Showing posts with label Wales. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wales. Show all posts

Friday, December 20, 2024

How many minigolf courses are there in the UK? (Update: December 2024)

There are lots of new minigolf courses being built, in development or planned to open in the UK.


Information about new adventure golf, crazy golf and miniature golf courses 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 December 2024 there are approximately 1,370 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. Both of these were on the East Anglian coast (in Felixstowe and Great Yarmouth). The indoor course at Manning's Amusements in Felixstowe has recently been removed and is being replaced by a brand new layout that is set to open in the same location at Easter 2025.

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 game was traditionally played on days out, short breaks and holidays, either at the seaside or on holiday camps. While the game has always been enjoyed by people old enough to pick up a putter, it has become a game played as much by groups of adults as it is by families.

The Crazy World of Minigolf Tour


We've now been to a total of 1,072 miniature golf courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, with 1,014 of them in the British Isles. 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. Between August 2023 and September 2024 a further 150 courses have opened, or are in development. And between September 2024 and December 2024 another 27 new courses have been announced.

More new courses to come


There are 100+ new courses being created each year - some are on old sites/locations, some are completely new venues, while others are in planning/development, or under construction.

There are quite a few other minigolf, crazy golf and adventure golf courses that are short-term 'pop-ups', some of which have been used as proof of concept businesses and developed into permanent courses. 

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 post updates 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 me know.

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Crazy Golf at the Caban in Pendine Sands

The seaside town of Pendine Sands has a new Crazy Golf course.


Pendine Sands has a new Crazy Golf course

There's a new Crazy Golf course located at the Caban in Pendine Sands, Carmarthenshire, Wales.

Find out more on the Caban website.


It's another new course for us to check out on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Friday, September 20, 2024

Crazy Golf course at the Rhos Fynach pub and restaurant in Rhos on Sea

A look back at playing the Crazy Golf course at the Rhos Fynach pub and restaurant in Rhos on Sea on Miniature Golf Day 2017.


Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea
You can find the course on Rhos Promenade

We began a holiday in North Wales at Colwyn Bay and Rhos on Sea on Miniature Golf Day in 2017. To celebrate the occasion we teed-off on the Crazy Golf course at the Rhos Fynach pub and restaurant in Rhos on Sea.

Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea
Holing out on The Pirates Skull hole

Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea
The sign has a nice map of the course

Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea
Nice to see a windmill on the course

The Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea became the 462nd course played and 781st visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea
The green of the windmill hole has a plateau on it too

In our match-up on the 9-hole course I won with a score of 31 to Emily's 34.

Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea
Playing out the windmill hole

Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea
Hole 3 - The Squid - is one of two holes on the course that has a choice of cups to aim for. A 'Kids' and an 'Adults' version - both were pretty tough!

Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea
The pirate ship on the 6th hole
 
Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea
Always nice to see some Crazy Golf advertising

The course has an excellent scorecard with a nice map of the layout.

Scorecard from the Rhos Fynach Crazy Golf course in Rhos on Sea
The course map is a neat touch

Scorecard from the Rhos Fynach Crazy Golf course in Rhos on Sea
The results of our round

Check out the Rhos Fynach website.


Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea
"Rules is Rules"

Prestatyn Crazy Golf

A replay of the Prestatyn Crazy Golf course.


I played the excellent Prestatyn Crazy Golf in Prestatyn, North Wales on 'National Miniature Golf Day' back in May.

Prestatyn Crazy Golf course
I managed to capture this shot of the superb course and its classic crazy golf colours during a gap in players on the course during a busy and very warm summer afternoon

The course was originally the 147th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2009.

Prestatyn Crazy Golf
At Prestatyn Crazy Golf

As one of our local seaside towns we used to head to Prestatyn a few times a year. We went there in December 2021 during the pandemic and before that the last visit was in June 2019.

Prestatyn Crazy Golf
Prestatyn Crazy Golf

The Prestatyn Crazy Golf course is one of our favourite locations and is an excellent Arnold Palmer Putting Course.

