Showing posts with label Wiltshire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wiltshire. Show all posts

Thursday, April 16, 2026

Dinosaur Mini Golf at Emery Gate Shopping Centre in Chippenham

There's a pop-up Dinosaur Mini Golf at Emery Gate Shopping Centre in Chippenham, Wiltshire on the 18th and 25th April.


Emery Gate Shopping Centre in Chippenham will have an indoor mini golf course set-up on Saturday 18th and Saturday 25th April.

Find out more on the Emery Gate Shopping Centre website.

Thursday, April 09, 2026

Lost minigolf courses - The Golfing Hole Adventure Golf course in Swindon, Wiltshire

A look back at The Golfing Hole indoor adventure golf course in Swindon, Wiltshire.


Minigolf at The Golfing Holf indoor Adventure Golf course in Swindon
At The Golfing Hole indoor Adventure Golf course in Swindon

We visited Swindon, Wiltshire in January 2015 to play our first miniature golf course of the New Year. The location was The Golfing Hole Indoor Adventure Golf course at the Spectrum on Mead Way.

Minigolf at The Golfing Holf indoor Adventure Golf course in Swindon
Emily playing hole 2 - a big ramp that led to a spiral

The course was the 589th visited and 355th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since 2006. In 2014 we visited 46 courses and played 28 of them.

Crazy Golf at The Golfing Holf indoor Adventure Golf course in Swindon
Putting into a machine

During our match we played through each of the obstacles, rather than taking the easier line and putting around the lumps and bumps of the greens. Some of the holes in the pipes were easier to get the ball into than others, with a few of them causing a lot of frustration. The result of our contest was a draw, with a score of 54 each.

Minigolf at The Golfing Holf indoor Adventure Golf course in Swindon
Emily putts into one of the factory's machines. This one was really tough

Minigolf at The Golfing Holf indoor Adventure Golf course in Swindon
Putting from the back of the green

Minigolf at The Golfing Holf indoor Adventure Golf course in Swindon
There was a BIG minigolf loop-di-loop on one of the holes
   
Minigolf at The Golfing Holf indoor Adventure Golf course in Swindon
My favourite hole at The Golfing Hole. Though quite what a green 'grass' minigolf layout with sandy bunkers was doing inside a 'factory' I don't know. Very crazy golf! 

Minigolf at The Golfing Holf indoor Adventure Golf course in Swindon
Emily putts out after playing through a cabin/site office in The Golfing Hole factory

Minigolf at The Golfing Holf indoor Adventure Golf course in Swindon
Hole 13 led into the blacklight area, while the tee-off point for hole 14 was inside

Crazy Golf at The Golfing Holf indoor Adventure Golf course in Swindon
This hole was really difficult as the gap at the top of the ramp wasn't much bigger than the golf ball

Minigolf at The Golfing Holf indoor Adventure Golf course in Swindon
Playing out the UV hole

Minigolf at The Golfing Holf indoor Adventure Golf course in Swindon
Emily tees-off inside the blacklight room

Minigolf at The Golfing Holf indoor Adventure Golf course in Swindon
And putts out in the light of the factory

Related blog posts:

Thursday, January 29, 2026

Mini-Golf at Trowbridge Town Park in Trowbridge, Wiltshire

There are plans to refurbish the old mini-golf course at Trowbridge Town Park in Trowbridge, Wiltshire.


The current course looks to be an Eternit-style of miniature golf, with several additional obstacles on it.

It'll be interesting to see what the new course will look like.

Monday, February 03, 2025

New Adventure Golf course at Longleat Center Parcs

Center Parcs Longleat Forest will be home to a new Adventure Golf course.


Center Parcs Longleat Forest will be home to a new Adventure Golf course

The holiday centre has an existing Adventure Golf course that will be removed, with a new course layout being created in the park.

Visit the Center Parcs Longleat Forest website for more information.


Emily and I haven't been to a Center Parcs before, however my brother Christopher and his family have holidayed at Center Parcs Elveden Forest in Norfolk and played the outdoor Treasure Island Adventure Golf course there on their branch of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Saturday, December 14, 2024

Toys R Us inside WH Smith in Salisbury

There's a Toys R Us at WH Smith in Salisbury, Wiltshire.


Toys R Us at WH Smith in Salisbury
Toys R Us at WH Smith in Salisbury

Emily spotted this new Toys R Us store at WH Smith in Salisbury on a recent trip to the city.

Toys R Us inside WH Smith in Salisbury
Toys R Us inside WH Smith in Salisbury

It was a nice to see these framed pictures showing the evolution of the brand's mascot Geoffrey the Giraffe over the years inside the shop.

Geoffrey the Giraffe poster at Toys R Us inside WH Smith in Salisbury

Geoffrey the Giraffe poster at Toys R Us inside WH Smith in Salisbury

Geoffrey the Giraffe poster at Toys R Us inside WH Smith in Salisbury

Geoffrey the Giraffe poster at Toys R Us inside WH Smith in Salisbury

Geoffrey the Giraffe poster at Toys R Us inside WH Smith in Salisbury

While the last of the original Toys R Us stores in the UK closed on the 24th April 2018 the brand returned to the UK in 2022 with an online presence, and further expanded in 2023 with the opening of nine concessions inside WH Smith.

