There aren't many 'Eternit' type Miniature Golf courses here in the UK at all and some of those that do still exist have been modified over the years. The course at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry is one of the best examples you can find.
We returned in 2012 as the course hosted one of two minigolf events as part of the town's Oslympic Games.
We last played there in 2020 when we were able to travel with a bit more freedom during the Coronavirus Pandemic. The 18-hole layout was still in great condition with some nice hole-in-one opportunities to be had.
For many years the Cae Glas Park Crazy Golf course has been one of, if not, the best value courses in the UK. The current price to play is £2 for adults, £1 for juniors, or £5 for a family (2 adults, 2 children). Amazing prices and the course is well worth a play.
We're obviously BIG fans of minigolf and seeing new courses being created, however it'll be a real shame to see a part of minigolf history disappear as the course in Oswestry is such a fun, tricky and testing place to play the game.
Looking back at the 2012 Oswestry Games multi-sport event in Shropshire.
Back in the summer of 2012 we were proud to be a part of the Oswestry Games. The festival of sport in Shropshire saw the sport of minigolf included in a multi-sport games event in the UK for the first time.
The coaches and competitors in the Pro-Am minigolf tournament at Cae Glas Park
The Oswestry Games, or 'Oslympics' as they became known, were a mammoth undertaking for the organisers at the Oswestry Sports Council and it was a real pleasure and honour for Emily and I to organise the minigolf events along with other coaches and players from the national tour.
The Oswestry Games consisted of more than 50 sports and cultural events held over ten-days in July 2012.
Minigolfing at the Oswestry Games
Things got off to a great start on our first night in the town - not only were we recognised while on our way to the sporting quiz night at the town's cricket club, but we also won the bronze medal in the quiz itself.
The bronze medal winning quizzing minigolfers
The Saturday morning of the Games saw us organise coaching sessions for locals youth and adult players on the 18-hole 'Eternit' miniature golf course in Cae Glas Park in the town centre. This was followed by the BMGA Oswestry Games Pro-Am Minigolf Classic team tournament in the afternoon - won by Marc 'The Force' Chapman, Steve Sturdy and Chris Powell.
On the tricky Cae Glas Park miniature golf course
Sunday was the closing day of the Games and a large number of clubs, regional organisations and national governing bodies gathered at the Leisure Centre for a jam-packed day of sporting fun, games and competition.
Playing the Putterfingers Crazy Golf course at the Oswestry Games
With a Putterfingers modular Crazy Golf course we took centre stage and had a large number of the public, athletes and competitors from other events joining us for a round on the 9-hole course.
We scooped Gold, Silver and Bronze medals at the Games - and what very fine medals they are too
We ended our trip to the Oslympics by contesting the BMGA & Putterfingers Oswestry Games Minigolf Championship - which I won!
The podium for the pro-tournament - Marc Chapman, me and John Moore
Did you know - Miniature Golf was once played during the actual Olympic Games! While it was not officially part of the Games programme, the participants in the Golf tournament at the 1904 Olympic Games held in St Louis, USA also competed in a Putting Championship on a specially built miniature golf course at the Glen Echo Country Club.
It'd be great to see miniature golf become an Olympic sport one day. And we'd also like to see the Oswestry Games return once more. Perhaps when the UK next hosts the Olympics, minigolf will be an event, and Oswestry will host their Games again.
The future for the sport of miniature golf looks bright, with the international governing body - the World Minigolf Sport Federation - gaining further recognition on the global stage all the time.
We enjoyed two trips to Shrewsbury last year and are looking forward to returning this year. Unfortunately we won't be there in time for the Easter mini-golf event.
We went to Shrewsbury twice last year, both times before Players opened. It'll be another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour next time were in the town.
A look at minigolf and competitive socialising in the time of coronavirus and social distancing
I've been blogging about the world of minigolf since 2006 and have seen how the game boomed in the last decade.
The coronavirus pandemic has thrown a spanner in the works into the whole world and as such minigolf courses and competitive socialising venues have taken a hit.
You can read more about social distancing at minigolf courses in this blog post - Social distancing minigolf.
Minigolf in the time of coronavirus
My specialist knowledge and experience in the worlds of minigolf and marketing were recently demonstrated in InterGame's discussion of the opportunities and challenges of operating a mini-golf venue amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
A revisit to the Cae Glas Park Crazy Golf course in Oswestry, Shropshire.
There aren't too many 'Eternit' Miniature Golf courses here in the UK and some of those that do exist have been modified over the years.
One of the best examples is at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry.
We first played the course in 2009 and returned to compete on it during the Oswestry Games in 2012. It was the 149th course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.
It was nice to have a game on it again earlier this week. Even if it started tipping it down as soon as we teed-off.
The 18-hole layout is still in great condition and there are some nice ace opportunities.
The course only costs £1.30 for adults / 50p for children to play! Unbelievable value.
Cae Glas Park is a superb setting and right in the town centre.
We're looking forward to playing it more in the future.
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