Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich

We swung by Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich, Norfolk on our trip to the city at the end of the year.

My brother, and charter member of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, has played there a couple of times and we're looking forward to a round there with him in the future.

Those katakana characters on the left of the logo translate as 'Lucky'

As well as the Norwich location there are Putt Putt Noodle courses in Bedford, Poole and Telford. Check out the Putt Putt Noodle website for more information.

Happy birthday Putt-Putt - 69 years old today

Today marks 69 years since the world's first Putt-Putt course opened.

The first Putt-Putt Golf course was set-up by Don Clayton in Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA on this day back in 1954.

Putt-Putt is the only patented game of miniature golf and began in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1954. In the 1960's Putt-Putt franchises began opening outside of the US, in locations such as South Africa, Australia and Japan. There were also courses in the UK, the first of which opened in Sunderland in 1968. Others followed at Flamingo Land in Yorkshire and in Buxton, Derbyshire. However, information on these UK courses is limited. You can read the Putt-Putt story on the Putt-Putt Fun Centres website.

The Putt-Putt miniature golf course in Three Anchor Bay in Moullie Point / Sea Point, Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by PJ Goedhals

Ephemera from the Putt-Putt Golf centre at Moullie Point in South Africa. From PJ Goedhals

A Putt-Putt Postcard from South Africa

A selection of Putt-Putt tokens

On the competitive side of the game, Putt-Putt tournaments have been played since 1959. You can read about the history of the PPA and APA on the Professional Putters Association website.

A Putt-Putt Puzzle of a very crazy Miniature Golf course. Published by Hallmark Cards Inc. Many thanks to our friend 'Hacksaw' Jon Drexler for sending it across the pond to live in the Crazy Golf Museum

Check out the Putt-Putt Golf website for more information on Putt-Putt brand minigolf. You can find out more information about Putt-Putt tournaments on the Professional Putters Association (PPA) website.

Putt Putt Crazy Golf opening in Streatham Hill, London

A new indoor Crazy Golf venue is opening in Streatham Hill, London.

Putt Putt Crazy Golf is opening in Streatham Hill, London on Wednesday 1st December.

The minigolf course claims it will be London's Biggest Indoor Crazy Golf course.

As well as the Crazy Golf course the venue will have a bar, food and karaoke rooms.

Visit the Putt Putt Streatham Hill website for more information.

Putt Putt Streatham Hill will be another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

PUTT PUTT #2 art installation Crazy Golf course in Croydon

A look back at the PUTT PUTT #2 art installation Crazy Golf course in Croydon. Played on this day in 2014.

The art installation miniature golf course was the 345th played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and the 578th visited overall since September 2006.

We've now been to 955 courses in 14 years.

For more information visit the Turf Projects website and PUTT PUTT #2 project page.

Check out my blog post 'Artainment and the world of minigolf' to see how minigolf has been used in other artistic creations.

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Putt-Putt items from Cape Town, South Africa

A look at some ephemera from the Putt-Putt Golf centre at Moullie Point in South Africa.

It was marvellous to receive these Putt-Putt Golf items from Cape Town, South Africa!

A scorecard, discount card, free game card (two free games remaining) and a Putt-Putt Golf ball from South Africa

Many thanks to my friend, supporter of The Crazy Golf Museum and international jetsetter PJ Goedhals for sending them to me. They are from his local course at Moullie Point in South Africa.

The Putt-Putt miniature golf course in Three Anchor Bay in Moullie Point / Sea Point, Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by PJ Goedhals

Some of my cousins have visited the course too.

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Putt-Putt's birthday

Today marks 66 years since the world's first Putt-Putt miniature golf course opened.

The first Putt-Putt Golf course was set-up by Don Clayton in Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA back in 1954.

Putt-Putt miniature golf is 66 years old today

Today marks 66 years since the world's first Putt-Putt course opened.

The very first Putt-Putt Golf course was created by Don Clayton in Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA back in 1954.

