Showing posts with label artainment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label artainment. Show all posts

Friday, August 07, 2020

CLUB GOLF crazy golf beer

Today is International Beer Day.


I spotted this Crazy Golf beer at the Club Golf minigolf pop-up at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London in February this year.

CLUB GOLF crazy golf beer

It was the last new minigolf course I played before the coronavirus pandemic hit.

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Monday, July 27, 2020

Judging the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club PUTT PARTY contest

We had a brilliant time judging all of the entries into the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club's PUTT PARTY contest on Saturday morning.


Putting at home with the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club
Putting at home with the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club

The PUTT PARTY was a Show & Tell of the Mini Golf holes created by residents of Knowle West in Bristol and the culmination of a lot of hard work and crazy golfing fun.

During lockdown and over summer the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club has created a home-based minigolf club for local residents. Having received supplies of arts and crafts materials the club members were challenged to create their own crazy golf holes.

It was superb seeing the innovations, classic styles, wild, wacky and mega minigolf constructions and tricky to pick a winner.

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Yesterday was our finale Putt Party, where Knowle West-ers showcased our DIY Mini Golf Hole’s with one another over zoom, drawing the virtual ClubHouse meetings to a temporary pause. We can’t thank our in-house Mini Golf VIP’s @emslemsgottfried & @richard_gottfried all the way from Stockport enough. What a tricky judging time they had. They fed back beautiful comments on all the houses holes, really respected our community with words of encouragement and praise for our different skillsets and mini golf crafting skills. Comments included ‘wow, I wasn’t expecting that!’ & ‘you had it all!’ 949 Mini Golf Holes 🕳 visited. We cannot wait for you to visit us in Knowle West (when restrictions allow). #superstars #mr&mrs #minigolfchamps #thankyousomuch #diygolfcourse #communityfirst
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After everyone had demonstrated their crazy golf layout and talked through the ideas behind it we entered into deliberation before declaring the Alford family the winners of the Mini Golf Artists Award 2020 for their excellent Crocodile hole.

You can see the winning design in the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club Facebook Group and Instagram.



The multi-level layout had moving parts to open the croc's mouth, a ramp, tunnel, a playable tee-off point and a nice green.

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We're looking forward to seeing the creation scaled-up and included in the full-size Crazy Golf course being built at the Filwood Community Centre later this year.

Visit the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club's Facebook Group and the Filwood Community Centre website for more information.


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Monday, July 20, 2020

Putting at Home with the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club

We found out about the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club in Knowle West, Bristol last month and have joined the club's Putt Party online events.


Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club

The Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club have created a home-based minigolf club and work is underway to build brand new minigolf course at the Filwood Community Centre.

Members of the club have been designing and making their own crazy golf holes using a wide-range of materials. The 16 households are putting the finishing touches to the layouts ahead of a competition to declare the best design this coming Saturday. Emily and I are really looking forward to being guest judges at the event. We've seen some superb designs so far.

Check out the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club's Facebook Group and the Filwood Community Centre website for more information.

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club in Bristol

Information about the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club in Knowle West, Bristol.


The Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club has been created in Knowle West, Bristol.

A new home-based minigolf club has been created ahead of the building of a brand new minigolf course in Bristol.

Many thanks to our friend, minigolf rival and Midlands Minigolf Club team-mate Kevin Moseley for letting us know about the new minigolf club and course near him in Bristol.

The Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club has been set-up by artist Megan Clark-Bagnall to introduce fun and creativity during lockdown.

Members of the online Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club are putting together ideas and obstacles in the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club's Facebook Group. The new minigolf course will be opening at Filwood Community Centre later in the year.

It's brilliant to see another example of competitive isolation during the pandemic. We've loved seeing all of the different Putt At Home activities taking place around the world while people haven't been able to get out to play.

We're looking forward to following the progress of the club and playing the course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Check out the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club's Facebook Group and the Filwood Community Centre website for more information.

Tuesday, June 02, 2020

CLUB GOLF pop-up minigolf in King's Cross, London

A look at the CLUB GOLF pop-up minigolf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London.


CLUB GOLF pop-up minigolf in King's Cross, London

The out-of-home part of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour is currently paused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The 948th, and last new, course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour was the CLUB GOLF pop-up at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London.

CLUB GOLF pop-up minigolf in King's Cross, London

I played the 9-hole rave-inspired art installation crazy golf course in February this year.

