Wednesday, August 26, 2009

The Crystal Maze at CC2000, near Narbeth

A visit to the last remaining Cyberdrome Crystal Maze.

On our holiday around the Welsh coast in 2009 we took a break from playing Crazy Golf to visit the Oakwood Indoor Family Entertainment Centre - where we entered The Crystal Maze!

The last remaining Cyberdrome Crystal Maze in the UK
The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze
The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze
The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze
The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze
The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze
The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze
The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze
The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze
The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze
Emily and I (playing as Team Squire) managed to win six of nine games played, and in the Crystal Dome itself we collected 103 Gold and 28 Silver for a total of 75. So we didn't win the the "super-duper" prize, but we were first for the day!

The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze
Absolutely awesome, and such great fun. More of these should have been built. It's the closest you'll get to playing the real Crystal Maze.

The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze
I'm looking forward to returning again.

Some history on the Crystal Maze game from Wikipedia:
"The Cyberdrome Crystal Maze was an attraction usually found in larger bowling alleys and video arcades in the UK. It allowed fans an opportunity to "play" the Crystal Maze for themselves in a computerised format. There were a few differences from the show itself, e.g. there is no player choice of game category, and there is no locking in (instead, failing to quit a game would immediately cost the team a crystal). Five of the first six locations were in Britain, while the sixth was in Japan. Most of the Cyberdrome Crystal Mazes have since closed, but one is still running near Oakwood Theme Park in Pembrokeshire, Wales"

Oakwood Theme Park Crazy Golf

Oakwood Theme Park, near Tenby, has a Crazy Golf course. However it is not open to the general public and the cost of the ticket (£17.95) each was too expensive to justify playing there.

Looking at the Oakwood Theme Park Leaflet, and seeing a story about the course in the Western Telegraph, showed the course was much like those at Pendine Sands and Saundersfoot.

Instead we decided to enter The Crystal Maze next door!

Related blog posts:
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list of courses visited and played
Wales

Herons Brook Animal Farm, near Tenby, had a Crazy Golf course...

...but the Farm (and course) was demolished five years ago.

Herons Brook Animal Farm, near Tenby, had a Crazy Golf course.
There is still a 'Big' Golf course there.

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

Ham & Eggs...

...a dish best served cold!

Gumfreston (The Dinosaur Park) - Adventure Golf...

...was just closing when we arrived, and to pay to enter the park and play the course would have been a bit too Crazy even for us.

"As Man-O-War protects the sea, Players have a par of three."

Minigolf Course Visit No. 131 - Heatherton Park, near Tenby

A visit to Heatherton Park to play Adventure Golf.

Adventure Golf at Heatherton World of Activities
The last stop for actual play during our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour of Wales on the 16th August 2009 was at Heatherton Park near Tenby, where we played the very good 18-hole Pirates of the Caribbean Adventure Golf Course.

Adventure Golf at Heatherton World of Activities
Adventure Golf at Heatherton World of Activities
Adventure Golf at Heatherton World of Activities
Adventure Golf at Heatherton World of Activities
Heatherton Park was a great place to visit and the site is packed full of different activities. Open all year round, each activity is pay as you play. For more information check out the Heatherton World of Activities website.

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

Not playing Minigolf at The Merlewood Hotel in Saundersfoot

While in Saundersfoot we did find the original Minigolf course we were looking for, however it turned out to be:
a) a 9-hole Putting Green, and
b) for guests at The Merlewood Hotel only

The Merlewood Hotel in Saundersfoot
At The Merlewood Hotel in Saundersfoot
The Mini Golf Putting Course at At The Merlewood Hotel in Saundersfoot
The Mini Golf Putting Course at At The Merlewood Hotel in Saundersfoot

Related blog posts:
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list of courses visited and played
Wales

Minigolf Course Visit No. 130 - Saundersfoot

Next to Pendine Sands was Saundersfoot, where we were looking for the 9-hole Minigolf course at The Merlewood Hotel (more on that later), but instead found another 9-hole Crazy Golf course just off the main promenade.

Crazy Golf in Saundersfoot
Mini Golf in Saundersfoot
Crazy Golf in Saundersfoot

Related blog posts:
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list of courses visited and played
Wales
(No) Minigolf at The Merlewood Hotel, Saundersfoot

Minigolf Course Visit No. 129 - Pendine Bay / Pendine Sands

The next stop, and fourth course of the day, on our tour of Wales was to the 9-hole Crazy Golf course at Pendine Sands. The course was the 129th played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Not a bad course, but some of the obstacles didn't work too well with a normal golf ball. The Shark's mouth looked great but sadly didn't work in play.

Crazy Golf in Pendine Sands, WalesCrazy Golf in Pendine Sands, WalesCrazy Golf in Pendine Sands, WalesCrazy Golf in Pendine Sands, WalesCrazy Golf in Pendine Sands, Wales
We had been told by the guy at Pembrey that the course at Pendine Sands was a concrete Crazy Golf course that was looking to be repaired (his last visit was the year before).

By the look of the site beside the new course, the old one has been dug up.

Pendine Sands, Wales

Related blog posts:
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list of courses visited and played
Wales

Minigolf Course Visit No. 128 - Pembrey / Pen-Bre Country Park

The next Minigolf course visit on our Welsh Crazy Golfing road trip took us to Pembrey (Pen-Bre) Country Park.

The course was described as a Crazy Golf course, but reminded me a lot of Eternit/Beton types of course. Very tough in places, but with a bit of practice there could be plenty of Ace opportunities.

Crazy Golf at Pembrey Country Park
Crazy Golf at Pembrey Country Park
Crazy Golf at Pembrey Country Park
The golf area also had a Pitch & Putt course and a two-hole Putting Green (below):

Mini Golf Putting at Pembrey Country Park
In the two-hole Putting Green challenge, I beat Emily 4 shots to 5.

Related blog posts:
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list of courses visited and played
Wales

Minigolf Course Visits 126 & 127 - Gowerton Golf Range

A visit to Gowerton Golf Range near Swansea.

Heading out of Swansea we visited the Gowerton Golf Range to play on the 9-hole Minigolf course as part of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Minigolf at Gowerton Golf Range
Minigolf at Gowerton Golf Range
Minigolf at Gowerton Golf Range
Minigolf at Gowerton Golf Range



The Gowerton Golf Range was also home to a very good 9-hole Putting Course (#127).

Minigolf Putting Course at Gowerton Golf Range
Links:
- Gowerton Golf Range
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Bowlingo at Mumbles Pier

Following the 2009 Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg we headed to Mumbles Pier for a game of our second favourite seaside resort sport - Bowlingo.





The pier and facilities are very good, although the wooden slats on the pier have some of the widest gaps of any pier I've visited!




Some parts of the pier were also under repair when we visited.