Putt-Putt is the only patented game of miniature golf and began in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1954. In the 1960's Putt-Putt franchises began opening outside of the US, in locations such as South Africa, Australia and Japan. There were also courses in the UK, the first of which opened in Sunderland in 1968. Others followed at Flamingo Land in Yorkshire and in Buxton, Derbyshire. However, information on these UK courses is limited.

You can read the Putt-Putt story on the Putt-Putt Fun Centres website.

Tournament Putt-Putt

On the competitive side of the game, official Putt-Putt tournaments have been played since 1959. The first local competition took place in 1955. You can read about the history of the PPA and APA on the Professional Putters Association website.

Televised events

The game has been televised quite a bit over the years, with ESPN in the USA carrying tournaments. Every year they air repeats of Putt-Putt tournaments as part of ESPN 8: The Ocho's programming.

You can watch a number of events from the 1970s to the 2000s on the Putt-Putt Funhouse YouTube Channel.

Playing Putt-Putt

The closest Emily and I have got to being at a Putt-Putt course are some postcards, game tokens, a jigsaw puzzle and a photo one of my family took at a course while in South Africa.

Saying that however, I did win a free round at Putt-Putt of Warren in Ohio last month. I'm looking forward to playing there in the future.

A Putt-Putt postcard from South Africa

I do have some Putt-Putt tokens in my collection. I'm always on the lookout for more though

A look at Putt-Putt courses in the USA and South Africa

Luckily some of our fellow miniature golf enthusiasts, bloggers, minigolf rivals and friends have shared photos of some of their favourite Putt-Putt courses with us.

Putt Putt in Richmond, Indiana. Photo by Tom and Robin at A Couple of Putts

The Putt-Putt Fun Center course in Hickory, North Carolina photographed by Pat Sheridan of The Putting Penguin minigolf website

Pro Putter Matt Bellner playing the Putt-Putt course in Arlington, Texas

  

The Putt-Putt miniature golf course in Three Anchor Bay in Moullie Point / Sea Point, Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by PJ Goedhals

Find out more

Check out the Putt-Putt Golf website for more information on Putt-Putt brand minigolf. You can find out more information about Putt-Putt tournaments on the Professional Putters Association (PPA) website.

Mattie 5's minigolf movie

There are plans for a new miniature golf movie from Putt-Putt and Mini Golf Champion Mattie 5.

Our friend and Putt-Putt fanatic Matt 'Mattie 5' Bellner has just launched a GoFundMe campaign for his minigolf movie.

We're looking forward to seeing the end result!

Putt-Putt Pro Matt Bellner playing the course in Arlington, Texas

Happy birthday Putt-Putt - 65 years old today

Today marks 65 years since the world's first Putt-Putt course opened.

The first Putt-Putt Golf course was set-up by Don Clayton in Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA back in 1954.

Over the years a number of our fellow miniature golf enthusiasts, bloggers, minigolf rivals and friends have shared photos of some of their favourite Putt-Putt courses.

Putt Putt in Richmond, Indiana. Photo by Tom and Robin at A Couple of Putts

Putt-Putt is the only patented game of miniature golf and began in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1954. In the 1960's Putt-Putt franchises began opening outside of the US, in locations such as South Africa, Australia and Japan. There were also courses in the UK, the first of which opened in Sunderland in 1968. Others followed at Flamingo Land in Yorkshire and in Buxton, Derbyshire. However, information on these UK courses is limited. You can read the Putt-Putt story on the Putt-Putt Fun Centres website.

The Putt-Putt miniature golf course in Three Anchor Bay in Moullie Point / Sea Point, Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by PJ Goedhals

The Putt Putt Fun Center course in Hickory, North Carolina photographed by Pat Sheridan of The Putting Penguin minigolf website

Putt Putt Pro Matt Bellner playing the course in Arlington, TX

Matt Bellner playing the Putt Putt course in Lake Charles, LA, USA

On the competitive side of the game, Putt-Putt tournaments have been played since 1959. You can read about the history of the PPA and APA on the Professional Putters Association website.

Putt Putt Fun Center in Richmond, Indiana. Photo by Tom and Robin at A Couple of Putts

Allan Cox, aka The Putter King, has been playing Putt-Putt in tournaments and for fun for a number of years and has perfected his shots on a lot of Putt-Putt courses down under.