CLUB GOLF pop-up minigolf in King's Cross, London

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Monday, May 04, 2020

The Coronavirus (Ham & Egger) Files

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.

I recently took a look at 'The next normal rules of minigolf' with a dive into how minigolf will be played after lockdown.

A look at minigolf and competitive socialising in the time of coronavirus and social distancing

The Coronavirus (Ham & Egger) Files

I've collated a number of blog posts from recent months, looking at the rise of competitive socialising, tenpin bowling and minigolf combinations, minigolf in a retail setting, technological innovations through minigolf scoring and loyalty apps, as well as the popularity of mixing art and minigolf.

These pre-pandemic posts are joined by the posts I've written about minigolf, competitive socialising and competitive isolation during the time of Covid-19.

Pre-pandemic

Shopping mall minigolf - The growth of shopping centre crazy golf and retailtainment.

Garden centre minigolf - A look at garden centres with miniature golf courses.

Artainment and the world of minigolf - A look at how minigolf has been used in artistic creations.

Minigolf and tenpin bowling - Where to find minigolf and tenpin bowling entertainment centres.

Minigolf Scoring and Loyalty Apps - A look at minigolf, crazy golf and adventure golf scorecard and loyalty apps.

New minigolf courses - Details of new minigolf, crazy golf and adventure golf courses opening.

During the time of Covid-19

Keeping minigolf rolling - Prior to the coronavirus pandemic the minigolf and wider competitive socialising sectors were booming. Something we're very keen to continue once the world gets back to a semblance of normality.

The Big Mini Golf Bucket List - Ideas to while away the hours, days, weeks and months of lockdown.

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour update - Out-of-Home Putting Paused by Pandemic.

Competitive socialising in isolation - Keeping social and competitive in the new world of physical distancing.

The next normal rules of minigolf - A look at how minigolf will be played after lockdown.

Minigolf in the time of Coronavirus - Posts written about new courses opening or planned, course visits, information and examples of social distancing measures, competitions and tournaments, putt at home activities and more.

Social distancing minigolf - Examples of minigolf in the time of coronavirus and social distancing.

Gator Adventure Golf in Chorley - Blog post about the first course we played during the pandemic.

The retailtainment and minigolf boom - Minigolf is a big part of the retailtainment boom, with courses opening as standalone entertainment activities, or as part of large shoppingtainment leisure offerings in malls, high streets and retail parks.

After the pandemic

Watch this space...

Putting at home

There are also a number of Putt at Home events taking place around the world and it's been brilliant to see how popular home and garden minigolf has been during lockdown.

Crazy Golf in Prestatyn, Wales
We're looking forward to launching back into the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour when it's safe to do so

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Wednesday, April 15, 2020

World Art Day - art and minigolf

Today is World Art Day.


A look at art installation minigolf courses and crazy golf sculptures.


A look at art installation minigolf courses and crazy golf sculptures

We've seen the worlds of art and minigolf combine a number of times over the years.

A look at art installation minigolf courses and crazy golf sculptures

A relatively new term for this combination is 'artainment' - where art and entertainment mix to immerse visitors to an exhibition, gallery or installation in an interactive experience.

A look at art installation minigolf courses and crazy golf sculptures

It'll be interesting to see where the next art-based minigolf course we play is when the coronavirus pandemic is over.

Related blog posts:
- Art
- Artainment
- Artainment and the world of minigolf

World Art Day - Space Invader street art

Happy World Art Day!


These are a few of the Space Invaders by the street artist Invader I've found on my travels around Manchester, down in London and up in Newcastle.

Space Invader street art in Manchester, London and Newcastle

I'm looking forward to getting out exploring and finding new street art when the coronavirus pandemic is over.

Related blog posts:
- Art
- Space Invaders
- Art and sculpture trails

Thursday, April 02, 2020

Snooker at CLUB GOLF

Anyone for snooker?


CLUB GOLF pop-up crazy colf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London

The last new minigolf course played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour was the pop-up rave-inspired art installation Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London.



It was the 948th course visited on our travels since September 2006.


CLUB GOLF pop-up crazy colf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
Anyone for snooker?

One of the 9-holes was snooker-themed.

