Tuesday, September 20, 2022

Scrapyard Golf at Worcester Bowl

There's a new indoor crazy golf course at Worcester Bowl.


There's a new indoor crazy golf course at Worcester Bowl

Find out more about the Scrapyard Golf course on the Worcester Bowl website.

Monday, September 19, 2022

Minigolf Monday

Today is Minigolf Monday - the last before Miniature Golf Day and the end of the 2022 Big Mini Golf Tour this Wednesday.


Mini Golf courses on the Big Mini Golf Tour
Mini Golf courses on the Big Mini Golf Tour

Friday, September 16, 2022

Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing

A look at the Splash Point Mini Golf course in Worthing's Denton Gardens.


I swung by Splash Point Mini Golf on my recent trip to Worthing, West Sussex.

Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing

It's one of our favourite courses and one we've played many many times on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and in British Minigolf Association competitions.

Visit the Splash Point Mini Golf website for more information.

100 days until Christmas

There are 100 days until Christmas Day!


Christmas Crazy Golf
Christmas Crazy Golf courses from our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

One week until Miniature Golf Day

This time next week it'll be Miniature Golf Day.


Playing The Himalayas - the world's first miniature golf course - at the St Andrews Ladies' Putting Club in 2012
Playing The Himalayas - the world's first miniature golf course - at the St Andrews Ladies' Putting Club in 2012

Each year there are two Miniature Golf Days - National Miniature Golf Day on the second Saturday in May and Miniature Golf Day on the 21st September.

Monday, September 12, 2022

Putting course at Marine Gardens in Worthing

A look at the grass Putting course at Marine Gardens in Worthing, West Sussex.


Putting course at Marine Gardens in Worthing

I swung by the Putting course at Marine Gardens in Worthing on my recent trip to the seaside town.

Putting course at Marine Gardens in Worthing

Putting course at Marine Gardens in Worthing

We first visited the course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2010.

The Big Mini Golf Tour 2022

The Great Yarmouth area has an excellent selection of mini golf courses for a round or two.


The Big Mini Golf Tour 2022

Miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business Improvement Area have come together to promote the game this season. Find out more on the Big Mini Golf Tour blog.

You can plan your visit to the participating miniature golf courses by checking out the Big Mini Golf Tour map.


Friday, September 09, 2022

Minigolf Taivallahti in Helsinki, Finland

A look at Minigolf Taivallahti in Helsinki, Finland.


Many thanks to my friend, minigolf rival and team-mate Kevin Moseley for sending over some snaps of these two miniature golf courses he spotted on his recent trip to Helsinki, Finland.

Minigolf Taivallahti in Helsinki, Finland. Photo by Kevin Moseley, August 2022
Minigolf Taivallahti in Helsinki, Finland

Minigolf Taivallahti in Helsinki, Finland. Photo by Kevin Moseley, August 2022
Minigolf Taivallahti in Helsinki, Finland

The two courses can be found at Minigolf Taivallahti.

Visit the Minigolf Taivallahti website for more information.

Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki in Finland

A look at Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki in Finland.


A big thank you to my friend, minigolf rival and team-mate Kevin Moseley for sending over photos of the Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki indoor minigolf course from his recent trip to Helsinki, Finland.

Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki in Finland. Photo by Kevin Moseley, August 2022
Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki in Finland

A quick look shows "Hohtogolf" translates as "Glitter Golf". There doesn't look to be much glitter in that sh...portable toilet hole!

Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki in Finland. Photo by Kevin Moseley, August 2022
Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki in Finland

Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki in Finland. Photo by Kevin Moseley, August 2022
Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki in Finland

The rest of the layout looks shiny though.

Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki in Finland. Photo by Kevin Moseley, August 2022
Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki in Finland

Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki in Finland. Photo by Kevin Moseley, August 2022
A scorecard from Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki in Finland

Check out the Hohtogolf West Coast Helsinki website for more information.

Thursday, September 08, 2022

Inca Island Adventure Golf in Sutton Valence, Kent

There's a new Adventure Golf course at The Ridge Golf Club in Sutton Valence, Kent.


There's a new Adventure Golf course at The Ridge Golf Club in Sutton Valence, Kent

Inca Island Adventure Golf is an 18-hole, outdoor course at The Ridge Golf Club in Sutton Valence.

Visit the Inca Island Adventure Golf website for more information.


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

A Happy Shopper shop in Burton upon Trent

A look at an old Happy Shopper shop in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire.


A Happy Shopper shop in Burton upon Trent

We drove via Burton upon Trent on our journey home from the south coast last week to take a look at a Happy Shopper shop in the town. We're lucky we did as the shop was in the process of being gutted as it's now closed. The business has moved to a new unit over the road, where some of the old branded shelving is now in use.

A Happy Shopper shop in Burton on Trent

A Happy Shopper shop in Burton-on-Trent

I've since found out there's ANOTHER Happy Shopper shop in Burton upon Trent! We'll have to swing by S & A Singh on Sydney Street next time we're passing...

Happy Shopper nostalgia


We've felt very nostalgic during the pandemic and one of the old brands from our childhood we thought about was 'Happy Shopper' - the name alone conjures up images of the 1980's.

We didn't think there would be many - or any - of the original orange and yellow branded shops still around, but we were proven wrong when we saw one in Preston in September 2020.

Since then we've been lucky enough to spot and snap a few more. Take a look at my posts about other Happy Shopper shops in:

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour update

We have now been to 1,002 courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


We have now been to 1,002 courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

957 of the courses have been in the British Isles (UK home nations, Jersey & the Isle of Man) plus 45 in eleven overseas countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Spain (& Lanzarote, Canary Islands), Sweden and the USA.

