Crazy Golf at Rylstone Gardens in Shanklin

Taking a look at the Crazy Golf course at Rylstone Gardens in Shanklin on the Isle of Wight.

Catching up on a Crazy World of Minigolf Tour course visit from the summer of 2021!

Time flies and while we posted about Emily's trip to the Isle of Wight back in June 2021 we didn't get round to covering the individual course visits fully at the time.

This is the Crazy Golf course at Rylstone Tea Gardens in Shanklin.

The course is still incredibly well signposted!

Check out the Rylstone Tea Gardens & Crazy Golf on Facebook for further information.

The Crazy Golf course was the 65th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2008. The layout has undergone several changes since that first visit.

We've been to the Isle of Wight several times over the years and have been to most, but not all of the courses there. Some of the courses have changed over the years, with at least two of the courses undergoing refurbishments, and one changing twice since we first played it!

It's certainly interesting seeing the changes and developments on the island and we're looking forward to another trip there in the future.

We've now travelled to a total of 1,075 courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Our adventures began on the mainland side of the Solent at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea back in September 2006.

Jurassic Adventure Golf at The Needles, Alum Bay, Isle of Wight

Taking a look at the Jurassic Adventure Golf course at The Needles, Alum Bay, Isle of Wight.

Jurassic Adventure Golf at The Needles, Alum Bay, Isle of Wight

Catching up on a Crazy World of Minigolf Tour course visit from the summer of 2021!

Time flies and while we posted about Emily's trip to the Isle of Wight back in June 2021 we didn't get round to covering the individual course visits fully at the time.

This is the Jurassic Adventure Golf course at The Needles, Alum Bay.

Check out the Jurassic Adventure Golf website for further information.

The Jurassic Adventure Golf course at The Needles was the 963rd visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Jurassic Adventure Golf at The Needles, Alum Bay, Isle of Wight

Jurassic Adventure Golf at The Needles, Alum Bay, Isle of Wight

We've been to the Isle of Wight several times over the years and have been to most, but not all of the courses there. Some of the courses have changed over the years, with at least two of the courses undergoing refurbishments, and one changing twice since we first played it!

It's certainly interesting seeing the changes and developments on the island and we're looking forward to another trip there in the future.

We've now travelled to a total of 1,075 courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Our adventures began on the mainland side of the Solent at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea back in September 2006.

Putting Green at Ventnor Park

Taking a look at the Putting Green at Ventnor Park on the Isle of Wight.

Putting Green at Ventnor Park

Catching up on a Crazy World of Minigolf Tour course visit from the summer of 2021!

Time flies and while we posted about Emily's trip to the Isle of Wight back in June 2021 we didn't get round to covering the individual course visits fully at the time.

This is the Putting Green at Ventnor Park.

Check out the Ventnor Park Putting Green website for further information.

Signs at the Ventnor Park Putting Green

The Putting Green at Ventnor Park was the 964th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

We've been to the Isle of Wight several times over the years and have been to most, but not all of the courses there. Some of the courses have changed over the years, with at least two of the courses undergoing refurbishments, and one changing twice since we first played it!

It's certainly interesting seeing the changes and developments on the island and we're looking forward to another trip there in the future.

We've now travelled to a total of 1,075 courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Our adventures began on the mainland side of the Solent at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea back in September 2006.

Caddy Shack Indoor Crazy Golf at Shanklin Seafront

A look at the Caddy Shack Crazy Golf course at Shanklin Seafront on the Isle of Wight.

Catching up on a Crazy World of Minigolf Tour course visit from the summer of 2021!

A sign of the pandemic times!

Time flies and while we posted about Emily's trip to the Isle of Wight back in June 2021 we didn't get round to covering the individual course visits fully at the time.

And another

This is the Caddy Shack Crazy Golf at Shanklin Seafront.

Emily visited the course on the 12th June and returned to play the layout on the 18th June.

Check out the Caddy Shack Crazy Golf website for further information.

Caddy Shack Crazy Golf at Shanklin Seafront was the 548th course played and 960th visited overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

We've been to the Isle of Wight several times over the years and have been to most, but not all of the courses there. Some of the courses have changed over the years, with at least two of the courses undergoing refurbishments, and one changing twice since we first played it!

It's certainly interesting seeing the changes and developments on the island and we're looking forward to another trip there in the future.

We've now travelled to a total of 1,075 courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Our adventures began on the mainland side of the Solent at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea back in September 2006.

Jurassic Bay Adventure Golf at Shanklin Seafront on the Isle of Wight

Taking a look at the Jurassic Bay Adventure Golf course at Shanklin Seafront on the Isle of Wight.

Jurassic Bay Adventure Golf on the left, Pirates Cove Adventure Golf on the right

Catching up on a Crazy World of Minigolf Tour course visit from the summer of 2021!

Time flies and while we posted about Emily's trip to the Isle of Wight back in June 2021 we didn't get round to covering the individual course visits fully at the time.

