Showing posts with label Putting Course. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Putting Course. Show all posts

Friday, December 20, 2024

How many minigolf courses are there in the UK? (Update: December 2024)

There are lots of new minigolf courses being built, in development or planned to open in the UK.


Information about new adventure golf, crazy golf and miniature golf courses in the UK

Minigolf is an incredibly popular activity for all ages and there are new courses opening up all the time in a wide-range of outdoor and indoor locations.

Whereas the game in the UK has traditionally been a seaside pastime, over the last decade it has grown to be a game enjoyed by people in more and more towns and cities - with many catering to a late night audience.

How many minigolf courses are there in the UK?


As at December 2024 there are approximately 1,370 minigolf courses around the UK and British Isles (including Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man, and other islands). This includes public courses, as well as those at pay to enter attractions, holiday parks, hotels and other 'non-standard' locations.

Developments over the last two decades


When our travels began in 2006 there were around 600 courses in the British Isles. Only two of those original courses were indoor venues. Both of these were on the East Anglian coast (in Felixstowe and Great Yarmouth). The indoor course at Manning's Amusements in Felixstowe has recently been removed and is being replaced by a brand new layout that is set to open in the same location at Easter 2025.

Now the indoor game is booming and you can find minigolf courses indoors at shopping centres, retail parks, and in town and city centres around the country.

The game was traditionally played on days out, short breaks and holidays, either at the seaside or on holiday camps. While the game has always been enjoyed by people old enough to pick up a putter, it has become a game played as much by groups of adults as it is by families.

The Crazy World of Minigolf Tour


We've now been to a total of 1,072 miniature golf courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, with 1,014 of them in the British Isles. Our travels have been recognised by the Guinness World Records, and I'm a record holder for "Most miniature golf courses visited" (902 at the time of going to press). Check out the Guinness World Records 2024 book to see a lot more minigolf records too!

Of the original list of 600 we've still got to visit 39 of the public courses. In addition there are a further 150 courses at pay to enter attractions, hotels and holiday parks that we've not yet been to.

On top of these 189 courses from the original list there are hundreds more courses that have opened over the last 18 years! We tracked 320 courses that opened between May 2020 and July 2023. Between August 2023 and September 2024 a further 150 courses have opened, or are in development. And between September 2024 and December 2024 another 27 new courses have been announced.

More new courses to come


There are 100+ new courses being created each year - some are on old sites/locations, some are completely new venues, while others are in planning/development, or under construction.

There are quite a few other minigolf, crazy golf and adventure golf courses that are short-term 'pop-ups', some of which have been used as proof of concept businesses and developed into permanent courses. 

A few things to note


Please note that minigolf in the UK is not an exact science and courses are opening, in planning/development, and being 'lost' quite often. Others are being refurbished, and some are completely renovated to the point where they could be considered entirely new courses.

Find new courses


For information about new minigolf, crazy golf, and adventure golf courses opening in the UK take a look at the posts with the New course tag here on the Ham & Egger Files minigolf blog where I regularly post updates about new places to play the game.

Let's talk minigolf


If you know of a new course opening in the UK please do get in touch and let me know.

Friday, September 20, 2024

The Himalayas Miniature Golf course at St Andrews

A look at The Himalayas putting course in St Andrews, Scotland - the world's first Miniature Golf course.


The Himalayas course at the St Andrews Ladies' Putting Club
Emily playing The Himalayas course at the St Andrews Ladies' Putting Club back in 2012

The Himalayas course at the St Andrews Ladies' Putting Club
Playing The Himalayas course at the St Andrews Ladies' Putting Club

The layout was created in 1867 and is the world's first Miniature Golf course.


When we visited there were two courses to play, an 18-hole course and a 9-hole layout. They were an absolute pleasure to play and one of my very best putting experiences.


The two courses at The Himalayas became the 292nd and 293rd miniature golf courses played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The Himalayas Miniature Golf course at St Andrews

The Himalayas Miniature Golf course at St Andrews

The Himalayas Miniature Golf course at St Andrews

Visit the St Andrews Ladies' Putting Club website for more information.

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

How many minigolf courses are there in the UK?

There are lots of new minigolf courses being built, in development or planned to open in the UK.


