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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Crazy Golf in Troon, Scotland

A look at the seafront Crazy Golf course in Troon, Scotland.

My friend and minigolf rival Simon Brown sent over a photo of the hut at the seafront Crazy Golf course in Troon from his recent visit.

You can see photos of the course from January 2023 in this guest blog post from Simon.

The 18-hole Crazy Golf course in Troon was the 573rd miniature golf course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2014.

Closed Crazy Golf at Forfar Loch Country Park

The old Crazy Golf course at Forfar Loch Country Park in Forfar, Angus, Scotland is being removed.

The course has been unused for several years.

It's always a shame to hear about minigolf courses closing.

The Crazy Golf course at Forfar Loch Country Park was on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour 'To Visit' list and it looks like this will soon become a lost course.

Minigolf at Burrowhead Holiday Village

I recently found out there is a Pitch & Putt course, Crazy Golf, and a Putting Green at the Burrowhead Holiday Village in Cutcloy, Scotland.

It's always interesting finding out about new places to play minigolf. Hopefully we'll get to visit these layouts on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in the future.

Check out the Burrowhead Holiday Village website for more information. 

Destination South Ayrshire Crazy Golf

A Crazy Golf Tour has been set up around South Ayrshire.

The 9-hole Crazy Golf challenge around South Ayrshire has been created to celebrate the 152nd Open Championship taking place this year.

The crazy golf challenge is free to play and the competition is up and running from the 9th July to Tuesday 6th August.

Visit the Destination South Ayrshire Crazy Golf website for more information on the pop up crazy golf event.

Crazy Golf in Levenmouth

There are two Crazy Golf courses at Together Levenmouth.

Visit the Together Levenmouth website for more information on the two 9-hole courses.

It's another location for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Crazier Nolf at Boom Battle Bar in Glasgow

One of the games available at Boom Battle Bar in Glasgow is Crazier Nolf.

Emily saw Crazier Nolf for the first time on a recent trip to Bournemouth.

Boom Battle Bar calls its crazy golf courses 'Crazier Golf' (and we've played the location in Norwich). Crazier Nolf is Crazier Golf, but played without putters!

Hole 5 of the Crazier Nolf course at Boom Battle Bar in Bournemouth

Visit the Boom Battle Bar Bournemouth website for more information.

Check out this post to see all the different types and variants of miniature golf we've visited and played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour to date.

Mini Golf at The Taste of Arran Shop

A look at the Mini Golf course at The Taste of Arran Shop.

Mini Golf at The Taste of Arran Shop. Photo by John Moore, March 2024

A big thank you to our friend and minigolf rival John Moore for sending us these photos of the Mini Golf course at The Taste of Arran Shop in Brodick on the Isle of Arran, Scotland.

Mini Golf at The Taste of Arran Shop. Photo by John Moore, March 2024

Mini Golf at The Taste of Arran Shop. Photo by John Moore, March 2024

Find out more on The Taste of Arran Shop & Mini Golf Facebook Page.

It's a course that we've had on our to visit list for a long time!

New mini golf course planned for Tranent

A new indoor mini golf course is planned for Tranent in East Lothian, Scotland.

The indoor mini golf course would be part of a new entertainment venue in the town.

It'll be a new course - and town - for us to check out on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

New crazy golf courses in the UK

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

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.

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Up to Saturday 30th December 2023 we had visited a total of 1,044 miniature golf courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. 997 of these have been in the British Isles.

Visiting the Crazy Golf course at the end of the Pier in Southend-on-Sea

Our minigolfing adventures began on the 30th September 2006 and in that time we've been able to play a total of 573 courses. Many locations have been found to be abandoned, closed, out-of-season or derelict on our initial visit. Luckily some courses that were closed on our original visit have since been played. And there are some course we've revisited and replayed many many times!

When we originally set off to visit as many courses as possible the target list was 600 in the British Isles. We've still got around 50 of those original courses to visit.

