Crazy Golf at Valley Gardens in Harrogate

Playing the 328th miniature golf course on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Playing hole 3 of the Valley Gardens Crazy Golf course in Harrogate

On Saturday 22nd March 2014 Emily and I visited the spa town of Harrogate in Yorkshire.

While there we visited Valley Gardens and found the park is home to an 18-hole Crazy Golf course, a Pitch & Putt variety of Minigolf and a Disc Golf layout.

Of the three courses only the Crazy Golf was open for play.

Video: Minigolf visit to Valley Gardens in Harrogate
 

Video: Minigolf hole-in-one at Valley Gardens in Harrogate

The course cost £2.30 for adults to play and with the weather about to take a turn for the worse I paid for a round, with Emily on video and photo duty.

The course was the 328th played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and the 547th visited overall since 2006.

The layout is reminiscent of the European-style of miniature golf courses - often referred to as 'Eternit' courses. We've played official types of these standardised layouts in international tournaments in Finland and Sweden, and we've played some of them here in the UK too.

Playing the Pyramids hole at Valley Gardens

Speaking with the man in the hut he said the course had been in Valley Gardens for at least 20-25 years. it was quite a tricky course to play, as is often the case with all-concrete courses tackled with a low bounce golf ball.

Playing hole 7 of the Valley Gardens Crazy Golf course in Harrogate

For a quick round of Crazy Golf it was fun, and it was interesting to see the variety of Eternit obstacles realised in solid concrete obstacles.

Photos of the 18-hole Crazy Golf course at Valley Gardens in Harrogate.

Related blog posts:
- Not playing the Pitch and Putt Mini Golf course in Harrogate
- Ripon Spa Gardens
- Knaresborough Conyngham Hall
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Link:
- Valley Gardens, Harrogate

Not playing the Pitch and Putt Mini Golf course in Harrogate

A visit to the Pitch & Putt Miniature Golf course in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

Next to the 18-hole Crazy Golf course in Harrogate's Valley Gardens is another type of miniature golf course.

The Valley Gardens Mini Golf hut and Pitch & Putt course in the background

The Pitch & Putt course was closed as it was a bit too early in the season for it. It became the 548th course visited overall on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

There is also a Disc Golf course in the Valley Gardens park.

Related blog posts:

- Crazy Golf at Valley Gardens in Harrogate

- Ripon Spa Gardens

- Knaresborough Conyngham Hall

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Link:

- Valley Gardens, Harrogate

- Games in Parks in Harrogate District

Not playing the Mini Golf course in Whitby

A visit to the Pitch & Putt Mini Golf course in Whitby, North Yorkshire.

Over the road to the 9-hole Arnold Palmer Putting course on North Terrace in Whitby is another miniature golf course.

It's of the grassy kind and more of a Pitch & Putt than a Crazy Minigolf course. But as with the nearby Crazy Golf course it was closed on our visit. 

The hut and Mini Golf course on North Terrace in Whitby. It doesn't look half as exciting as the Arnold Palmer course over the road

Related blog posts:

- Arnold Palmer Minigolf Putting Course in Whitby

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Arnold Palmer Minigolf Putting Course in Whitby

Visiting the Arnold Palmer Minigolf Putting Course in Whitby, North Yorkshire.

On Thursday 20th March Emily and I visited the seaside resort of Whitby and as part of the trip visited the Arnold Palmer Putting Course on North Terrace.

Unfortunately as it was out of season the course was closed (it is open on weekends though).

Richard at the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Whitby, North Yorkshire

It was a shame we couldn't give the 9-hole 'links' Minigolf course a play as it looked to be in very good condition indeed.

A view of hole 1 of the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Whitby

The course had three of the all-time great obstacles in Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf courses - the Windmill, Waterwheel and Space Rocket.

The spaceship, windmill and waterwheel - classic Crazy Golf obstacles

The course had a lucky top (10th) hole too, where you could win a free game.

A view of the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Whitby. The lucky last hole is on the right

Next time we go to Whitby (it's a great seaside resort and well worth a visit) we'll make sure it's on a weekend, or during the peak season, so we can get in a game or three.

The Arnold Palmer course with hole 5 in the foreground

The course was the 545th visited overall and the 218th visited that was unplayable on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

There's always next time...

Related blog posts:

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - List and links for all Miniature Golf courses visited to date
- Playing the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Whitby

Allan Cox's 100 Minigolf Trick Shots Video

My antipodean Minigolf chum Allan 'The Putter King' Cox has put(t) together a great video of 100 Minigolf Trick Shots!

Two and a half years in the making the 21 minute video shows the crazy minigolfer playing at a variety of Putt Putt, Minigolf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf courses down under and making a huge array of brilliant miniature golf trickshots!

