The Royal Nawaab Stockport Pyramid

The Stockport Pyramid has reopened as a restaurant.

One of the first landmarks - among many fine buildings - we saw when we moved to Stockport in 2016 was the Stockport Pyramid.

Not many towns in the UK can lay claim to being home to a pyramid!

The Stockport Pyramid was home to the Co-operative Bank until 2018 and the building had been empty until it was purchased by Royal Nawaab with plans to turn the structure into a restaurant and banqueting venue. The venture has cost £15 million!

The building was originally planned to be the first of five pyramids in Stockport's own Valley of the Kings. That plan didn't come to fruition and the Stockport Pyramid sits on in the Kings Valley industrial and trading estate next to the M60.

Having seen videos of the inside of the Royal Nawaab it looks very impressive and we're looking forward to going inside for a look around the intriguing building one day.

A view of a side and the entrance

The Stockport Pyramid was completed in 1992 after five years work. Standing 36.6 metres (120 feet) in height, the Stockport Pyramid is somewhat smaller than Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza, which stands 147 metres (481 feet) high. However, the striking structure has become a familiar sight to people in the town, those passing on the M60, or passengers on trains on the lines across the viaduct.

A view of the pyramid from the other side of the M60

The rear side of the pyramid viewed from the roundabout at Junction 1 of the M50

The view of the pyramid from the bottom of Hollywood Park

Views of the Stockport Pyramid as it was in August 2020

Visit the Royal Nawaab website for more information.

Stockport County FC's Edgeley Mosaic Trail

Following the Stockport County FC Edgeley Mosaic Trail.

Earlier this year we noticed some newly placed street art in the form of mosaic tiles spelling out "STOCKPORT" along Castle Street in Edgeley. It was a nice surprise to see it, and after a bit of research we found that the group behind the street art were Grit Studios, Mosaics in Manchester, Stockport County Community Trust, and The Writing Squad.

I spotted this sign for the trail yesterday evening

During another wander around our local area we spotted another "O", which led us to find other tile art letters that spelled out "COUNTY".

It's been fun following the art trail around the area

We then found out that there were 17 mosaics in total - and we'd found 15 of them. So we set out to find the final two to spell out the final parts in the Edgeley Mosaic Trail.

A map for the Edgeley Mosaic Trail can be found on the Stockport County FC website.

Skyline Mini Golf at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis

The Skyline Mini Golf course is returning to the rooftop of the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA this month.

The 10-hole Skyline Mini Golf course tees-off on the 21st May.

The minigolf season at the Walker Art Center runs until the 5th October.

As big fans of minigolf, and curators of the Crazy Golf Museum, it's always interesting seeing minigolf/museum crossovers.

Check out the Walker Art Center website for more information.

Our friends Tom and Robin from A Couple of Putts have been involved with the Walker Art Center and the various incarnations of the minigolf course there for a number of years and sent us a copy of the 2018 edition scorecard for our collection.

A Walker Art Centre artist-designed Mini Golf scorecard from A Couple of Putts, 2018

Changes afoot at Looney Golf in Bradford

The crazy golf courses at Looney Golf in Bradford, West Yorkshire are getting a makeover.

The team at Looney Golf in Bradford are working on renovations of the crazy golf courses at the venue to bring new courses at the location.

We played the two indoor crazy golf courses at Looney Golf in Bradford on our trip to the city back in December 2021. They were 981st and 982nd courses visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. 

It'll be interesting to see the new courses at Looney Golf on a return to the city.

When we played, there were two 8-hole minigolf courses at Looney Golf - the Neon Jungle and the Dump Yard - plus a bonus hole.

Check out the Looney Golf website to keep up-to-date with the updates at the venue.

Looking on the Looney Golf website there have been other updates at the venue since our visit and it's now also home to Wacky Billiards and Crazy Archery!!! Plus an escape room, table tennis and pool tables.

Cranbrook on the Green minigolf course now open at Cranbrook Art Museum in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Information about the Cranbrook on the Green minigolf course at Cranbrook Art Museum in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA.

As big fans of minigolf, and curators of the Crazy Golf Museum, it's always interesting seeing minigolf/museum crossovers.

Each summer Cranbrook Art Museum in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan hosts Cranbrook on the Green, a pop-up artist-designed mini-golf course.

This year the course opened on the 3rd May and is open until the 28th September.

Check out the Cranbrook Art Museum website for more information.

Our friends Tom and Robin at A Couple of Putts were involved in the creation of the course. You can find out more on their website.

A bench at the Stockport Pyramid

What a spot for a nice sit down.

The bench is nestled between the Trans Pennine Trail, the River Mersey and the Stockport Pyramid.

Here's a view of it in August 2020.

New minigolf course opening at Elev8 in Broadstairs, Kent

A new minigolf course is opening at the Elev8 trampoline park in Broadstairs, Kent.

The Elev8 venue will be home to a 9-hole Hyper Putt course.

Check out the Elev8 website for more information.

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

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes

A look back at a visit to play the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire.

