Swingers Las Vegas

Swingers Crazy Golf Las Vegas is opening at the Mandalay Bay.

Swingers Las Vegas is opening five 9-hole indoor crazy golf courses at MGM's Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

Emily recently returned from a holiday to Las Vegas, Nevada, USA where she swung by the new Swingers Las Vegas indoor minigolf venue where five 9-hole indoor crazy golf courses are being created at Mandalay Bay.

The new Swingers Las Vegas crazy golf location is set to open this fall.

Visit the Swingers Crazy Golf website for more information.

A wacky waving inflatable arm-flailing tube man in Boulder City, Nevada

Spotting a wacky waving inflatable arm-flailing tube man in Boulder City, Nevada, USA.

Emily saw this wacky waving inflatable arm-flailing tube man while on holiday to the USA recently.

Jurassic Adventure Golf at Grimsby Golf Centre

The new Jurassic-themed Adventure Golf course is now open at Grimsby Golf Centre in Lincolnshire.

The Jurassic Adventure dinosaur-themed adventure golf course is now open at Grimsby Golf Centre.

Check out the Grimsby Golf Centre website for more information.

The 18-hole outdoor adventure golf course is another new place for us to play on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Mini Golf Adventures at Activity for All on the Wirral

A new indoor mini golf course has opened on the Wirral.

Mini Golf Adventures is an 18-hole indoor glow-in-the-dark mini golf course at Arrowe Commercial Park in Upton.

Check out the Mini Golf Adventures website for more information.

It's be another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on a return trip to the Wirral Peninsula.

Coca-Cola Street Golf at Gravity MAX Westfield Stratford City

There's a Coca-Cola Street Golf course at Gravity MAX Westfield Stratford City.

The new Gravity MAX Westfield Stratford City indoor entertainment centre will be home to a Coca-Cola branded indoor street crazy golf course.

Gravity MAX Westfield Stratford City opens on Friday 17th May.

Check out the Gravity MAX Westfield Stratford City website for more information.

We visited the Urban Street Golf at Gravity MAX in Liverpool last November.

The Coca-Cola Street Golf course will be a new one for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Urban Street Golf at Gravity MAX in Liverpool

Prestatyn Crazy Golf

A revisit to Prestatyn Crazy Golf.

I revisited and replayed the excellent Prestatyn Crazy Golf in Prestatyn, North Wales on Saturday (National Miniature Golf Day).

I managed to capture this shot of the superb course and its classic crazy golf colours during a gap in players on the course during a busy and very warm summer afternoon

The course was originally the 147th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2009.

As one of our local seaside towns we used to head to Prestatyn a few times a year. We went there in December 2021 during the pandemic and before that the last visit was in June 2019! Where's the time gone since then!

The Prestatyn Crazy Golf is one of our favourite courses and is an excellent Arnold Palmer Putting Course.

I very much enjoyed my two rounds on the 18-hole layout and scored a 40 (+4) on each round. Not too bad considering how rusty my putting is!

It's a course that is well worth a visit and I'm very much looking forward to another game there this summer.

Minigolf consultancy

As a marketing professional I use my extensive knowledge and skills in supporting and promoting the game I enjoy as a hobby, a competitive sport and a leisure activity.

My marketing activity sees me work across the minigolf industry, from traditional British seaside crazy golf courses, to new inland adventure golf layouts, competitive socialising venues and within retailtainment.

Since 2006 Emily and I have visited more than 1,000 minigolf courses in the UK and overseas. This has given me an insight into many aspects of minigolf including course operators, pop-ups, competitions, equipment, national associations, international federations, clubs, suppliers, designers, builders and technology providers.

My involvement in the world of minigolf includes blogging, media relations, sponsorship, course design, advice and consultancy, content generation, digital marketing and new technology, event organisation and promotion, and participation in tournaments around the world.

I have consulted on a number of minigolf business concepts in the UK and USA including Princess Parade Crazy Golf in Blackpool; the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club in Knowle West, Bristol; Tea Green Golf in Luton; Burray Crazy Golf in Orkney; Prestwick Putting and Crazy Golf; Portaputt Crazy Golf; Aces Minigolf Gloucester; Southend Pier Crazy Golf; Knaresborough Mini Golf; Glory Holes art-based Crazy Golf in Saltaire; Putting at the Kiosk in Bedford; Visionary Crazy Golf at the London Design Festival, and The Big Mini Golf Tour in Great Yarmouth.

