Saturday, July 06, 2019

Putting Green at the North Wales Crown Green Bowls Centre in Rhyl

A revisit to the Putting Green at the North Wales Crown Green Bowls Centre in Rhyl.

The Putting Green in Rhyl
Llain bytio o 9 twll

Last week I swung by the Putting Green at the North Wales Crown Green Bowls Centre in Rhyl.

North Wales Crown Green Bowls Centre in Rhyl
The bowls green next to the RNLI centre was the Putting Green when we first visited

Back in September 2014 the course became the 349th played and 583rd visited overall on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Putting Green in Rhyl
How the course looked in 2014

We've now been to 911 courses.

The sign at the course said 9 Hole Putting Green / Llain bytio o 9 twll. There are a number of ways to say Miniature Golf in Welsh.

Related blog posts:
- Rhyl
- Wales
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
Mini Golf Putting Green in Rhyl
Minigolf etc. - English to Welsh translations

Friday, July 05, 2019

2019 Cardiff Open and Welsh Open minigolf tournaments

Minigolf tournament double-header in Cardiff this October.


The Cardiff Open minigolf competition is taking place at the Tee-Rex Adventure Golf course on Saturday 5th October.



The three-round tourney is organised by the Welsh Minigolf Club and carries points in the British Minigolf Association tour rankings. The event tees-off off at 2pm.


For more information about the 2019 Cardiff Open check out the event page, entry list and the Welsh Minigolf Club website.

The Cardiff Open is part of a tournament double-header weekend as the British Minigolf Association Welsh Open tournament takes place at Treetop Adventure Golf in Cardiff city centre on Sunday 6th October.

We haven't been to Cardiff for a while and so Tee-Rex Adventure Golf and Treetop Adventure Golf are new courses for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Crazy Golfing in Prestatyn

Revisiting the Crazy Golf course in Prestatyn.



Crazy Golf course in Prestatyn
The 18-hole course just after closing time. It's such a nice course

Last week I replayed one of my favourite miniature golf courses, the Crazy Golf course on Bastion Road in Prestatyn, Wales.


Crazy Golf course in Prestatyn
Back in Prestatyn

The 18-hole layout was originally an Arnold Palmer Putting Course and still retains many of the original obstacles and design elements. It's one of the best courses in the UK.


Crazy Golf course in Prestatyn
Hole 7 - a nice ace opportunity, but it can be very tricky if you over hit your tee shot

The course was originally the 147th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2009. We've replayed it a number of times in the years since.

Crazy Golf course in Prestatyn
Hole 10 has a new obstacle. It used to be a lighthouse

This time I played four games on the course in excellent conditions and scored rounds of 34, 39, 35 and 37.

Crazy Golf course in Prestatyn

Crazy Golf course in Prestatyn
I didn't win a free game on the lucky last hole this time

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

Thursday, July 04, 2019

The 2019 Sussex Wasps Open minigolf tournament

The third edition of the Sussex Wasps Open minigolf competition is taking place at the Peterborough Minigolf course at Dobbies Garden Centre in Peterborough on Sunday 1st September.


Peterborough Minigolf at Dobbies Garden Centre
Hole 12 of the Peterborough Minigolf course

More information on the tournament can be found on the competition's Facebook Event.


Peterborough Minigolf at Dobbies Garden Centre
Playing hole 7

We visited the Peterborough Minigolf course at Dobbies Garden Centre just after it opened in July 2015. The course was the 382nd played and 662nd visited overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Time has flown by since then - we're now up to 911 course visits!


Peterborough Minigolf at Dobbies Garden Centre
Emily playing hole 8

The superb 12-hole Peterborough Minigolf course was designed and built by the team at UrbanCrazy and it's a real test of putting skill.

Peterborough Minigolf at Dobbies Garden Centre
Hole 11 of the Peterborough Minigolf course

If you're playing along with our Summer Mini Golf Checklist a visit to Peterborough Minigolf and playing in the Sussex Wasps tourney could tick off a few of the activities on the list.

Peterborough Minigolf at Dobbies Garden Centre
The Peterborough Minigolf course has a lucky last hole where you can try to win a free game too

Drift Park Crazy Golf in Rhyl

Revisiting the Crazy Golf course at Drift Park in Rhyl.


Drift Park Crazy Golf in Rhyl

Last week I swung by the Drift Park Crazy Golf course in Rhyl, Wales.


Drift Park Crazy Golf in Rhyl

We first played the course on our trip around the coast of Wales in the summer of 2009. Back then it became the 145th course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


We also visited the course in September 2014, September 2017, September 2018, January 2018, December 2018 and March 2019.

Drift Park Crazy Golf in Rhyl

Drift Park Crazy Golf in Rhyl
 
Drift Park Crazy Golf in Rhyl

Drift Park Crazy Golf in Rhyl

Related blog posts:
- Rhyl
- Drift Park
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Happy third birthday to Holeymolies Miniature Golf in Skelton-in-Cleveland

The indoor minigolf course opened on the 4th July 2016.


