New Crazy Golf course at Barleylands in Billericay

There are plans for a new Crazy Golf course at Barleylands farm park in Billericay, Essex.

Barleylands farm park in Billericay, Essex is planning to create a new 18-hole crazy golf course.

The layout will have a number of themed area including farm yard, jungle, desert, arctic and antarctic zones.

For more information visit the Barleylands Farm Park & Village website.

Barber Streisand in Exmouth Market, London

Barber Streisand in Exmouth Market, Clerkenwell, London. March 2019.

Terry's Traditional Crazy Golf in Cleethorpes

A look at Terry's Traditional Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire.

We first visited Terry's Traditional Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire back in 2011 and returned for a game in May 2018.

It's a fun an unique 9-hole layout with some very tricky holes and obstacles.

You can also find a Putting Green next to the Crazy Golf course.

It'll be nice when we can visit the seaside resort again.

Mini Golf at Flip Out Croydon

There will be a mini golf course at the new Flip Out centre in Croydon.

Flip Out are creating a new super centre full of indoor entertainment at the Centrale Shopping Centre in Croydon, London.

The venue is planned to open this summer.

As well as mini golf the location will be home to inflatables, laser tag, an ice rink, an assualt course, interactive football, arcade games and a bumper car track.

Visit the Flip Out website for more information.

Cornhill Cove returning to Lincoln this year

The Cornhill Cove seaside-style pop-up will be returning to Lincoln city centre this summer.

Last year the outdoor retailtainment pop-up featured a crazy golf course, bar and street food vendors.

Check out the Cornhill Cove Facebook Page for more information.

Oddballs Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire

A look at the Oddballs Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire.

We first visited Oddballs Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire in May 2011 and returned in May 2018. It'll be wonderful if we could get back there again.

The 18-hole Oddballs Crazy Golf course was the 226th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Happy 9th Anniversary to KISS by Monster Mini Golf!

Today is the 9th Anniversary of KISS by Monster Mini Golf in Las Vegas.

Congratulations to the Monster Mini Golf team on the milestone.

Emily was lucky enough to play the course in its original location on Paradise Road in September 2014. It was the 580th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. 

Emily putting into The Demon's mouth at KISS Monster Mini Golf

You can now find KISS by Monster Mini Golf at the Rio Hotel & Casino. Visit the Monster Mini Golf website for more information.

I was last in Las Vegas ten years ago so haven't played the course yet.

We're looking forward to a return to Las Vegas in the future and playing both the KISS Monster Mini Golf and Twilight Zone Mini Golf courses in the city.

Peterborough Glo Golf

The new Peterborough Glo Golf course in Peterborough city centre is planned to open on Tuesday 18th May.

The indoor-glow-in-the-dark venue will be home to a 16-hole space-themed layout.

Visit the Peterborough Glo Golf Facebook page for more information.

Happy Shopper in Lowestoft

The easternmost Happy Shopper shop in the British Isles.

I was looking through my photo archive and happened to find a snap I took of the Happy Shopper shop in Lowestoft, Suffolk in August 2011!

I'm a big fan of the classic brand. I was both amazed and pleased that you can still find the original branding on some of the stores - this one is of particular interest as the classic cheeky chappy face is not included on the sign. From memory and looking online other signs on the shop have other versions of the logo

It's a brand I remember from growing up in the 1980s and 90s. Happy Shopper underwent a rebrand in 2000, but if you are lucky you can still find the original branding and signage on some shops.

Happy Shopper still exists as both convenience stores and own brand food & drink products. It has been part of the Booker Group since 1996. Booker itself is now owned by Tesco.

The Happy Shopper newsagent, general store and off licence can be found at 121 London Rd South in Lowestoft. As with many things in the seaside town it's the easternmost thing of its kind in the British Isles.

On our visits to Lowestoft we've played the easternmost adventure golf course and putting green in the British Isles.

Roll on summer...

Oh to be back at the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire.

Putt18 World Pro League 2021 - Week 5

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

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

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.

Visit the Putt18 website for more information.

Our last pre-pandemic minigolf course visit

The last pre-coronavirus pandemic lockdown minigolf course visit we made was to The Lost Valley Adventure Golf course in Bolton's Market Place shopping centre a year ago today.

That trip to Bolton was our last day out before lockdown.

It'll be great when we can once again get out and about on our travels.

What a difference a year makes

We saw a Back to the Future DeLorean time machine at MediaCityUK in Salford a year ago today!

If you had a time machine would you go back in time or head to the future?

New Adventure Golf course at Broome Manor Golf Complex in Swindon

The creation of a new Adventure Golf course is part of plans submitted for the redevelopment of Broome Manor Golf Complex in Swindon.

