Crazy Golf in London

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

My last trip down to London took place on the 25th February last year and I was lucky enough to get a game in on the pop-up Crazy Golf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross.

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

The 9-hole rave-inspired art installation crazy golf course was the 948th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and the 542nd played.

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 1990's.

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

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New Adventure Golf course at Golf Rossendale

There are plans for a new Adventure Golf course to be created at Golf Rossendale in Rawtenstall, Lancashire.

The new course is part of a redevelopment of the venue by American Golf.

Visit the Golf Rossendale website for more information.

We're looking forward to visiting on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Rawtenstall is fairly local to us here in the North West.

Jurassic Links Adventure Golf at Kingsway Golf Centre

A new Jurassic Links Adventure Golf course is opening at Kingsway Golf Centre in Melbourn, Cambridgeshire this Spring.

Visit the Jurassic Links Adventure Golf website for more information.

The 18-hole Jurassic Links Adventure Golf course is being built by the team at HM Adventure Golf.

Crazy Golfing at Kingsway Golf Centre

We've played minigolf at Kingsway Golf Centre on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour before. The golf centre was home to a Crazy Golf course that became the 200th we visited on our travels in 2009. That layout was replaced with the Himalayas Putting Course in 2010.

Minigolf in Melbourn

Melbourn has been a bit of a hotbed of minigolf over the years. As well as the crazy golf, putting course and adventure golf courses at Kingsway Golf Centre the village has been home to pop-up miniature golf courses at the annual fete and The Dolphin pub was once home to a 4-hole crazy golf course!

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Putt18 World Pro League Results - Season Two, Week Three

I teed-off in week three of the Putt18 World Pro League on Saturday evening.

I shot rounds of 75, 72, 75 and 76 for a total of 298.

You can watch my rounds on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Facebook Page.

Putt18 World Pro League

21 players from the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the USA are competing in the seven event series to find the world's best putter on the Putt18 Golf Putting Game System.

Check out the Putt18 website for more information.

Monorail, monothingy

One of my favourite monorails.

But where is it?

One of the monorails I've travelled on during my travels

New indoor crazy golf course in Billericay

A new crazy golf course and escape room is planned to open in Billericay, Essex.

The indoor venue will be located in the former Argos store in the town centre.

Check out the Hackers website for more information.

Retailtainment and minigolf

A number of shopping malls, town centres and retail parks are adding minigolf, crazy golf, adventure golf and other experiential entertainment and activity leisure offerings to their sites to attract and retain customers.

Boom: Battle Bar Aberdeen

There are plans for a new Boom: Battle Bar in Aberdeen.

The indoor competitive socialising venue in the former Aberdeen Market will be home to a crazy golf course and other games including axe throwing, curling, pool, shuffleboard and darts.

Visit the Boom: Battle Bar website for more information.

Retailtainment and crazy golf

A number of shopping malls, town centres and retail parks are adding minigolf, crazy golf, adventure golf and other experiential entertainment and activity leisure offerings to their sites to attract and retain customers.

New minigolf course in Peterhead

There are plans for a new minigolf course in Victoria Park, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.

The 9-hole minigolf course will be created on former bowling greens in the park. The community park will also be home to a BMX track, exercise area, new pavilion and more.

The project is being led by Peterhead Area Community Trust (PACT) and further information on the Victoria Park project can be found on the trust's website.

We haven't been up to Scotland for a few years and are looking forward to returning to visit some more courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Putt18 World Pro League - Season Two, Week Three

I'll be teeing-off in week three of the Putt18 World Pro League at 6pm on Saturday 20th February.

You can watch my rounds live via the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Facebook Page.

Putt18 World Pro League

21 players from the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the USA are competing in the seven event series to find the world's best putter on the Putt18 Golf Putting Game System.

I am currently in 13th place on 24 points and in 15th place in the strokeplay standings.

Visit the Putt18 website for more information.

Toys R Us in Ipswich

A look at the old Toys R Us store in Ipswich, Suffolk.

Many thanks to my sister-in-law Annette for sending over a snap of the closed Toys R Us store in the Interchange Retail Park at Copdock Mill, Ipswich.

This sign is still up. But for how much longer?

Sadly Toys R Us closed in the UK in April 2018. Luckily there are still remnants of the brand on some retail parks in the UK. I worked in the Gipsy Lane store in Luton, Bedfordshire back in the year 2000.

