Cidertone cider brand and at one time others could be found at seaside locations around the UK.
Unfortunately the Big Apple at the Mumbles is the last one standing.
A return is planned
We haven't been to Swansea since, but it is on our revisit list as there's a new crazy golf venue in the town.
We love visiting Wales and the Welsh coast and can't wait until the coronavirus pandemic is over so we can return.

Monday, August 12, 2019
Minigolf consultancy
As marketing and sales professionals Emily and I use our extensive knowledge and skills in supporting and promoting the game we enjoy as a hobby.
Since 2006 we have visited more than 900 minigolf courses in the UK and overseas. This has given us an insight into many aspects of minigolf, from course operators, pop-ups, competitions, clubs, national associations, international federations, suppliers, designers, builders and technology providers.
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At our 900th course visit - the North Bay Mini Golf course in Scarborough |
Our involvement in the world of minigolf includes blogging, media relations, sponsorship, course design, advice and consultancy, event organisation and promotion, and participation in tournaments around the world.
The Ham & Egger Files blog contains over 3,000 posts that have attracted 1.5 million page views.
![]() |
Emily playing at Joe Joe Jim's Crazy Crazy Golf at Fletcher's Arcade in Cofton Hackett, Birmingham |
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.
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Putting at Lane7 in Newcastle |
Please do get in touch to find out how we can help with your minigolf, crazy golf and adventure golf activities.
You can also buy my ebook 'The Minigolfer’s Guide to Marketing' on Amazon and Kobo.
Link:
- Marketing consultancy
Related blog posts:
- Minigolf
- Marketing
Player profiles:
- Richard Gottfried
- Emily Gottfried

Wednesday, August 07, 2019
The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing ebook
My ebook to help minigolf players better market themselves, their clubs, tournaments and courses is now available to purchase from Kobo.
You can also buy The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing ebook on Amazon.
I've been so pleased to see the book bought and used by a number of competition players, course owners and managers, bloggers, course reviewers, minigolf associations and federations around the world.
As a minigolfer with over a decade of experience as a tournament competitor and years of experience in marketing and communications I designed the guide so that anyone interested or involved in minigolf could help promote the game. It's a niche title, but an audience and subject I know a lot about.
Playing in the World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings |
Writing the book was brilliant and enabled me to bring two areas of my life together. I've worked in marketing since 2003 and have played minigolf since I was a child. Stepping up to compete on the national minigolf tour circuit and in international tournaments opened my eyes to the potential of the game. I’ve also had the honour of serving on the committees of the British Minigolf Association (BMGA) and the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF).
Minigolf is a sport for all. People of all ages, sexes, backgrounds and abilities can pick up a putter and play the game.
When Emily and I began travelling around the country on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour there were around 600 courses in the UK. We've now visited 918 courses, including 39 overseas, and there are still many more for us to play. The game is really booming and not a week goes by without the announcement of a new course opening.
![]() |
At our 900th course - the North Bay Mini Golf course in Scarborough |
There are a huge amount of interesting and fun stories to tell and positive aspects to highlight to potential players, the media, sponsors and the wider sporting community. The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing should give federations, associations, clubs and our fellow players ideas, inspiration and support in their marketing efforts.
Much of the guidance could also be applied to a number of other sports clubs and organisations to help raise their profile and boost memberships.
![]() |
The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing is available on Amazon and Kobo |
A very BIG thank you to everyone who has bought a copy of the book to date. It's very much appreciated.
Links:
- The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing ebook on Amazon
- The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing ebook on Kobo
Related blog posts:
- The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing
- Marketing
- Minigolf
