Award Bathing Beach

Award it what?

Directions to an "AWARD BATHING BEACH" in Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey

On our recent trip to Sheerness (seaside #183 visited) on the Isle of Sheppey (island #9 we've been to) we spotted this incredibly odd bit of signage for an "Award Bathing Beach" on the seafront.

What's one of them then!?

Perils of the Seaside #1 - The Seagull

The British Coast's Public Enemy Number One!

While enjoying a day out in the Essex seaside town of Walton on the Naze a MASSIVE Seagull came after me!

I wasn't even eating a bag of chips.

Related Blog Posts:
- Seagull Sullies Minigolf Scorecard in Hastings
- Worthing's Splash Point Mini Golf Course Becomes a Temporary Seagull-Free Zone!

Seaside Polaroids book

Attending the launch of the book 'Seaside Polaroids' by Jon Nicholson.

Emily and I recently attended the launch event for a great new book with a subject that greatly interested us. The photo book is called Seaside Polaroids and is by renowned photographer Jon Nicholson.

The event, held at the City office of travel agents Abercrombie & Kent, gave us a chance to look at prints of some of the photos from the book and chat to Jon himself.

During Jon’s journey around the coast with an old Polaroid camera he visited 22 English seaside resorts looking for subject matter for the photos, among the images are piers, amusements, fun fairs, beaches and shops.

Ahead of seeing the book for the first time I was interested and excited to see if Jon had managed to capture and include any of the country’s many seaside Crazy, Mini or Adventure Golf courses. Happily he has and it’s one that had me and Emily guessing as to its location when we saw it reproduced on one of the prints placed around the Abercrombie & Kent venue. Chatting to Jon we found that the course was in Exmouth – in the one part of the country we are yet to thoroughly explore! The course appears in a couple of photos in the book and as a whole if you’re a fan of the seaside then do pick up a copy.

Seaside Polaroids by Jon Nicholson and some seaside rock from publisher's Prestel

The photo adorning the cover of the book is of the pier and a beach full of seagulls (is one of them Top Gull?) in Worthing, West Sussex.

Since making a resolution in 2006 to visit as many of the UK’s seasides as possible Emily and I have so far made it to 175 resorts and coastal towns. The latest being Burnham-on-Sea, Brean and Berrow while on a trip to the Weston-Super-Mare area.

We’ve also got caught up in the spirit of that ever-so-British past-time of Miniature Golf and gone on to play 112 courses at the seaside (and visit 523 courses overall around the UK and a few overseas).

While beside the seaside we’ve also promenaded on 46 Piers in the country and spent countless pounds in the numerous amusement arcades dotted around the coast. We’re looking forward to many more days out and holidays at the great British seaside, and while we’re not there Jon’s book makes for a great look while sat at home in ‘sunny’ Luton.

Links:

- Jon Nicholson Photography

- Abercrombie & Kent

- Seaside Polaroids on Jon Nicholson’s blog

- Seaside Polaroids on Amazon

- Seaside Polaroids on Random House / Prestel

- Abercrombie & Kent and Jon Nicholson's Photo Journey Holidays

Related Blog Posts:

- Six Years on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Miniature Golf Books for World Book Day

Seagull Sullies Minigolf Scorecard in Hastings

A run-in with a Seagull on the Pirate Adventure Golf course in Hastings.

One of the perils of playing Minigolf at the seaside is the threat of Seagulls. It has been known for players to have their ball gobbled up by a greedy Seagull during a tournament and there are always plenty of them milling around on the look out to steal chips and other food from competitors.

During the sixth round of last weekend’s WMF World Adventure Golf Masters competition in Hastings, East Sussex our group’s scorecard, which I was holding at the time, was splattered by a passing Seagull causing a minor delay in play while we cleaned up the card. Luckily the scores for myself, Alex 'Perfect Par' Pragnell and Lavdim Zylfiu were not smudged.