Holeymolies minigolf

Last year it became the 500th course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, the 845th visited overall and the 807th we've been to in the British Isles.


Hole 17 at Holeymolies minigolf
Getting a hole-in-one on hole 17

The indoor minigolf course at Holeymolies Leisure Complex boasts the 'World's Longest Mini Golf Hole' - measuring in at a whopping 264 feet!


Hole 1 at Holeymolies minigolf - the longest minigolf hole in the world. You have to start off upstairs, teeing-off up a ramp and then the ball is carried along the long viaduct before being deposited on the green
Hole 1 - the longest minigolf hole in the world. You have to start off upstairs, teeing-off up a ramp and then the ball is carried along the long viaduct before being deposited on the green

Next week the Holeymolies course will be closing for a major refurbishment. We look forward to seeing what it'll look like after.

Check out the Holeymolies website and Facebook Page for more information.

Wednesday, July 03, 2019

The 2019 Worthing Open minigolf tournament

The Worthing Open miniature golf competition is taking place on Saturday 6th July.


This Saturday evening the Splash Point Mini Golf course in Denton Gardens, Worthing is hosting the 2019 Worthing Open minigolf competition.


The 2019 Worthing Open minigolf tournament


The three round strokeplay format event presented by the Worthing Mini Golf Club tees-off at 5pm.


Entry is open to all. Sign-up is required by 3pm on the day.

Email clubhouse@splashpointminigolf.co.uk for more info.

Splash Point Mini Golf course in Worthing
A view of hole 16 at Splash Point

Minigolf was first played in Denton Gardens on Tuesday 1st July 1924!

95 years later and the relatively new course there is going strong and is popular with locals, tourists, enthusiasts and the characters of the British Minigolf Association tour.

You can see photos of the 18-hole Splash Point Mini Golf course from our visit in April this year.

Tuesday, July 02, 2019

Stockport's Giant Leap

There's a new Frog Art Trail to follow around Stockport town centre.


Stockport's Giant Leap
Edgeleap, the Stockport County frog

Totally Stockport, the team behind Stockport's Business Improvement District (BID), rolled out a new art trail at the weekend, with Stockport's Giant Leap consisting of 19 decorated giant frog sculptures dotted around the town centre.


Stockport's Giant Leap
A frog decorated by Girlguiding Stockport

Each of the frogs has a different Stopfordian theme and have been designed by local artists, schools, businesses and community groups.


Stockport's Giant Leap
Stagecoach's 192 bus frog

I've managed to find 15 of the frogs in my two most recent wanders around town.

Stockport's Giant Leap
Sir Norman Frogster at the bottom of the infamous and historic Mealhouse Brow

Frog's were chosen as the 'things' to follow as they highlight the £1bn programme of investment and development that is regenerating Stockport, a giant leap forward for the town.

Stockport's Giant Leap
Strawberry Fields the frog, celebrating Strawberry Studios home in Stockport

The froggy art trail ends on the 28th September. Check out Stockport's Giant Leap website for more information.

Stockport's Giant Leap
Sir Hopsalot
  
Stockport's Giant Leap
Cornelius, the pyjamas wearing Holiday Inn frog

We're big fans of tickable lists and also followed the Totally Stockport Ice Trail last December. We're also ticking off the Invader pixel mosaic tile art in Manchester (and in London and Newcastle), as well as the Stockport green space list and the railway stations in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport (two left to visit) and Greater Manchester (lots to go). There is one Stockport tickable list we won't be attempting to complete though!

This froggy character by Totally Stockport was part of the Ice Trail last December
This froggy character by Totally Stockport was part of the Ice Trail last December

Our main tickable list challenge is our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - where we've now visited 911 courses. When we began there were around 600 in the UK!

Links:
- Totally Stockport
- Marketing Stockport

Welsh Dragon Adventure Golf in Rhyl

Revisiting the Welsh Dragon Adventure Golf course in Rhyl.



Welsh Dragon Adventure Golf in Rhyl

Last week I swung by the Welsh Dragon Adventure Golf course in Rhyl, Wales.


Welsh Dragon Adventure Golf in Rhyl

We first played the course on our trip around the coast of Wales in the summer of 2009. Back then it became the 146th course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


We revisited the course in September 2014, September 2017 and January 2018.

Related blog posts:
Rhyl
Welsh Dragon
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Mini Golf at the Haven Wild Duck Holiday Park

A look at the Mini Golf course at Haven's Wild Duck Holiday Park in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.


Mini Golf at the Haven Wild Duck Holiday Park in Norfolk. Photo by Karl Moles, June 2019

Many thanks to our friends Karl and Sophia Moles for sending over some snaps of the Mini Golf course they spotted while on holiday at Haven's Wild Duck Holiday Park in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.


