Museum Week 2023

This week is Museum Week.

Since 2014 MuseumWeek has grown to include over 60,000 participants from 100+ countries. It has has become the first virtual, worldwide cultural event across social media.

MuseumWeek is an annual offline and online event based on the mechanism 7 days, 7 topics, 7 hashtags.

Find out more on the Museum Week website.

The Crazy Golf Museum

As the Curator of the Crazy Golf Museum it's always nice to be able to support museum initiatives such as MuseumWeek.

The Crazy Golf Museum is the world's first virtual crazy golf museum - a worldwide archive of miniature golf memories, histories and ephemera.

The Crazy Golf Museum

Did you know:

• The world's first Miniature Golf course was created at St Andrews, Scotland in 1867. The Himalayas is still there now and is a real pleasure to play.
• The first minigolf course in the USA opened in 1916. James Barber opened the 'Thistle Dhu' layout in Pinehurst, NC.
• A Miniature Golf contest was part of the Olympic Games at the 1904 St Louis Games.
• The very first Crazy Golf course in the UK opened on South Parade in Skegness, Lincolnshire, England.
• The first artificial miniature golf course open in the USA in 1926 when Garnet Carter created the 'Tom Thumb' miniature golf course near Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, TN.
• The first National Tom Thumb Golf Championship took place on the 23rd October 1930. 
• The first Putt-Putt Golf course was set-up by Don Clayton in Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA back in 1954.
• National Miniature Golf Day always falls on the second Saturday in May.
• Miniature Golf Day is always on the 21st of September.

Visit the Crazy Golf Museum website and check out these Crazy Golf Museum-related blog posts for more info.

Adventure Golf at Bristol Golf Centre in Hambrook

There will soon be two Adventure Golf courses at Bristol Golf Centre in Hambrook, Bristol.

Bristol Golf Centre in Hambrook is home to Kong Adventure Golf and will soon add an Around the World themed layout to the venue.

We looked for the original Pirate Bay Adventure Golf course / Bristol Golf Centre on a Crazy World of Minigolf Tour road-trip back in November 2012 and couldn't find it at all. Hopefully on our next trip there we'll be able to better navigate!

Visit the Bristol Golf Centre and Caddy Gilmore's websites for more information.

Putt Above Mini-Golf in Bournemouth

There are plans for a new Putt Above Mini-Golf centre to open in Bournemouth, Dorset.

Bournemouth could soon be home to a new minigolf course as a Putt Above Mini-Golf centre is planned to open in the former Argos shop in the town centre.

The venue would be Putt Above's second location, following the created of their high-tech mini golf venue in Dudley, West Midlands.

We haven't had a chance to play Putt Above's version of the game yet. It sounds like they've got an interesting twist on the minigolf experience. Rather than moving from hole to hole as you play the course, games at Putt Above are played out on the same 'hole', but with different interactive elements shown on the digital 'lane'!

Visit the Putt Above website for more information.

New Adventure Golf at Dobbies Garden Centre in Peterborough

A new Roman-themed Adventure Golf course has opened at Dobbies Garden Centre in Peterborough.

Dobbies Garden Centre in Peterborough is now home to two miniature golf layouts.

The existing 12-hole course at Dobbies Garden Centre in Peterborough is still in place, with the new 18-hole Roman-themed Adventure Golf course sitting next to it.

Visit the Peterborough Minigolf website for more information about the Roman Golf Empire course.

Mini-Golf at Richmond Swimming Pool in Richmond, North Yorkshire

There's an 8-hole Mini-Golf course at Richmond Swimming Pool in Richmond, North Yorkshire.

The layout recently re-opened after receiving a refurbishment.

Visit the Richmondshire Leisure Trust website for more information.

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Poole

A new indoor crazy golf venue has opened at the Dolphin shopping centre in Poole, Dorset.

Putt Putt Noodle Poole is the latest location opened under the Putt Putt Noodle. There are also Putt Putt Noodle minigolf courses in Norwich, Norfolk and Telford, Shropshire.

Visit the Putt Putt Noodle website for more information.

Swedish Felt at Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb

A look at the Swedish Felt minigolf course at Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb in Sweden.

Many thanks to fellow minigolf enthusiast Martyn Williams for sending these photos of the Swedish Felt minigolf course at Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb in Sweden.

Swedish Felt Minigolf at Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb. Photo by Martyn Williams, April 2023

Swedish Felt Minigolf at Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb. Photo by Martyn Williams, April 2023

Swedish Felt Minigolf at Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb. Photo by Martyn Williams, April 2023

Swedish Felt Minigolf at Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb. Photo by Martyn Williams, April 2023

Swedish Felt Minigolf at Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb. Photo by Martyn Williams, April 2023

Swedish Felt Minigolf at Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb. Photo by Martyn Williams, April 2023

Swedish Felt Minigolf at Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb. Photo by Martyn Williams, April 2023

Swedish Felt Minigolf at Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb. Photo by Martyn Williams, April 2023

Swedish Felt Minigolf at Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb. Photo by Martyn Williams, April 2023

Swedish Felt Minigolf at Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb. Photo by Martyn Williams, April 2023

Swedish Felt Minigolf at Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb. Photo by Martyn Williams, April 2023

Swedish Felt Minigolf at Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb. Photo by Martyn Williams, April 2023

Swedish Felt Minigolf at Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb. Photo by Martyn Williams, April 2023

Martyn, of the Welsh Minigolf Club, took the photos of the course while over in Sweden to compete in the City Golf Tour 1 event. 

Visit the Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb website for more information.

Crazy Golf at Yum Yum World in Rugby

We swung by the Yum Yum Crazy Golf course in Rugby, Warwickshire on our recent visit to the town.

Unfortunately the course and venue looked to be closed down. There is another Yum Yum World on the same street a stone's throw away on the other side.

