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

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.

Saturday, February 19, 2022

A minigolf postcard from Great Yarmouth. Sent in 1927

Stepping back in time for a look at minigolf in Great Yarmouth in the 1920s.


One of the earliest miniature golf postcards I have in my collection is this one showing the Putting Green on Marine Parade in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

Putting Green, Great Yarmouth. Postcard postally used on the 11th November 1927. Publisher unknown
Putting Green, Great Yarmouth. Postcard postally used on the 11th November 1927

The postcard was sent to Hayes, Middlesex on the 11th November 1927.

You can see the Hippodrome in the left of the image and this building is still standing and is the Hippodrome Circus on St George's Road. If you visit now you'll find a row of buildings in front of the Hippodrome itself!

You will also find that there is still a minigolf course on the same spot as the Putting Green.

Castaway Island Adventure Golf on Marine Parade in Great Yarmouth
Castaway Island Adventure Golf on Marine Parade in Great Yarmouth in 2016

Now called Castaway Island Adventure Golf the site was an Arnold Palmer Putting Course that we played a number of times on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Playing the Arnold Palmer Putting Course on Marine Parade in Great Yarmouth in June 2011
Playing the Arnold Palmer Putting Course on Marine Parade in Great Yarmouth in June 2011

It's proof, if proof were needed, that Great Yarmouth has long been a minigolf hot-spot.

Minigolf Putting in the UK

The first miniature golf course in the world was created at St Andrews in Scotland in 1867. That links course is still there.

The decades that followed saw a boom in the game with minigolf courses popping up around the country. In 1926 the first Crazy Golf course opened in England, with the layout created on South Parade in Skegness, Lincolnshire.

Minigolf in Great Yarmouth

There are a number of brilliant mini, crazy, putting and adventure golf courses on the seafront in Great Yarmouth, as well as in the wider Greater Yarmouth areas of Gorleston-on-Sea and Hemsby.

The minigolf courses in the seaside resort will play host to the Big Mini Golf Tour - a campaign to highlight the courses in the area this Spring and Summer season.

Friday, November 26, 2021

Butlin's Monorails in the Picture Postcard Annual

The 2022 Picture Postcard Annual is out now.


Picture Postcard Annual 2022
Picture Postcard Annual 2022

The new Picture Postcard Annual is available now and includes a feature that I wrote about Butlin's Monorails.

Butlinland Skegness – Putting Green and Monorail by John Hinde Studios. Sent on 4 Aug 1980
Butlinland Skegness – Putting Green and Monorail by John Hinde Studios. Sent on 4 Aug 1980

There's a lot of great content in the annual including a wide-range of features, event listings, dealer contacts and more.

You can buy the 2022 Picture Postcard Annual from the Reflections of a Bygone Age website.


We made it to one postcard fair this year - at Stockport Town Hall - and we're looking forward to hunting for more old postcards of minigolf, monorails and holiday camps next year.

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

Thursday, April 29, 2021

Looking for the Putting Green at Runcorn Hill Park

We had a look for the Putting Green at Runcorn Hill Park in Runcorn, Cheshire on our way back from a day out at Chester Zoo yesterday. Unfortunately the course wasn't cut in.

Putting Green at Runcorn Hill Park
Out of season

You could however still see some of the mounds and bumps of the greens of the layout.

Putting Green at Runcorn Hill Park
A green on the Putting Course

It was still nice to have a wander around a different park, after having traipsed around the same parks and paths for more than a year.

Runcorn Hill Park
Not a minigolf hole

Runcorn Hill Park
But it looked a bit like one

An Earth stone at Runcorn Hill Park
One of two stones in the park that depict the Earth

An Earth stone at Runcorn Hill Park
The UK

An Earth stone at Runcorn Hill Park
The other half of the globe

We'll be heading back to Runcorn again in the future as we've never been to the town centre. We'll swing by Runcorn Hill Park again and see if the course is there next time.

Runcorn Hill Park
We had a wander to the cliff

Runcorn Hill Park
You get some superb views from the top of the Frog's Mouth Cliff!

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Crazy Golf at Tuckton Tea Gardens in Bournemouth

A look at the Crazy Golf at Tuckton Tea Gardens in Bournemouth.


Thank you to my friend and minigolf rival Matt Dodd for these photos of the Crazy Golf course at Tuckton Tea Gardens in Bournemouth, Dorset.

Crazy Golf at Tuckton Tea Gardens in Bournemouth. Photo by Matt Dodd, April 2021

Crazy Golf at Tuckton Tea Gardens in Bournemouth. Photo by Matt Dodd, April 2021

Visit the Tuckton Tea Gardens website for more information about the Crazy Golf course and Putting Green there.


Matt and his family have visited hundreds of courses on their crazy golf adventures and it's always nice to meet up with them for a game. Matt has managed to track down and play quite a lot of courses that we're yet to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour!

We're looking forward to a return visit to Bournemouth and playing the two miniature golf courses at Tuckton Tea Gardens.

Sunday, April 18, 2021

Monorails and minigolf!


A Typical Butlin Monorail. Postcard S25. Skegness 1971
A Typical Butlin Monorail. Postcard S25. Skegness 1971

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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Sunday, August 02, 2020

Miniature Golf in Salford

Finding two minigolf courses in Salford.


We found two miniature golf courses by accident while out on our daily outdoor exercise yesterday afternoon!

Both layouts were in the City of Salford - one was a Putting Green at Victoria Park in Pendlebury, Swinton and the other was a Pitch & Putt course at Buile Hill Park in Salford.

Putting Green at Victoria Park in Pendlebury, Swinton and the Pitch & Putt course at Buile Hill Park in Salford
Neither course was open

It's always nice to find minigolf courses we didn't previously know about. It was especially crazy as both are fairly close by!


We've now been to 954 courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.


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Friday, July 31, 2020

Porthcawl

Ah to be at the seaside on a day like today.


Looking through my photos from last year I spotted this lovely view of the beach in Porthcawl, Wales.

Porthcawl beach

I can't wait to be able to head back out on our travels and visit the coast.

Putting Green in Griffin Park, Porthcawl
It was slightly outside of the season so I couldn't have a game on the Putting Green in Griffin Park

Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines at Coney Beach in Porthcawl
Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines at Coney Beach

7D Cinema at Coney Beach in Porthcawl
What are the 7 Dimensions?

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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Wednesday, June 10, 2020

NO BALL GAMES - at a miniature golf course

While playing on the Putting Green at Knaresborough's Castle Yard in 2015 we noticed an interesting sign on the course!

Playing the Putting Green at Knaresborough's Castle Yard
NO BALL GAMES

We're looking forward to going back to Knaresborough, it's one of our favourite places.

Related blog posts:
- NO GOLF
- Knaresborough

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.

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
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.

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.

The Railway Convalescent Home. Herne Bay. Rear View Showing the Putting Green. B1732. Photochrom Co. Ltd.

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.

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
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.