American Golf Adventure Golf National Pairs Championship

A look back at the American Golf Adventure Golf National Pairs Championship.

My team-mate Peter Jones and I qualified for the American Golf Adventure Golf National Pairs Championship Final by winning the Welsh Regional Qualifier at Clays Golf Centre on this day in 2017!

Champion minigolfers

In action

Each of the holes on the 9-hole Miniature Golf course at Clays Golf Centre in Wrexham are based on famous holes from big golf.

The American Golf Adventure Golf National Pairs Championship Final was played at The Belfry in September 2017 and was televised on Sky Sports Golf.

You can watch the tournament in the video below from 26m 55s.

You can also watch the American Golf Championship Tour Season Review programme on the American Golf YouTube Channel with the Adventure Golf competition starting at 31m 33s.

Players earned their places in the final by competing in qualifying events at courses in England, Scotland and Wales:

• Great Western Golf Clydebank
• World of Golf Croydon
• Top Golf Watford
• Bristol Golf Centre
• Trent Lock, Long Eaton
• Clays Farm Golf Centre, Wrexham

Action from the TV tournament at The Belfry

Links:

• American Golf
• Clays Golf Centre

Adventure Golf at Zip World Llechwedd

A new underground Adventure Golf course is being created at the slate caverns at Zip World Llechwedd in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales.

It'll certainly be an interesting place to have a game of minigolf.

Visit the Zip World Llechwedd website for more information.

We look forward to playing the new Adventure Golf course at Zip World Llechwedd on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Crazy Golf at Romsey Rapids Sports Complex

There are plans to refurbish the Crazy Golf course at Romsey Rapids Sports Complex in Romsey, Southampton, Hampshire.

We visited the sports-themed Adventure Golf course at Romsey Rapids Sports Complex on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in May 2019.

Adventure Golf at Romsey Rapids Sports Complex in Southampton

Visit the Romsey Rapids Sports Complex website for more information.

Crazy Golf at Naze Marine Holiday Park

New Crazy Golf course at Naze Marine Holiday Park in Walton-on-the-Naze.

A new Crazy Golf course is being created at Parkdean's Naze Marine Holiday Park in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex.

Visit the Naze Marine Holiday Park website for more information.

It's always nice to hear of holiday parks adding minigolf - there's nothing quite like a game of minigolf while on holiday.

Adventure Golf at Wokingham Family Golf

Updates to the Adventure Golf course at Wokingham Family Golf.

The Jurassic Adventure Golf course at Wokingham Family Golf in Wokingham, Berkshire is being updated.

The course will have a further 6-holes added to it to create an 18-hole layout.

Visit the Wokingham Family Golf website for more information.

We're yet to play the Adventure Golf course at Wokingham Family Golf on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

New mini golf holes at Wimborne Model Town in Dorset

Wimborne Model Town in Wimborne, Dorset has added three new holes to its mini golf course.

The model village is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.

Check out the Wimborne Model Town website for more information.

We do enjoy visiting model villages on our travels, but haven't been to Wimborne Model Town. Yet.

It'll be nice to tick off the model village and minigolf course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in the future.

Winning the DinoFalls Adventure Golf Masters

Looking back at the 2018 DinoFalls Adventure Golf Masters.

I won the DinoFalls Adventure Golf Masters competition at the Trafford Golf Centre in Manchester back in April 2018 - where has the time gone since then!

The DinoFalls Adventure Golf course was an 18-hole layout when we played the event and has since been joined by another 18-hole course, that one has a volcano theme. The venue is an eye-catching sight from the M60.

I've won four tournaments at the Trafford Golf Centre. In addition to the DinoFalls Masters and the MMGC Invitational I won in 2018, I won the 2009 Mini Masters and Mini Open on the 9-hole Championship Miniature Golf course which used to be at the centre.

Check out the DinoFalls Adventure Golf website for more information.

A mini golf putting postcard from Burgh Hall in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

A look at a miniature golf postcard from our collection.

Here's a postcard showing a mini golf grass putting course at Burgh Hall Country Club Chalet & Caravan Park in the 1970s.

The card was posted to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne from Lowestoft, Suffolk on the 24th May 1977.

