Dates for your diary - Summerween 2020

Summerween is celebrated annually on the 22nd June, or the second to last Friday of the month.

Will you be carving a Jack-o-Melon this Summerween?

In 2020 Summerween is on Friday 19th and Monday 22nd June.

I think one of these very large watermelons at Cheadle Superstore on Councillor Lane would last me for both Summerweens

Crazy Golf at Sutton Weaver Village near Runcorn, Cheshire

Playing the Crazy Golf course at Sutton Weaver Village near Runcorn, Cheshire.

Over the years we've played some strange crazy golf courses in weird locations and in July 2017 we were able to add another oddity to our list as we played a round on the miniature golf course at Sutton Farm Cheshire in Sutton Weaver Village near Runcorn, Cheshire.

The course was a mini version of the eternit miniature golf type of course more commonly found in continental Europe.

The course was located at what was once a Golf Driving Range but had been added as part of the farm. The area was being used as a dog training centre while we were there!

It was the 744th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

NO GOLF at Woodlands Park in Gravesend, Kent

While visiting the Crazy Golf course at Woodlands Park in Gravesend, Kent we saw a NO GOLF sign.

As the Crazy Golf course is an abandoned one we couldn't have a game of minigolf there either.

Miniature golf postcards from Brighton

A look at four old minigolf postcards from Brighton.

I've enjoyed spending some time looking through our minigolf postcard collection during lockdown. Emily and I have found some brilliant old postcards at fairs, charity shops, car boot sales, antique shops and online over the years. Some are quite new and date from the 2000's while some are from the early 1900's. We also really enjoy finding brand new postcards on sale at minigolf courses we visit.

Three of the same location

One of the first minigolf course postcards I bought is also the earliest dated card I have of Brighton. The colourised card shows the 'Miniature Golf Links, Brighton' and was posted from Brighton to West Harrow on the 29th August 1927.

Miniature Golf Links, Brighton. Postally used 29 August 1927. Publisher unknown

The next dated card I have shows the 'New Miniature Golf Course and Carpet Gardens, Brighton' - the same course as above - and was posted from Wolverton in Buckinghamshire to Rochester, Kent on the 27th May 1928.

New Miniature Golf Course and Carpet Gardens, Brighton. Postally used 27 May 1928. Publisher unknown

The Tuck's card No. 2162 I have shows the same area and is captioned 'Lower Parade & Miniature Golf course, Brighton'. It was posted from Brighton to Fulham on the 10th October 1928. However, looking at the course, surrounding area and the clothing people are wearing I would suggest the course was the first to be on the site and was there pre-1927.

Lower Parade & Miniature Golf course, Brighton. Postally used 10 October 1928. Tuck's Photogravure Postcard No. 2162

The pier in the background of those three postcards is the West Pier.

One of a different old course

The next dated card was posted from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire to Lancing, Sussex on the 15th April 1945. This card is captioned 'Aquarium & Palace Pier showing Miniature Golf Links, Brighton'.

Aquarium & Palace Pier showing Miniature Golf Links, Brighton. Postally used 15 April 1945. Publisher unknown

Playing minigolf in Brighton

We've played minigolf in Brighton a number of times over the years but haven't been to the south coast seaside resort since 2011. Where have the last nine years gone!

The 12th course visited on our travels. This was back in July 2007

One of the first courses played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour was the Crazy Golf on the seafront near the Palace Pier back in 2007.

CLUB GOLF pop-up minigolf in King's Cross, London

A look at the CLUB GOLF pop-up minigolf course at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London.

The out-of-home part of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour is currently paused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The 948th, and last new, course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour was the CLUB GOLF pop-up at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London.

I played the 9-hole rave-inspired art installation crazy golf course in February this year.

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Happy Mount Park in Morecambe is 93 years old

Happy 93rd birthday to Happy Mount Park in Morecambe, Lancashire.

Happy Mount Park opened on this day in 1927.

The 16-hole Pirate Adventure Golf course there became the 891st course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a year ago.

Back in April 2012 the old Crazy Golf course on the same spot was the 455th visited. The Putting Course was the 456th.

The park is also home to a miniature railway.

Pubs of Stockport during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown

A look at Stockport's pubs during the lockdown.

I've been photographing the pubs of Stockport while out on my daily exercise.

This is No. 131 - The Jolly Sailor in Davenport.

The Jolly Sailor is the first of the pubs we've seen open during lockdown, albeit in a very limited manner. They are serving takeaway coffee and cakes.

Here are the social distancing signs and measures they have put in place.

You can see more of my Stopfordian Pub photos on Instagram.

We're looking forward to when pubs reopen and it's safe to visit them again.

We've missed going to the pub for pub quizzes, but have been doing quite a few during lockdown.

Ghetto Golf heading to Sheffield

New Ghetto Golf venue could be opening in Sheffield.

Plans for a new Ghetto Golf indoor crazy golf course in Sheffield have been submitted.

The Ghetto Golf course in Byker, Newcastle was the 920th we've visited

There are Ghetto Golf minigolf competitive socialising venues in Liverpool, Birmingham and Newcastle upon Tyne. The team at Ghetto Golf also have plans for courses in Leeds and Glasgow.