Check out the blog posts below about other former Toys R Us stores:

• Central Retail Park in Manchester
• Gemini Retail Park in Warrington
• Festival retail park in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent
• Deepdale shopping centre in Preston
• Wyvern Retail Park in Derby
• Riverside Retail Park in Nottingham

Swing by Golfbaren minigolf in Stockholm, Sweden

We visited Swing by Golfbaren in Stockholm, Sweden in February 2018 to celebrate the first birthday of the course. It doesn't seem like that long ago!

The indoor minigolf course and speakeasy was the landmark 800th course visit overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and our 31st overseas.

Head to the Swing by Golfbaren website for more information.

It's going to be superb to play there again in the future.

We managed to visit a total of nine miniature golf courses during our 42 hours in Sweden!

Boom: Battle Bar heading to Eastbourne

A Boom: Battle Bar is opening in the seaside town of Eastbourne.

There are plans to create a Boom: Battle Bar in Eastbourne, East Sussex.

Boom: Battle Bars are competitive socialising locations and home to indoor minigolf courses (known as crazier golf), axe throwing, electric darts, shuffleboard and more.

There are Boom: Battle Bars in Norwich and Cardiff and plans for others in Liverpool, Glasgow, Oxford, Coventry and West Thurrock.

Check out the Boom: Battle Bar Eastbourne Facebook Page for more information.

New golf venue planned for Glasgow

A new golf facility is planned to open in Glasgow next year.

The R&A has submitted plans for what it describes as a new community golf facility to open on the site of the public golf course at Lethamhill in Glasgow.

The golf centre will include a 9-hole golf course, a par-3 course, an adventure golf course, a driving range, putting greens and a short game area.

The venue will also include a café, indoor golf simulators and more.

Further information can be found on the R&A website.

Lost shops - Sainsbury's on Warren Street in Stockport town centre

A look at Sainsbury's on Warren Street in Stockport town centre.

Now a lost shop.

It closed on the 31st January this year.

Boom: Battle Bar heading to Lakeside

The Lakeside Shopping Centre in West Thurrock, Essex will be home to a new Boom: Battle Bar.

Boom: Battle Bars are competitive socialising venues and home to minigolf (known as crazier golf), axe throwing, electric darts, shuffleboard and more.

There are other Boom: Battle Bars in Norwich and Cardiff and plans for others in Liverpool, Glasgow, Oxford and Coventry.

Visit the Boom: Battle Bar Lakeside Facebook Page for more information.

Boom: Battle Bars are a relatively new entrant to the world of competitive socialising and retailtainment. A number of shopping malls, town centres and retail parks are adding minigolf, crazy golf, adventure golf and other experiential entertainment and activity leisure offerings to their sites to attract and retain customers.

Read more in my blog post about the retailtainment and minigolf boom.

New minigolf course in Reading

A new minigolf course is being created as part of an activity centre at Prospect Park in Reading, Berkshire.

The centre will also include a climbing wall and rope course.

It'll be another new course to play on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in the future.

Miniature Golf in Reading

A new indoor adventure golf course is also planned to open at The Oracle shopping centre in Reading. The new venue will replace the House of Fraser department store. As well as indoor minigolf the location will also be home to a food hall and tenpin bowling.

There are also plans for a Mini Golf & Bowling Lounge at the Broad Street Mall in the town.

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A Happy Shopper

I've added another nice retro badge to my collection.

It'll look good next to my Happy Eater badges.

Check out my other Happy Shopper and badge blog posts.

New minigolf course opening in Weston-super-Mare

A new indoor minigolf course is opening in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.

Weston-super-Mare will be home to a new indoor minigolf course as the former Seaquarium is converted into a family-themed restaurant and minigolf venue.

It'll be another new course for us to play when we revisit the seaside resort on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Related blog posts:

• Weston-super-Mare

Only Cars and Commercials

We spotted this amazing van on our daily walk in Cheadle on Saturday!

I'd literally just said to Emily that I hadn't seen anything fun to photograph recently as we've been locked down in the borough.

Only Fools and Horses is a pop culture icon that has been ripe for bootlegging and parodies over the years.

It's crazy how many Reliant Regal Supervans we've seen on our minigolf travels.

Elsewhere in Stockport you can see a hearse from a business called Shed's Household Independent Traders.