BURGH HALL COUNTRY CLUB postcard. Posted 24 May 1977

We'll be heading back to Great Yarmouth this summer for the Big Mini Golf Tour taking place across miniature golf courses in Great Yarmouth, Hemsby and Gorleston-on-Sea.

Minigolf courses in the UK

There are lots of places to play minigolf in the UK.

We've almost reached the 1,000 course mark on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. When we began in 2006 there were around 600 courses in the UK. That number has grown significantly and there are new places to play opening all the time.

Some of the courses we've played are long-gone, while others have been refurbished or replaced by new layout.

Check out this post detailing all of the new courses we have found that have opened, are in planning, or under construction in the UK since July 2020 - New minigolf courses in the UK.

The Big Mini Golf Tour - Course List and Map

The Big Mini Golf Tour tees-off on Saturday 14th May.

We have played in and organised lots of miniature golf competitions, tournaments, challenges and events over the last decade and a half and this year we are excited to be a part of the Big Mini Golf Tour in the seaside resort of Great Yarmouth.

Miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business Improvement Area have come together to promote the game.

The four-month event highlighting miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth area tees-off on National Miniature Golf Day, Saturday 14th May 2022 and runs until Miniature Golf Day on Wednesday 21st September 2022.

Mini Golf courses in the Greater Yarmouth area

You can view the details of participating courses in Hemsby, Clippesby, Great Yarmouth and Gorleston-on-Sea in the Big Mini Golf Tour List.

The Big Mini Golf Tour Map of courses in the Greater Yarmouth area

The Big Mini Golf Tour Map of courses is below.

Visit Great Yarmouth

Funding from Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA has helped to bring you the “Big Mini Golf Tour”.

The Big Mini Golf Tour

Check out the Big Mini Golf Tour links for more information.

Crazy Golf at the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway

There's a new Crazy Golf course at the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire.

Visit the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway website for more information on the 9-hole Crazy Golf course.

We've been to Cleethorpes on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and it'll be nice to return to the seaside resort again in the future.

Newbury Adventure Golf

A new Adventure Golf course is opening in Newbury, Berkshire.

Newbury Adventure Golf is planning to open in Victoria Park this month.

The 18-hole layout at Newbury Adventure Golf is from the team behind Dinton Adventure Golf in Wokingham, Wardown Adventure Golf in Luton, Lightwater Country Park in Surrey and High Lodge in Suffolk.

Visit the Newbury Adventure Golf website for more information.

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

Adventure Golf at Monkey Tree Holiday Park in Newquay

A new pirate-themed Adventure Golf course is opening at Monkey Tree Holiday Park in Newquay, Cornwall.

Visit the Monkey Tree Holiday Park website for more information on the 18-hole Adventure Golf course.

Crazy Golf at Pops Meadow in Gorleston-on-Sea

New Crazy Golf course at Pops Meadow in Gorleston-on-Sea.

There's a new Crazy Golf course at Pops Meadow in Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk.

The 18-hole layout is part of the fun park at Pops Meadow - check out the Pops Meadow Facebook Page for more information.

The former Crazy Golf course at Pop's Meadow in Gorleston-on-Sea was the 100th course we visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour when we swung by on the 10th May 2009.

Sadly that course closed a few years ago. But luckily Pops Meadow re-opened last year and there was a temporary Crazy Golf course there then too.

Pops Meadow Crazy Golf will be one of the courses participating in the Big Mini Golf Tour 2022.

A minigolf postcard from Pontin's Holiday Village in Hemsby, Norfolk

A look at a minigolf postcard from our collection.

Here's a long-lost Crazy Golf course depicted on a Pontin's multi-view postcard of the Hemsby Holiday Village in Hemsby, Norfolk.

PONTIN'S HOLIDAY VILLAGE, HEMSBY, NORFOLK R5713 by Photo Precision Limited, St Ives. Unposted, undated

The layout is of the Eternit Miniature Golf style - a rarity on these shores.

We'll be heading back to Hemsby this summer for the Big Mini Golf Tour taking place across miniature golf courses in Great Yarmouth, Hemsby and Gorleston-on-Sea.

You can play minigolf at the Lost World Adventure Golf and Stonehenge Adventure Golf in the seaside town of Hemsby.

