Dragon Classic minigolf tournament at Fontygary Leisure Park

Details of the Welsh Minigolf Club's Dragon Classic competition at Fontygary Leisure Park in Barry.

The Dragon can be found on holes 2 and 18 of the Fontygary Leisure Park course

The first mid-pandemic socially distanced minigolf tournament in the UK is taking place on Sunday 26th July.

Organised by the Welsh Minigolf Club the 2020 Dragon Classic will be held on the Dragon's Quest Mini Golf course at Fontygary Leisure Park in Rhoose, Barry.

Entry is limited to 18 players and more information can be found on the Welsh Minigolf Club's website and Facebook page.

Good luck to all of the players in the event.

Playing the course

I played the 18-hole Dragon's Quest Mini Golf course at Fontygary Leisure Park during my trip to compete in the Welsh Double's Championship in May last year.

There are some superb views from Fontygary Leisure Park and it's well worth a visit

Other tournaments

The last minigolf tournament held in the UK before lockdown was the 19th edition of the Planet Hastings Crazy Golf Open held on the 1st March. The Thanet Open had been held in Margate, Kent on 9th February.

Details of minigolf tournaments in the UK can be found on the British Minigolf Association website.

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Crazy Golf in Wales

A look at names for the game of minigolf in Wales.

We love visiting Wales and have visited most of the minigolf courses in the country. We were supposed to have a holiday there back in March and one of the towns we planned to visit was Porthmadog.

On our minigolf road-trip around Wales in 2009 we arrived in Porthmadog just as the three miniature golf courses there were closing so were looking forward to finally playing them this year.

Golff Giamocs

Last week I posted this question on our Facebook Page - where did we see this sign and what does Golff Giamocs mean?

Giamocs means a number of things, but doesn't necessarily translate directly as 'crazy'

Some of the responses were very interesting as they gave us even more meanings when translated into English as 'Giamocs' can mean tricks, gimmick, prank, stunt and a joke.

All quite apt ways to describe Crazy Golf.

Ways to say minigolf in Welsh

We've seen a number of names for the game on signs and scorecards at courses.

Adventure Golf = Golff Anturus

Crazy Golf = Golff Gwyllt

Crazy Golf = Golff Giamocs

Crazy Golf = Golff Gwallgof

Crazy Golf = Golff Gwirion

Minigolf = Minigolff

Mini Golf = Golff Bach

Mini Golf = Golff Mini

Miniature Golf = Maes Golff

Miniature Golf Course = Cwrs Golff Bach

Pitch and Putt = Golff Byr

Putting Green = Llain Bytio

Golf = Golff

Course = Cwrs

Bach = Small

Maes = Field

Giamocs = Tricks / Gimmick / Prank / Stunt / a joke

Gwallgof = Crazy

Gwirion = Stupid

Gwyllt = Wild

Types of minigolf courses

Since our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour began in September 2006 we have visited and played minigolf in a number of forms, names and guises.

Definitions of minigolf

There are a number of different names for the game of minigolf. While there are some design standards for courses, most would be regarded as 'fantasy' courses where the end result is limited only by imagination, budgets and building regulations.

You can see the common names for the game of putting in this Definitions of minigolf blog post.

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Putting Green at the North Wales Crown Green Bowls Centre in Rhyl

A revisit to the Putting Green at the North Wales Crown Green Bowls Centre in Rhyl.

Llain bytio o 9 twll

Last week I swung by the Putting Green at the North Wales Crown Green Bowls Centre in Rhyl.

The bowls green next to the RNLI centre was the Putting Green when we first visited

Back in September 2014 the course became the 349th played and 583rd visited overall on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

How the course looked in 2014

We've now been to 911 courses.

The sign at the course said 9 Hole Putting Green / Llain bytio o 9 twll. There are a number of ways to say Miniature Golf in Welsh.

Related blog posts:
- Rhyl
- Wales
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Mini Golf Putting Green in Rhyl
- Minigolf etc. - English to Welsh translations

Crazy Golf in Porthmadog

A look at the Minigolf, Crazy Golf and Putting courses in Porthmadog, Wales.

Many thanks to our friend Celine for sending over some snaps from her visit to the miniature golf courses in Porthmadog, Wales.