As a volunteer I served three terms on the Executive Committee of the British Minigolf Association and was a member of the World Minigolf Sport Federation’s Marketing and Media Committee for six years.

My sports, games and travel blog at the Ham & Egger Files contains over 5,500 posts that have attracted 3.3 million page views. Read my posts about the next normal rules of minigolf, competitive isolation, social distancing, the boom in minigolf and competitive socialising, artainment, the concept of retailtainment, as well as the increase in shopping mall and garden centre miniature golf courses. You can also sign-up to receive my minigolf enewsletter.

My specialist knowledge and experience in the worlds of minigolf and marketing were demonstrated in InterGame’s discussion of the opportunities and challenges of operating a mini-golf venue amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the Let’s Talk Leisure feature with Briq Bookings.

You can read my top 20 must-do tips for venues in the InterFun Guide for Operators.

As a consultant I contributed to the Guinness World Records 2024.

You can buy my ebook, The Minigolfer’s Guide to Marketing, on Amazon.

Please do get in touch to find out how I can help with your minigolf, crazy golf and adventure golf activities.

National Windmill Day

Today is National Windmill Day - and National Miniature Golf Day.

The windmill hole on the grass putting miniature golf course at the Palm Bay Café in Cliftonville, Margate back in 2007

As with National Miniature Golf Day, National Windmill Day is celebrated on the second Saturday of May each year.

Playing a windmill hole in Skegness on a previous National Miniature Golf Day

Windmills are a familiar sight on minigolf courses around the world. We've played a fair few on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour over the years.

Emily playing a windmill hole at the Rhos Fynach Crazy Golf course on Miniature Golf Day in 2017

A Dutch-themed hole at Glo-Golf indoor Crazy Golf at the Riverside Bowl in Andover

Playing the windmill hole on the Crazy Golf course at Penwith Pitch & Putt in Cornwall 

Happy National Miniature Golf Day

There are two 'miniature golf days' each year.

Today is National Miniature Golf Day!

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

Each year there are two Miniature Golf Days - National Miniature Golf Day on the second Saturday in May and Miniature Golf Day on the 21st September.

Tomorrow is National Miniature Golf Day 2024

Tomorrow is National Miniature Golf Day.

Minigolf courses we've played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on previous Miniature Golf Days

National Miniature Golf Day is always marked on the second Saturday in May.

Mini Golf Days

Each year there are two 'minigolf days', the second of which is Miniature Golf Day. It is always on the 21st September. This year that will be a Saturday.

The Minigolf Nations Cup 2008 in Finland

We made our Great Britain team debuts at the 2008 Nations Cup of Minigolf in Tampere, Finland 16 years ago today!

Our Great Britain Minigolf team, sponsored by UrbanCrazy, finished the tournament in 13th place. In the individual rankings I finished in 51st place and Emily was 53rd.

In action at the Minigolf Nations Cup in Tampere, Finland

The 2008 Great Britain squad - Jouni Valkjarvi (coach), John 'Big Top Ted' McIver, Marion 'Mation' Homer, Sean 'Freebird' Homer, Tim 'Ace Man' Davies, Steve 'F1' Gow, Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried, Andy 'Sarge' Booth, 'Squire' Richard Gottfried

We've also played for the Great Britain national team in World Minigolf Sport Federation and European Minigolf Sport Federation tournaments in Stockholm, Sweden and Hastings, England.

The Beton Concrete Mini Golf course at the Manse RG Club in Tampere was the 50th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. The Eternit Miniature Golf course was the 51st and the Swedish Felt Minigolf course there was the 52nd played. We've now been to 1,045 courses since 2006.

Dino Golf expanding at Mote Park Outdoor Adventure in Maidstone

The Dino Golf course at Mote Park Outdoor Adventure in Maidstone, Kent is doubling in size from 9 to 18-holes.

Visit the Mote Park Outdoor Adventure website for more.

It's a course we're yet to get to on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The 2008 Minigolf Nations Cup in Tampere, Finland

A look back at the 2008 Nations Cup of Minigolf in Tampere, Finland.

We made our Great Britain team debuts at the 2008 Nations Cup of Minigolf in Tampere, Finland 16 years ago this week. Where has that time gone!

The GB team playing the Beton Concrete Minigolf course in Tampere, Finland during a practice session

In international action on the Eternit Miniature Golf course

Our Great Britain Minigolf team, sponsored by UrbanCrazy, finished the tournament in 13th place. In the individual rankings I finished in 51st place and Emily was 53rd.