Prestatyn Crazy Golf
Prestatyn Crazy Golf

I very much enjoyed my two rounds on the 18-hole layout and scored a 40 (+4) on each round. Not too bad considering how rusty my putting is!

Prestatyn Crazy Golf
Prestatyn Crazy Golf

It's a course that is well worth a visit and I'm very much looking forward to another game there in the future.

Prestatyn Crazy Golf
Prestatyn Crazy Golf

Prestatyn Crazy Golf
Prestatyn Crazy Golf

Miniature Golf Days

Each year there are two 'minigolf days', the second of which is Miniature Golf Day. It is always on the 21st September.

The other is National Miniature Golf Day, marked on the second Saturday in May. Planning ahead to next year that will be Saturday 10th May 2025.

Saturday, September 14, 2024

Glow in the Park, Mini Golf after Dark! at Tredegar Park Mini Golf in Newport

The Tredegar Park Mini Golf course in Newport, Wales will once again be hosting Glow in the Park, Mini Golf after Dark! events this Halloween.


Glow in the Park, Mini Golf after Dark! at Tredegar Park Mini Golf in Newport

You can play a round of glow-in-the-dark outdoor crazy golf at the 9-hole venue on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th October, and Friday 1st, Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd November.

Check out the Tredegar Park Mini Golf Facebook Page and the course's event ticket site for more information.


It's always nice to see different minigolf events taking place, and glow-in-the-dark outdoor minigolf for Halloween sounds and looks superb.

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

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.


Information about new adventure golf, crazy golf and miniature golf courses 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.

Sunday, September 01, 2024

A scorecard from Prestatyn Crazy Golf

A look at a scorecard from Prestatyn Crazy Golf.


A scorecard from Prestatyn Crazy Golf

Photos of the Prestatyn Crazy Golf course


Prestatyn Crazy Golf

I revisited and replayed the excellent Prestatyn Crazy Golf in Prestatyn, North Wales on National Miniature Golf Day in May this year.

Prestatyn Crazy Golf course
I managed to capture this shot of the superb course and its classic crazy golf colours during a gap in players on the course during a busy and very warm summer afternoon

The course was originally the 147th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2009.

Prestatyn Crazy Golf
At Prestatyn Crazy Golf

Prestatyn Crazy Golf

The Prestatyn Crazy Golf course is one of our favourite locations and is an excellent Arnold Palmer Putting Course.

Prestatyn Crazy Golf

I very much enjoyed my two rounds on the 18-hole layout and scored a 40 (+4) on each round.

Prestatyn Crazy Golf

It's a course that is well worth a visit and I'm very much looking forward to another game there in the future.

Prestatyn Crazy Golf

Scorecard from Welsh Dragon Adventure Golf in Rhyl

A look at a scorecard from the Welsh Dragon Adventure Golf course in Rhyl.


Scorecard from Welsh Dragon Adventure Golf in Rhyl
The rules of the course

Scorecard from Welsh Dragon Adventure Golf in Rhyl
The scorecard had been discarded next to the course - but has been saved and will be entered into the Crazy Golf Museum for posterity

The course was the 146th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2009.

Thursday, August 29, 2024

Underground Golf at Zip World Llechwedd

A look at the underground minigolf course at Zip World Llechwedd.


Underground Golf at Zip World Llechwedd. Photo by Mark Swain, August 2024
Underground Golf at Zip World Llechwedd. Photo by Mark Swain, August 2024

Zip World Llechwedd near Blaenau Ffestiniog in Gwynedd, Wales is home to an underground adventure golf course.

Underground Golf at Zip World Llechwedd. Photo by Mark Swain, August 2024
Underground Golf at Zip World Llechwedd. Photo by Mark Swain, August 2024

Many thanks to our friend and minigolf rival Mark Swain for sending over these snaps of the course from his recent visit there.

Underground Golf at Zip World Llechwedd. Photo by Mark Swain, August 2024
Underground Golf at Zip World Llechwedd. Photo by Mark Swain, August 2024

We haven't made it to Zip World Llechwedd to have a game on the 18-hole course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour yet. But's it's on our list.