Shawfield Line Marking Specialists Ltd. is another business that operates in Stockport and some less exotic locations like London, Paris and New York.

If you're in Blackpool you can visit Lester's Independent Trading Co.

Putt18 World Pro League Results - Season Two, Week Two

The results are in for the second week of the 2021 Putt18 World Pro League.

After shooting rounds of 74, 85, 85 and 80 for a 72-hole total of 324 I am currently in 13th place on 24 points and in 15th place in the strokeplay standings.

21 players from the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the USA are competing in the seven event series to find the world's best putter on the Putt18 Golf Putting Game System.

Matt Ansley, NZL has maintained his lead, with Dave Gomm, GBR in second and Josh Mars, AUS in third place.

You can watch my rounds from week two in the video below.

  

 Visit the Putt18 website for more information.

Minigolf American Football in Sweden

A look at the minigolf course at O'Leary's bar and entertainment centre at the Mall of Scandinavia in Solna.

We visited our 801st minigolf course and 32nd overseas at O'Leary's bar and entertainment centre at the Mall of Scandinavia in Solna, Stockholm, Sweden in February 2018.

Hole 12 was Gridiron themed

The Sports World Minigolf course was a 14-hole indoor layout with sports themed holes.

 

Check out the blog post from our visit to Sports World Mini Golf at O'Leary's in the Mall of Scandinavia.

Visit the O'Leary's website for more information.

New Adventure Golf course in Skelmersdale

There are retailtainment plans for the Concourse Shopping Centre in Skelmersdale, Lancashire.

As well as an indoor Adventure Golf course, the WonderWorld attraction at the Concourse Shopping Centre will include a wide-range of activities for adults and children including an inflatable assault course, darts, tenpin bowling, amusements, arcade games and more.

Link:

• Concourse Shopping Centre

Retailtainment

More and more shopping centres, retail parks and high streets are adding retail entertainment offerings to increase footfall, attract and retain customers. There are a lot of new minigolf courses, competitive socialising venues and family entertainment centres in development and under construction at the moment, all gearing up to be ready for the post-covid world.

Porth Island Krazy Golf in Newquay

A look at the Porth Island Krazy Golf course in Newquay, Cornwall.

We played the Porth Island Krazy Golf course in Newquay on our road-trip around the South West coast of England back in June 2015.

The course was similar to a Beton Concrete type of miniature golf course and interesting, if a little too difficult, to play.

The course was the 47th visited on our two-week holiday, the 377th played overall and the 646th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Visit the Newquay Football Golf website for more information on the Porth Island Krazy Golf course.

New Adventure Golf course in Henley

Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire could become home to a new Adventure Golf course.

There are plans to create a new 9 or 18-hole Adventure Golf course on the site of the Putting Green at Mill Meadows in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

It'll be another new course to play in my home county!

It's Groundhog Day

Happy Groundhog Day.

Do you want to see six more weeks of Winter or an early Spring?

Lost shops - Debenhams in Stockport town centre

A look at Debenhams in Stockport town centre. Now a lost shop.

Putt18 World Pro League - Season Two, Week Two

I'll be teeing-off in week two of the Putt18 World Pro League at 6pm on Saturday 6th February.

You can watch my rounds live via the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Facebook Page.

Putt18 World Pro League

A total of 21 players from the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the USA are competing in the seven event series to find the world's best putter on the Putt18 Golf Putting Game System.

Week One Results

After shooting rounds of 71, 74, 80 and 77 for a 72-hole total of 302 I am currently in tied 12th place on 18 points and in tied 10th place in the strokeplay standings. Tom Loftus of the USA shot a 302 for 18 points too.

About Putt18

The Putt18 roll out putting mat allows players to compete on an 18-hole course from their own home - and against other people around the world. Players tee-off from one of six tee boxes and aim at each of the three holes in turn, starting with a par-4, followed by a par-5 and ending on a par-3. They then move to the next tee position and take aim at the holes in turn again.

Visit the Putt18 website for more information.

Boom: Battle Bar opening in Coventry

Coventry will be home to a new Boom: Battle Bar.

Boom: Battle Bar at the Skydome in Coventry will include a Crazier Golf minigolf layout as well as a number of other competitive socialising activities.

Check out the Boom: Battle Bar Coventry Facebook Page for more information.

