Crazy Golf in Prestatyn

A revisit to the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Prestatyn, Wales.

At the Crazy Golf course in Prestatyn

In August 2009 we visited and played the excellent 18-hole (19 if you count the 'Top Hole') Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course on Bastion Road in Prestatyn. The course was the 147th we played and the second to last played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour visit to Wales.

Emily lining up a Putt on the 6th at Prestatyn's Crazy Golf course

While on our Holiday on the Buses weekender in Prestatyn in September 2014 we visited the course a few times and on our first walk passed we saw our friend and fellow minigolfer Peter Jones practicing!

Spotting Peter Jones at the Prestatyn Crazy Golf course

The course is in great condition and has some classic and tricky obstacles and putts. It's well worth a visit and has some of the friendliest course owners we've encountered on our travels.

On hole 9 of the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Prestatyn

Check out the photos of the marvellous miniature golf course below.

Part of the Holiday on the Buses weekender organised by the On The Buses Fan Club included a Crazy Golf competition - The Butler Cup. As there were semi-pro players on the holiday this year there were two categories in the competition and Emily won the Pro Event!

Emily Gottfried - Holiday on the Buses Crazy Golf Competition Pro Champion 2014

Before playing the tournament we had a bit of a warm-up and after my round I rang the bell on the Lucky Last Hole to win a FREE GAME.

A rare thing to see - me with a FREE GAME voucher!

Check out MiniatureGolfer.com's page for the course where you can see photos taken by our friends and fellow minigolf tourists Paul & Owen Johnson, and Jam Trubridge.

Related blog posts:
- Minigolf Course Visit No. 147 - Arnold Palmer Putting at Prestatyn
- 'The Butler Cup' On the Buses Crazy Golf Tournament
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Wales
- Prestatyn

'The Butler Cup' On The Buses Crazy Golf Tournament

Report from the Crazy Golf events at the Holiday on the Buses Weekender in Prestatyn.

Emily playing hole 6 at Prestatyn's Crazy Golf course

One of the events at the Holiday on the Buses weekender 2014 in Prestatyn was the second-edition of The Butler Cup Crazy Golf competition.

Richard playing the classic windmill hole

Held at the 18-hole Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course on Bastion Road, Central Beach in Prestatyn this year saw two events played amongst the On The Buses Fan Club members - The Butler Cup and the Holiday on the Buses 'Pro' Trophy.

Emily in action

The Holiday on the Buses Weekenders contested The Butler Cup which was won by Eric Huckle with a marvellous score of 41(+5), while the seasoned players - me, Emily, Brad Shepherd and Seth Thomas, along with Rhyl semi-pro player Peter Jones and course employee Roy Knox - competed for the Holiday on the Buses 'Pro' Trophy.

The Holiday on the Buses Weekender 2014 Crazy Golf Champions - Emily Gottfried and Eric Huckle

The pro title was won by Emily with a score of 35(-1). Emily had tied with Peter Jones and Roy Knox after the round and was awarded the Pro title as the holidaymaker of the trio. Brad was fourth with a score of 39(+3), Seth was fifth on 40(+4) and I was sixth with 43(+7).

Peter Jones in action on his home turf

Brad playing the Prestatyn Crazy Golf course

Seth playing a shot on hole 9

Richard on hole 8

Emily playing a shot on hole 4

Emily receives the Holiday on the Buses 2014 trophy from course owner Christine

The semi-pro minigolfers, from l-r Peter Jones, Richard Gottfried, Emily Gottfried, Brad Shepherd, Seth Thomas, Roy Knox

Rhyl competitor Peter 'The Crazy Aced Assassin' Jones playing hole 1 as the crowd looks on

The On The Buses Fan Club is free to join. You can sign up with your email address on the website.

Having a ball! The Holiday on the Buses Weekender Crazy Golfers in Prestatyn

The Holiday on the Buses Weekender was a great fan event that saw us spend time at the Pontin's Prestatyn Sands Holiday Park which was the location for the film, as well as attend a screening of the film and go on some mystery tours of the film's locations.

Related blog posts:
- On The Buses
- Holiday on the Buses Weekender at Pontin's 2014
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Wales
- Prestatyn
- Revisit and Replay of the Windmill Theatre Indoor Adventure Golf Course in Great Yarmouth

Links:
- On The Buses Fan Club
- Pontin's Prestatyn Sands Holiday Park

Holiday on the Buses Weekender at Pontin's 2014

Having a marvellous Holiday on the Buses at Pontin's Prestatyn Sands Holiday Park.

As BIG fans of On The Buses and members of the On The Buses Fan Club we jumped at the chance to visit the iconic holiday camp that was the setting for the film spin-off Holiday on the Buses.

The Holiday on the Buses plaque on the gates to Pontin's Prestatyn Sands Holiday Park

Organised by the On The Buses Fan Club, the Holiday on the Buses Weekender 2014 at Pontin's Prestatyn Sands allowed fans of the series and films the opportunity to stay at the camp, meet fellow fans and go on a number of mystery tours of filming locations.

The gates and Inspector's office at Pontin's Prestatyn Sands have not changed since the film was made!

So me, Emily and our friends Brad and Seth hit the road for what would become an unforgettable holiday!

En route to the Holiday on the Buses Weekender

At only £100 per person including food and entertainment it was marvellous value. Although it did cost us slightly more than £14 in fares to get to Prestatyn.

The main building at Pontin's Prestatyn Sands Holiday Park

With a programme of activities set-out for the Saturday and Sunday, we eagerly arrived on the Friday afternoon. After checking in we headed out for a look around - from an exterior point of view the Holiday Park has not changed much since it was a Holiday Village in the film. And that's a good thing.