The recent run of sunny summer weather has got me thinking back to our visit to a very sunny Cleethorpes back in 2018.

I've played a lot of minigolf courses on my travels and my favourite type is the classic Arnold Palmer Putting Course.

There aren't too many examples left in the UK, but the majority of those still out there are in very playable condition. They are superb fun and a real test of putting skill.

I highly recommend giving them a play the next chance you get to have a game of miniature golf.

One of my all-time favourite courses is the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire. I played it a lot on our last trip to the seaside resort.

Holes 1-9

I'm looking forward to returning!

Holes 10-18

Adventure Golf at Cheshunt Park Golf Course

A new Adventure Golf course is being built at Cheshunt Park Golf Course in Hertfordshire.

Cheshunt Park Golf Course in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire will soon be home to a new Adventure Golf course.

Visit the Cheshunt Park Golf Course website for more information.

The outdoor Adventure Golf layout at Cheshunt Park Golf Course will be a new one for us to check out on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

A Scottish Links Putting course - in Edina, Minnesota

There's a 'golf in miniature' course at Centennial Lakes Park in Edina, Minnesota, USA. 

The Putting Course at Centennial Lakes Park in Edina, Minnesota is described as a 'not minigolf, it's golf in miniature!' as well as being a Scottish Links Putting Course.

It sounds and looks intriguing. Hopefully we'll get to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour one day.

Check out the Centennial Lakes Park website for more information.

Swingers: The Art of Mini Golf

A new playable art minigolf exhibition installation at Flinders Street Station is opening in Melbourne, Australia.

Swingers: The Art of Mini Golf opens at Flinders Street Station in Melbourne, Australia on the 4th June and runs until the 31st August.

The Swingers: The Art of Mini Golf course at Flinders Street Station will be a 9-hole playable exhibition, with each hole created by a female artist.

The exhibition is part of the 2025 Rising festival. Find out more about Swingers: The Art of Mini Golf on the Rising website.

The art exhibition has chosen miniature golf as its focus as the game was created to allow female players to play. The Himalayas Putting course at St Andrews, Scotland was created in 1867 specifically for female players to use.

Get ready for the NEXT Miniature Golf Day

Miniature Golf Day is ALWAYS on the 21st September.

While 'National Miniature Golf Day' is held on the second Saturday in May, the other minigolf day of the year is 'Miniature Golf Day' and is ALWAYS on the 21st September.

Emily playing the Crazy Golf course at the Botanic Gardens in Southport on Miniature Golf Day 2019

In 2025 the 21st September falls on a Sunday.

There are so many places to play minigolf now, with new courses opening up all the time. Including public courses, as well as those at pay to enter attractions, holiday parks, hotels and other 'non-standard' locations you can find over 1,300 miniature golf layouts around the UK and British Isles (including Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, and other islands)!

Victory Radio - Minigolf Interview, Monday 12th May

I'll be on the radio talking minigolf at around 10.30am on Monday 12th May.

You can tune in to listen on Victory Radio online.

Victory Radio is a DAB+ and online radio station based in Portsmouth and broadcasting to the South East Hampshire and West Sussex areas (and worldwide online). Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour teed-off in Southsea, Hampshire back in 2006 when we played the Victory Trail course at Treasure Island Adventure Golf.

We're looking forward to returning for more minigolf fun in Southsea in the future.

So that was National Miniature Golf Day

Today was National Miniature Golf Day!

Mr Mulligans Space Golf in Newcastle upon Tyne

Did you play miniature golf today?

Playing at The Himalayas on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in 2012. The course is the world's first miniature golf and home to the St Andrews Ladies' Putting Club

There are two 'miniature golf days' each year.

• National Miniature Golf Day is always on the second Saturday in May. Next year that will be Saturday 9th May 2026.
• The other minigolf day, Miniature Golf Day, is always on the 21st September. This year it falls on a Sunday.

There are so many places to play minigolf now, with new courses opening up all the time. Including public courses, as well as those at pay to enter attractions, holiday parks, hotels and other 'non-standard' locations you can find over 1,300 miniature golf layouts around the UK and British Isles (including Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, and other islands)!

Slicks Crazy Golf in Worthing

There's a mini golf course at Slicks in Worthing, West Sussex.

The seaside town of Worthing now has a 12-hole indoor UV crazy golf course located at Slicks Sports in the Montague Quarter.

Check out the Slicks Sports Bars website for more information.

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

National Miniature Golf Day - a day of many names

The second Saturday in May is always National Miniature Golf Day.

Putting at Lost World Adventure Golf in Hemsby

Much like the many different names for 'Miniature Golf', National Miniature Golf Day itself (and its sister appreciation day in September, Miniature Golf Day) goes by many many many different names!

I've seen the days called:

• Global Mini Golf Day
• Global Miniature Golf Day
• Global Minigolf Day
• International Mini Golf Day
• International Miniature Golf Day
• International Minigolf Day
• Mini Golf Day
• Miniature Golf Day
• Minigolf Day
• National Mini Golf Day
• National Miniature Golf Day
• National Minigolf Day
• World Mini Golf Day
• World Miniature Golf Day
• World Minigolf Day
• Worldwide Mini Golf Day
• Worldwide Miniature Golf Day
• Worldwide Minigolf Day

Whatever you call National Miniature Golf Day (or Miniature Golf) it's superb to see the day and game being celebrated worldwide.