Information about new adventure golf, crazy golf and miniature golf courses in the UK

Minigolf is an incredibly popular activity for all ages and there are new courses opening up all the time in a wide-range of outdoor and indoor locations.

Whereas the game in the UK has traditionally been a seaside pastime, over the last decade it has grown to be a game enjoyed by people in more and more towns and cities - with many catering to a late night audience.

How many minigolf courses are there in the UK?


As at September 2024 there are approximately 1,350 minigolf courses around the UK and British Isles (including Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man, and other islands). This includes public courses, as well as those at pay to enter attractions, holiday parks, hotels and other 'non-standard' locations.

Developments over the last two decades


When our travels began in 2006 there were around 600 courses in the British Isles. Only two of those original courses were indoor venues. Now the indoor game is booming and you can find minigolf courses indoors at shopping centres, retail parks, and in town and city centres around the country.

The Crazy World of Minigolf Tour


We've now been to a total of 1,064 miniature golf courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, with 1,007 of them in the UK. Our travels have been recognised by the Guinness World Records, and I'm a record holder for "Most miniature golf courses visited" (902 at the time of going to press). Check out the Guinness World Records 2024 book to see a lot more minigolf records too!

Of the original list of 600 we've still got to visit 39 of the public courses. In addition there are a further 150 courses at pay to enter attractions, hotels and holiday parks that we've not yet been to.

On top of these 189 courses from the original list there are hundreds more courses that have opened over the last 18 years! We tracked 320 courses that opened between May 2020 and July 2023. And between August 2023 and September 2024 a further 150 courses have opened, or are in development.

More new courses to come


There are around 100 new courses being created each year - some are on old sites/locations, some are completely new venues, others are short-term 'pop-ups', while others are in planning/development, or under construction.

A few things to note


Please note that minigolf in the UK is not an exact science and courses are opening, in planning/development, and being 'lost' quite often. Others are being refurbished, and some are completely renovated to the point where they could be considered entirely new courses.

Find new courses


For information about new minigolf, crazy golf, and adventure golf courses opening in the UK take a look at the posts with the New course tag here on the Ham & Egger Files minigolf blog where I regularly update about new places to play the game.

Let's talk minigolf


If you know of a new course opening in the UK please do get in touch and let us know.

Sunday, September 08, 2024

Putting Green at Club de Golf Los Leones in Santiago, Chile

Finding a Putting Green with a view of the Andes.


Putting Green at Club de Golf Los Leones in Santiago, Chile

Emily visited the first of two miniature golf courses in South America on her recent trip to Santiago, Chile.

Putting Green at Club de Golf Los Leones in Santiago, Chile

The first was the Putting Green at Club de Golf Los Leones in Santiago.

Putting Green at Club de Golf Los Leones in Santiago, Chile

Visit the Club de Golf Los Leones website for more information.


Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour


Since 2006 Emily and I have visited 1,064 miniature golf courses around the UK and overseas on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. As well as playing minigolf in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Jersey and the Isle of Man we’ve travelled to minigolf courses in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Finland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Spain (Lanzarote and Majorca), Sweden and the USA.

When added to the courses Christopher and his family have visited around the British Isles and Türkiye, Spain (Majorca), Italy, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Indonesia, Croatia and the USA, the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour stands at a combined 1,111 courses visited!

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Atomic Golf in Las Vegas

A new miniature golf course is opening as part of a golfing venue in Las Vegas, Nevada.


A new indoor minigolf course is opening as part of the Atomic Golf venue in Las Vegas, Nevada

Atomic Golf opens next to The STRAT in Las Vegas this month.

The venue will be home to a variety of golf games, including the Putting District - which is described as a modernized putting game experience.

Check out the Atomic Golf Las Vegas website for more information.


It'll be another new minigolf venue to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on our next next trip to the city.

Monday, September 12, 2022

Putting course at Marine Gardens in Worthing

A look at the grass Putting course at Marine Gardens in Worthing, West Sussex.


Putting course at Marine Gardens in Worthing

I swung by the Putting course at Marine Gardens in Worthing on my recent trip to the seaside town.

Putting course at Marine Gardens in Worthing

Putting course at Marine Gardens in Worthing

We first visited the course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2010.

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Putting Green at Blenheim Gardens in Minehead

Finding a Putting course at Blenheim Gardens in Minehead.