The 2008 Great Britain squad - Jouni Valkjarvi (coach), John 'Big Top Ted' McIver, Marion 'Mation' Homer, Sean 'Freebird' Homer, Tim 'Ace Man' Davies, Steve 'F1' Gow, Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried, Andy 'Sarge' Booth, 'Squire' Richard Gottfried

Since the 2008 Nations Cup we've also played for the GB national team in tournaments in Stockholm, Sweden and Hastings, England.

Receiving some tips on the Middle Hill Eternit Miniature Golf hole from Crazy Golf legend Tim 'Ace Man' Davies

The Beton Concrete Mini Golf course at the Manse RG Club in Tampere was the 50th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. The Eternit Miniature Golf course was the 51st and the Swedish Felt Minigolf course was the 52nd played.

Since 2006 Emily and I have visited 1,045 miniature golf courses around the UK and overseas on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. As well as playing minigolf in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Jersey and the Isle of Man we’ve travelled to minigolf courses in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Spain (Lanzarote and Majorca), Sweden and the USA.

Minigolf courses in Manchester & Greater Manchester

A look at minigolf courses in Manchester & Greater Manchester.

There are a number of options for minigolfing in Greater Manchester, with a variety of courses to play, ranging from traditional crazy golf to indoor minigolf to new adventure golf layouts. The city centre itself has seen an increase in courses over the last few years and there are more to open in the coming months too!

Here's a list of the minigolf courses in Manchester

• Paradise Island Adventure Golf at the Trafford Centre - two indoor adventure golf courses
• Junkyard Golf at First Street - three indoor crazy golf courses.
• Treetop Adventure Golf at The Printworks in Manchester - two indoor adventure golf courses
• Dino Falls Adventure Golf at the Trafford Golf Centre - two outdoor adventure golf courses
• Roxy Ball Room on Deansgate - indoor mini golf course
• Roxy Ball Room on Withy Grove - indoor crazy pool (think of a cross-between pool and crazy golf)
• Putters Crazy Golf at the Urban Playground in Manchester Arndale - indoor crazy golf
• Crazy Golf at Challenge Point Manchester - indoor crazy golf
• Mini Golf at King Pins at the Manchester Arndale - indoor mini golf

Here's a list of the minigolf courses in Greater Manchester

• The Lost Valley Adventure Golf at Amazonia, Market Place Shopping Centre, Bolton - an indoor adventure golf course
• Haigh Woodland Park, Wigan - an outdoor adventure golf course
• Haigh Woodland Park, Wigan - an outdoor crazy golf course
• UV Crazy Golf at One Adventure in Droylsden - an indoor crazy golf course
• Pitch & Putt at Bruntwood Park in Cheadle, Stockport - an outdoor miniature golf course
• Puttstars at Rochdale Riverside - three indoor minigolf courses
• Park Square, Cheadle Heath, Stockport - an outdoor Putting Green (for tenants only)
• Parr Fold Park in Walkden - a Pitch & Putt course
• Kearsley Golf Range - Pitch & Putt and Putting Greens
• Victoria Park in Pendlebury, Swinton - an outdoor putting green
• Buile Hill Park in Salford - a Pitch & Putt course
• Woodheys Park in Sale - a Pitch & Putt course
• HUKD Golf in Bury - indoor crazy golf

Minigolfing in Manchester

We've been travelling to play minigolf in Manchester on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since 2009 when I won the Mini Masters and Mini Open at the Trafford Golf Centre. I also won the Chrizy Golf Masters at Piccadilly Place in 2012. We moved to Stockport in 2016 and have continued to compete in events. Emily won the Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open in 2019, while I won the tournament in 2018. I also won the DinoFalls Masters at the Trafford Golf Centre in 2018.

Former courses

• Championship Miniature Golf at the Trafford Golf Centre - an outdoor miniature golf course
• Chrizy Golf at Piccadilly Place - pop-up Christmas-themed crazy golf course
• Tea Party Mini Golf at Spinningfields, Manchester - a pop-up mini golf course
• Junkyard Golf at the Great Northern Warehouse and at Piccadilly Place - indoor crazy golf courses
• Alexandra Park in Edgeley, Stockport - an outdoor crazy golf course
• Walkden Town Centre - pop-up crazy golf course

Derelict and abandoned courses

• Stamford Park, Stamford Street, Stalybridge, Tameside - an outdoor crazy golf course
• Wythenshawe Park, Wythenshawe - an outdoor crazy golf course

Please do get in touch and let us know of any other minigolf, crazy golf, adventure golf, pitch & putt, or putting layouts we don't yet know about in the area.