The Sullied Adventure Golf Scorecard

The splat from the seagull sits astride the scores on the sullied scorecard

A number of players did question whether the offending Gull was Top Gull, "Lancing, Worthing & Brighton's Premier Seagull", or if it was one of his mates from the #GullMafia???

A Seagull takes a break in the fountain between the 10th & 11th holes at the Hastings Pirate Adventure Golf

Did Top Gull make a visit to Hastings from Lancing, Worthing or Brighton?

Related Blog Posts:

- Worthing's Splash Point Mini Golf Course Becomes a Temporary Seagull-Free Zone!

- Minigolf Report - Gottfried’s play in the 2012 WMF World Adventure Golf Masters International Championship in Hastings

Sitting on the Longest Bench in the World. In Littlehampton!

Having a nice sit down after a long day of Minigolf.

On my travels around the UK I'm always on the lookout for interesting, unique, odd and obscure things to see, do and visit.

During a conversation about Littlehampton and Crazy Golf last year I was told that the town is home to the Longest Bench in the World. In fact, the people who told me about it were the very same people who designed it! I made a note to visit the bench when I eventually made it to Littlehampton.

Last summer we had run out of time on a Crazy World of Minigolf Tour roadtrip from Hastings towards Littlehampton and ended the day in Worthing. Similarly we failed to make it to Littlehampton on a trip from the direction of Southsea and ended that journey in Felpham, near Bognor Regis. So, having spent the weekend playing in the BMGA British Masters minigolf tournament in Worthing I took the opportunity to make the short trip along the coast to Littlehampton to check out the Minigolf courses there.

Looking at the information board and map on the seafront I noticed that the Longest Bench was not too far from where I had parked and was very close to one of the Miniature Golf course locations I was looking for at Banjo Road, so I headed along for a quick sit down.

A view of the Longest Bench in the World, built in July 2010, stretching along the Littlehampton Promenade

The bench is not as I expected it to be. I imagined that it would be one long bench like a Park Bench. But it's a very higgledy piggledy construction (at least at either end) and stretches along for some distance in a slightly more regular fashion along the promenade.

I'm looking forward to a return trip to Littlehampton with Emily to further explore the town, visit the amusements and Harbour Park and play the many Minigolf courses there. I'll also have another nice sit down on the Longest Bench in the World and take in the views of the beach and sea.

Links:

- Studio Weave & Longest Bench in the World project page

- The Longest Bench in the World website

- The Longest Bench on Twitter

- The Longest Bench Facebook page

Related Blog Post Links:
- A Stack of Minigolf Courses Visited in Littlehampton, but None Played!
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Bench Related Photo Link:
- In January 2012 I had a sit down on a random BIG bench that is in Hitchin, Herts!

A stack of Minigolf courses visited in Littlehampton, but none played!

Seven Miniature Golf course locations (and a pit-pat course) visited in Littlehampton, West Sussex.

Following the BMGA British Masters minigolf competition in nearby Worthing I took the opportunity to visit the seaside town of Littlehampton.

On our previous south coast roadtrips Emily and I have run out of time on our way to Littlehampton and the closest we've reached on either side of the town is Felpham, near Bognor Regis and Worthing. On Sunday 22nd April I made it there, but didn't get to play any of the minigolf courses as I arrived a bit too late for some of them and a bit too early in the season for the others!

Driving into Littlehampton I spotted a Brown Tourist Sign that showed 'Putting' and pointed me in the direction of Maltravers Park. Unfortunately I couldn't see the course, it may have been too early in the season for the course to have been marked out.

Littlehampton (Maltravers Park) - There was no Putting there

Brown Tourist Sign to Maltravers Park in Littlehampton

After parking up I started walking along the promenade and spotted a big sign over the entrance of the Sharksville Adventure Golf course at Harbour Park. I only managed to get a glimpse of the course through the locked gate.