Putting Green at Blenheim Gardens in Minehead
Look at those prices!

We had a holiday in Minehead, Somerset last month and visited three more miniature golf courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. One of which was the 18-hole Putting Green at Blenheim Gardens.

Putting Green at Blenheim Gardens in Minehead
Putting Green at Blenheim Gardens in Minehead

Putting Green at Blenheim Gardens in Minehead
Putting Green at Blenheim Gardens in Minehead

Putting Green at Blenheim Gardens in Minehead
Putting Green at Blenheim Gardens in Minehead

The grass Putting course at Blenheim Gardens in Minehead town centre was the 996th course visited since September 2006. It was pretty easy to find - once you spotted the brown tourist signs for it!

Brown tourist sign for the Putting Green at Blenheim Gardens in Minehead
This way

Brown tourist sign for the Putting Green at Blenheim Gardens in Minehead
That way

Brown tourist sign for the Putting Green at Blenheim Gardens in Minehead
Follow the brown sign(s)

Brown tourist sign for the Putting Green at Blenheim Gardens in Minehead
This way to the Putting Green

Thursday, May 05, 2022

Putting Green at Station Park in Moffat

A look at the Putting Green course at Station Park in Moffat, Dumfriesshire.


Our friend and minigolf rival John Moore sent us this photo of the Putting Green at Station Park in Moffat. It's not a course we had on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour radar before now!

Putting Green at Station Park in Moffat. Photo by John Moore, May 2022
Putting Green at Station Park in Moffat. Photo by John Moore, May 2022

Visit the Station Park website for more information.

Tuesday, April 05, 2022

A mini golf putting postcard from Burgh Hall in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

A look at a miniature golf postcard from our collection.


Here's a postcard showing a mini golf grass putting course at Burgh Hall Country Club Chalet & Caravan Park in the 1970s.

The card was posted to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne from Lowestoft, Suffolk on the 24th May 1977.

BURGH HALL COUNTRY CLUB postcard. Posted 24 May 1977
BURGH HALL COUNTRY CLUB postcard. Posted 24 May 1977

We'll be heading back to Great Yarmouth this summer for the Big Mini Golf Tour taking place across miniature golf courses in Great Yarmouth, Hemsby and Gorleston-on-Sea.

Wednesday, November 03, 2021

Grass Putting Course at Northcliffe Park in Shipley

We visited the grass Putting Course at Northcliffe Park in Shipley, West Yorkshire last week.


The Mini Golf Putting Course at Northcliffe Park in Shipley
The Mini Golf Putting Course at Northcliffe Park in Shipley

Friday, October 29, 2021

Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley

A visit to the Putting Course at Northcliffe Park in Shipley, West Yorkshire.


Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley

We swung by Northcliffe Park in Shipley, West Yorkshire on our recent journey back from Leeds as we'd seen the park was home to a Putting Course.

Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley
The entrance to the course

The course looked like a nice layout and in good condition.

Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley
A fine looking green

Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley
You get a lovely view of the area from the course

Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley
The course is played on a sloping layout

Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley

Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley
One of the long miniature golf holes

Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley
A view from the green of the last hole

Unfortunately the Ticket Office was closed (and looked long since abandoned!) and there was nowhere else to hire clubs and balls from.

The Putting Course at Northcliffe Park in Shipley became the 975th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

Friday, October 08, 2021

Thatched Roof Putting at Kirkley Cliff in Lowestoft

A revisit to the Putting Green at Kirkley Cliff in Lowestoft, Suffolk.


We swung by the Putting Green at Kirkley Cliff in Lowestoft, Suffolk during our East Anglian Road-Trip in August.

Thatched Roof Putting at Kirkley Cliff in Lowestoft

We first visited the Kirkley Cliff Putting Green on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in February and June 2009. We played it when we returned in August 2011. It was the 264th course played on our travels.

Thatched Roof Putting at Kirkley Cliff in Lowestoft

The course is now known at the Thatched Roof Putting and the layout still looks to be in excellent condition.

Thatched Roof Putting at Kirkley Cliff in Lowestoft

As with many things in Lowestoft, the grass miniature golf course at Kirkley Cliff is the most easterly thing of its type in the British Isles.