The building used to be home to a Woolworths!

PAR 'N' BAR Cosmic Crazy Golf in Rugby

We recently made a stop off in Rugby, Warwickshire and spotted the PAR 'N' BAR Cosmic Crazy Golf.

We didn't have time for a round at the indoor minigolf course on this occasion.

Visit the PAR 'N' BAR Cosmic Crazy Golf website for more information on the 9-hole UV course.

The Lost Treasure of Lyonesse, a Golf Adventure at Land's End

A new minigolf course has opened at Land's End, Cornwall.

The Lost Treasure of Lyonesse is a 15-hole indoor adventure golf course with a Cornish Legend theme.

Visit The Lost Treasure of Lyonesse website for more information.

Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb in Sweden

A look at the minigolf course at Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb in Sweden.

Many thanks to fellow minigolf enthusiast and international minigolfer Martyn Williams for sending these snaps of the minigolf course at Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb in Sweden.

Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb in Sweden. Photo by Martyn Williams, April 2023

Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb in Sweden. Photo by Martyn Williams, April 2023

Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb in Sweden. Photo by Martyn Williams, April 2023

Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb in Sweden. Photo by Martyn Williams, April 2023

Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb in Sweden. Photo by Martyn Williams, April 2023

Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb in Sweden. Photo by Martyn Williams, April 2023

Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb in Sweden. Photo by Martyn Williams, April 2023

Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb in Sweden. Photo by Martyn Williams, April 2023

Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb in Sweden. Photo by Martyn Williams, April 2023

Martyn, of the Welsh Minigolf Club, took the photos of the course while over in Sweden to compete in the City Golf Tour 1 event.

Visit the Sundbybergs Bangolfklubb website for more information.

Par ‘n’ Bar Crazy Golf in Scarborough

A new crazy golf course is opening in Scarborough, Yorkshire.

The course is being created on the spot of the old Adventure Golf course on North Bay Promenade in Scarborough.

Visit The Tipi Venue website for more information.

Spinners Mini Golf in Plymouth and Solihull

Two new Spinners Crazy Golf courses are opening this year.

The team at Spinners are opening two new venues in 2023.

Spinners Plymouth and Spinners Solihull will be new places for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Spinners has a course in Reading, Berkshire.

Check out the Spinners website for more information.

Crazy Croc's Mini Golf at Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park in Oxford

A look at Crazy Croc's Mini Golf course at Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park in Oxford.

Crazy Croc's Mini Golf at Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park in Oxford

While back in Abingdon for the traditional Bun Throwing event we swung by Crazy Croc's Mini Golf at Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park in Oxford.

Crazy Croc's Mini Golf at Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park in Oxford

Unfortunately the weather was against us so we were unable to have a game.

Crazy Croc's Mini Golf at Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park in Oxford

Crazy Croc's Mini Golf at Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park in Oxford

Crazy Croc's Mini Golf at Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park in Oxford

The park used to be home to a Swedish Felt B-Run type of miniature golf course. We played that layout on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in 2009. We also visited it when it was closed the year before.

Mini Golf at Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park in Oxford

Videos from Abingdon Bun Throwing for the Coronation of King Charles III

Videos from King Charles III's royal bun throwing event in Abingdon.

King Charles III's royal bun throwing event in Abingdon

To mark the royal occasion of the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort my home town of Abingdon-on-Thames held a bun throwing event in the Market Place on Sunday 7th May.

Abingdon holds bun throwing events to mark, mostly, special royal occasions.

The events see local dignitaries ascend the steps of the old County Hall where they launch currant buns to the hoi polloi below.

The event began as a bread dole and evolved into a rooftop throwing event and its current incarnation. On this occasion a total of 5,000 buns were thrown to the crowd in the market place.

You can read more and see photos of this bun throw here.

Coeliac UK Awareness Week 2023 - 15th-21st May

This year Coeliac Awareness Week runs from the 15th to the 21st May.

What is Coeliac Disease?

Coeliac Disease ('Celiac' in the USA and Canada) is a lifelong autoimmune condition, where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. In Coeliac Disease the immune system mistakes substances found inside gluten as a threat to the body and attacks them. This can trigger a number of painful, horrible, stressful and uncomfortable symptoms.

In the UK it's estimated that 1 in 100 people have the condition.

Coeliac Awareness Week 2023

Coeliac UK's mission for Coeliac Awareness Week 2023 is to highlight that coeliac disease looks different for everyone, and there are a number of symptoms to look out for, beyond the common ‘gut related issues’.  

Visit the Coeliac UK website for more information.

Living a gluten free life

Having suffered from a range of symptoms for around ten years I finally received a positive diagnosis of Coeliac Disease following some 'interesting' and in-depth tests and procedures in 2008. It came as a relief to finally have a name for the mysterious cause of my illnesses and ailments, but at the time I was only given a brief summary and told that I'd have to "cut down on bread and beer". It was only later when I met with a Gastroenterologist and a dietitian that I found out that the only treatment for people with Coeliac Disease is a strict, life-long gluten free diet.

My life as a Coeliac in LEGO form

You can read more about my gluten free journey in this case study on the This Is MedTech website - "When eating gluten-free isn’t a choice".

My Coeliacversary

This year marks my 15th year as a Coeliac! Time flies eh.

I haven't quite worked out how I'll celebrate my Coeliacversary this time around...

National Miniature Golf Day - Saturday 13th May

There are two 'miniature golf days' each year.

Playing the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Skegness on National Miniature Golf Day 2015

National Miniature Golf Day is always on the second Saturday in May. In 2023 that will be this Saturday - Saturday 13th May.

The other minigolf day, Miniature Golf Day, is always on the 21st September. In 2023 that will fall on a Thursday.