Crazy Golf at Southport's Botanic Gardens

Playing the Crazy Golf course at the Botanic Gardens in Southport.

We played a round on the Crazy Golf course at Southport's Botanic Gardens to celebrate Miniature Golf Day last Saturday.

We'd first visited the course in November 2016 when it became the 717th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. As it was out of season we didn't get a game on it that time.

The weather was brilliant on Saturday and luckily the course was open so it became the 528th played on our travels.

Hole 1

Hole 2

Hole 3

Hole 4

 

Hole 5

Hole 6

  

Hole 7

Hole 8

Hole 9

In our round on the 9-hole course Emily won with a score of 18 - a perfect par of all twos. I shot a 20, including one hole-in-one. Our friend Cat scored 27.

Emily playing hole 2

Emily playing hole 5

We've now visited 925 courses since September 2006. Five of those have been in Southport.

The Botanic Gardens Crazy Golf course is the sister course to the one in the town's Hesketh Park. We first visited that course in September 2009 and finally played it in October 2016.

We really enjoyed our visit to the Botanic Gardens and the Crazy Golf course. They are worth a visit if you're in town.

Gluten free at 3 Squared Cafe in Manchester

Finding a 100% gluten free cafe in Manchester.

We recently found out about 3 Squared Cafe in Manchester city centre. The menu is 100% gluten and wheat free, as well as being diary free and refined sugar free.

We visited for the first time yesterday afternoon and it was amazing.

Pulled beef and eggs - perfect

The beef brisket with poached eggs and salsa verde was absolutely delicious.

It was very nice to have a meal out with Emily where we could both eat for a change.

We ordered 3 of the 4 desserts. They were all lovely.

We had the Warm Brownie & Coconut Whip, Carrot & Cinnamon Cake and the Chocolate & Pistachio Tart for pudding

You can find the 3 Squared Cafe in the Royal Exchange Arcade in Manchester city centre.

We're looking forward to our next visit already.

Link:
- 3 Squared Cafe

Related blog posts:
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac Disease
- Manchester
- 100% gluten free places in the UK

Happy Miniature Golf Day 2019

Have a wonderful Miniature Golf Day.

Crazy Golfing in Skegness

Each year there are two annual 'days' to celebrate the game. The first of the year is National Miniature Golf Day which is on the second Saturday in May - you'll next be able to celebrate that on Saturday 9th May 2020. The second, Miniature Golf Day, is ALWAYS on the 21st September.

Happy Telegraph Pole Appreciation Day

Last year we met Martin Evans, founder of the Telegraph Pole Appreciation Society, at the Dull Men's Club gathering in Preston.

Who knew there was such a thing. But obviously and quite rightly so there is.

There is also a Telegraph Pole Appreciation Day, and that day is today.

The same day as Miniature Golf Day.

Have a happy day whether you're celebrating either or both.

A telegraph pole at the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway heritage steam railway

Check out the Telegraph Pole Appreciation Society website for more information.

Another view of the telegraph pole at the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway heritage steam railway

Related blog posts:
- Telegraph Pole Appreciation Society
- Dull Men's Club

Inflatable advertising at Domino's Pizza in Manchester

We're on a bit of a run in seeing inflatable advertising on our travels.

Yesterday I saw a wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man promoting Stockport Powder Coating Ltd and a few weeks ago we saw a wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man on The Clubhouse Stoke's Crazy Golf course in Newcastle-Under-Lyme and another wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man advertising Mr Bubbli's Car Wash in Leicester.

While having an evening out in Manchester on Tuesday we spotted an inflatable piece of advertising at Domino's Pizza on Grosvenor Street. The takeaway was doing a booming trade.

A happy piece of Domino's Pizza inflatable advertising

Wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube air-dancers and other inflatable advertising are some of the most fun and eye-catching ways to promote a business. They certainly stand out!

Related blog posts:
- Inflatable advertising
- Advertising
- Marketing
- Wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man

Happy Miniature Golf Day Eve

Where will you be playing minigolf tomorrow?

Indoors or out there are a lot of miniature golf courses to play in the UK and around the world

For some ideas and inspiration check out our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list to see the 925 courses we've visited in the last 13 years.

At our 900th course - the North Bay Crazy Golf in Scarborough

Each year there are two annual 'days' to celebrate the game of miniature golf.

The first of the year is National Miniature Golf Day which is on the second Saturday in May - you'll next be able to celebrate that on Saturday 9th May 2020. The second is Miniature Golf Day and is ALWAYS on the 21st September.

Emily playing in Guildford on a previous minigolf day

A wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man in Stockport

Spotting a wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man in Stockport.

I've gone years without seeing any wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube men and then I've seen three so far this month!

What a sight to behold

While walking to Stockport town centre today I turned a corner and heard the trademark flapping sound of an airdancer and saw the wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man advertising Stockport Powder Coating Ltd on Brinksway Trading Estate.