The site has a grass Putting course, a fibreglass Crazy Golf course and a Swedish Felt Mini Golf course 

Golff Giamocs is one way of spelling Crazy Golf in Welsh

A view of the fibreglass Crazy Golf course

The other Crazy Golf course in Porthmadog is a Swedish Felt B-Run style of course 

A view of the Mini Golf layout

We visited the three minigolf courses in Porthmadog during our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour road trip around the Welsh coast in 2009. Unfortunately we didn't get to play them though.

Fingers crossed we'll get to have a round on the layouts this year.

Related blog posts:
- Not playing Minigolf, Crazy Golf or Putting in Porthmadog
- Minigolf - English to Welsh translations
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Mini Golf courses in Wales

A look back at our big minigolf roadtrip to Wales.

Crazy Golfing on the classic Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Prestatyn

Back in 2009 we headed off on a tour of Wales and ended up visiting 93% of all the public minigolf courses in the country!

The Minigolf course at Gowerton Golf Range

Between the 9th and 21st August we drove 983 miles, played 28 courses and visited 15 more that were unplayable. Unbelievable that it was six years ago already!

Crazy Golfing at Tywyn Leisure Park

Crazy Golf at Knightly's Amusements and Fun Park in Towyn

Crazy Golfing in Aberystwyth

Playing the Crazy Golf course in Swansea during round two of the 2009 Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament)

Playing the highest minigolf course in the UK - the Rocky Pines Adventure Golf course atop The Great Orme in Llandudno

Here's the list of courses we were able to play on the trip:

121 Barry Island/Ynys y Barri (Smuggler's Cove) - Adventure Golf

122 Porthcawl (Trecco Caravan Park) - Adventure Golf
123 Porthcawl (Trecco Caravan Park) - Putting

124 Swansea/Abertawe (Southend Park, The Mumbles) - Crazy Golf
125 Swansea/Abertawe (Singleton Boating Lake) - Crazy Golf

126 Gowerton (Gowerton Golf Range) - Minigolf
127 Gowerton (Gowerton Golf Range) - Putting Course

128 Pembrey/Pen-bre (Pembrey Country Park) - Crazy Golf

129 Pendine Bay - Crazy Golf

130 Saundersfoot - Crazy Golf

131 Heatherton Park, near Tenby - Adventure Golf

132 Eglwyswrw (Dyfed Shires & Leisure Farm) - Crazy Golf

133 Henllan Station (Teifi Valley Railway), near Newcastle Emlyn - Crazy Golf

134 Llanrhystud (Penrhos Golf & Country Club) - Crazy Golf

135 Aberystwyth - Crazy Golf
136 Aberystwyth - Putting

137 Aberdovey/Aberdyfi - Putting

138 Tywyn (Leisure Park) - Crazy Golf

139 Isle of Anglesey/Ynys Môn (Holyhead Park) - Crazy Golf

140 Isle of Anglesey/Ynys Môn (Bodorgan, Henblas Country Park) - Crazy Golf

141 Isle of Anglesey/Ynys Môn (Anglesey Sea Zoo) - Swedish Felt

142 Llandudno (Great Orme/Y Gogarth) - Alpine Adventure Golf

143 Llandudno (Great Orme/Y Gogarth) - Rocky Pines Adventure Golf - The highest minigolf course in the British Isles

144 Towyn (Knightly's on Sandbank Road) - Crazy Golf

145 Rhyl (Drift Park) - Minigolf - Revisited in September 2014

146 Rhyl (Welsh Dragon) - Adventure Golf - Revisited in September 2014

147 Prestatyn (Bastion Road, Central Beach) - Arnold Palmer Putting Course/Crazy Golf. Revisited in September 2014. Host venue for The Butler Cup and Holiday on the Buses Pro Tournament won by Emily. RICHARD WINS A FREE GAME ON THE TOP HOLE

148 Llangollen (Riverside Park) - Minigolf

Visiting the last remnants of the abandoned Crazy Golf course in Llanfairfechan

The courses we were unable to play were:

21 Barry Island/Ynys y Barri - Crazy Golf - Played in the late 1980's/early 1990's - Demolished for new Smuggler's Cove Adventure Golf

22 Pendine Sands - Crazy Golf - Demolished

23 Saundersfoot (Merlewood Hotel) - Putting Course - for hotel guests only

24 Gumfreston (The Dinosaur Park) - Adventure Golf - was just closing

25 Herons Brook Animal Farm - Crazy Golf (Demolished five years ago)

26 Aberystwyth Cliff Railway (Constitution Hill) - Claimed to have a new Crazy Golf course - it did not exist
27 Aberystwyth Cliff Railway (Constitution Hill) - The 'Games Room' did have a broken minigolf arcade machine that was out of order