Underground Golf at Zip World Llechwedd. Photo by Mark Swain, August 2024
Underground Golf at Zip World Llechwedd. Photo by Mark Swain, August 2024

Take a look at the Zip World Llechwedd website for more information.


The Rules of Underground Golf at Zip World Llechwedd. Photo by Mark Swain, August 2
The Rules of Underground Golf at Zip World Llechwedd. Photo by Mark Swain, August 2

Deepest underground miniature golf course in the world


The Underground Golf course at Zip World Llechwedd holds the Guinness World Record for being the "Deepest underground miniature golf course" as it is 152 metres below ground. It's a record I was part of verifying in my role as a Consultant for the Guinness World Records. Check out the Guinness World Records website and the 2024 edition of the book to see more minigolf, crazy golf and adventure golf records.

Indoor Crazy Golf in Llandudno

There are plans for a new indoor Crazy Golf course in Llandudno.


There are plans for a new indoor Crazy Golf course in Llandudno

The new Crazy Golf venue could be opened in the former M&S shop in Llandudno.

We've played minigolf in Llandudno several times on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, including the two Adventure Golf courses on the Great Orme mountain in the seaside resort.

Thursday, August 22, 2024

Tredegar Park Mini-Golf has reopened

The Tredegar Park Mini-Golf course in Newport, Wales has reopened.


Tredegar Park Mini Golf is reopening

The course was damaged in an arson attack earlier this year and has managed to re-open following the damage caused.

The course and new hut/kiosk is looking very good. You can find out more on the Tredegar Park Mini Golf Facebook Page.


The Tredegar Park Mini Golf course was the 192nd played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in August 2010. It was one of the courses played as part of the 2010 Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament).

Tredegar Park Mini Golf in 2010
Hole 9 on the course was an absolute round killer back in 2010! I wonder what it's like now...?

It'll be interesting to see how the course plays all these years later. From the photos on the course's Facebook Page it looks in nice condition - and from what I've heard is still a great test of putting skill.

Friday, August 09, 2024

Tredegar Park Mini Golf re-opening

The Tredegar Park Mini Golf course in Newport, Wales re-opened today.


The Tredegar Park Mini Golf course in Newport, Wales re-opened

The course suffered damage at the hands of arsonists earlier this year and has been closed since while work was done to get the course ready.

The 9-hole outdoor mini golf course had been doing very well since re-opening in June 2023.

Check out the Tredegar Park Mini Golf Facebook Page for more information.


The Tredegar Park Mini Golf course was the 192nd played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in August 2010. It was one of the courses played as part of the 2010 Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament).

We wish the team at Tredegar Park Mini Golf all the very best for the re-opening of the course.

Thursday, July 18, 2024

Playing at Prestatyn Crazy Golf

A revisit to the Prestatyn Crazy Golf course.


Prestatyn Crazy Golf
Prestatyn Crazy Golf

I revisited and replayed the excellent Prestatyn Crazy Golf in Prestatyn, North Wales on National Miniature Golf Day in May.

Prestatyn Crazy Golf course
I managed to capture this shot of the superb course and its classic crazy golf colours during a gap in players on the course during a busy and very warm summer afternoon

The course was originally the 147th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2009.

Prestatyn Crazy Golf
At Prestatyn Crazy Golf

As one of our local seaside towns we used to head to Prestatyn a few times a year. We went there in December 2021 during the pandemic and before that the last visit was in June 2019! Where's the time gone since then!

Prestatyn Crazy Golf
Prestatyn Crazy Golf

The Prestatyn Crazy Golf is one of our favourite courses and is an excellent Arnold Palmer Putting Course.

Prestatyn Crazy Golf
Prestatyn Crazy Golf

I very much enjoyed my two rounds on the 18-hole layout and scored a 40 (+4) on each round. Not too bad considering how rusty my putting is!

Prestatyn Crazy Golf
Prestatyn Crazy Golf

It's a course that is well worth a visit and I'm very much looking forward to another game there in the future.

Prestatyn Crazy Golf
Prestatyn Crazy Golf

Prestatyn Crazy Golf
Prestatyn Crazy Golf