CLUB GOLF pop-up crazy colf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
A snooker crazy golf hole

CLUB GOLF pop-up crazy colf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
The putting surface

CLUB GOLF pop-up crazy colf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
Rules

CLUB GOLF pop-up crazy colf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
The pipe takes the ball down along the stairs

CLUB GOLF pop-up crazy colf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
The bottom part of the hole

CLUB GOLF pop-up crazy colf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
The green

Take a look at some of the stranger miniature golf and cue-sports crossover games we've played in this blog post.

We've seen and played a number of minigolf/snooker cross-over holes, courses and obstacles
We've seen and played a number of minigolf/snooker cross-over holes, courses and obstacles

Friday, March 06, 2020

Artainment and the world of minigolf

A look at how minigolf has been used in artistic creations.


We've seen the worlds of art and minigolf combine a number of times over the years.


A relatively new term for this combination is 'artainment' - where art and entertainment mix to immerse visitors to an exhibition, gallery or installation in an interactive experience.


Playing Doug Fishbone's Leisure Land Golf course at York Art Gallery
Playing Doug Fishbone's Leisure Land Golf course at York Art Gallery in 2017

We've seen a number of art trails created in the last couple of years and they are becoming a popular part of 'retailtainment' and 'shoppertainment' where entertainment options have been added to the high street or shopping malls to help attract and retain customers.

Crazy Golf and art.


There is currently an art installation pop-up Crazy Golf course at Coal Drop's Yard in King's Cross, London. It's playable until the 29th March. Club Golf is a combination of sport, art and retail entertainment. Artists Baker & Borowski created the 9-hole themed Crazy Golf layout inspired by the rave culture in the King's Cross area back in the 1980's and 90's.

Club Golf at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
Club Golf at the Coal Drops Yard shopping and dining area in King's Cross, London

Minigolf is a very visual thing and each course is a work of art in its own right. We love seeing time, effort and thought put into the design of a minigolf hole and when they are aesthetically pleasing it's marvellous.

Playing hole 1 of Putt Putt #2 in Croydon in 2014
Playing hole 1 of Putt Putt #2 in Croydon in 2014

My favourite miniature golf layouts are Arnold Palmer Putting Courses. They are a design classic and look wonderful. They are also a real test of putting skill and incredibly playable today.

The old Arnold Palmer Putting Course from The Rotunda amusement park in Folkestone was turned into an art installation in the seaside town back in 2008.

18 Holes by Richard Wilson in Folkestone
18 Holes by Richard Wilson in Folkestone

New art-based minigolf courses in 2020.


This September the Creative Folkestone Triennial will play host to an amusement arcade and crazy golf-themed art installation by the artist genuinefake (Rachel Stella Jenkins).

My friend Jack Hurley aka Loud Ribs of Rubbish Seaside fame has also let me know about an art-based Crazy Golf course being created at Saltaire in Bradford over the May Bank Holiday weekend.


The art-based minigolf courses we've visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour include:


18 Holes by Richard Wilson in Folkestone in 2010.

18 Holes by Richard Wilson in Folkestone
18 Holes by Richard Wilson in Folkestone

Crazee Golf at the Tintype Art Gallery
in London in 2012.

Crazee Golf at the Tintype Art Gallery in London
Crazee Golf at the Tintype Art Gallery in London

Bompas & Parr's Big Rooftop Tea & Golf Party saw a 9-hole London & Cake-themed Crazy Golf
course created at Selfridges Oxford Street in London in 2012.

Bompas & Parr's Big Rooftop Tea & Golf Party Crazy Golf at Selfridges Oxford Street in London
Bompas & Parr's Big Rooftop Tea & Golf Party Crazy Golf at Selfridges Oxford Street in London

M!MS Empire Sunset Nine Hole Mini Golf
course in Bedford in 2013.

M!MS Empire Sunset Nine Hole Mini Golf course in Bedford
M!MS Empire Sunset Nine Hole Mini Golf course in Bedford

Putt Putt #2 by TURF Projects in Croydon in 2014.

Putt Putt #2 by TURF Projects in Croydon
Putt Putt #2 by TURF Projects in Croydon

Doug Fishbone's Leisure Land Golf at the New Art Exchange
in Nottingham in 2016.

Doug Fishbone's Leisure Land Golf at the New Art Exchange in Nottingham
Doug Fishbone's Leisure Land Golf at the New Art Exchange in Nottingham

Doug Fishbone's Leisure Land Golf at York Art Gallery
in 2017.

