The Big Mini Golf Tour tees-off in Greater Yarmouth this month

The Big Mini Golf Tour 2022 tees-off on National Miniature Golf Day - Saturday 14th May.

Miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business Improvement Area are coming together to promote the game.

We've played in and organised lots of miniature golf competitions, tournaments, challenges and events over the years and this year we are excited to be a part of the Big Mini Golf Tour in the seaside resort of Great Yarmouth.

The four-month event highlighting miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth area tees-off on National Miniature Golf Day, Saturday 14th May 2022 and runs until Miniature Golf Day on Wednesday 21st September 2022.

Mini Golf course map

You can plan your visit to the nine miniature golf courses in Hemsby, Clippesby, Great Yarmouth and Gorleston-on-Sea by checking out the Big Mini Golf Tour map.

Follow the Big Mini Golf Tour

Check out the Big Mini Golf Tour web links, further info and social media.

Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA

Funding from Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA has helped to bring you the ‘Big Mini Golf Tour’. Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA uses money raised from a business improvement district levy which is designed to raise the profile of the area, increase the number of people visiting and staying, improve the visitor experience and increase repeat visits, encourage people to stay longer and to visit more attractions and to provide incentives and opportunities to spend more in local businesses.

The Big Mini Golf Tour - teeing-off in Greater Yarmouth next month

The Big Mini Golf Tour 2022 tees-off on National Miniature Golf Day - Saturday 14th May.

Miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business Improvement Area are coming together to promote the game.

The Big Mini Golf Tour - teeing-off in Greater Yarmouth in May 2022

Miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business Improvement Area have come together to promote the game.

The four-month event highlighting miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth area tees-off on National Miniature Golf Day, Saturday 14th May 2022 and runs until Miniature Golf Day on Wednesday 21st September 2022.

Mini Golf course map

You can plan your visit to the nine miniature golf courses in Hemsby, Clippesby, Great Yarmouth and Gorleston-on-Sea by checking out the Big Mini Golf Tour map.

Follow the Big Mini Golf Tour

Check out the Big Mini Golf Tour on social media.

Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA

Funding from Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA has helped to bring you the ‘Big Mini Golf Tour’. Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA uses money raised from a business improvement district levy which is designed to raise the profile of the area, increase the number of people visiting and staying, improve the visitor experience and increase repeat visits, encourage people to stay longer and to visit more attractions and to provide incentives and opportunities to spend more in local businesses.

Guess the Crazy Golf course location?

Guess the minigolf course location...

(If you were allowed out) where would you find this Crazy Golf course?

Clue: It's not in Brazil

Are Clacton-on-Sea and Bognor Regis the worst seasides in the country?

Clacton-on-Sea and Bognor Regis have been voted as the worst seaside resorts in the UK. 

Bognor Regis seafront from the pier

We're big fans of the seaside and have visited many coastal towns and resorts, including Clacton-on-Sea and Bognor Regis, on our minigolf travels over the last 13 years.

Clacton-on-Sea pier from the seafront

Seaside resorts were rated in ten categories in the Which? survey. Clacton-on-Sea and Bognor Regis were both rated poorly for their attractions, peace and quiet, scenery and value for money.

Bognor Regis pier from the seafront

Bamburgh, Northumberland was rated as top of the 100 seasides. We haven't been there, but did drive past it on our way to nearby Seahouses as that was more our cup of tea.

In 2011 Clacton Pier was home to a pop-up Adventure Golf course

As with most things, it really does depend what you want from a trip to a seaside. If you want a sedate place then Clacton and Bognor are probably not for you, but even saying that I have some nice memories of picnicking in the gardens near the seafront in Clacton and there are some very good spots for a more tranquil wander in Bognor Regis.

The Crazy Golf course on Waterloo Place in Bognor Regis in 2011

We've been to some seasides that other people rave about and haven't been impressed at all. That could be down to us being us, or it could be because of the time of year we visited, the weather on the day, or a number of other factors.

I've been to seven of the seasides ranked in the top ten. Only one of those, Southwold, would possibly rank in my top ten.

Top ten:

• Bamburgh
• Portmeirion
• Dartmouth
• North Berwick
• St Mawes
• Beer
• St Andrews
• Aldeburgh
• Southwold
• Tenby

Looking at the bottom ten seaside resorts I've been to all of them, many multiple times. I'd select some of them for my top ten.