28 Tywyn (Leisure Park) - Putting (ran out of time on visit)

29 Porthmadog - Crazy Golf (arrived at 5.30pm, course closed at 6pm but would not let us play)
30 Porthmadog - Swedish Felt (arrived at 5.30pm, course closed at 6pm but would not let us play)
31 Porthmadog - Putting (arrived at 5.30pm, course closed at 6pm but would not let us play)

32 Criccieth - Miniature Golf (Pitch & Putt) #1
33 Criccieth - Miniature Golf (Pitch & Putt) #2

34 Abergwyngregyn (Aber Falls Tavern) - course unplayable, Tavern under redevelopment

35 Llanfairfechan - Crazy Golf - only holes 13, 14, 15, 16 & 17 remain - no kiosk

We're looking forward to more trips to Wales in the future. We're regularly visitors and next time we'll hoping to give the new Treetop Adventure Golf course in Cardiff.

Check out our blog post of English to Welsh translations for Minigolf!

There are a fair few ways to say 'minigolf' in Welsh!

Related blog posts:
- Minigolf Tour of Wales - Stats & Facts
- Minigolf etc. - English to Welsh translations
- Wales
- 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.

Lost in translation

We love travelling around the UK and in the last month we've travelled to Scotland and Wales and noticed a lot of dual language signs.

I always really enjoy driving in Wales as you know you're in a foreign country when you see the first ARAF on the road.

ARAF

On the doors of the toilets in the games-room of our hotel in Cwmbran there was a confusing situation!

Toileting abroad

It didn't help that neither of us could remember which symbol (depicted on the dragon tails) was the right one for male/female!? I suppose blue is quite obviously the men's lavvy.

Rather unhelpfully when I contacted my personal Welsh to English translation service by text I received a reply of "Men and Women". It took a second text to clarify the correct way round! Thank goodness neither of us had to go at the time.

After Araf (for 'Slow') and Allan (pronounced "Achlan", the Welsh word for 'Out' as in an exit) I like seeing signs for Canol y dref.

A brown sign pointing to Crickhowell's Canol y dref

We enjoyed our visits to Abergavenny (Y Fenni) and Crickhowell (Crug Hywel) and while in Builth Wells (Llanfair ym Muallt) we took a snap of Emily's new favourite Welsh words.

A Welsh Bus Stop in Builth Wells

Back in 2009 we went on a brilliant roadtrip around the Welsh coast and visited some great places - including Tenby, which in Welsh has a great name - Dinbych-y-pysgod - which means little town of the fishes / little fortress of the fish.

Check out our blog post about English to Welsh translations for Mini and Crazy Golf that we spotted on the trip.

This time we were in Wales for the World Alternative Games (Gemau Byd Arallddewisol) in Llanwrtyd Wells (Llanwrtyd). At the Games we ran the Finger Jousting (Ymwan Bys) Championships, played Portaputt (Portaputt) and competed in the World of Grip (Byd Gafael).

We're looking forward to many more roadtrips around the UK.

Related blog posts:
- Wales
- Minigolf etc. - English to Welsh translations
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list of courses visited and played

Penarth Golff Mini (it's a Golf Byr!) - Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

While in Wales last weekend we decided to stop off at the seaside resort of Penarth, as it was one of the seasides we did not visit on our 2009 Tour of Wales.

We were just planning to visit the town to see what was there and unexpectedly found that there was a Mini Golf (Golff Mini) course there! It's at Cioni's Bistro on the Cliff Top.

The Mini Golf (Golff Mini) course was actually a Pitch and Putt (Golf Byr) as opposed to a Crazy Golf (Golf Gwyllt) type of Minigolf (Minigolff).

Unfortunately we didn't have time to have a game, the course did look good though.

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list of courses visited and played
- Minigolf etc. - English to Welsh translations
- Wales

Minigolf etc. - English to Welsh translations

While on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour holiday in Wales in 2009 we noticed a few different spellings of Minigolf, Miniature Golf and Crazy Golf!


Below are the translations from English to Welsh:

Crazy Golf (1) = Golff Gwyllt

Crazy Golf (2) = Golff Giamocs

Minigolf = Minigolff

Mini Golf = Golff Bach

Miniature Golf = Maes Golff

Putting Green = Llain Bytio

Golf = Golff

Course = Cwrs

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list of courses visited and played
- Wales
- Lost in Translation