Unfortunately the closest Emily and I have got to playing Putt-Putt are some postcards, some game tokens, a jigsaw puzzle and a photo one of my family took of a course while in South Africa!

A photo of the Three Anchor Bay Putt-Putt course in January 2017. Photo by Adam Trigg

A Putt-Putt postcard from South Africa

I do have a lot of Putt-Putt tokens in my collection

A Putt-Putt Puzzle of a very crazy Miniature Golf course. Published by Hallmark Cards Inc. Many thanks to our friend 'Hacksaw' Jon Drexler for sending it across the pond to live in the Crazy Golf Museum

Check out the Putt-Putt Golf website for more information on Putt-Putt brand minigolf. You can find out more information about Putt-Putt tournaments on the Professional Putters Association (PPA) website.

Hopefully we'll get to play the Putt-Putt format of the game on our travels in the future.

Related blog posts:
- Putt-Putt
- A token blog post
- Putt-Putt in Cape Town, South Africa
- A Putt-Putt Postcard from South Africa
- Putt-Putt Germiston in Johannesburg, South Africa
- Putt-Putt at Three Anchor Bay in Moullie Point/Sea Point in Cape Town

Links:
- Putt-Putt Golf
- PPA Database
- Professional Putters Association (PPA)

Amazing Strokes minigolf book by Gretchen Smith

Checking out the new Amazing Strokes miniature golf book by Gretchen Smith.

Last year minigolf super-fan Gretchen Smith published a new book all about minigolf.

Amazing Strokes is a mammoth tome all about minigolf, crazy golf, adventure golf and Putt Putt. It's packed full of information, stats, facts, reviews and interviews with players, course owners, tournament organisers and other fans of the game.

Amazing Strokes is a massive minigolf book. It's almost as thick as a golf ball!

It was really nice to be able to contribute to the book with details from our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and the Crazy Golf Museum.

The BIG minigolf book weighs in at a whopping 606-pages and it'll certainly take a while to read through.

Check out the Amazing Strokes website for more information and details on how to purchase the book. You can also buy the book on Amazon.

Visit Minigolfnews.com for an interview with Gretchen.

Putt-Putt Germiston in Johannesburg, South Africa

A look at a postcard coupon good for one free round at Putt-Putt Germiston in Johannesburg, South Africa.

I recently bought 50 more postcards for my collection of minigolf cards and among them was this Putt-Putt advertising postcard/coupon. It's not the first version I've seen, but it was still well worth getting as it's such a nice piece of ephemera and minigolf history.

Putt-Putt Golf Courses - South Africa's Premier Putting Courses. A postcard coupon good for one free round at Putt-Putt Germiston, Johannesburg

This postcard is stamped for a free game at 'Putt-Putt Germiston', the other one I have is for 'Putt-Putt Southdale'. Sadly the Germiston location is no longer there.

The reverse of the postcard coupon good for one free round at Putt-Putt Germiston, Johannesburg

My expert minigolf contact from South Africa PJ Goedhals identified the location on the front of the card as the Putt-Putt miniature golf course at Three Anchor Bay in Moullie Point/Sea Point in Cape Town - PJ's local course! Some of my cousins have also visited the course.

A photo of the Three Anchor Bay Putt-Putt course in January last year

Putt-Putt is the only patented game of miniature golf and began in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1954. In the 1960's Putt-Putt franchises began opening outside of the US, in locations such as the one on the postcard, as well as Australia and Japan. At one time there were even Putt-Putt courses in the UK. You can read the Putt-Putt story on the Putt-Putt Fun Centers website.

Related blog posts:
- Putt-Putt
- Postcard
- Postcards
- South Africa
- A Putt-Putt Postcard from South Africa

Happy birthday Putt-Putt

Today marks the 64th anniversary of the first Putt-Putt course, set-up by Don Clayton in Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA back in 1954.

To mark the occasion I've spoken to a number of my fellow miniature golf enthusiasts and bloggers and they've shared photos of some of their favourite Putt-Putt courses.