Video of the wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man advertising Stockport Powder Coating Ltd

Earlier this month I saw a wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man on The Clubhouse Stoke's Crazy Golf course in Newcastle-Under-Lyme and another wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man advertising Mr Bubbli's Car Wash in Leicester.

Other inflatable advertising I've seen in Stockport borough include a Father Christmas wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man in Cheadle Heath, an inflatable advertising man at United Carpets and Beds in Hazel Grove and an inflatable at Toyota in Stockport.

I wonder where I'll see one next...?

Scrapheap Golf opening in Edinburgh

New indoor Scrapheap Golf course opening in Edinburgh.

A new indoor minigolf venue is opening in Edinburgh next month.

The venue will be home to two 9-hole courses - 'Wizard Golf' and 'Scrappy Doo'.

The opening date is Friday 4th October 2019.

More info can be found on the Scrapheap Golf website.

Related blog posts:
- Edinburgh
- Crazy Golf
- Indoor Crazy Golf

Yarr, happy Talk Like a Pirate Day

Avast ye today be International Talk Like a Pirate Day.

Pirate Island Adventure Golf in Rhyl

Garr, we've sailed into many a Pirate Adventure Golf course on our voyages.

Pirate Island Adventure Golf in Rhyl

Related blog posts:
- Pirates
- Pirate Adventure Golf

New Adventure Golf course to open in Harrow

New dinosaur adventure golf course opening in Harrow, London.

Plans have been approved for a new dinosaur-themed adventure golf course to be built in Harrow.

The adventure golf course will be at Bannister Outdoor Sports Centre in Uxbridge Road, Harrow.

There's a real minigolf boom in London with lots of Jurassic and jungle-themed adventure golf courses opening up in the last five or so years. There are also a lot of new indoor minigolf and crazy golf courses opening in the city.

When we lived in Bedfordshire and commuted into London there were very few permanent courses in London, with a sprinkling in Greater London.

Back in July 2008 the 9-hole 'Mini Majors' Adventure Golf Course at Northwick Park in Harrow became the 59th minigolf course we played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We revisited in 2010.

New Adventure Golf course at Exmouth Leisure Amusements

Treasure Island Adventure Golf now open at Exmouth Leisure Amusements in Devon.

There's a new Crazy Golf course now open at Exmouth Leisure Amusements.

The 9-hole pirate themed layout can be found on the seafront in Exmouth.

Happy Minigolf Monday

Happy Minigolf Monday.

This Saturday is Miniature Golf Day. Where will you be playing?

Playing at Lane7 in Newcastle upon Tyne last Miniature Golf Day

A Crazy Golf Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man

There's a Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man on one of the holes at The Clubhouse Stoke Crazy Golf course in Newcastle-Under-Lyme.

The 18-hole indoor minigolf course was the 925th we've visited and 527th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006. It was the first we've seen an Airdancer on.

Related blog posts:
- Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Airdancer

Happy Video Games Day

Today is Video Games Day.

The 32-bit era was my favourite. It was a wonderful and interesting time to be a gamer - prior to the Sony PlayStation my family opted for the '64-bit' Atari Jaguar

What games will you be playing?

I played a Philips CD-i for the very first time at last month's Power Up exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester 

Zany Golf for the SEGA Mega Drive

Sinclair Crazy Golf for the ZX Spectrum

Related blog posts:
- Videogames
- Video Games

A message from Mr Vending Machine

It's out of order.

A couple of rounds at Paradise Island Adventure Golf in Manchester

Replaying Paradise Island Adventure Golf in Manchester.

We returned to Paradise Island Adventure Golf at the Trafford Centre in Manchester last night for our first rounds on the two 18-hole courses for a few weeks.

I finally got my hands on one of the 'I got a hole-in-one' stickers

Teeing-off on the Temple Ruins course first Emily shot a 33 to take the win, scoring five holes-in-one in the process. I hit a 35, including four aces. I had a crazy start to my round going 1, 3, 1, 1, 3!

Emily playing hole 3 of the Temple Ruins Adventure course

Next up was a quick game on the Tiki Hut Trail. I scored a 34 with four aces, while Emily shot a 36, including four holes-in-one.
 

Emily about to ace hole 6 on the Tiki Hut Trail

This meant our match over 36-holes was a tie, with 69 apiece.

On aces Emily won 9-8.

On round difference I won with a difference of 1, to Emily's 3.

We both won a free game on the lucky last hole too!

On the Temple Ruins Adventure course

A hole-in-one on hole 4 of the Temple Ruins course


A hole-in-one on hole 5 of the Temple Ruins course


Playing hole 7 of the Temple Ruins course


A hole-in-one on hole 8 of the Temple Ruins course


A hole-in-one on hole 9 of the Temple Ruins course


A hole-in-one on hole 5 of the Tiki Hut Trail


Related blog posts:
- Paradise Island Adventure Golf
- Trafford Centre
- Manchester

Link:
- Paradise Island Adventure Golf

Garden Centre Minigolf

A look at garden centres with miniature golf courses.