Check it out on YouTube and below.

 

The video was made in aid of the Bear Cottage children's hospice in Australia and every view of the video helps generate income for the good cause.

Cullercoats Lifeboat Charity Evening and the 'Raffletech 3010'

A Northumbrian Night fundraising event for the Cullercoats Lifeboat.

A recent visit to the north east saw our friend John 'Johnny Waffles' Moore take us to a Northumbrian Night in aid of the Whitley Bay & Cullercoats Lifeboat Guild.

The evening was held at the Cullercoats Crescent Club and was good fun, with song & dance and food & drink in a nice environment, and all for a great cause.

Regular readers of this blog will know I'm a fan of the obscure and ludicrous, but I was amazed at one of the prize draws during the night.

We've been to some interesting events on our travels - with the Thanet Ladies Auxiliary Quiz Night 2008 a highlight - but the Members Box Draw at this event was up there with the best of them!

I'm a big fan of a good old fashioned tombola and always go in for a raffle, but the Members Box Draw saw a machine called the Raffletech 3010 brought out to decide the winner!

The Raffletech 3010 - you really need to see this beauty in all its lit-up glory!

I'm not exaggerating when I say it wouldn't look out of place in a 'World of Tomorrow Feature' from an issue of a comic book printed in the 1950's!

Not winning the prize draw on the Raffletech 3010 - a pre-internet wooden cabinet technology machine

The Northumbrian Night was great entertainment - from the Newcastle Cloggies (dancers and musicians) - in good company, in a nice social club setting and some very reasonable drinks prices.

Note: I erroneously called the Raffletech 3010 'The Raffletron 3000' after seeing it on the night. Either way, what a machine!

Links:

- Cullercoats Lifeboat

- RNLI

- Cullercoats Crescent Club

- Newcastle Cloggies

Update: January 2015
A photo of the Raffletech raffle robot in action at the Cullercoats Crescent Club has been sent to me by Kay Heslop!

The Raffletech 3010 in use at the Cullercoats Crescent Club on New Year's Day 2015. I wonder if 428 was a winning number...

Great gluten free fish and chips at the Quayside in Whitby

While on a recent road-trip we visited the North Yorkshire seaside resort of Whitby.

Emily and I love visiting new seasides and exploring new places and the trip was made even better when we found that a number of places offered gluten free food!

We decided to have a sit down fish and chip lunch at the Quayside Restaurant as we were impressed by the range of gluten free options on the menu, plus the sign in the window that said "Gluten Free is an option, not an afterthought. We are proud to serve 'Gluten Free Fish & Chips'. Not necessary to pre-book, we will cook to order."

Peace of mind was further given by a note on the menu that explained that gluten free options are cooked separately to 'normal' food.

The Quayside has won multiple awards in the fish & chips and food industry

When I ordered my lunch I stated that I needed gluten free as I am a Coeliac and the waiter also mentioned the separate pans and utensils used for gluten free food.

The Quayside Fish & Chip Shop and Restaurant has lots of gluten free options. The menu is clear and the prices are no different for gluten free options. They also have gluten free vinegar available and the tartare sauce is gluten free too.

They've really gone all out to ensure people who are on a (strict) gluten free diet are well catered for.

I had fish & chips, a gluten free bread roll, tartare sauce and home-made mushy peas. And I'll certainly be back for more. If I hadn't have been driving I would've also had a bottle or two of the Green's Gluten Free lager that's on the menu.

A great (gluten free) meal at the Quayside in Whitby

As a bonus, when the bill arrived it came with a specially designed Postcard! I'd heard about this through Brian Lund at Picture Postcard Monthly and it was great to actually receive one of the limited edition postcards.

You can find the Quayside Fish & Chip restaurant and takeaway at 7 Pier Road, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3PU.

Links:

- Quayside Fish & Chips

- Gluten Free Fish & Chips that we've found on our travels

- Gluten Free Ales, Beers and Lagers

Crap Days Out - at The Crazy Golf Museum?

The Crazy Golf Museum included in Crap Days Out book.

A recent online search for mentions of The Crazy Golf Museum turned up a link on Google Books to the 2011 book 'Crap Days Out' by Gareth Rubin, with contributions by Jon Parker.

The tongue-in-cheek book looks at a wide-range of places to go and things to do around the UK that would make for a crappy day out.

On page 97 you'll see "Crap Days Out Coming Soon" which features The Crazy Golf Museum!

I hope it doesn't take until the age of the jet-pack for the bricks and mortar version of The Crazy Golf Museum to open, but as one of the curators of the museum I look forward to welcoming the authors of the book to the Grand Opening 'do'.

The book is published by John Blake Publishing - who also published the great sports book 'Bushell's Best Bits' by BBC TV's Mike Bushell.