Bottom ten:

• Bognor Regis
• Clacton-on-Sea
• Burnham-on-Sea
• Skegness
• Fleetwood
• Weston-Super-Mare
• Great Yarmouth
• Margate
• Morecambe
• Minehead

A few years ago another poll rated the Lincolnshire seaside resort of Skegness as one of the world's worst holiday destinations, on a par with Pyongyang, North Korea. I disagree with that result. Pyongyang only has one minigolf course, whereas Skegness has ten courses on the seafront so it is head and shoulders above the North Korean city.

A view of Bognor Regis Pier from the Crazy Golf course

Emily playing Crazy Golf in Bognor Regis

  

Playing Adventure Golf on Clacton Pier in 2011

We're looking forward to return visits to both Bognor Regis and Clacton-on-Sea. The towns have new minigolf courses we've yet to play too, an even better reason to go again.

Do you agree with the results of the survey?

Have you been to Clacton-on-Sea or Bognor Regis? What did you think?

What's your favourite / least favourite seaside?

Related blog posts:
- Bognor Regis
- Clacton-on-Sea

seabay in Scarborough

Spotting the seabay shop in Scarborough.

We love visiting the seaside and enjoy spotting bootleg things, so it was a double-whammy when we saw the seabay shop in Scarborough's South Bay!

seabay!

Related blog posts:
- Bootlegs
- Scarborough

Putting Green at Griffin Park in Porthcawl

A visit to the Putting Green at Griffin Park in Porthcawl.

On my way home from the Welsh Mini Golf Club's Doubles Championships in Aberavon I stopped off at Porthcawl as I'd seen there was a Putting Green in Griffin Park. Unfortunately it wasn't yet open for the season and the groundskeepers were working on a few other areas of the park to get it ready for the summer.

We have been to Porthcawl before, although only to Trecco Bay Holiday Park where we played Adventure Golf back in 2009. So it was nice to explore a new seaside resort and play in some new amusement arcades.

The Hi-Tide amusement arcade in Porthcawl

Porthcawl beach looked amazing

The Putting Green at Griffin Park in Porthcawl was the 886th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

I also saw a 7D cinema there! Sadly it was closed

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - update from Wales
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Wales

A day out in Rhyl and Prestatyn

Revisiting Rhyl and Prestatyn.

The seafront at Rhyl

Earlier this week I had a brilliant day out at the seaside with my friend and minigolf rival/team-mate Peter 'The Crazy Aced Assassin' Jones.

We had to revisit the Crazy Golf course in Prestatyn

The weather was wonderful for the time of year and we had a good time exploring the two seaside towns.

The Drift Park Crazy Golf course in Rhyl

The Drift Park Crazy Golf course in Rhyl

On the seafront in Prestatyn

The Crazy Golf course in Prestatyn

I've been to both Rhyl and Prestatyn a number of times since 2009 and we stay at Pontin's Prestatyn Sands holiday camp for the On the Buses fan-club events. However, until my latest visit I hadn't been to Marine Lake - the location of Britain's oldest miniature railway!

Steam trains have been running at Marine Lake since 1911 

The station

The entrance to Marine Lake is also a crossing for the railway

The lake itself was being drained while we were there 

As it was out of season we didn't get to have a go on the miniature railway or play any of the Crazy Golf courses. Luckily the amusement arcades were open so we were able to have a game of Bowlingo.

Bowlingo at Mr B's Amusement Arcade in Rhyl

I'm already looking forward to my next day out at the Welsh seaside.

Related blog posts:
- Rhyl
- Prestatyn
- Crazy Golf
- Miniature Railways

Saltburn Cliff Tramway

Having a ride on the Saltburn Cliff Tramway.

A view from the top of the Cliff Tramway

Last September we had a brilliant day out in Salturn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire. Before playing the Saltburn Minigolf course we took a ride on the Saltburn Cliff Tramway down to the promenade.

It's always nice to follow a brown tourist sign

A plaque about the history of the Cliff Tramway's predecessor 

The entrance at the top of the cliff

Always nice to see a Fun

The Saltburn Cliff Tramway is an iconic part of Saltburn-by-the-Sea and you get a wonderful view of the pier and the seaside from it.

Visit the Saltburn Cliff Tramway website for more information, opening times and prices.