There are currently 76 Toys R Us concessions in WH Smith shops (up from 39 in September this year), with more planned to open. Visit the Toys R Us website for more information.

Working at Toys R Us


My first job while at university in the year 2000 was as one of Geoffrey's helpers at the Luton store. I worked on the video game and electronics section.

Toys R Us concessions in the USA


Emily saw a Toys R Us at a Macy's department store in Fort Worth, Texas and a sign for one at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on a trip to the USA earlier this year.

The old Toys R Us


It's been very interesting to find that there are still remnants of the brand on some retail parks in the UK and we've visited several of these closed, abandoned, derelict and demolished Toys R Us locations on our travels.


Lost Toys R Us Stores


My book about Lost Toys R Us Stores is available to buy from Amazon.

There were once 105 Toys R Us stores in the UK. The business ceased trading in 2018 and all of those shops closed. It is still possible to find traces of the brand on some retail parks and shopping centres around the UK. The book takes a look at some of those old stores between 2019 and 2021.

Buy Lost Toys R Us Stores on Amazon.

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club

A look back at the Crazy Putting Challenge minigolf course at Hamptworth Golf Club - the 875th course we visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


Crazy Putting Challenge minigolf course at Hamptworth Golf Club (May 2019)
Crazy Putting Challenge minigolf course at Hamptworth Golf Club (May 2019)

Our 2019 trip to Southampton saw us visit 18 more courses on our tour, playing eight of them. One of the courses we had a round on was the Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club in Wiltshire.

Crazy Putting Challenge minigolf course at Hamptworth Golf Club

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
On hole 4

The excellent 9-hole course was the 875th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and the 511th played.


We really enjoyed our game on the Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club. The staff at the club were very welcoming and we could've easily spent a few more hours enjoying the course.

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
The Rules of the Crazy Putting Challenge course

In our match-up over 18-holes I won with a score of 41 (20 and 21) to Emily's 44 (22 and 22).

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Playing hole 4

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Emily on hole 1

I played two further rounds to try to shoot a sub-20 score, but hit another 21 and 20. It's the sort of course I could've played over and over again.

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Playing hole 5

Check out my blog post with videos of me playing each of the 9-holes.


Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Teeing-off on hole 8

There was a nice little Putting Green at the Club too and a number of people were enjoying a round on the big golf course. Big being the operative word, as Hamptworth Golf Club is home to a 666 yard par-6 hole!

Putting Green at Hamptworth Golf Club
The Putting Green

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 9 was the longest hole on the Crazy Putting Challenge course

Photos of the 9-hole Crazy Putting Challenge course.

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 1

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 2

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 3

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 3

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 4

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 5

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 6

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 6
 
Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 7

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 7

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 7

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 8

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 9

Crazy Putting Challenge at Hamptworth Golf Club
Hole 9

Visit the Hamptworth Golf Club website for more information on the venue.

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Mini Golf at Fayre on the Square in Salisbury

There will be a Mini Golf course at the Fayre on the Square in Salisbury, Wiltshire this summer.


There will be a Mini Golf course at the Fayre on the Square in Salisbury, Wiltshire this summer

Fayre on the Square runs from Saturday 20th July until Sunday 1st September.

Check out the Fayre on the Square website for more information.

Saturday, June 22, 2024

Jungle Rocks Adventure Golf at Adventure Point in Swindon

There's a 9-hole Crazy Golf course at Adventure Point in Swindon, Wiltshire.


There's a 9-hole Crazy Golf course at Adventure Point in Swindon, Wiltshire

Jungle Rocks Adventure Golf is indoor course at Adventure Point in Swindon.

Visit the Adventure Point website for more information.

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

Monday, May 27, 2024

Minigolf at Coate Water Park in Swindon

The two miniature golf courses at Coate Water Park in Swindon, Wiltshire will be reopening this summer.


Crazy Golf course at Coate Water Country Park in Swindon

The 18-hole Pitch & Putt layout and 18-hole Crazy Golf course at Coate Water Park in Swindon closed during the coronavirus pandemic and haven't reopened since.

They're now set to open for play again from July.

The Crazy Golf course at Coate Water Park was the 750th course visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in August 2017.

Friday, March 08, 2024

Adventure Golf at Lydiard Park in Swindon

A new Adventure Golf course is planned for Lydiard House in Swindon, Wiltshire.


A new Adventure Golf course is planned for Lydiard House in Swindon, Wiltshire

Lydiard House at Lydiard Park in Swindon could soon be home to an Adventure Golf course.

Lydiard Adventure Golf would be an outdoor course with a wildlife-theme.

It'll be another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Sunday, February 18, 2024

Trowbridge Park Mini Golf

A look at the Trowbridge Park Mini Golf course.


My friend and minigolf rival (and sometimes team-mate) Seth Thomas recently swung by the Trowbridge Park Mini Golf in Trowbridge, Wiltshire and sent me these snaps.

Trowbridge Park Mini Golf. Photo by Seth Thomas, February 2024

Trowbridge Park Mini Golf. Photo by Seth Thomas, February 2024

It looks to be a type of Eternit-style miniature golf layout.

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


It's another new old course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.