Doug Fishbone's Leisure Land Golf at York Art Gallery
Doug Fishbone's Leisure Land Golf at York Art Gallery

Our friends Gareth and Lurlyn Holmes played Doug Fishbone's Leisure Land Golf course at the Venice Biennale in 2015.

Doug Fishbone’s Leisure Land Golf in Venice. Photo by Gareth & Lurlyn Holmes, 2015
Doug Fishbone’s Leisure Land Golf in Venice. Photo by Gareth & Lurlyn Holmes, 2015

Also in 2015 our friends Matt and Helen Dodd played the Mini Gulf course at Banksy's Dismaland Bemusement Park in Weston-super-Mare.

Mini Gulf course at Banksy's Dismaland Bemusement Park in Weston-super-Mare. Photo by Matt Dodd, 2015
Mini Gulf course at Banksy's Dismaland Bemusement Park in Weston-super-Mare. Photo by Matt Dodd, 2015

There was Crazy Golf at Clerkenwell Design Week in 2014. But we didn't get to play the course.

There were plans for a Visionary Golf course to be created in Trafalgar Square as part of the London Design Festival in 2016. However, the funding campaign was unsuccessful.

There was a Post-Apocalyptic Minigolf course at the Now Play This festival in London in 2017. However, we didn't manage to get along to play it.

Art and minigolf in the USA.


Our friends Tom and Robin at A Couple of Putts in the USA have also played on and created a number of art-minigolf holes on their adventures, including Sparkle City Mini Putt in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

The team at The Putting Penguin have seen and reviewed a number of art designed courses over the years too.

We're looking forward to seeing where the next art-based minigolf course pops up.


Related blog posts:
- Art
- Art Trails
- Crazy Golf
- Minigolf

Thursday, March 05, 2020

Creative Folkestone Triennial to feature Crazy Golf

The Creative Folkestone Triennial art festival will feature a Crazy Golf course.


Folkestone in 2010


Folkestone will play host to the fifth Folkestone Triennial with 20 artworks being set up around the seaside town in Kent.


One of those will be amusement arcade and crazy golf-themed.


The artist genuinefake (Rachel Stella Jenkins) will be setting up a pavilion with an amusement arcade and crazy golf course on the site of the old Rotunda amusement arcades.

The Creative Folkestone Triennial, formerly the Folkestone Triennial, takes place between Saturday 5th September and Sunday 8th November 2020.

Find out more on the Creative Folkestone Triennial website.

It's not the first time that Crazy Golf has been a part of the Folkestone Triennial. The first edition saw the 18 Holes Crazy Golf art installation created by Richard Wilson. This permanent artwork was made using the old Arnold Palmer Putting Course from The Rotunda to resemble three beach huts!

18 Holes Crazy Golf art installation created by Richard Wilson
18 Holes Crazy Golf art installation created by Richard Wilson in Folkestone

18 Holes Crazy Golf art installation created by Richard Wilson in Folkestone
What a wonderful use of an old minigolf course

18 Holes Crazy Golf art installation created by Richard Wilson in Folkestone
A nice view

It was nice to see the old minigolf course used for something as the site of The Rotunda resembled a desolate wasteland when we visited in 2010.

The Rotunda in Folkestone
The Rotunda in Folkestone

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Playing Crazy Golf at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London

A visit to the pop-up Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London.


Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London

I called in to Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross to play the CLUB GOLF crazy golf pop-up in the shopping and dining area yesterday.


Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
At the 948th course visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
Hole 1 by night

Artists Baker & Borowski created the 9-hole themed Crazy Golf layout inspired by the rave culture in the King's Cross area back in the 1980's and 90's.



Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
There are a lot of signs for the course directing people all the way from King's Cross station

Players can tee-off on the course midday to 8pm Monday to Saturday, with games costing £5 (under 12s play for free). The layout opened on the 19th February and will close on the 29th March.

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
Hole 3's loop-di-loop

The course was the 948th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
Holes 7 and 9

In my round I shot a 23 - the scorecard noted that the maximum score allowed was 63! A seven on each hole.

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
Hole 1

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
Hole 1

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
Hole 2

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
Hole 3

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
Hole 4

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
Hole 5

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
Hole 6 begins on the balcony

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
The pipe then flows down to ground level

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
And onto the 'green'

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
The putting area of hole 6

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
Hole 7

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
Hole 8

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
Hole 8

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
Hole 9

Visit the Coal Drops Yard website for more information.

Club Golf Crazy Golf at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
The Club House

Club Golf Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
The Rules