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.

Together with my brother Christopher - a charter member of the tour - and his family, we've visited a total of 1,090 courses.

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!

Check out the full list of courses we've visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Crazy Golf at McGavin Park in Kilwinning

The Crazy Golf course at McGavin Park in Kilwinning, Scotland is being refurbished.

The updated Crazy Golf course is planned to re-open later this year.

It'll be a new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

New minigolf courses in the UK

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

There are lots of new minigolf courses being built, in development or planned to open 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 has traditionally been a seaside pastime, 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.

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Up to Saturday 30th December 2023 we had visited a total of 1,044 miniature golf courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. 997 of these have been in the British Isles.

Moby Golf in Romford, Essex

Our minigolfing adventures began on the 30th September 2006 and in that time we've been able to play a total of 573 courses. Many locations have been found to be abandoned, closed, out-of-season or derelict on our initial visit. Luckily some courses that were closed on our original visit have since been played. And there are some course we've revisited and replayed many many times!

When we originally set off to visit as many courses as possible the target list was 600 in the British Isles. We've still got around 50 of those original courses to visit.

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.

Together with my brother Christopher - a charter member of the tour - and his family, we've visited a total of 1,089 courses.

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!

Check out the full list of courses we've visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

New minigolf 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.

New minigolf course opening in Edinburgh

There will be a minigolf layout at the new Level X venue in Edinburgh.

Visit the Level X website for more information.

It'll be another new location for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Adventure Golf in Kilmarnock

Two new Adventure Golf courses are being created at The Garage Leisure Complex in Kilmarnock.

The Garage Leisure Complex in Kilmarnock is creating two new indoor Adventure Golf courses - Sports Swings & Forest Fairways.

Visit The Garage website for more information.

It'll be another new venue for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Crazy Golf in Ardrossan, North Ayrshire

The seafront Crazy Golf course in Ardrossan, Scotland is being refurbished.

The Ardrossan Community Development Trust is undertaking work to develop the promenade in the seaside town. Part of the redevelopment will see the 18-hole Crazy Golf being refurbished.

We visited the Crazy Golf in Ardrossan on our trip to Scotland for the Glasgow 2014 Comonwealth Games. The course was right outside our hotel.

Crazy Golf in Ardrossan, July 2014

Visit the Ardrossan Community Development Trust website and Facebook Page to find out more about the project.

We really enjoyed our holiday along the Scottish coast and really need to book a return visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Golf It! at Hogganfield Park in Glasgow

The new Golf It! centre in Glasgow opens today (Saturday 5th August).

The venue has been created to appeal to golfers and non-golfers alike and features three Adventure Golf courses, a variety of Pitch & Putt, putting greens, and a large driving range.

Golf It! has been created by the R&A.

Visit the Golf It! website for more information.

Crazy Golf in Troon, Scotland

A look at the seafront Crazy Golf course in Troon.

My friend and minigolf rival Simon Brown sent some snaps of the seafront Crazy Golf course in Troon from his visit in January this year.

Crazy Golf in Troon. Photo by Simon Brown, January 2023

Crazy Golf in Troon. Photo by Simon Brown, January 2023

Crazy Golf in Troon. Photo by Simon Brown, January 2023

Crazy Golf in Troon. Photo by Simon Brown, January 2023

Crazy Golf in Troon. Photo by Simon Brown, January 2023

Crazy Golf in Troon. Photo by Simon Brown, January 2023

Crazy Golf in Troon. Photo by Simon Brown, January 2023

The 18-hole Crazy Golf course in Troon was the 573rd miniature golf course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2014.

One Under Mini Golf in Glasgow

A new mini golf course has opened in Glasgow, Scotland.

One Under Mini Golf has opened on Albion Street in Glasgow.

The indoor minigolf venue is also home to car racing and a bar.

Visit the One Under website for more information.

It's another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

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

Visit the Station Park website for more information.