Putt Putt in Richmond, Indiana. Photo by Tom & Robin at A Couple of Putts

Putt-Putt is the only patented game of miniature golf and began in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1954. In the 1960's Putt-Putt franchises began opening outside of the US, in locations such as the one on the postcard shown below, as well as Australia and Japan. You can read the Putt-Putt story on the Putt-Putt Fun Centres website.

The Putt Putt Fun Center course in Hickory, North Carolina photographed by Pat Sheridan of The Putting Penguin minigolf website

Putt Putt Pro Matt Bellner playing the course in Arlington, TX

Matt Bellner playing the Putt Putt course in Lake Charles, LA, USA

On the competitive side of the game, Putt-Putt tournaments have been played since 1959. You can read about the history of the PPA and APA on the Professional Putters Association website.

Putt Putt Fun Center in Richmond, Indiana. Photo by Tom Loftus and Robin Schwartzman at A Couple of Putts

Unfortunately the closest Emily and I have got to playing a Putt-Putt course is a postcard, some game tokens, a jigsaw puzzle and a photo one of my family took while in South Africa!

A Putt-Putt postcard from South Africa

I do have a lot of Putt-Putt tokens in my collection

The Putt-Putt course at Three Anchor Bay in Moullie Point/Sea Point in Cape Town, photo by Adam Trigg

A Putt-Putt Puzzle of a very crazy Miniature Golf course. Published by Hallmark Cards Inc. Many thanks to our friend 'Hacksaw' Jon Drexler for sending it across the pond to live in the Crazy Golf Museum

There used to be Putt-Putt brand minigolf courses in the UK, but they're long gone.

Check out the Putt-Putt website for more information on Putt-Putt brand minigolf. You can find out more information about Putt-Putt tournaments on the Professional Putters Association website.

Between 1958 and 2000 there were a number of newsletters and magazines produced and the online archive is a mine of information. My favourite Putt-Putt World cover is definitely that of the Summer 1982 edition (volume 24, number 3)!

Related blog posts:
- A Putt-Putt Postcard from South Africa
- Putt-Putt at Three Anchor Bay in Moullie Point/Sea Point in Cape Town
- A token blog post

Links:
- Putt-Putt
- Professional Putters Association (PPA)

Putt-Putt at Three Anchor Bay in Moullie Point/Sea Point in Cape Town

A look at a Putt-Putt course in Cape Town, South Africa.

Many thanks to Adam Trigg for sending me a snap of the Putt-Putt course at Three Anchor Bay in Moullie Point/Sea Point, Cape Town from his recent trip to South Africa.

The Putt-Putt course at Three Anchor Bay in Cape Town

I've blogged about the course before as I own a postcard showing the course. My friend PJ Goedhals was a local champion of the venue and tells me the two courses were previously painted distinct colours - one orange and one blue.

The Putt-Putt course on the 1960s postcard

We're yet to play the Putt-Putt brand of miniature golf. Sadly there are no longer any Putt-Putt courses in the UK. Hopefully we'll get to play the format when we're next in the USA.

A Putt-Putt Postcard from South Africa

We recently visited York and attended the International Postcard Expo held at the racecourse to see what miniature golf postcards we could find. We found a bumper crop.

We picked up 31 minigolf postcards for our collection at the York CardExpo

The very first postcard we bought at the fair was from Brian Lund of Reflections of a Bygone Age who had saved a great old Putt-Putt card from South Africa for me.

The reverse of the card is stamped from 'Putt-Putt Southdale', a suburb of Johannesburg, and doubles as a FREE game card!

Putt-Putt is the only patented game of miniature golf and began in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1954. In the 1960's Putt-Putt franchises began opening outside of the US, in locations such as the one on the postcard, as well as Australia and Japan. You can read the Putt-Putt story on the Putt-Putt Fun Centres website.

Update 22/04/15: My expert minigolf contact in South Africa PJ Goedhals has been doing some research on the location of the Putt-Putt course shown on the postcard and he tells me that course is not in Johannesburg as I had thought based on the words 'Putt-Putt Southdale' stamped on the reverse.