Check out the Broome Manor Golf Complex website for more information.

We're looking forward to visiting on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in the future.

Winning a Selco Darts Competition

I enjoy playing darts and have been playing a lot of soft-tip darts at home during the pandemic. Earlier this year I won a darts competition run by PDC sponsor Selco - and I didn't even have to throw a dart!

A darts shirt of character!

It's a great shirt and I might have to wear it the next time I get the chance to play a pro darts player in the outside world.

Related blog posts:

- Darts

- Darts vs Nathan 'The Asp' Aspinall in Stockport

- Darts vs 'The Bronzed Adonis' Steve Beaton in Barrow-in-Furness

Boom: Battle Bar at The Printworks in Manchester

The Printworks at Withy Grove in Manchester will be the location of a new Boom: Battle Bar.

Boom: Battle Bars are home to a range of competitive socialising games including crazy golf (crazier golf), shuffleboard, axe throwing, darts and more.

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

Visit the Boom: Battle Bar website and Boom: Battle Bar Manchester Printworks Facebook page for more info.

Dealz not Poundland in a former Woolworths

A look at the Dealz shop in Douglas on the Isle of Man.

I took this snap of the Dealz shop on Strand Street in Douglas while on holiday on the Isle of Man in 2018.

Dealz is a subsidiary of Poundland, which is owned by Steinhoff International, hence the similar branding. The majority of Dealz stores can be found in the Republic of Ireland, with others in Spain and Poland. The store in Orkney opened as a Dealz but was rebranded as a Poundland.

Woolworths opened in the Art Deco building in 1924 and closed in 2008.

We've seen a few other old Woolworths shops on our travels.

New Swingers Crazy Golf courses opening in the USA

Swingers Crazy Golf courses to open in Washington D.C. and New York.

The first Swingers Crazy Golf courses outside of the UK will be opening in Washington D.C. and New York.

The first of the new indoor minigolf venues will be opening at Dupont Circle in Washington this June.

The second Swingers Crazy Golf in the US will be opening at the new Virgin Hotel on Broadway in the Flatiron District of New York City later this year or in early 2022.

Visit the Swingers Crazy Golf website for more information.

Emily playing at Swingers West End in 2019

Swingers Crazy Golf on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

We played the first Swingers pop-up Crazy Golf course in Shoreditch back in September 2014. The brand has grown since then, with Swingers in The City opening next to the Gherkin in 2016 and Swingers West End following in 2018.

Crazy Golf and competitive socialising

The phrase 'competitive socialising' has become a popular way to describe going out and having fun, with a number of new businesses catering to the demand of a public who wanted to compete at something while eating and drinking in a nice setting.

Whether it is table tennis, darts, shuffleboard, bingo, tenpin bowling, arcade games, or my personal favourite crazy golf, people are finding new ways to quench their thirst, have fun and compete without signing-up to a full sports league or taking things too seriously.

My last pre-pandemic meal out

I had my last pre-coronavirus pandemic lockdown meal out a year ago today. In fact it was the last time I dined out full stop as eating 100% gluten free is tough enough at the best of times, let alone during a pandemic.

What a fine last meal out this was

The steak and eggs I had at Remedy Kitchen in Manchester were superb and I can't wait until it's safe to get back out and eat there again.

Puttshack mini golf to open at The Oracle in Reading

Puttshack will be opening a new indoor minigolf venue at The Oracle shopping centre in Reading, Berkshire.

The new Puttshack mini golf location will be created in the former House of Fraser department store.

Playing at Puttshack White City in October 2019

Visit the Puttshack website for more information.

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 shopping malls, high streets and retail parks.

Boom: Battle Bar Wandsworth

Construction is underway on a new Boom: Battle Bar site in Wandsworth, London.

Boom: Battle Bars are home to a range of competitive socialising games including crazy golf (crazier golf), shuffleboard, axe throwing, darts and more.

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

Check out the Boom: Battle Bar website for more information.

Winning at the Digital City Expo

I attended my last 'real world' physical event at the Marketing Show North at the Digital City Expo at Manchester Central a year ago today.

What a difference a year has made.

One of the exhibitors, Acquia, had a darts game set up to attract visitors and I had a few throws and ended up winning the top prize with a 'Bullseye-esque' score of 101 with three darts!

The last three darts I threw in the outside world. I've been playing a lot of soft-tip darts at home during the lockdowns

It'll be interesting to see when the next events will be able to take place and what they'll look like. I have a few pencilled in my diary for 2022 already.

The last train

I last travelled on a train a year ago today!