The entrance on the Lower Promenade

A view of the Cliff Tramway from the pier 

A view inside the carriage

Related blog posts:
- Saltburn-by-the-Sea
- Funicular railway

Christmas-on-Sea

With the festive season fast approaching Southend-on-Sea has got it's Christmas lights up already. Although they're not yet lit. The 'Christmas-on-Sea' lights on the Southend Central bridge were quite eye catching.

Welcome to Christmas-on-Sea!

It was great to see Southend nice and busy during our all-too-brief visit over the weekend. It was the first time we've been to the seaside town and NOT had time to play any minigolf. The courses we're proving a hit with the holidaymakers, locals and day-trippers.

Related blog posts:
- Southend-on-Sea
- Christmas
- Seasides

Link:
- Christmas-on-Sea

Banksy's Dismaland Bemusement Park

New temporary Bemusement Park open for the summer in Weston-super-Mare.

Renowned street artist Banksy has created a dystopian theme park on the site of the old Tropicana Lido in Weston-super-Mare called 'Dismaland', and the park features a Crazy Golf course.

We love visiting the British seaside and while there are some top spots for fun and entertainment, we've seen our fair share of dismal seaside resorts and deteriorating fun parks and amusement arcades amongst the 200 we've been to.

Having visited 669 Crazy, Mini and Adventure Golf courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour we have come across a large amount of derelict and abandoned courses.

One of the many many many derelict and abandoned miniature golf courses we've found on our tour

We've even played the Crazy Golf course at the end of the world!

What's more dismal, dystopian and crazy than playing a minigolf obstacle made of old tyres next to another that is made of the fuselage of a crashed plane. This was 'Golf Apocalypse' during the summer of 2012

Minigolf has been used in many artistic creations so it's not surprising to see a course pop-up at Dismaland. The 'Mini Gulf' layout features an oil caliphate theme, and the course is constructed from the old hockey pitch at Cheltenham Ladies College.

On our tour we've played art-based minigolf at the one-day only M!MS Mini Golf course in Bedford, Crazee Golf at the TinType Gallery in London, the Bompas & Parr food architecture course on the roof of Selfridges and Putt Putt #2 by TURF Projects in Croydon. We've also not played art courses in Clerkenwell and Folkestone, where the remnants of the old Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course were used to create a series of beach huts!

The '18 Holes' Crazy Golf art installation by Richard Wilson in Folkestone

Putt Putt #2 by TURF Projects was a temporary art installation minigolf course in Croydon

This year our friends over at A Couple of Putts created an art-installation course called Sparkle City Mini Putt in Spartanburg, South Carolina. While the team at The Putting Penguin have seen and reviewed a number of art-courses over the years. Earlier this summer my friend and crazy golf rival Gareth Holmes visited "The BEST Mini Golf Course in Venice" at artist's Doug Fishbone's Leisure Land Golf.

Dismaland does look well worth a visit. Hopefully we'll get along before it closes for good on the 27th September this year.

As big fans of Crazy Golf we also run The Crazy Golf Museum - itself featured in the book Crap Days Out!

While you're in Weston-super-Mare there are plenty of other traditional seaside amusements to visit, along with three miniature golf courses.

Fella's Crazy Golf course near the pier in Weston-super-Mare

The old grass Putting course and Miniature Railway we visited in 2011 was removed a couple of years ago, but I've recently heard it's re-opened and called 'The Putting Shed'.

Putters Junction Signal Box

At Dismaland there are a limited number of tickets available each day, with 4,000 punters allowed in at £3 per person, which sounds reasonable. Check out the Dismaland website for more information, opening times and a site map.

Back in 2011 our friend and minigolf rival Kevin Moseley took us for a tour around Bristol and we spotted the Banksy artwork Well Hung Lover on Park Street

If you like your entertainment options to be unique and weird then I highly recommend a visit to the Novelty Automation arcade in London and the Under the Pier Show in Southwold, Suffolk too.

