The Ham and Egger Files

Monday, March 18, 2024

Adventure Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset

A look at the Adventure Golf courses at Parkdean Resorts Sandford Holiday Park, Dorset.

Adventure Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

There are two minigolf courses at Parkdean Resorts Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset.

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Many thanks to my friend and minigolf rival Martyn Williams for sending me these snaps of the two Crazy Golf courses at the Parkdean Resorts Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset.

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

The holiday park is home to a 9-hole Jurassic Crazy Golf course, as well as a 13 hole Pirate Crazy Golf layout.

Crazy Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset. Photo by Martyn Williams, May 2023

Check out the Parkdean Resorts Sandford Holiday Park website for more information.

It's always interesting to see some of the more 'hidden' courses around the UK as generally holiday park courses are only accessible to guests staying at the resort. Although this isn't always the case, so it's worth checking if the holiday camp has a day visitor pass, or if the minigolf course is available to play for non-residents too.

Golf Fang Crazy Golf planned for Bristol

A new Golf Fang indoor Crazy Golf course could be opening in Bristol.

There are plans for a new indoor minigolf course to open in the former Wilko store on Union Street in Bristol.

Visit the Golf Fang website for more information on the brand's existing courses in Liverpool, Bimingham, Newcastle, Glasgow, Sheffield and Cardiff.

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

The Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in Cliftonville, Margate

A look at the remains of the Little Oasis Crazy Golf in Margate.

Many thanks to our fellow minigolf adventurer Matt Dodd for sending over these photos of what's left of the former Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cliftonville, Margate, Kent.

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cliftonville, Margate. Photo by Matt Dodd, 15th March 2024

The location was once home to two 18-hole Arnold Palmer miniature golf layouts. It closed for good in 2014.

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cliftonville, Margate. Photo by Matt Dodd, 15th March 2024

We first visited the Little Oasis Crazy Golf course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in September 2007.

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cliftonville, Margate - September 2007

We first played the 'North' course in September 2007, and played the 'South' course in April 2011.

Check out this blog post about Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in the UK.

HUKD Crazy Golf in Bury, Greater Manchester

A look at the Crazy Golf courses at HUKD Golf in Bury, Greater Manchester.

A BIG thank you to our friend Pete Campbell for sending us these photos from his recent visit to HUKD Golf in Bury.

HUKD Crazy Golf in Bury. Photo by Pete Campbell, March 2024

HUKD Golf opened last year and has two indoor 9-hole Crazy Golf courses - the Roll Up Course and the Kick Off Course. One is funfair-themed, while the other is sports-themed.

HUKD Crazy Golf in Bury. Photo by Pete Campbell, March 2024

Pete tells us that all the holes were well thought out and he thought it was really good. The venue also has golf simulators which he's keen to go back and try out.

HUKD Crazy Golf in Bury. Photo by Pete Campbell, March 2024

Visit the HUKD Golf website for more information.

HUKD Crazy Golf in Bury. Photo by Pete Campbell, March 2024

HUKD Golf in Bury is another new local course location for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Toys R Us at The Leisure Plaza in Milton Keynes

A visit to the old Toys R Us store at The Leisure Plaza in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

We took a look at the former Toys R Us store at The Leisure Plaza in Milton Keynes while on our way back from a trip to Luton in June 2021.

A lot of visible signage was still on display at the old store, including a nice sign in the car park. It's always interesting to see the variety of branding employed by Toys R Us over the years.

Toys R Us closed in the UK in April 2018.

It's been very interesting to find that there are still remnants of the brand on some retail parks in the UK and we've visited a number of these closed, abandoned, derelict and demolished Toys R Us locations on our travels.

My first job while at university in the year 2000 was as one of Geoffrey's helpers at the Luton store. I worked on the video game and electronics section.

Emily recently passed by this store and noticed the signage was still up.

Former Toys R Us locations we've visited on our travels:

Hollywood Bowl Mini-Golf at Teesside Park in Stockton-on-Tees

A new Mini-Golf course is opening at Teesside Park in Stockton-on-Tees.

The 12-hole indoor Mini-Golf course is set to open as part of an expanded Hollywood Bowl centre.

The layout will be a Puttstars Mini-Golf course and is opening on Friday 22nd March.

Puttstars Mini-Golf in Rochdale (June 2021)

Visit the Hollywood Bowl and Puttstars websites for more information.

We've played at Puttstars before, and been to Teesside Retail Park - but not done both together. We visited the old Toys R Us store there in April 2021.

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Garden Centre Minigolf

You can find minigolf, crazy golf and adventure golf courses at several garden centres in the UK.

Minigolf has become very popular in recent years and has developed from being a traditional outdoor seaside summer activity to become a year-round game that can be played indoors or out.

Charity Crazy Golf at Woburn Sands Emporium in Woburn Sands near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

Much like at shopping malls, outlet centres and on the high street, customers are looking to be entertained while they shop, and garden centres are a perfect spot for a game of minigolf.