The louts and hooligans having a look at the plaque at the main gates at the start of the Holiday on the Buses Weekender

After watching the film in the Queen Victoria pub on Saturday morning there was a talk by Paul Roberts who was a driver for the cast and crew during the production of Holiday on the Buses and we got to hear some very interesting stories and facts.

The office from where Blakey emerges in Holiday on the Buses

After the screening and talk by Paul we headed out for a walking tour of the park led by Craig Walker - author of some great books about On The Buses, and Steve Luxton - Inspector of the On The Buses Fan Club.

On the walking tour - this is the spot where Blakey gets his marching orders at the end of the film

The First Aid Post where Blakey and Jack receive their 'treatment' in the film

A discussion of the location of the drains which exploded after Stan blows up the chalet lavvy by bunging a fag end down the wotsit after Olive had put petrol down it

These were not the same drains from the film. There is always some sort of drain 'controversy' at an On The Buses Fan Club event!

The stairs that Mrs Hudson (Mavis' mum, played by Eunice Black) walks up to catch Stan 'at it' with Mavis

Saturday afternoon saw us head out on a tour aboard a 1973 Barton coach - which took in a visit to the Dyserth Waterfalls and Tea Rooms, the bridge at Abergele where Olive, Arthur, Mum and Little Arthur lose their luggage, and a drive through Rhyl.

The 1973 Barton Coach we travelled on during the Holiday on the Buses Weekender

On the coach

Dyserth Waterfalls Tea Room and Shop

At the bridge in Abergele where the family lose their luggage on the way to the holiday village 

After the tour we headed for a quick wander around Prestatyn town centre before walking back to Pontin's - via the seafront Crazy Golf course where we spotted our friend and fellow minigolfer, Peter Jones! We also had a chat with the friendly course owners who were looking forward to the visit by the On The Buses fans the next day.

Sunday began with another all you can eat breakfast (Emily, Brad and Seth tell me the food they had for brekkie and dinner was marvellous) and then a walk to the Crazy Golf course for The Butler Cup competition on the 18-hole course - a classic Arnold Palmer layout.

Emily showing everyone how to win at Crazy Golf

The Crazy Golf Champions - Emily with her Holiday on the Buses Pro trophy and Eric Huckle with the prestigious Butler Cup

A visit to the antique/collectibles/car boot sale/market in Prestatyn after playing Crazy Golf was interesting and we picked up a few bargains before heading back to the camp.

We also went to this surreal Indoor Car Boot Sale Without Car Boot at a house/tea room next to the train station in Prestatyn!

After the morning's Crazy Golf we had to have another game, and this time had a fun round on the 9-hole course in the park. Brad scored an amazing round of 18(par) on the tough layout for the win.

Emily playing Crazy Golf at Pontin's Prestatyn Sands Holiday Park

The layout is right next to the Go-Kart track, which back in the 1970's was the boating lake seen in the film.

This used to be the boating lake

We also re-enacted the scene with Mavis and her mum on the BIG bikes and had a fun cycle round the camp.

On the quad cycle

Give us a push. You're 'avin a larf! You'll never move that with four people on it

One of the funniest scenes in Holiday on the Buses takes place in the swimming pool and we had to have a dip while there. It was amazing that the pool is still recognizable from the film. Unfortunately the diving board has been removed, but the pool was still deep enough for some diving (belly flopping) into the very deep deep-end.

Outside the swimming pool

As well as all the On The Buses-related fun and minigolf during the weekend we got to play bingo, stand-up bingo (Seth won!), air hockey as well as other amusement arcade game fun and much more.

Brad and Seth in the first of many Air Hockey battles over the weekend

Seth Thomas - Standing / Reverse Bingo Champion at Pontin's Prestatyn Sands

The whole holiday was marvellous and we are looking forward to attending future On The Buses Fan Club events.

Near the dunes and beach where Stan and Jack lorst the bus to the tides on their moonlight mystery tour

Many thanks to Steve at the On The Buses Fan Club for organising such a great trip. And thanks to Pontin's for running such a fun holiday park.

The holiday park (camp) has lots to offer and is also close to the seafront. The apartments (chalets) were also comfortable, with plenty of space, good beds, nice bathrooms (with interesting showers) and a good sized kitchen area - including a fridge (perfect for stocking essentials like booze and gluten-free food for me).

Over the years I've stayed in a lot of holiday camps - my family used to go to Barry Island and Butlin's Minehead in the 80's and 90's as well as a few independent/smaller camps too. It was great to go for a Holiday on the Buses. A nice nostalgic trip.

Pontin's mad

Back in 2011 we attended the On The Buses Fan Club's annual event in Elstree. It was a marvellous day out and you can read more about it at "On The Buses Event - 40th Anniversary of the First On The Buses film."

You can join the On The Buses Fan Club for free by signing up with your email address on the website. The On The Buses Fan Club site has stacks of information, photos, interviews and more and is a great resource for fans of the TV show and films. There are also events and meet-ups throughout the year. If you're a fan of the show and films then we all recommend you join the club and look to book a future trip for a marvellous Holiday on the Buses.

Related blog posts:
- On The Buses
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Wales
- Prestatyn

Links:
- On The Buses Fan Club
- Pontin's Prestatyn Sands Holiday Park

Gluten free and ready for Christmas

More gluten free treats for Christmas.

A dairy, gluten, wheat and egg free Advent Calendar and a bag of chocolates for Christmas

Having bought my first mince pies of the 'festive season' last week I also found an Advent Calendar and Santa's Sack of chocolate goodies in the Free From section at Asda.

Related blog posts:
- The first gluten free Mince Pie of the season
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac
- Christmas

Links:
- Celtic Chocolates
- Asda