The location on the front of the card is actually the Putt-Putt miniature golf course at Three Anchor Bay in Moullie Point/Sea Point in Cape Town - PJ's local course! Great to hear that it's still standing. I can't find a website for the course, but it has got a Google+ page.

Looking at the card again it makes sense that one standard postcard/advertising card was produced for marketing purposes and then distributed to all of the Putt-Putt courses in South Africa. So the Southdale location stamped on the reverse of the card is in Johannesburg, but the image is of the course in Cape Town. Many thanks to PJ and his Putt-Putt contacts for the info.

There are currently Putt-Putt courses in a number of US states as well as a competition circuit operated by the Professional Putters Association.

The PPA website has an archive of Putt-Putt World Magazine - a great resource and an interesting read indeed.

Check out MiniatureGolfer.com for details of minigolf courses in South Africa.

Links:
- York International Postcard Expo
- Reflections of a Bygone Age
- Picture Postcard Monthly Magazine
- Putt-Putt Fun Centres
- Professional Putters Association

Related blog posts:
- Postcard
- Postcards

Putt Putt #2 Crazy Golf in Croydon

Visiting and playing the Putt Putt #2 art installation Crazy Golf course in Croydon.

The colourful TURF Projects Putt Putt #2 Crazy Golf course at Platform Ruskin Square in Croydon

Over the summer the Croydon-based art group TURF Projects has had a playable art installation set-up at Platform Ruskin Square just outside East Croydon train station.

With just three days before the course was packed away I managed to make it down to give the course a visit. It was well worth it.

Hole 1 of Putt Putt #2 - by WELCHWHITAKER

Hole 2 of Putt Putt #2 - by W A V E Y B O Y Z

Hole 3 of Putt Putt #2 - by Natalie Finnemore

Hole 4 of Putt Putt #2 - by Holly Hendry

Hole 5 of Putt Putt #2 - by Nicolas Henninger

Hole 6 of Putt Putt #2 - by Mark Scott-Wood

Hole 7 of Putt Putt #2 - by Liz West

Hole 8 of Putt Putt #2 - by AV Co-op

Hole 9 of Putt Putt #2 - by Iain Haines

The course had a real mix of playing surfaces - felt, concrete, plastic, metal & gravel!. The artist's designs led to the creation of some very tricky obstacles. I really liked the look of the course and the scorecards were nicely designed too.

TURF Projects began in October 2013 and last year the nomadic artist-run project team of artists, filmmakers and architects created a temporary Mini Golf course in Croydon.

The aim of the TURF Projects group is to shine a spotlight on the diverse, rapidly changing cultural landscape of Croydon, and provide opportunities for local residents and visitors to be involved.

The Putt Putt #2 art Mini Golf course is curated by Alice Cretney and David McLeavy and features work by artists including AV Co-op, EXYZT, Natalie Finnemore, Iain Hales, Holly Hendry, Mark Scott-Wood, W A V E Y B O Y Z, WELCHWHITAKER and Liz West.

Chatting to Alice at the course she told me that Putt Putt #2 has proved to be really popular with a real mix of people giving the course a play.

You can read all about the Putt Putt #2 installation and the story behind it on the Turf Projects website.

The course was the 345th played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and the 578th visited overall since September 2006.

Playing hole 8 at Putt Putt #2 in Croydon

Hole 1 - Easy Hole - not as easy as it looks!

Playing hole 5 of the Putt Putt #2 art installation - a very long and winding hole built around the rocks

Since July 2008 Emily and I have visited 43 (and a half) Minigolf, Crazy Golf, Miniature Golf, Adventure Golf and Putting Courses in and around London, playing 27 (and a half) of them.

Thank you to Alice for taking the action photos of me playing the course.

For more information on Putt Putt #2 and other art projects, events and activities from the Turf team check out the links below.

The course is free to play and is open until Saturday 30 August 2014.

Links:
- Turf Projects website
- Turf Projects on Twitter
- Turf Projects on Facebook
- PUTTPUTT#2 event on Facebook
- Platform Ruskin Square

Related blog posts:
- Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses in and around London
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list of courses visited and played
- Art
- Croydon
- Minigolf and Art in Croydon