Aces Minigolf Gloucester at Dobbies Garden Centre

Check out these blog posts to find out more about the miniature golf courses that we've found out about, visited, and played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Crazy Golf at Fletchers Garden Centre in Eccleshall, Stafford

Thursday, March 14, 2024

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire

A look at the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire.

We had a brilliant break in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire in May 2018. The seaside resort has a number of minigolf courses, one of which is the classic Arnold Palmer Putting Course near the pier.

The Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes was the 482nd played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing ebook

You can buy The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing on Amazon.

My ebook to help minigolf players better market themselves, their clubs, tournaments and courses is available to purchase from Amazon.

As a minigolfer with over a decade of experience as a tournament competitor and years of experience in marketing and communications I designed the guide so that anyone interested or involved in minigolf could help promote the game. It’s a niche title, but an audience and subject I know a lot about.

Writing the book was brilliant and enabled me to bring two areas of my life together. I’ve worked in marketing since 2003 and have played minigolf since I was a child. Stepping up to compete on the national minigolf tour circuit and in international tournaments opened my eyes to the potential of the game. I’ve also had the honour of serving on the committees of the British Minigolf Association (BMGA) and the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF).

Minigolf is a sport for all. People of all ages, sexes, backgrounds and abilities can pick up a putter and play the game.

When Emily and I began travelling around the country on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour there were around 600 courses in the UK. We’ve now visited more than 1,000 courses, including 47 overseas.

My sports, games and travel blog at the Ham & Egger Files contains over 5,400 posts that have attracted 3.2 million page views.

There are a huge amount of interesting and fun stories to tell and positive aspects to highlight to potential players, the media, sponsors and the wider sporting community. The Minigolfer’s Guide to Marketing should give federations, associations, courses, clubs and fellow players ideas, inspiration and support in their marketing efforts.

Much of the guidance could also be applied to a number of other sports clubs and organisations to help raise their profile and boost memberships.

Buy The Minigolfer’s Guide to Marketing ebook on Amazon.

Toys R Us at Teesside Retail Park in Stockton-on-Tees

Visiting the old Toys R Us store at Teesside Retail Park in Stockton-on-Tees.

We visited the former Toys R Us store in Stockton-on-Tees back in April 2021.

It's a very nice example of a closed store, with lots of the original signage still visible.

Toys R Us closed in the UK in April 2018.

My first job while at university in the year 2000 was as one of Geoffrey's helpers at the Luton store. I worked on the video game and electronics section.

Former Toys R Us locations we've visited on our travels:

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

A Back to the Future DeLorean - in 2020

I saw a Back to the Future DeLorean time machine four years ago today.

This was the last event we went to, as the world went into shutdown with the coronavirus pandemic shortly afterwards.

In 2019 I ticked 'See a real life DeLorean' off of my bucket list.

On Friday the 13th 2020 I managed to see another one at MediaCityUK in Salford and that one was this Back to the Future version!

Four years later and I still need to drive one...

What time would you go to?

The Ham and Egger Files

Monday, March 18, 2024

Adventure Golf at Sandford Holiday Park in Dorset

A look at the Adventure Golf courses at Parkdean Resorts Sandford Holiday Park, Dorset.

Check out the Parkdean Resorts Sandford Holiday Park website for more information.

Golf Fang Crazy Golf planned for Bristol

A new Golf Fang indoor Crazy Golf course could be opening in Bristol.

Visit the Golf Fang website for more information on the brand's existing courses in Liverpool, Bimingham, Newcastle, Glasgow, Sheffield and Cardiff.

The Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in Cliftonville, Margate

A look at the remains of the Little Oasis Crazy Golf in Margate.

Check out this blog post about Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in the UK.

HUKD Crazy Golf in Bury, Greater Manchester

A look at the Crazy Golf courses at HUKD Golf in Bury, Greater Manchester.

Visit the HUKD Golf website for more information.

Toys R Us at The Leisure Plaza in Milton Keynes

A visit to the old Toys R Us store at The Leisure Plaza in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

Former Toys R Us locations we've visited on our travels:

Hollywood Bowl Mini-Golf at Teesside Park in Stockton-on-Tees

A new Mini-Golf course is opening at Teesside Park in Stockton-on-Tees.

Visit the Hollywood Bowl and Puttstars websites for more information.

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Garden Centre Minigolf

You can find minigolf, crazy golf and adventure golf courses at several garden centres in the UK.

Check out these blog posts to find out more about the miniature golf courses that we've found out about, visited, and played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire

A look at the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire.

The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing ebook

You can buy The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing on Amazon.

Buy The Minigolfer’s Guide to Marketing ebook on Amazon.

Toys R Us at Teesside Retail Park in Stockton-on-Tees

Visiting the old Toys R Us store at Teesside Retail Park in Stockton-on-Tees.

Former Toys R Us locations we've visited on our travels:

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

A Back to the Future DeLorean - in 2020

I saw a Back to the Future DeLorean time machine four years ago today.

Check out the Back to the Future car's website for more information.

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