Mini Golf at the Haven Wild Duck Holiday Park in Norfolk. Photo by Karl Moles, June 2019
A view of the course

Mini Golf at the Haven Wild Duck Holiday Park in Norfolk. Photo by Karl Moles, June 2019
The rules

Mini Golf at the Haven Wild Duck Holiday Park in Norfolk. Photo by Karl Moles, June 2019
A train obstacle - the course was made by DK Fibreglass, I guess this obstacle dates from 1985

Mini Golf at the Haven Wild Duck Holiday Park in Norfolk. Photo by Karl Moles, June 2019
A look at the course

Karl and Sophia have been to quite a few different holiday camps with their children Fiorella and Arabella and have sent over minigolf snaps from trips to Haven's Caister-on-Sea Holiday ParkPontins PakefieldAllhallows Leisure Holiday Park, as well as the Crazy Golf course at Suffolk Leisure Park in Ipswich and Minigolf Sport Club Sanremo in Arma, Italy.

Links:
Haven Wild Duck Holiday Park
- DK Fibreglass

Related blog posts:
- Haven
- Great Yarmouth
- Norfolk
- Holiday Camp
- Karl Moles
- Sophia Moles
- Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf at Haven's Caister-on-Sea Holiday Park
- Adventure Golf at Pontins Pakefield
- Mini Golf at Allhallows Leisure Holiday Park
- Crazy Golf at the Haven Golden Sands Caravan Holiday Park in Mablethorpe
- Haven's Thorpe Park Adventure Golf course in Cleethorpes

Monday, July 01, 2019

95 years of Mini Golf in Worthing's Denton Gardens

A look at the history of miniature golf in Worthing's Denton Gardens.


Minigolf was first played in Denton Gardens on Tuesday 1st July 1924!


Almost a century later and the relatively new Splash Point Mini Golf course there is going strong and is popular with locals, tourists, enthusiasts and the characters of the British Minigolf Association tour.


Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing's Denton Gardens
Playing hole 7 - the hardest hole on the course

The first miniature golf courses in Denton Gardens were of the grass Putting variety, when both sides of the lawn in the gardens were given over to minigolf Putting courses.

Worthing, Denton Gardens, Putting Green. The Photochrom Co Ltd. Posted to Birchington, Kent on 30 July 1928
Worthing, Denton Gardens, Putting Green. The Photochrom Co Ltd. Posted to Birchington, Kent on 30 July 1928

Putting Green, Denton Gardens, Worthing. Photogravure by S. & E. Ltd., Hastings. Postally unused. Undated
Putting Green, Denton Gardens, Worthing. Photogravure by S. & E. Ltd., Hastings. Postally unused. Undated

The Putting Green, Denton Gardens, Worthing. Picture Post Card by Wardell's. Postally unused. Undated
The Putting Green, Denton Gardens, Worthing. Picture Post Card by Wardell's. Postally unused. Undated

In 2010 our friends Anthony Pope and Peter Emmerson created the 18-hole Splash Point Mini Golf course. It was the 181st played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Interestingly the same kiosk that can be seen in the postcards above is still in use today.

Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing's Denton Gardens
Playing hole 13 on the 3rd July 2010. The course has a lot more foliage now!

We've returned on many occasions to compete in tournaments and to play for fun. You can see what the course looked like on our return to the course in April this year.

Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing's Denton Gardens
Emily playing hole 12

Check out the Splash Point Mini Golf course website and give the course a follow on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.


Related blog posts:
- Worthing
- Splash Point Mini Golf
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Splash Point Mini Golf in Denton Gardens, Worthing
- A look at Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing's Denton Gardens

Summer Mini Golf Checklist 2019

The Summer Mini Golf Checklist 2019.


Download and complete the Summer Mini Golf Checklist.


We're BIG fans of minigolf and the summer, so we've created a Summer Mini Golf Checklist containing 18 minigolf 'things to do', plus a 19th hole activity.


Summer Mini Golf Checklist 2019

Summer in the Northern Hemisphere began on the 21st June and ends on the 23rd September. Fingers crossed we get some more nice weather into October too.

We hope you enjoy ticking off the activities on the Summer Mini Golf Checklist wherever you are in the world.

The first three people to complete the Summer Mini Golf Checklist 2019 will win a free game with us, either at their local course (if we're in the area), or at one of our local courses (if they're in the area).

Do post on social media about how you're progressing using the hashtags #summerminigolf19 and #minigolf.

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Summer

Mario & Luigi Ice Cream Vans

Spotting some Mario & Luigi Ice Cream Vans on our travels.

We spotted a couple of Mario & Luigi ice cream vans on our weekend away in the Peak District.

Mario & Luigi Ice Cream Van
Mario and Luigi in Buxton. Along with a Micky Mouse Robin Hood!

Mario & Luigi Ice Cream Van
Luigi and Mario on an ice cream van in Hathersage 

We've seen Mario in quite a few interesting places in the last couple of years.

Related blog posts:
- Bootlegs
- Mario
- Luigi
- Ice Cream Van