Related blog posts:

• Boom: Battle Bar
• Coventry

Putt18 World Pro League Results - Season Two, Week One

The results are in for the first week of the 2021 Putt18 World Pro League.

After shooting rounds of 71, 74, 80 and 77 for a 72-hole total of 302 I am currently in tied 12th place on 18 points and in tied 10th place in the strokeplay standings. Tom Loftus of the USA shot a 302 for 18 points too.

A total of 21 players from the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the USA are competing in the seven event series to find the world's best putter on the Putt18 Golf Putting Game System.

Matt Ansley, NZL leads the way, with Dave Gomm, GBR in second and Josh Mars, AUS in third place.

Check out the Putt18 website for more information.

Puttery mini golf

A new mini golf brand has been created and will launch in the USA this summer.

Puttery venues will offer high-tech indoor mini golf along with dining and drinking options.

Puttery is being developed by Drive Shack and the minigolf brand will be delivered in partnership with Rory McIlroy.

The first Puttery location will open in Dallas, Texas this summer. A further site is planned for Charlotte, North Carolina with another five Puttery venues opening in 2021. A further ten locations are planned to open in 2022.

Visit the Drive Shack website for more information.

New Crazy Golf course planned for Redcar

The Coatham area of Redcar in Teesside will be home to a new 18-hole Crazy Golf course on the site of the former Coatham Bowl.

We've been to Redcar a couple of times on our travels around Teesside and it'll be good to head back to play the new course in the future.

Results of the Putt18 Battle of the Brits tournament

Play has concluded in the 2021 Battle of the Brits Putt18 competition.

The first-ever Putt18 Battle of the Brits tournament has been completed - and I won it!

I scored a total of 281 over 72-holes - a new personal best four round total. My round of 67 was also a personal best. My scores were good enough for first place in Nett scores and third place in Gross un-handicapped scoring.

Eight players competed in the event. With David Gomm runner-up and Steve Lovell in third place.

The Putt18 World Pro League 2021

The 2021 Putt18 World Pro League has teed-off with 22 players from the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the USA competing in rounds using the Putt18 Golf Putting Game Mat between now and April.

Visit the Putt18 website for more information.

Art Deco in Doncaster

We're big fans of Art Deco style, design and architecture and we've been remembering our trip to Doncaster last year and our stay at the superb Earl of Doncaster Hotel in Bennetthorpe.

Roaring twenties in the 2020s.

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We couldn't have asked for a better spot - Art Deco magnificence and the hotel was right next door to a park with a Crazy Golf course in it.

The Crazy Golf course at Elmfield Park

Danum House was another nice Art Deco building in the town centre.

We're looking forward to getting back out on our travels, exploring new places and revisiting our favourite spots when it's safe to do so in the future.

Putt18 World Pro League 2021

The 2021 Putt18 World Pro League tees-off today with players from the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the USA competing in rounds using the Putt18 Golf Putting Game Mat between now and April.

More information can be found on the Putt18 website and the 2021 Putt18 World Pro League Facebook Group.

From 20 to 1 in 2021

This time last year we'd already visited 20 minigolf courses!

What a difference a year makes. By this time last year we'd visited 20 minigolf courses as our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour got off to a flying start.

As it stands today we've been to one course in 2021. And that was just passing by it during a walk on New Year's Day.

Our travels in the first days of 2020 took us to miniature golf venues in Oxford, Birmingham, Manchester, Northwich, Doncaster and Castleford.

The last new course we played together before the pandemic was the Crazy Golf course at Sunnybank Gardens in Hatfield, Doncaster on the 19th January 2020

Minigolf in the time of coronavirus

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic we were closing in on visiting the final 40 courses of the original 600 we set out to play in 2006. We were also very close to hitting 1,000 course visits overall.

We were still able to visit a total of 46 courses in 2020, including revisits. 15 of them were new layouts to us. We visited eight courses during the pandemic (March to December), playing two of them.

The last new course we played was the Gator Adventure Golf at Escape Entertainment in Chorley in August

New minigolf courses in the UK

We've continued to research, monitor and promote the game and know about at least another 90 new courses now open, being built, in development or planned to open in the UK. It'll be nice to swing by them when it's safe to get back out on the road again.

The last pop-up Crazy Golf course I visited was at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London last February

Related blog posts

• The Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in 2020
• 20 minigolf course visits in 20 days in 2020

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