New Crazy Golf planned for Crawley

A new indoor Crazy Golf course is planning to open in Crawley, West Sussex.

The team at Caddies Crazy Golf in Southend are planning to create a new indoor Crazy Golf venue in Crawley, West Sussex.

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

Jurassic Island Adventure Golf in Stokesley

New Jurassic Island Adventure Golf course at Stokesley Golf Range in Middlesbrough.

Stokesley Golf Range is now home to a refurbished minigolf course. The layout has been changed from a Crazy Golf course to Jurassic Island Adventure Golf.

Visit the Stokesley Golf Range website for more information.

We played the previous incarnation of the course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in November 2011. It was the 277th course played on our travels. We've now been to 983 courses since September 2006.

New crazy golf course in Gourock Park

Gourock Park Bowling Club has set up a new crazy golf course.

There's a new crazy golf course at Gourock Park in Gourock, Inverclyde.

We look forward to playing the 9-hole crazy golf course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in the future. We haven't been to Gourock on our previous travels in Scotland. It'll be nice to get back up there.

Links:

- Gourock Park Bowling Club website

- Gourock Park Bowling Club on Facebook

Blackbeard's Adventure Golf in Hunstanton

My little brother Christopher and his family were recently in Hunstanton, Norfolk for a day trip and sent this photos from Blackbeard's Adventure Golf.

Emily and I visited Blackbeard's Adventure Golf in Hunstanton back in 2011! The two courses there were the 246th and 247th courses played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Together we've now visited 1,019 courses since September 2006.

Check out the Blackbeard's Adventure Golf Facebook Page for more information.

Blockbuster Video Express in Failsworth, Manchester

Spotting a retail remnant on an old Blockbuster Video store in Manchester.

My retail archaeologist senses started twitching while on the Oldham Road in Failsworth recently as I looked at a building and thought to myself, "I bet that used to be a Blockbuster."

And sure enough, it was once a Blockbuster Video Express store.

The shop unit now home to AMC Furniture was once a Blockbuster Video Express store

I've only driven along this particular part of the road once before, but luckily this time the view of the shop front was clear and I could see the QuikDrop box still in place!

Blockbuster Video

We're big fans of video, videos stores, retail history and retro stuff and have been visiting and documenting the last remaining traces of the Blockbuster brand in the UK over the last few years. We've seen a number of the brand's shopfronts, signs and QuikDrop boxes. As well as some other video shops.

The first of the old Blockbuster locations we found was also in Manchester, just up the road from us at Fallowfield Retail Park.

Blockbuster Video Stores

The first Blockbuster Video store opened in Dallas, Texas, USA in 1985.

At its peak in 2004 there were more than 9,000 stores around the world. 500+ of which were in the UK.

Blockbuster ceased operations in the UK in December 2013. At the start of that year there were 528 Blockbuster locations in the UK. The number dwindled until October when only 264 shops remained. The remaining stores closed on the 16th December.

There is now just one Blockbuster Video store left open. It's in Bend, Oregon, USA.

However, the UK's high streets, shopping precincts, malls and retail parks still hold traces of the brand. And we've been to most of them!

The QuikDrop box at the former Blockbuster Video Express store in Failsworth, Manchester

We've now visited 28 former Blockbuster Video stores since we found the remains of the Fallowfield shop.

• Abingdon, Oxfordshire
• Ashton, Bristol
• Barnsley, South Yorkshire
• Basingstoke, Hampshire
• Billingham, Teesside
• Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester
• Chester, Cheshire
• Chorley, Lancashire
• Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
• Colne, Lancashire
• Failsworth, Manchester
• Fallowfield, Manchester
• Felixstowe, Suffolk
• Filton, Bristol
• Great Moor, Stockport, Greater Manchester
• Hastings, East Sussex
• Leigh, Greater Manchester
• Luton, Bedfordshire
• Marple, Greater Manchester
• Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire
• Nuneaton, Warwickshire
• Oldham, Greater Manchester
• Prescot, Lancashire
• Shanklin, Isle of Wight
• Southampton, Hampshire
• Telford, Shropshire
• Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
• Wythenshawe, Manchester

Crazy Golf at Babbacombe Model Village

There's a new Crazy Golf course at Babbacombe Model Village in Babbacombe, Torquay, Devon.