In 2006 we set out to visit every miniature golf course in the UK. When we began there were around 600 courses in the UK. There are now more than 1,000, with new courses opening all the time.

Toys R Us in Reading, Berkshire

Spotting an abandoned Toys R Us store in Reading, Berkshire.


We were surprised to see an old Toys R Us store while driving through Reading last Friday!

Toys R Us in Reading, Berkshire
It still looks new

The shop unit at Gateway retail park looked in great condition and most of the signage and branding was still on display.

This particular branch of Toys R Us was only open for five months before the brand ceased trading in the UK.

Toys R Us closed in the UK in April 2018. 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 a number of these closed, abandoned, derelict and demolished Toys R Us locations on our travels.

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 in Reading, Berkshire
With Geoffrey in Reading

Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central

A visit to Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central Shopping Centre in Islington, London.


Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central
Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central

Emily swung by Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central Shopping Centre in Islington, London, making it course number 1,002 on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central
Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central

Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central
Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central

Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central
Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central

Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central
Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central

Check out the Birdies Crazy Golf website for more information.


Birdies Crazy Golf at Angel Central
Advertising on the tube for the venue

You can also find Birdies Crazy Golf venues at Battersea and Roof East.

Wednesday, September 07, 2022

Crazy Golf at Millets Farm in Frilford near Abingdon

A look at the Crazy Golf course at Millets Farm in Frilford near Abingdon, Oxfordshire.


Crazy Golf at Millets Farm in Frilford near Abingdon

My mum sent me some photos of the Crazy Golf course at Millets Farm in Frilford.

Crazy Golf at Millets Farm in Frilford near Abingdon

Crazy Golf at Millets Farm in Frilford near Abingdon

A new 18-hole Adventure Golf course has opened at Millets Farm Centre and there are signs up for the farm-themed layout in the local area.

A sign for the new Farmyard Golf course at Millets Farm Centre

A sign for the new Farmyard Golf course at Millets Farm Centre

I grew up in Abingdon and visited Millets Farm a lot in the 80s and 90s. It's good to know the Crazy Golf course is still there. They'll be two more courses to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Check out the Millets Farm website for more information.

Tuesday, September 06, 2022

Minigolf courses 999, 1,000 and 1,001

Hitting our 1,000th minigolf course visit.


We reached our minigolf milestone of 1,000 course visits on a trip south last week when we swung by three new locations on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Course 999 - Mini-Golf at Prospect Park in Reading, Berkshire
Course 999 - Mini-Golf at Prospect Park in Reading, Berkshire

Course 1,000 - Spinners Mini Golf in Reading town centre
Course 1,000 - Spinners Mini Golf in Reading town centre

Course 1,001 - Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf in Bognor Regis, West Sussex
Course 1,001 - Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf in Bognor Regis, West Sussex. This course was created on the same spot that had been a Putting Green

The first place we played on what would become a mammoth mission to visit all the courses in the UK was Treasure Island Adventure Golf on Southsea seafront back on the 30th September 2006 when Emily, me and my brother Christopher had a game on the 9-hole course and I won a Free Game by firing the cannon on the lucky last hole.

When combined with my brother's branch of the tour, the total number of courses we've visited in the last 16 years is 1,041!

Back in 2006 there were around 600 courses in the UK. Many many more have opened since and we've noted hundreds of new locations in the last couple of years.

We've been able to play 561 of the 1,001 courses Emily and I have been to as some have not been open, others were abandoned, derelict or completely removed from the spot they were supposed to be on!

Arnold Palmer Putting Course at Waterloo Gardens in Bognor Regis
The 18-hole Arnold Palmer Putting Course at Waterloo Gardens on the esplanade in Bognor Regis was the 275th course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in October 2011. It's a superb layout and was a real pleasure to play it again. When I played Emily in 2011 I lost with a round of 42 to her 39. This time I shot another 42!

The remains of the old Crazy Golf course at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis
The remains of the old Crazy Golf course at Hotham Park in Bognor Regis can still be seen. We played it in 2011

Of the 1,001 courses, 956 have been in the British Isles, with others visited on our overseas travels.

Take a look at the full list of our epic Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The A-Team van in Worthing

It was absolutely amazing to see The A-Team van while out on a stroll on Worthing seafront at the weekend.


The A-Team van in Worthing
The A-Team van in Worthing

I spotted it cruising down the seafront (see the last pic) and actually managed to track it down better than Colonel Decker ever could.

The A-Team van in Worthing

The A-Team van in Worthing

The A-Team van in Worthing

The A-Team van in Worthing

The A-Team van in Worthing

Check out The A-Team Sussex on Instagram for more info.

Monday, September 05, 2022

He-Van, Movers of the Universe

He-Van, Movers of the Universe in Worthing.


What a sight this was to behold - a bootleg He-Man and the Masters of the Universe van parked in Worthing, West Sussex over the weekend!

He-Van, Movers of the Universe
He-Van!

He-Van, Movers of the Universe

He-Van, Movers of the Universe

The 'He-Van' belongs to He-Van, Movers of the Universe.

Friday, September 02, 2022

Mini-Golf at Clippesby Hall

A look at the Mini-Golf course at Clippesby Hall in Norfolk.


Mini-Golf at Clippesby Hall
Mini-Golf at Clippesby Hall


Thursday, September 01, 2022

Lost World Adventure Golf in Hemsby

A view of the Lost World Adventure Golf course in Hemsby, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.


Lost World Adventure Golf in Hemsby, Norfolk
Lost World Adventure Golf in Hemsby, Norfolk


Check out my blog post about all of the minigolf courses in the Greater Yarmouth area.