The Sharksville Adventure Golf course entrance at Harbour Park in Littlehampton

A view of the Sharksville Adventure Golf course through the gate at Harbour Park in Littlehampton

The shark on the sign outside Sharksville Adventure Golf has a Bow Tie on!?

Strolling a little further down the road I came to the the Western Putting minigolf on Banjo Road. This set-up is home to a Putting course, a Crazy Golf course (of the Swedish Felt variety) and the only Crazy Snooker course I know of in the UK! I'm looking forward to heading back in the peak season to get a game on all three of these courses, especially the Crazy Snooker as it's a game I've not yet managed to play. While visiting Vienna, Austria in 2010 I did see another of these courses - the game is also known as Pit-Pat (and Hindernis Billard). There was also an advert for this type of game (although it was called 'Crazy Pool' there) on the prom in Skegness, but the tables were long gone.

Western Putting on Banjo Road in Littlehampton - home to a Putting Course, Crazy Golf and a Crazy Snooker course!

A view of the Western Putting Minigolf Centre on Banjo Road in Littlehampton

The Putting course at Western Putting in Littlehampton

A little further down the seafront is Norfolk Gardens, home to a Pitch & Putt course, a 9-hole Adventure Golf course, the Putting Green Cafe, Bowling Greens, Tennis Courts and Miniature Railway! Norfolk Gardens are open all year round.

Norfolk Gardens in Littlehampton - home to a Pitch & Putt course and a 9-hole Adventure Golf

A view of the Adventure Golf course at Norfolk Gardens in Littlehampton

A view of the Adventure Golf course at Norfolk Gardens in Littlehampton

The Putting Green Cafe at Norfolk Gardens

The Pitch & Putt Mini Golf at Norfolk Gardens in Littlehampton

The last of the Minigolf courses I hunted for was at Mewsbrook Park. Unfortunately I couldn't find a course there, but the Miniature Railway line does pass through the Pitch & Putt course that sits between Norfolk Gardens & Mewsbrook Park - the end of the line is in Mewsbrook Park, with a station and turnaround point in Norfolk Gardens.

I couldn't find a Minigolf course in Mewsbrook Park. But Norfolk Gardens and the two Minigolf courses there are just next door to it

A view of the very well maintained Mewsbrook Park in Littlehampton

Many of the Miniature Golf course facilities in Littlehampton are operated by Inspire Leisure. They also operate some of the Minigolf courses in nearby Bognor Regis. Both towns have plenty of courses on offer and are a mixture of Crazy Golf, Adventure Golf, Mini Golf, Miniature Golf, Putting and Crazy Snooker!

I'm looking forward to returning to Littlehampton in the future to have a look around while things are open and playable.

Related Blog Posts:
- Minigolf Course Visit #210(a!?) - Vienna, Austria (Askoe Wien Wasserpark) - pit-pat "Hindernis Billards"!
- Skegness (South Parade) - Crazy Golf - Closed on Visit
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Littlehampton

Links:
- International Pit Pat Association (translated page)
- Pit Pat on Wikipedia (translated page)

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

New Brighton Crazy Golf, Minigolf & Miniature Golf

Back on the 19th March 2011 our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour took us to The Wirral, and the seaside resort of New Brighton.

We found four courses there, although we didn't get to play any of them!

- New Brighton (Marine Promenade) - Crazy Golf - Summer Only

- New Brighton (Kings Parade Gardens) - Crazy Golf - Out of Season

- New Brighton (Kings Parade Gardens) - Mini Golf (Pitch & Putt) - Out of Season

- Wallasey (Wallasey Beach) - Miniature Golf (Pitch & Putt)

Links to 'old' Brighton Crazy & Mini Golf visits:

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Course Visit #12 - Brighton - East of Palace Pier

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Course Visit #13 - Brighton - Peter Pan's

Crazy Golf spotted on Brighton Pier

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Course Visit #224 - Brighton - Brighton Marina

Crazy Golf in Hove - King Alfred Leisure Centre

Where does the Sea End? Surfleet Seas End!