Visit The Thatch Restaurant website for more information.

Monday, October 04, 2021

Crazy Golf at Vickersway Park in Northwich

A revisit to the Crazy Golf course at Vickersway Park in Northwich, Cheshire.


Crazy Golf at Vickersway Park in Northwich, Cheshire

We were in Northwich at the weekend and while there had to swing by the Crazy Golf course at Vickersway Park.

Crazy Golf at Vickersway Park in Northwich, Cheshire

The 9-hole layout was the 700th course overall we visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in September 2016. We returned in January last year - it was one of the last courses we visited before the pandemic hit!

Crazy Golf at Vickersway Park in Northwich, Cheshire
A Covid-19 sign at the Vickersway Park Crazy Golf course



Vickersway Park in Northwich is a very pleasant spot and lovely for a wander.




Vickersway Park is also home to nice grass Putting Course.

Putting Green at Vickersway Park in Northwich, Cheshire
The Putting Green at Vickersway Park

Monday, January 11, 2021

New Minigolf Putting Course to open in Chester

A new artificial grass Putting Course is planned to open at Westminster Park in Chester, Cheshire.


A new artificial grass Putting Course is planned to open at Westminster Park in Chester, Cheshire

The layout will be on the site of a former grass Putting Green.

Westminster Park is also home to a Pitch & Putt course.

We're looking forward to playing both the Pitch & Putt and the new Minigolf Putting Course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in the future.

The course is being designed and built by Creative Golf Design. You can see a computer animation of the layout in the video below.

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

An old Putting Green postcard from Blackpool

A look at an old miniature golf postcard from Blackpool.

This old postcard showing the Putting Green at the North Shore in Blackpool was posted on the 10th of October 1938.

The Putting Green, North Shore, Blackpool. Posted 10 October 1938

We've visited the course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Unfortunately the kiosk was closed so we couldn't get a game. At that time in 2009 there was also a Crazy Golf layout next to the grass Putting Course.

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Mini Golf at Canoe Lake in Southsea

A look at the Mini Golf course at Canoe Lake in Southsea, Hampshire.


The 12-hole course was the 669th visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in August 2015.

Mini Golf at Canoe Lake in Southsea

It was one of the best grass putting courses I've played on my travels and the sort of course I could play all day long.

We've now visited 954 courses since September 2006. The very first course was also in Southsea!

It'll be marvellous when we're able to get back to the seaside.

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Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Mini Golf Putting at Luccombe Hall Hotel in Shanklin, Isle of Wight

Finding out about a hotel Putting Course in Shanklin, Isle of Wight.


A big thank you to our friend Philip Walsh for sending over some snaps of a grass Putting Course he found during his recent stay on the Isle of Wight.

Putting Green at Luccombe Hall Hotel in Shanklin, Isle of Wight. Photo by Philip Walsh, July 2020

It looks like a nice little course for a putt around.

Putting Green at Luccombe Hall Hotel in Shanklin, Isle of Wight. Photo by Philip Walsh, July 2020

Visit the Luccombe Hall Hotel website for more information.


We're looking forward to a return visit to the Isle of Wight on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We've had a couple of day trips there in the past and played quite a few courses, but need at least a long weekend to play them all.

Philip has also been to the brand new Shanklin Crazy Golf courseRylstone Crazy Golf and Tea Gardens in Shanklin and the Mini Golf course and Billiard Golf tables in Puerto Colón, Tenerife this year.

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Thursday, July 16, 2020

Crazy Golf at Walton on the Naze in Essex

A look back at the Crazy Golf course we visited at Walton on the Naze in Essex.


Crazy Golf at Walton on the Naze in Essex

We visited the Crazy Golf course at Coronation Gardens in Walton on the Naze, Essex back in 2013.

Crazy Golf at Walton on the Naze in Essex

It was the 535th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Crazy Golf at Walton on the Naze in Essex

There was also a grass Putting layout next to the Crazy Golf.

Putting Green at Walton on the Naze in Essex

Sadly both were closed because of bad weather. It was a shame as Swedish Felt type courses are always interesting to play. The Putting Green looked fun too.

Putting Green at Walton on the Naze in Essex

Related blog posts:
Swedish Felt Mini Golf courses in Essex
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
Essex

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