The 9-hole outdoor layout is a Swedish Felt-style course.

Check out the Babbacombe Model Village website for more information.

It's another new place to play on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

A Happy Shopper in Sittingbourne, Kent

Finding a Happy Shopper shop in Sittingbourne, Kent.

The Happy Shopper shop on Chaucer Road in Sittingbourne 

The latest Happy Shopper shop we visited was in Sittingbourne, Kent.

A sign for the Happy Shopper opposite the shop

It was marvellous to see the shopfront with the happy faced mascot on it shining out on the parade of shops on Chaucer Road.

The Happy Shopper shop sign

It was nice having a chat to the shopkeeper who seemed just as happy as us to talk about the Happy Shopper brand! He also pointed out the celebration clock they still have working in the shop.

Visiting a fully branded Happy Shopper shop is like stepping back in time

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 on our somewhat limited travels. Take a look at my posts about other Happy Shopper shops in:

• Preston
• Sheffield (Sharrow Lane)
• Sheffield (Page Hall Road)
• Ilkeston
• Hitchin
• Ashwellthorpe
• Lowestoft (2011)
• Lowestoft (2021)
• Wisbech
• Sittingbourne

A very Happy Shopper

Mini Golf at Wingham Wildlife Park in Canterbury

A new 18-hole mini golf course has opened at Wingham Wildlife Park in Canterbury, Kent.

Visit the Wingham Wildlife Park website for more information.

We were down in Canterbury last month so just missed out on visiting the course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Dinosaur Adventure Golf at Grimsby Golf Centre

There are plans for a new Jurassic-themed Adventure Golf course to open at Grimsby Golf Centre in Lincolnshire.

It'll be another new place for us to play on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Check out the Grimsby Golf Centre website for more information.

Crazy Golf at Old Joe's Golf Club in Cornard Tye, Suffolk

There are plans for a new Crazy Golf course to be created at Old Joe's Golf Club in Cornard Tye, near Sudbury in Suffolk.

The 18-hole layout would have a Suffolk-theme.

We visited Old Joe's Driving Range and Golf Course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2010 and played the grass putting course there.

Emily playing the long first hole

Lining up a putt in April 2010

Visit Old Joe's Golf & Leisure website for more information.

It'll be nice to revisit next time we're back in East Anglia.

Crazy Golf at Tonbridge Sportsground

A look at the Crazy Golf course at Tonbridge Sports Ground in Kent.

My brother Christopher and his family recently swung by the Crazy Golf course at Tonbridge Sports Ground in Kent.

We visited the layout on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in September 2010.

Mini-Golf in Tunbridge Wells

There are plans for a new indoor mini-golf course to open as part of an entertainment centre in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

The venue is proposed to open in the former BHS store in the town centre.

It'd be another new course for us to play on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Adventure Golf at Millets Farm

A new Adventure Golf course is being created at Millets Farm in Oxfordshire.

A new 18-hole Adventure Golf course is opening at Millets Farm Centre in Frilford, near Abingdon, Oxfordshire this summer.

Check out the Millets Farm website for more information.

I grew up in Abingdon and visited Millets Farm a lot in the 80s and 90s. It'll be fun to return and have a game on the new farm-themed course.

It'll be another new layout for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Millets Farm has previously been home to a Crazy Golf course as part of the Maize Maze attraction.

Herne Bay Mini Golf

A look at the Mini Golf course on the seafront in Herne Bay, Kent.

Herne Bay Mini Golf

We revisited the 78th course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour last month.

Mini Golf Rules

It doesn't seem like we first swung by it in 2008! Time certainly flies.

We've now been to 983 courses on our travels since 2006.

Visit the iFun Family Entertainment Centre website for more info on the Herne Bay Mini Golf course.

I've been documenting coronavirus signs during the pandemic and it was interesting to see some social distancing signs at the Herne Bay course.

A Covid-19 sign at Herne Bay Mini Golf

A social distancing sign on the Herne Bay Mini Golf course

A Coronavirus social distancing sign at Herne Bay Mini Golf