On our many roadtrips around the UK we are attempting to visit every seaside in the country. On our recent trip along the Lincolnshire coast heading towards Norfolk we drove past Surfleet Seas End, and decided to take a look and see what the Seas End looks like!

Surfleet Seas End is in the South Holland District of Lincolnshire.

A Selection of Seaside Shooting Shacks...

It wouldn't be a trip to a seaside resort without playing a Hill Billy Shooting Shack!

Cleethorpes.

 Skegness.

Ingoldmells.

Hunstanton.

While it wasn't a Shooting Shack, this target game in the Vegas Amusement Arcade in Hunstanton was certainly different!

We also spotted a new type of Arm Wrestling Game in one amusement arcade in Cleethorpes.

Other Seaside Shooting Shacks visited and played on our travels.

Richard and The Jolly Fisherman in Skegness

The Official Skegness Jolly Fisherman Website and the Jolly Fisherman's Story.

Skeg-Vegas!

We noticed in a few souvenir shops in Skegness, Lincolnshire, you could buy items bearing the name 'Skeg-Vegas'! There was also an amusement arcade there called 'Las Vegas'!

I really enjoyed the trip to Skegness and will go back. I also enjoyed our holiday to Las Vegas last summer (where we will also be returning).

If you enjoy the British seaside, with its Crazy Golf, beaches, Pier, rock, saucy postcards and lots to see and do, then you should definitely check the town out.

While we were visiting there was a news story in the local press about a review of the town in the latest Lonely Planet Guide, where Skegness was described as a 'tacky spectacle'.

In a way the Lonely Planet review was correct - the seaside is a bit 'tacky', but so are lots of UK seasides, and it depends on if you think 'tacky' is a bad thing or not? Along with the millions of other visitors to the resort, I enjoyed our stay and will go back again.

The review also said the town had the "ABC of the English seaside – amusements, bingo and candy floss" - on this I disagree. With twelve Minigolf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf courses on offer to visitors, surely the 'C' should stand for 'Crazy Golf'!

Emily and I have so far visited 137 seasides since we made a resolution in 2006 to try and visit every seaside in the UK. We've visited places like Great Yarmouth (which is great), Blackpool - which offer Minigolf and Amusements, to Southwold and Aldeburgh - which are a bit more sedate, but still nice to visit.

Really, you can visit loads of different types of seasides in the UK, some are tacky, some offer a more slow-paced resort, others offer great beaches, some are more like harbours with a little bit of beach, many offer great views and seascapes. With so much on offer, you can take your pick!

Related blog posts:
- List of courses visited and played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Minigolf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf Courses on the Lincolnshire Coast

137 Seasides Visited on Our UK Coastal Tour to Date

Our trip to windy Hunstanton last Sunday took us to a total of 137 Seasides visited since we made a resolution to visit as many different seasides all over the UK back in 2006.

At the last count, in January 2011, we had visited 110 seasides.

So far we've played Minigolf or Crazy Golf in 86 of them!

We've also visited 34 of the remaining 51 Piers in the UK on our travels!

Here's to the next 137 Seaside Visits!

Laser Quest on Skegness Pier, but not in Cleethorpes

While away on our Seaside and Minigolf Roadtrip to Lincolnshire, we visited two Laser Tag game centres, and managed to play one of them.

In Cleethorpes we were unable to play as the game requires at least four players for it to be finacially viable for the Amusement Arcade to run. The Labyrinths of Doralia at Fairworld does sound intriguing though! We will be back, and in greater numbers...

We had better luck on Skegness where, after a great big Steak Dinner (at Steak n Stuff), Emily and I went for a one-on-one Laser Tag Battle at the Laser Quest on Skegness Pier!

I won :-) Emily scored 117, and I scored 287. Our 'colour' was MIXED rather than the standard RED or GREEN!

There has been no change in the Laser Tag Rankings since the last update.