The Ghetto Golf course in Sheffield is the third new course I've heard about during the pandemic. The others are a replacement for the old course in Andover, Hampshire and a new indoor minigolf course at the Bullring in Birmingham.

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Mini Golf at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

A look at the Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset.

We visited our 601st minigolf course five years ago today.

The minigolf course at Lister Gardens is a unique and interesting layout, it's one of Emily's all-time favourite courses

It was one of 62 courses we visited on our two week holiday in the South West of England.

We've now been to 948 courses since September 2006.

When we began there were 600 courses in the UK.

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Pirate Mini Golf at the centre:MK in Milton Keynes

Playing the pop-up Pirate Mini Golf course at the centre:MK. Six years ago today.

On Sunday 1st June 2014 we headed over to Milton Keynes to make the 560th course visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The 12-hole Pirate Mini Golf course became the 336th played since 2006.

The course was of the 'Eternit' type of Miniature Golf - with the addition of felt to the playing surface and a few non-standard hole types and obstacles.

The pirate-theming around the site was very well done and the striking blue of the felt on the course made a nice contrast with the green felt flooring surrounding it.

Social distancing and Covid-19 signs

Have you seen any particularly good, bad, or downright ugly social distancing signage during the pandemic?

I think the signs at Stockport bus station are nice and clear.

It's going to be interesting to see how social distancing signs change and develop over time and as more places reopen.

Recording the signs

I've been snapping signs I see during my daily outdoor exercise and logging them on Instagram.

Social distancing minigolf

The first social distancing signs at a miniature golf course we've seen in person were at Bruntwood Park's Pitch & Putt course last month.

New Mini Golf course heading to Birmingham

Birmingham's Bullring will be home to a new indoor minigolf course.

A new indoor minigolf course is being created at Birmingham's Bullring shopping centre.

There's a level of intrigue about the venture. While planning documents have been submitted the minigolf brand opening the course is as yet unknown.

The new Bullring minigolf course in Birmingham is the second new course I've heard about during the pandemic. The other is a replacement for the old course in Andover, Hampshire.

Related blog posts:

• Birmingham
• New minigolf courses
• Minigolf in and around Birmingham

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Happy Minigolf Monday and Happy June

A new month dawns.

Minigolf course in Stoke Park, Guildford (May 2016)

A look at the minigolf course in Guildford's Stoke Park.

The course was the 399th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

We played the 18-hole Swedish Felt B-Run Minigolf course as part of a competition for National Miniature Golf Day in 2016.

Jurassic Adventure Golf in Swanage, Dorset

A look at the Jurassic Adventure Golf course in Swanage, Dorset.

We visited our 600th minigolf course five years ago today when we played Jurassic Adventure Golf in Swanage, Dorset.

It was the first of 62 courses we visited on our two week holiday in the South West of England.

We've now been to 948 courses since September 2006.

When we began there were 600 courses in the UK!

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Crazy Golf course at Malkins Bank Golf Club in Sandbach (May 2019)

A look at the Crazy Golf course at Malkins Bank Golf Club in Betchton, Sandbach.

We played the 9-hole Swedish Felt Crazy Golf course at Malkins Bank Golf Club in Betchton, Sandbach in May last year.

The course was the 518th played and 888th visited overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Link:
- Malkins Bank Golf Club

Barnard Castle Mini Golf - A Journey Through Teesdale (July 2013)

A look at the Barnard Castle Mini Golf course.

In July 2013 we visited Barnard Castle in County Durham to help launch the new Mini Golf course there.

The 9-hole course was designed and built by the team at UrbanCrazy.

The Barnard Castle Mini Golf course was the 532nd visited and 319th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Your private green minigolf postcard

A playable postcard from the Netherlands.

I found this fun minigolf postcard at the last postcard fair I attended in Stockport.

The Dutch text reads Vouw de ansichtkaart langs de stippellijnen, en druk het balletje uit de kaart (Fold the postcard along the dotted lines and push the ball out of the card)

It was published by GreenCards and can be turned into a putting cup by folding along the perforations and popping out the golf ball in the middle.

Eaton Park Crazy Golf in Norwich (May 2017)

A look at the Eaton Park Crazy Golf course in Norwich, Norfolk.

The 18-hole Crazy Golf course was the 432nd played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. The layout was the 734th visited overall and the 707th we'd been to in the UK.

Holes 1-9

Holes 10-18

It's one of my all-time favourite courses.

Visit the Eaton Park Crazy Golf course website for more information.

We've now been to 948 courses since September 2006.

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A crazy golf postcard from Butlinland Minehead

A look at an old crazy golf postcard from Butlin's Minehead.

One of the old miniature golf postcards I found at the last postcard fair I attended before the pandemic lockdown was this superb John Hinde one showing the Crazy Golf and Chair Lift at Butlinland Minehead.

Butlinland Minehead. Crazy Golf and Chair Lift. John Hinde Studios. 24 May 1976

The card was posted from Minehead to Devizes in Wiltshire on the 24th May 1976.

I grew up on holidays at Butlin's holiday camps in Minehead, Bognor Regis and Ayr.

I've got brilliant memories of the monorail, funfair, laser tag and arcades there. It's little wonder that even now I'm such a big fan of the British seaside, crazy golf and video-games.