Link:
- Dismaland Bemusement Park website
- Banksy website
- The Crazy Golf Museum website

Related blog posts:
- Art
- Art Gallery
- Art Installation
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Weston-super-Mare
- Crazee Golf Art Exhibition to Open at the Tintype Gallery in London
- M!MS Empire Sunset Nine Hole Mini Golf course in Bedford
- Crazy Golf Course visited but not able to be played - Folkestone (Seafront) - 18-holes Art Installation
- Playing Bompas & Parr's Minigolf course on the roof of Selfridges
- Not playing Crazy Golf at Clerkenwell Design Week 2014
- Putt Putt #2 Crazy Golf in Croydon
- Doug Fishbone's Leisure Land Golf
- Novelty Automation arcade in London
- Sparkle City Mini Putt in Spartanburg, South Carolina
- Crap Days Out - at The Crazy Golf Museum?
- Miniature Golf Putting at Weston-Super-Mare, plus a Miniature Railway
- Fella's Crazy Golf in Weston-Super-Mare
- Crazy Hills Putting Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf Course in Weston-Super-Mare

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.

Seaside Shields museum exhibition

This summer South Shields Museum & Art Gallery is going back in time to look at all the fun of yesteryear's seaside with the Seaside Shields exhibition.

Crazy Golf is a classic part of seaside heritage and it's good to see that the game is being featured as part of the exhibition as a Putterfingers Portable Crazy Golf course will be at the museum on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th August for the Seaside Shields Golf Championship.

We've visited South Shields on our coastal travels and back in 2009 the Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf course became the 100th played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Adventure Golfing in South Shields

Emily revisited South Shields in 2012 and had another round on the course.

Over the years we've also played a few Putterfingers minigolf courses on our tour.

Seaside Shields runs until the 31st October 2015. For more information check out the South Shields Museum & Art Gallery website and minigolf event page.

In 2011 Stevenage Museum ran an exhibition on British Holiday Camps. That also featured Crazy Golf.

Don't forget to check out The Crazy Golf Museum website and on Twitter for more on the history of miniature golf.

Links:
- South Shields Museum & Art Gallery
- Putterfingers
- Crazy Golf Museum
- Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf course
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Related blog posts:
- Gottfried's Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Minigolf Course Played No. 100!!!
- Revisit & Replay of Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf in South Shields
- "Morning Campers!" A British Holiday Camp Exhibition at Stevenage Museum - with Crazy Golf!
- Museum
- Putterfingers

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.

596 minigolf courses visited to date

Nearing the landmark 600th minigolf course visit on our tour.

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Charter Members Emily Gottfried and Christopher Gottfried at Treasure Island in Southsea - the location of the first two course visits on the tour

Back when we started travelling around the UK we wanted to visit as many seaside resorts and towns as we could - there are over 500 and we've been to 193 to date.

In May 2009 the 100th course we visited overall was at Pops Meadow in Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk. When we played the Crazy Golf course in June 2010 it was the 174th we had a round on

The 100th course played was Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf at South Shields, Tyneside in June 2009

The Masters Putting Green in Southport was the 150th course played when we visited in September 2009

The first stop-off was Southsea to visit my little brother. While there we played the Treasure Island Adventure Golf course on the sea front and when we got home we found the excellent minigolf resource MiniatureGolfer.com that listed around 600 courses in the UK.

In September 2010 the Curse of the Mummy in 3D indoor blacklight Crazy Golf course at Xscape Yorkshire in Castleford became the 200th course played on the tour

The 400th course visited overall was at Salthouse Fields in Clevedon, North Somerset in July 2011. The Crazy Golf layout was the 258th played

In total we've visited 596 miniature golf courses and played 360 of them, some of them many times over.

In April 2012 we visited the world's first miniature golf course - The Himalayas at St Andrews

In July 2012 the Minigolf course at Wonderland in Telford, Shropshire became a double landmark course as it was the 300th played and 500th visited overall

The second hole at Wonderland Telford was made of wooden planks!

We've visited and played minigolf in each of the home nations, and so far 21 of the courses we've visited have been overseas - including locations in Finland, the USA, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and Hong Kong.

Emily plays hole 18 of the 250th course played on the tour in June 2011. This was in Stockholm, Sweden while we were on international duty as part of the Great Britain team.The 50th course played was also a 'Beton' style of minigolf course while we were playing for GB in Tampere, Finland in May 2008

In total, our travels have taken us to 458 different places in the UK, and that's not including the many many many little places we've stopped at briefly. And of the 193 seasides we've been to so far we've played, or visited, minigolf courses at 120 of them.

The Swedish Felt B-Run style of minigolf at Mead Open Farm in Billington, Bedfordshire was the 350th course played on the tour, and 584th played overall when we had a game there in October 2014

Where will the 600th course be...?

Link:
- MiniatureGolfer.com

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Types and Variants of Minigolf
- Landmark minigolf courses visited and played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.