Mini Golf at King Pins at the Manchester Arndale

The Manchester Arndale Centre will soon be home to a Mini Golf course at King Pins Bowling.

King Pins Bowling is opening its second location in the city following the Trafford Centre venue. The new King Pins opens at the Arndale Centre on Friday 17th May, and one of the games there will be Mini Golf.

Check out the King Pins website for more information on the indoor venue.

The King Pins Mini Golf course will be another local course for us to check out on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Abingdon Bun Throwing - a year ago today

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 2023.

The crowd waiting for the buns to rain down

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.

With the one bun I got last time

The bun throw for the Coronation of King Charles III was the 37th bun throwing in Abingdon since 1761. It was the 17th bun throwing held in my lifetime - I've attended all of them since 1981.

A list of bun throwing events from 1761 to 2023

Mini-Golf at Rosa in Newquay

There's a renovated minigolf course at the Rosa bar, restaurant & mini-golf in Newquay, Cornwall.

The 18-hole course is located at what was previously Gilmore's Golf (a course we played back in 2015). There's been a crazy golf course on the site for more than 60 years.

Check out the Rosa Newquay website for more information.

We'll have to visit on a return trip to Newquay on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Boom Battle Bar in Cambridge

A new Boom Battle Bar is opening in Cambridge.

The venue will be home to a 'Crazier Golf' minigolf course among other indoor competitive socialising activities.

Check out the Boom Battle Bar website for more information.

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

Adventure Golf at Stonebridge Golf Club near Coventry

A new 18-hole Adventure Golf course is being created at Stonebridge Golf Club near Coventry.

Visit the Stonebridge Golf Club website for more information.

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

Wexham Park Adventure Golf in Slough

A new Adventure Golf course is opening at Wexham Park Golf Centre in Slough, Buckinghamshire.

Globe Trotters Adventure Golf at Wexham Park Golf Centre will be an 18-hole course.

Visit the Wexham Park Golf Centre website for more information.

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

One week until National Miniature Golf Day

There are two 'miniature golf days' each year.

Next Saturday is National Miniature Golf Day.

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

Each year there are two Miniature Golf Days - National Miniature Golf Day on the second Saturday in May and Miniature Golf Day on the 21st September.

Adventure Golf at Tenpin Southampton

There's an Adventure Golf course at Tenpin Southampton.

Visit the Tenpin Southampton website for more information about the indoor prison-themed Adventure Golf course.

It's another new one for us to check out on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Jabba the Putt

Happy Star Wars Day.

Jabba the Putt at Trailer Trash Jim's Crazy Golf at Level Preston in May 2018

Putt Putt Social Crazy Golf Tournaments in Norwich, Gloucester, Telford and Bedford

Putt Putt Social indoor minigolf centres in Norwich, Gloucester, Telford and Bedford will be holding Crazy Golf tournaments at the venues on Friday 17th May.

The event format will see teams compete for the prizes.

Visit the Putt Putt Social website for more information.

The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing ebook

I published my minigolf marketing ebook seven years ago today.

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

Don't worry if you don't have a Kindle as you can download the Kindle App on iOS, Android, Mac & PC.

Minigolf Marketing

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.

The Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Emily and I have visited 1,045 courses in the UK and overseas on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. When our travels began in 2006 there were around 600 courses in the UK. We've got 40 from that original list left to visit. However, they've been joined by hundreds more new courses opening up across the UK!

The minigolf boom

The game is really booming and new courses are being announced all the time.

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 our 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.

This month is Coeliac Awareness Month

The month of May is Coeliac Awareness Month.

Coeliac Awareness Month 2024

This year Coeliac UK - the charity for people with Coeliac Disease - is on a mission to find the 1 in 100 people in the UK with coeliac disease and help guide them on the road to recovery.

Visit the Coeliac UK website and Coeliac Awareness Month page for more information.

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 is estimated that 1 in 100 people have the condition.

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

My Coeliacversary

This year marks my 16th year as a Coeliac! Time flies eh.

How should I celebrate my Coeliacversary this year...?