Links:

- The Crazy Golf Museum
- Gareth Rubin's website

- Book-related posts on The Ham & Egger Files

New Miniature Golf course open in Loughborough

New 9-hole UrbanCrazy Minigolf course open at Charnwood Golf Range in Loughborough.

The team at UrbanCrazy have put the finishing touches to a brand new Miniature Golf course at Charnwood Golf Range in Loughborough and it's now open for play!

Check out the links below to photos from the UrbanCrazy team of the course design for the 9-hole layout and how the course was built at Charnwood Miniature Golf over the last few months.

- Snapshot of course drawings

- Beginning to take shape

- Early February

- Getting closer

- Late February

- Carpet fitting

The course will be opening with a grand launch at Charnwood Golf Complex on Saturday 5th of April 2014 with the team from UrbanCrazy, the Great Britain Minigolf Sport Team and members of the British Minigolf Association welcoming members of the public to give the course a play.

Links:

- UrbanCrazy

- Charnwood Golf Range

- Nineteen Bar - Charnwood Golf range Bar and Grill

- European Golf Store Loughborough

- UrbanCrazy-related blog posts

Update from the World Alternative Games 2014 in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales

Calendar of events announced and new World Alternative Games Facebook page launched for 2014 Games.

This year's World Alternative Games will see over 60 different sports and activities taking place between Friday 8th and Monday 25th of August in Britain's smallest town - Llanwrtyd Wells in Wales. 

The organisers of the 2014 World Alternative Games have launched a new Facebook page for the 18-day festival of sport.

Among the sports people can compete in will be Finger Jousting - with the World Finger Jousting Federation hosting its first official World Championship on Sunday 10th of August.

The Finger Jousting competitors at the World Alternative Games 2012

In 2012 Emily and I organised the World Alternative Games Finger Jousting Championships that saw competitors from five countries take part in the first Finger Jousting tournament on UK soil! Check out the World Alternative Games 2012 Finger Jousting Championships report on the WFJF website for more info, results, photos and facts & stats from the event.

The crowd looks on as Chief Umpire Emily officiates the Finger Jousting contest between Joachim Davidse (NED) and Alain G (FRA) at the 2012 World Alternative Games

We had a brilliant time in Llanwrtyd Wells and can't wait to return to be a part of the excellent event.

Other sports on offer include Bog Snorkeling, Wife Carrying, Man vs Horse Race and a huge number of other interesting, weird, wacky and wonderful sports and games and designed to appeal to a wide-range of people of all sporting abilities.

As well as organising the Finger Jousting I also competed in the Egg Throwing Championship alongside Jas Kukielka and we took a very surprising Gold Medal in the event!

Jas Kukielka, me and Seve Kukielka with our World Alternative Games medal haul for Egg Throwing at the 2012 Games

The World Alternative Games calendar of events for 2014 is available online and you'll be able to see the vast array of activities on offer!

For further information about the World Alternative Games 2014 check out the website and Facebook page of the games.

The website also has details of places to stay. In 2012 we stayed received a very warm welcome at the Bryncelyn Guest House and had a great (gluten free) meal in the restaurant at the Lasswade Country House hotel in the town.

One of my favourite pubs in the world is the town's Neuadd Arms Hotel - which is also the Headquarters of the Monster Raving Loony Party.

Me and Jas Kukielka outside the Neuadd Arms Hotel in Llanwrtyd Wells - Headquarters of the Monster Raving Loony Party!

Links:

- World Alternative Games 2014

- World Alternative Games 2014 on Facebook

- World Alternative Games on Twitter

- World Finger Jousting Federation

- World Finger Jousting Federation on Facebook

- World Alternative Games 2012 Finger Jousting Championships report

- 'Dame' Julia Galvin, sportswoman extraordinaire

Related blog posts:

- 2014 World Alternative Games in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales

- Becoming a World Champion in Egg Throwing!

- Finger Jousting to feature as a sport at the 2012 World Alternative Games!

FootGolf is heading to Luton!

Tea Green Golf Club to launch new FootGolf course in Spring 2014.

My local golf club, Tea Green Golf at Wandon End, near Luton, is branching out and will soon be a FootGolf venue!

The sport of FootGolf is played on a golf course, with player's aiming to get the football into the hole in as few shots as possible.

Tea Green is always a good spot to visit and I enjoy my 'friendly' rounds of Mini Golf at the club against Lester and Scott, so I'm looking forward to giving the new game a go too.

As well as the brand new FootGolf course Tea Green Golf is home to a great 9-hole Par-3 Golf course, a driving range, 9-hole Minigolf course, practice Putting Green, a clubhouse and bar serving food throughout the week and a range of social events throughout the year.