Jurassic Golf at Bridgemere Garden World in Nantwich

It's brilliant to find new minigolf courses opening in different places and over the last few years we've seen more being created at garden centres.

Minigolf has become very popular in recent years and has developed from being a traditional outdoor seaside summer activity to become a year-round game that can be played indoors or out.

Much like at shopping malls, outlet centres and on the high street, customers are looking to be entertained while they shop and garden centres are a perfect spot for a game of minigolf.

The space available at or next to garden centres and the potential to decorate or theme the course with products available at on-site retailers make it a great combination.

In July 2015 we played the excellent 12-hole Peterborough Minigolf course at Dobbies Garden Centre.

Peterborough Minigolf

In April this year we visited Fletchers Family Golf Centre in Eccleshall, Staffordshire to play the Crazy Golf course there.

Crazy Golf at Fletchers Garden Centre

Earlier this summer we visited 18 more courses on our trip to Southampton and back. On the way down the first course we played was Jurassic Golf Bridgemere in Nantwich, Cheshire and the last course we played on the way back up north was the Tidal Bay Crazy Adventure Golf at the Wyevale Garden Centre in Sherfield on Loddon, near Hook in Hampshire.

Tidal Bay Adventure Golf

The Jurassic Golf course at Wyevale's Bridgemere Garden Centre in Nantwich has sister courses at Heighley Gate Garden Centre in Morpeth, Northumberland and at Bents Garden and Home in Glazebury near Warrington.

Emily played the Jurassic Cove Adventure Golf course at Bents Garden and Home in June 2017.

Jurassic Cove Adventure Golf

We also visited Golf Attractions' pop-up Jurassic and Pirate adventure golf courses when they were at the Centre MK shopping centre in Milton Keynes and at the Galleria in Hatfield a few years ago.

The Golf Attractions Dinosaur Adventure Golf course at the Centre MK in Milton Keynes

Offering fun activities like minigolf where people of all ages and abilities can take part is a nice way to attract and retain both new and old customers.

Related blog posts:
- Garden Centres
- Shopping Centre Minigolf
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

If you are interested in installing or building a minigolf course and would like to receive specialist help, Richard Gottfried is able to provide experience, knowledge and support for all aspects of minigolf business, at any stage of the process. Get in touch to find out more.

Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Men

Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Men in Newcastle-Under-Lyme and Leicester.

There are few finer things in life than finding a Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man on your travels

You go years without seeing a Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man and then you see two Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Men in two days!

The Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man on hole 10 at The Clubhouse Stoke minigolf course

The first Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man we found on our latest road-trip was on hole 10 of the indoor Crazy Golf course at The Clubhouse Stoke in Newcastle-Under-Lyme last Thursday night.

We spotted the second Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man at Mr Bubbli's car wash as we were driving out of Leicester city centre on Friday afternoon.

Mr Bubbli?

We've seen quite a few wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube men, windy men, airdancers and other assorted inflatable advertising on our travels.

Related blog posts:
- Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man
- Inflatable advertising
- Windy Men
- Airdancers

Art and sculpture trails

A look at some of the art and and sculpture trails we've followed this year.

This summer we've seen a number of different art and sculpture trails pop-up in Greater Manchester and beyond.

Last year there was the Bee in the City trail in Manchester with 100 big bees and 130 little bees to spot. Some of those are still in situ.

A bee in Didsbury

There was also an ice sculpture trail in Stockport town centre last December and this summer the town has had a very popular frog trail with 22 decorated frogs to spot on the Giant Leap.

A froggy character was part of the Stockport Ice Trail last December

Edgeleap, the Stockport County frog

As fans of tickable lists, wandering and exploring we've enjoyed the different art and sculpture trails we've taken part in.

Earlier this summer the Trafford Centre had a Big Bug Tour and on a recent trip to the Lowry Outlet mall in Media City we saw there was a Bear Hunt.

Meadow grasshopper - number 8 on the Big Bug Tour

Sitting on a sitting Grizzly Bear - number 2 on the Lowry Outlet's Bear Hunt

The latest trail we followed was quite unexpected. On a trip to visit family and friends in Ipswich we noticed an elephant sculpture at the side of the road and soon noticed a lot more of them on the drive to our hotel.

Elephant number 1 - Pip - the first of the elephants we saw

They were part of Elmer's Big Parade Suffolk in aid of St Elizabeth Hospice with 139 placed around Ipswich. In the short time we were in town we managed to find 55 of them.

Nine of the elephants on parade in Ipswich

We've also found quite a few more of the Space Invader pieces of street art by the French artist Invader on our trips to London and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, as well as seeing some reactivated pieces in Manchester city centre.

The seven Invaders in Gateshead

A selection of the Invaders in Manchester

The various trails and maps we've followed have seen us explore new places, see different things and also rediscover parts of towns and cities.

They're a nice way to bring communities together, attract and retain visitors to towns, shopping centres and malls, as well as raising money for good causes.

Do you have a favourite art-trail, or know of others? Do let us know in the comments.

Related blog posts:
- Art
- Sculptures
- Tickable Lists