A train at Stockport railway station on the 11th March 2020

The journey was a short one - from Stockport to Manchester Piccadilly and back - as I was heading into town for the Marketing Show North at the Digital City Expo at Manchester Central. That was the last event I attended before the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.

I wonder where my next train journey will take take me and when it'll be?

Boom: Battle Bar at The O2

A new Boom: Battle Bar is opening at The O2 in London.

Boom: Battle Bar venues are home to a range of competitive socialising games including crazy golf (crazier golf), shuffleboard, axe throwing, darts and more.

There are Boom: Battle Bars in Norwich and Cardiff and plans for others in Liverpool, Glasgow, Oxford, Coventry, West Thurrock, Eastbourne, Aberdeen, Aldgate, Wandsworth, Hull, Manchester and Newcastle.

Check out the Boom: Battle Bar website for more information.

Minigolf at The O2

We played minigolf at The O2 back in December 2010. That was a pop-up Q-Golf minigolf course set-up for that December and January 2011. The layout was the 210th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

My last pre-pandemic games of dodgeball

I played my last pre-coronavirus pandemic lockdown games of dodgeball a year ago today.

In my last Tuesday night session with the Cheadle & Gatley Griffins Dodgeball Club I played 5, won 4 and lost 1.

I'm really looking forward to returning to dodgeball action when it's once again safe to do so.

My 2020 record stood at 18 games played with 9 wins and 9 losses.

My all-time Dodgeball Win-Loss Record (2005-2020) stands at 987 games played, 451 wins, 492 losses and 44 tied games.

Minigolf scoring and loyalty apps

A look at minigolf, crazy golf and adventure golf scorecard and loyalty apps.

On our travels to 956 miniature golf courses we've seen a number of venues that have introduced a mobile app to compliment or replace the traditional paper scorecard. Some of these apps are really good and help to enhance the experience.

The minigolf apps we've found offer a range of scoring functions, loyalty and reward schemes, games, reviews, contests, information and tips.

Relatively new minigolf venues including Puttshack and Puttstars use electronic scoring systems with micro-chipped balls, or electronic score-pads and screens at the course.

There are a number of minigolf, crazy golf and adventure golf apps available on Android and iPhone (all apps are for UK courses unless otherwise stated):

• Adventure Island Mini Golf in Birmingham
• Bangolf Arena tournament scoring systems
• Congo River Golf Scorecard App - eight locations in the USA
• Dinton Adventure Golf
• Eingelocht: Minigolf Scorecard
• Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull
• Ghetto Golf
• GlowGolf® Score-App
• Golf Kingdom in Romford - home of Moby Golf
• Hastings Adventure Golf
• Hollywood Drive-In Golf, Orlando, Florida
• International Pitch & Putt Association (IPPA)
• Inky’s Mini Golf at Sirenian Bay in Belize
• Lost World Adventure Golf in Hemsby
• Mini Golf App
• Mini Golf Score Card
• Monster Mini Golf Scorecard App in the USA
• My Mini Golf Scorecard
• Nyborg Minigolf in Denmark
• Oasis Fun in Bournemouth
• Paradise Adventure Golf in Täby Centrum, Sweden
• Paradise Island Adventure Golf in Cheshire Oaks, Derby, Glasgow, Livingston, Manchester, Plymouth, Rushden Lakes and Sheffield
• Peter Pan Mini Golf, USA
• Play Minigolf App - four courses in Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Portugal, Czech Republic, Italy, Netherlands and Belgium
• Playing tips for mini golf
• Popstroke, USA
• Puttstars
• Rainforest Adventure Golf in Dundrum, Ireland
• Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf in Bournemouth
• Stagecoach Greens, San Francisco, USA
• Swingers Crazy Golf
• Teezers Retro Golf in Coventry
• The Clubhouse Stoke
• The Putter King game
• The Putting Penguin minigolf review site
• Volcano Falls Adventure Golf in Castleford
• We Are Minigolf

Do you know of any other minigolf apps, games or scoring systems? What do you think of them? Do you use them when you visit a course? Do you have a favourite? Let me know in the comments below.

Maryland Chicken in Leicester

Maryland Chicken in Leicester, June 2019.

Among the various fried chicken shops we've seen other US states represented at Arizona Fried Chicken, Dallas Fried Chicken, West Virginia Fried Chicken, Kansas Fried Chicken, Oregon Fried Chicken and Alaska Fried Chicken.

We've also seen a Toronto Fried Chicken shop in Rochdale and quite a few 'KFCs'.

What's the most obscure US State or North American place you've seen used in a chicken shop name?

My last pre-pandemic game of minigolf

I played my last pre-coronavirus pandemic lockdown game of minigolf at Junkyard Crazy Golf in Manchester a year ago today.