As usual, National Miniature Golf Day today is on the second Saturday in May, next year that falls on Saturday 9th May 2026. Miniature Golf Day is always on the 21st September and in 2025 that will be a Sunday.

And don't forget, every Monday is #MinigolfMonday!

The Minigolf Nations Cup 2008 in Tampere, Finland

We made our Great Britain team debuts at the 2008 Nations Cup of Minigolf in Tampere, Finland 17 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 1,082 courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since 2006.

Happy National Miniature Golf Day

Today is National Miniature Golf Day!

Minigolf courses we've played on Miniature Golf Days

Will you be playing miniature golf today?

Last year I played a round at the excellent Prestatyn Crazy Golf course in North Wales.

There are two 'miniature golf days' each year.

• National Miniature Golf Day is always on the second Saturday in May.
• The other minigolf day, Miniature Golf Day, is always on the 21st September. In 2025 it falls on a Sunday.

There are so many places to play minigolf now, with new courses opening up all the time. Including public courses, as well as those at pay to enter attractions, holiday parks, hotels and other 'non-standard' locations you can find over 1,300 miniature golf layouts around the UK and British Isles (including Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, and other islands)!

An Arnold Palmer Indoor Golf Game

A new addition to our collection of minigolf items!

I recently found this Arnold Palmer Indoor Golf Game from 1999 by Classic Golf Gifts in one of my local charity shops.

I've got a couple of other examples - one is also Arnold Palmer branded and older than this version, the other is a white-label version.

I really like the branded scorecard in this set.

National Miniature Golf Day Eve

Tomorrow is National Miniature Golf Day!

Emily playing The Himalayas course at the St Andrews Ladies' Putting Club back in 2012 - the course is the world's first miniature golf course

Will you be playing miniature golf tomorrow?

Playing The Himalayas course at the St Andrews Ladies' Putting Club

There are two 'miniature golf days' each year.

• National Miniature Golf Day is always on the second Saturday in May.
• The other minigolf day, Miniature Golf Day, is always on the 21st September. In 2025 it falls on a Sunday.

There are so many places to play minigolf now, with new courses opening up all the time. Including public courses, as well as those at pay to enter attractions, holiday parks, hotels and other 'non-standard' locations you can find over 1,300 miniature golf layouts around the UK and British Isles (including Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, and other islands)!

Pirate Cove Adventure Golf course in Aberavon, Wales

A look at the Pirate Cove Adventure Golf course in Aberavon, Port Talbot in May 2019.

The 12-hole Pirate Cove Adventure Golf course became the 885th course visited and 516th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour when I was there to play in the 2019 Welsh Minigolf Doubles Championship in May 2019.

We warmed up for Sunday's tournament with a singles competition to celebrate National Miniature Golf Day. The in-form David Hartley added to his recent trophy haul by taking the win by one-shot, with Marion Hartley and me tied for second place.

Created by the Natural Play Company, Pirate Cove Adventure Golf is a tricky layout and while there are hole-in-one opportunities, they are few and far between!

 

Check out the Pirate Cove Adventure Golf course on Facebook for more information.

A holiday at Barry Island Resort in 1995

A look at the Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide.

The Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide

As a big fan of the British seaside and traditional holiday entertainment I was pleased to find a Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide a while back.

I can't believe it's 30 years old!

Seeing the Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide brought back so many happy memories.

My family used to go on holiday to Barry Island in the late 1980's and 1990's and loved it there. The holiday camp was absolutely marvellous, with everything from swimming to crazy golf, to snooker and darts, to the fun fair and more - all free of charge once you had checked in.

My brothers and I would spend hours going from one activity to another and then spend the evening in the arcades playing games such as Paperboy, Street Fighter (the original), Blasteroids, Xybots, Double Dragon, Wardner and more. Halcyon days.

Check out the six-page Barry Island Resort 1995 Information & Entertainment Guide below. As a former holidaymaker at the camp, fan of the British seaside, postcard collector and marketer it makes for interesting reading - especially some of the adverts!

What a cover

There was always so much to do at the Barry Island holiday camp - and that was before heading out of the camp to the rest of the seaside town, fun fair, amusements beach and more

The entertainment continues

Back when you could still advertise cigarettes!

A great bit of marketing and use of a postcard image

I spent many an hour at building 5 - Princes Ballroom - as that's where the Crazy Golf, snooker and one of the arcades was 

Barry Island Resort was originally a Butlin's holiday camp when it opened in 1966. It was re-opened as a Majestic holiday camp in the 1980's. Sadly it closed for good in 1996 and was demolished to make way for housing.

I've returned to Barry Island - in 2009, 2010 and 2019. Apart from the disappearance of the holiday camp there were some new attractions, and the resort was still recognisable from the 1990's.