I first heard about FootGolf last September while I was playing Crazy Golf at the 9-hole course at Stonham Barns in Suffolk.

Links:

- Tea Green Golf

- UK Footgolf Association

- Tea Green-related Blog Posts

Great gluten free food & drink at the Gluugle launch party

Great food and drink at the Gluugle gluten free review website and app launch party.

The gluten free review site Gluugle held a launch party at The Truscott Arms in Maida Vale, London last night and as one of the reviewers I was invited along to meet the team and fellow coeliacs & gluten intolerants, and sample some of the great gluten free food available at the pub.

Upon arriving I was very impressed by the menu at The Truscott Arms, as the vast majority of it is gluten free, or has a GF option available. I'll be heading back there for a full meal soon and I heard the Sunday Roast dinner is brilliant.

Its always great to meet with fellow coeliacs to share tips and especially so when you can also scoff some great food and beer!

The beer at the Gluugle launch was supplied by Celia lager, a beverage I am a big fan of. The food included a selection of what's available on the menu at the pub, with fish & chips, beef shin chips, 'fake rye bread' bruschetta and black pudding scotch eggs!

Some of the Fish & Chips and Celia lager from the Gluugle launch event - I was too busy eating to get photos of all the food!

I also noticed that the pub serve Pork Scratchings too! Another snack I'm a big fan of.

It was a shame that my appetite and capacity to eat more has been somewhat decimated by being a Coeliac or I would've eaten a LOT more of the fantastic food laid on by The Truscott Arms and the brilliant Doughnuts from Wild Thexton - the first Doughnuts I've had since 2009!

A selection of the brilliant doughnuts from Wild Thexton - a shame I'd filled up on savoury food else I would've scoffed a fair few more of these tasty treats

Gluugle.com - the ultimate place to share and discover great gluten free places - is packed full of reviews and recommendations of places to dine out gluten free. You can also download the Gluugle iphone app for free.

Gluugle links:

- Gluugle

- Gluugle on Twitter

- Gluugle on Facebook

- The Gluten Free Foodie

Other links:

- The Truscott Arms

- Celia lager

- Wild Thexton bakery

- Simply Cook

- Gluten Free for Tea

- Gluten-free Gorging

Related blog posts:

- Check out Gluugle for Gluten Free Reviews

- Gluten Free

- Coeliac

- Gluten Free Lager at CELIA Time in London

- Gluten Free Fish & Chips that we've found on our travels

- Gluten Free Ales, Beers & Lagers

The Abandoned Shoe of the Week Award

Picking up the second in a pair of #abandonedshoe of the Week awards.

Today I heard via Twitter that I'd won the 'Abandoned Shoe of the Week' Award for last week!

The prestigious prize is awarded by the Abandoned Shoe Spotter @abandonedshoes for the best abandoned shoe spotted that week. The victory came after I submitted a photo of a turquoise coloured Flip-Flop (right foot) that I spotted on Oakley Road in Leagrave, Luton.

The award winning #abandonedshoe

The backdrop to the photo adds another layer of intrigue!

Last April (where has the year gone?) I won my first of the pair of 'Abandoned Shoe of the Week' awards for spotting a pointy leather, or pleather, shoe (also a righty) near the Luton Town centre stop of the Luton-to-Dunstable Busway.

The UK abandoned shoe count currently stands at: 2,236.

Links:

- Abandoned Shoes on Twitter

- Abandoned Shoes on Facebook

- #abandonedshoe

Related blog post:

- Abandoned Shoe Of The Week!

UK Rock Paper Scissors Championships 2014

Date announced for the 2014 UK Rock Paper Scissors Championships.

The team at Wacky Nation have announced that this year's UK Rock Paper Scissors Championships will take place on Saturday 4th of October at the Green Man Pub, Central London!

Entries are now open and will see 128 athletes battle it out to be the UK's numero one best Janken player.

Emily and I have competed in a number of Wacky Nation RPS events and have always found the organised chaos to be great fun.

Richard Gottfried (San Marino) takes on his arch-nemesis in RPS Neil 'Razor' Ruddock (Man Lab) in an International Rock Paper Scissors 'friendly' match in 2012

The UK Rock Paper Scissors Championships will take place from 6 til 10pm on Saturday 4th of October you can currently register for early bird tickets to compete in the 8th annual spectacular on the Eventbrite page.

More details can be found on the UK Rock Paper scissors Facebook page and website, and over at the Wacky Nation site.

Rock Paper Scissors Fact - If you come from Woking, Surrey you stand a very good chance of winning the event. Ask Max Deeley if you don't believe me.

The host venue - The Green Man is a very good Wetherspoon pub too.

Links:

- Wacky Nation

- UK Rock Paper Scissors Championships

- RPS-related blog posts on The Ham & Egger Files