Check out my blog post taking a look back at our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in 2020.

Putt18 World Pro League Results - Season Two, Week Four

Results from week four of the Putt18 World Pro League.

I teed-off in week four of the Putt18 World Pro League on Saturday evening and shot rounds of 76, 79, 82 and 72 for a total of 309 and 13 points.

I'm currently in 14th place of 21 players with a points total of 62.

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

Matt Ansley (NZL), Dave Gomm (GBR) and John Ansley (NZL) are at the top of the league table.

I'm in 15th place of 21 players on the strokeplay leaderboard.

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.

Visit the Putt18 website for more information.

Jurassic Adventure Golf at The Needles on the Isle of Wight

Here's a look at the Jurassic Adventure Golf course at The Needles on the Isle of Wight.

My mate and fellow minigolf fan Matt Dodd sent me a couple of snaps he took during his round on the 11-hole Jurassic Adventure Golf course at The Needles on the Isle of Wight last summer.

Visit The Needles website for more information, opening times and prices.

The Jurassic Adventure Golf course at The Needles is a course we're yet to play on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

New Boom: Battle Bar at Goodman's Fields in London

There are plans for a new Boom: Battle Bar at Goodman's Fields in Aldgate, London.

A new Boom: Battle Bar is planned to open at the Goodman's Fields home and leisure development in Aldgate, London.

The venue will be home to a Crazy Golf (Crazier Golf) course, axe throwing, shuffleboard and more. It is planning to open in the latter part of 2021.

Boom: Battle Bars

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

Visit the Boom: Battle Bar website for more information.

Retailtainment and crazy golf

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

World Book Day 2021

Happy World Book Day!

Today is World Book Day. To mark the occasion check out my minigolf marketing ebook - The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing.

Created after years of playing, promoting and consulting the ebook gives players, courses, federations, associations and clubs a guide to the world of marketing.

You can buy The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing from Amazon and Kobo.

Other minigolf books

While you're at it I also recommend checking out the following books about miniature golf:

• Amazing Strokes by Gretchen Smith
• Tilting at Windmills: How I Tried to Stop Worrying and Love Sport by Andy Miller
• The Path Behind the Green Jacket by Olivia Prokopová
• 10 Courses for 10 Years by The Putting Penguin
• Mini Golf by photographer Simon Martin

There are a number of other books about the game listed at the Crazy Golf Museum.

New Putt in the Park on Clapham Common

There are plans for a new Putt in the Park miniature golf venue on Clapham Common in London.

The proposed new Putt in the Park location will include two minigolf courses and café. The business will also be providing new toilet block to serve that area of the Common.

Visit the Putt In The Park website for more information.

The first Putt In The Park course we played was in Wandsworth Park, London back in 2013. The Battersea Park Putt in the Park course was the 650th we visited in the UK and 671st overall.

Playing at Putt in the Park Battersea in 2015

We're yet to play the Putt in the Park courses in Acton Park, London and Colchester, Essex.

Teeing-off in week 4 of the Putt18 World Pro League

I'll be playing my next rounds in the Putt18 World Pro League this Saturday, 6th March at 6pm. You can watch my rounds on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Facebook Page.

I'm currently ranked in 13th place of 21 players with a total of 49 points from the three events so far this season.

Matt Ansley of New Zealand is the league leader, with Dave Gomm of GB in second place. John Ansley, NZ is in third spot.

In the individual strokeplay table I'm in 14th place with a total of 924 shots.

New Putt in the Park at Gunnersbury Park

There are plans for a new Putt in the Park miniature golf course at Gunnersbury Park in London.

The new Putt in the Park location at Gunnersbury Park & Museum would also be home to a café.

Visit the Putt In The Park and Gunnersbury Park & Museum websites for more information.

The first Putt In The Park course we played was in Wandsworth Park, London back in 2013. The Battersea Park Putt in the Park course was the 650th we visited in the UK and 671st overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour when we called in for a game in 2015.

We've still got to play the Putt in the Park courses in Acton Park, London and Colchester, Essex on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Gluten free cakes and bakes from the Wildcraft Bakery

As we haven't been able to get over visit Leeds or go to any gluten free food fairs during the pandemic we've recently made two orders from the Wildcraft Bakery in Leeds. Both were superb.

For our first order we went for a mix of sweet and savoury items including whoopie pies, cookies and cheese rolls.

For the second order we ordered one of each of the doughnuts (donuts) on offer in that particular 'doughnut drop'.

Check out the Wildcraft Bakery website for more information on the products and how to order.

We're looking forward to making our next order. It's brilliant that the Wildcraft Bakery is 100% gluten free. What do you think we should get this time?