There are two Adventure Golf courses at Shanklin Seafront. We had previously visited the Pirates Cove Adventure Golf. The Jurassic Bay Adventure Golf layout was a new course to see on Emily's trip.

This is the Jurassic Bay Adventure Golf course at Shanklin Seafront.

Jurassic Bay Adventure Golf course at Shanklin Seafront was the 959th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Jurassic Bay is located on what was a style of Arnold Palmer Putting course on our previous visit, and was originally a Beton-style miniature golf course on our first trip to the Isle of Wight. The Pirates Cove Adventure Golf layout was constructed on what had been a grass Putting Course.

Check out the Shanklin Seafront website for further information.

We've been to the Isle of Wight several times over the years and have been to most, but not all of the courses there. It's certainly interesting seeing the changes and developments on the island and we're looking forward to another trip there in the future.

We've now travelled to a total of 1,075 courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Our adventures began on the mainland side of the Solent at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea back in September 2006.

Mr Mulligan Crazy Golf in Bournemouth

Playing the Mr Mulligan Crazy Golf course in Bournemouth.

Mr Mulligan Crazy Golf in Bournemouth

The Mr Mulligan indoor Crazy Golf course in Bournemouth, Dorset was the 563rd courses played, and 1,016th visited overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in March last year.

Mr Mulligan Crazy Golf in Bournemouth

Check out the Mr Mulligan website for more information about the Bournemouth location, and other Mr Mulligan venues around the UK.

Mr Mulligan Crazy Golf in Bournemouth

We've been to the Mr Mulligan courses in Birmingham, Bournemouth, Cheltenham, Milton Keynes (indoor and outdoor venues), Newcastle, Norwich, Sidcup, Stevenage, Woking and Worcester.

We've yet to get to the Mr Mulligan courses in Basildon, Bristol, Hemel Hempstead, Nottingham and Tonbridge.

Blockbuster Video store in Nuneaton - May 2021

The old sign at the former Blockbuster Video store on Regent Street in Nuneaton was uncovered when a tenant of the building moved out. This is how the store looked on the 2nd May 2021.

Blockbuster Video store locations we've visited on our travels

Our interest in lost brands and retail history has taken us to several former Blockbuster stores:

• 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
• Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex
• Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
• Wythenshawe, Manchester

Minigolf did you knows...?

Did you know these things about minigolf?

• The world's first miniature golf course was set-up at St Andrews, Scotland in 1867.
• James Barber opened the first minigolf course in the USA in 1916. The 'Lilliputian' miniature golf course was called 'Thistle Dhu' and located in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
• A Miniature Golf contest was part of the Olympic Games at the 1904 St Louis Games in the USA.
• Crazy Golf is 99 years old in 2025. The first course using the name 'Crazy Golf' opened on South Parade in Skegness, Lincolnshire, England in 1926.
• 1926 also saw the first artificial miniature golf course open in the USA. Garnet Carter opened the 'Tom Thumb' miniature golf course near Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
• The first National Tom Thumb Golf Championship took place on the 23rd October 1930.
• The first Putt-Putt brand miniature golf course was set-up by Don Clayton in Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA in 1954.
• There are several Guinness World Records for achievements in Minigolf, Miniature Golf, Crazy Golf, Adventure Golf, and Putt-Putt. The 2024 edition of the Guinness World Records book featured a whole page about minigolf and you can find details of the records on the Guinness World Records website.
• There are approximately 1,370 miniature golf courses in the British Isles.
• Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour is 19 years old in 2025! In that time we've visited over 1,000 courses.
• The Crazy Golf Museum is 15 years old in 2025. The virtual online museum is a treasure trove and archive for all things related to minigolf, crazy golf, adventure golf, miniature golf, Putt Putt, and putting.
• There are two 'miniature golf days' each year. 'National Miniature Golf Day' is always on the second Saturday in May. In 2025 that will be Saturday 10th May. The other minigolf day, 'Miniature Golf Day', is always on the 21st September. In 2025 that will fall on a Sunday.

Do you have any other interesting minigolf facts or stats? If you do, get in touch and let us know what they are.

Miniature Golf 'Days' in 2025

There are two 'miniature golf days' each year.

National Miniature Golf Day is always on the second Saturday in May. In 2025 that will be Saturday 10th May.

The other minigolf day, Miniature Golf Day, is always on the 21st September. In 2025 that will fall on a Sunday.

Kebab Near Me in Bridgehall, Stockport

What a name for a takeaway!

We spotted the new Kebab Near Me takeaway in Bridgehall, Stockport over Christmas.

Bravo to the team at Kebab Near Me in Bridgehall, Stockport for selecting the name for the takeaway.

This is one way to be found!

Check out the Kebab Near Me website.

Blockbuster Video Express in Billingham Town Centre - April 2021

A visit to the old Blockbuster Video Express store in Billingham town centre, Teesside.

Blockbuster Video store locations we've visited on our travels

Our interest in lost brands and retail history has taken us to several former Blockbuster stores:

• 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
• Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex
• Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
• Wythenshawe, Manchester