Monday, November 01, 2021

Magic Carpet Golf in Galveston, Texas, USA

A look at the Magic Carpet Golf courses in Galveston, Texas, USA.


Magic Carpet Golf Miniature Golf course in Galveston Texas. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, 25th October 2021
Magic Carpet Golf in Galveston, Texas
 
My brother, and charter member of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, Christopher and his family recently played the two courses at Magic Carpet Golf in Galveston, Texas, USA.

Magic Carpet Golf Miniature Golf course in Galveston Texas. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, 25th October 2021
A scorecard from Magic Carpet Golf in Galveston, Texas

Magic Carpet Golf Miniature Golf course in Galveston Texas. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, 25th October 2021
Magic Carpet Golf in Galveston, Texas

Magic Carpet Golf Miniature Golf course in Galveston Texas. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, 25th October 2021
A big minigolf windmill

Magic Carpet Golf Miniature Golf course in Galveston Texas. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, 25th October 2021
Magic Carpet Golf in Galveston, Texas

Magic Carpet Golf Miniature Golf course in Galveston Texas. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, 25th October 2021
Magic Carpet Golf in Galveston, Texas

Magic Carpet Golf Miniature Golf course in Galveston Texas. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, 25th October 2021
A minigolf toilet!

Magic Carpet Golf Miniature Golf course in Galveston Texas. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, 25th October 2021
Magic Carpet Golf in Galveston, Texas

Magic Carpet Golf Miniature Golf course in Galveston Texas. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, 25th October 2021
Magic Carpet Golf in Galveston, Texas

Magic Carpet Golf Miniature Golf course in Galveston Texas. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, 25th October 2021
A giant conch

Magic Carpet Golf Miniature Golf course in Galveston Texas. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, 25th October 2021
Magic Carpet Golf in Galveston, Texas

Magic Carpet Golf Miniature Golf course in Galveston Texas. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, 25th October 2021
A minigolf sign

Magic Carpet Golf Miniature Golf course in Galveston Texas. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, 25th October 2021
What to do at the lucky last hole

Magic Carpet Golf Miniature Golf course in Galveston Texas. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, 25th October 2021
Frog's mouth

Check out the Magic Carpet Golf website for more information on the venue and its two 18-hole miniature golf courses.


Magic Carpet Golf Miniature Golf course in Galveston Texas. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, 25th October 2021
Miniature Golf Rules

The Magic Carpet Golf courses were the 1,008th and 1,009th visited overall on our combined Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Together we've now been to 1,010 courses since September 2006. The latest being the grass Putting Course at Northcliff Park in Shipley, England.

Mini Golf at the 7 Acre Wood Petting Zoo in Conroe, Texas, USA

A look at the Mini Golf course at the 7 Acre Wood Petting Zoo in Conroe, Texas, USA.


Mini Golf at the 7 Acre Wood Petting Zoo in Conroe, Texas, USA. Photo by PJ Goedhals, October 2021
The 7 Acre Wood Petting Zoo has a 9-hole Mini Golf course

A big thanks to my friend PJ Goedhals for sending over some photos from the miniature golf course he found on a recent trip to the 7 Acre Wood Petting Zoo in Conroe, Texas, USA.

Mini Golf at the 7 Acre Wood Petting Zoo in Conroe, Texas, USA. Photo by PJ Goedhals, October 2021
Hole 1

Mini Golf at the 7 Acre Wood Petting Zoo in Conroe, Texas, USA. Photo by PJ Goedhals, October 2021
Hole 2

Mini Golf at the 7 Acre Wood Petting Zoo in Conroe, Texas, USA. Photo by PJ Goedhals, October 2021
Hole 3

Mini Golf at the 7 Acre Wood Petting Zoo in Conroe, Texas, USA. Photo by PJ Goedhals, October 2021
Hole 4

Mini Golf at the 7 Acre Wood Petting Zoo in Conroe, Texas, USA. Photo by PJ Goedhals, October 2021
Hole 5

Mini Golf at the 7 Acre Wood Petting Zoo in Conroe, Texas, USA. Photo by PJ Goedhals, October 2021
Hole 6

Mini Golf at the 7 Acre Wood Petting Zoo in Conroe, Texas, USA. Photo by PJ Goedhals, October 2021
Hole 7

Mini Golf at the 7 Acre Wood Petting Zoo in Conroe, Texas, USA. Photo by PJ Goedhals, October 2021
Hole 8

Mini Golf at the 7 Acre Wood Petting Zoo in Conroe, Texas, USA. Photo by PJ Goedhals, October 2021
Hole 9

The course was free to play after the $6 entry fee to the petting zoo was paid.

Mini Golf at the 7 Acre Wood Petting Zoo in Conroe, Texas, USA. Photo by PJ Goedhals, October 2021
An interestingly shaped hole

Check out the 7 Acre Wood Petting Zoo website for more information.

Stratford-upon-Avon Minigolf has closed

The minigolf course in Stratford-upon-Avon has closed.


Stratford-upon-Avon Minigolf
Stratford-upon-Avon Minigolf

We were very sad to heard that the minigolf course at the Recreation Ground in Stratford-upon-Avon has closed after 20 years in operation.

Stratford-upon-Avon Minigolf
Playing the course in 2008

The course was the 49th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2008 and a venue for a number of British Minigolf Association tournaments over the years.

Stratford-upon-Avon Minigolf
Playing at an event in 2009

It was the host venue for the BMGA British Club Championships in 2008 - the first BMGA Tour event I won as part of the Midlands Minigolf Club.

Stratford-upon-Avon Minigolf
Playing the course in a competition in 2010

The 18-hole minigolf course in Stratford-upon-Avon was one of the very best miniature golf courses in the country and was a real pleasure to play. As well as being a true test of putting skill.

Stratford-upon-Avon Minigolf
The course in 2015

It'll be greatly missed.

Stratford-upon-Avon Minigolf
Tournament action on the course in 2010

Sunday, October 31, 2021

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween

Friday, October 29, 2021

Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley

A visit to the Putting Course at Northcliffe Park in Shipley, West Yorkshire.


Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley

We swung by Northcliffe Park in Shipley, West Yorkshire on our recent journey back from Leeds as we'd seen the park was home to a Putting Course.

Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley
The entrance to the course

The course looked like a nice layout and in good condition.

Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley
A fine looking green

Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley
You get a lovely view of the area from the course

Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley
The course is played on a sloping layout

Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley

Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley
One of the long miniature golf holes

Putting Course in Northcliffe Park, Shipley
A view from the green of the last hole

Unfortunately the Ticket Office was closed (and looked long since abandoned!) and there was nowhere else to hire clubs and balls from.

The Putting Course at Northcliffe Park in Shipley became the 975th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

Toys R Us is returning to the UK

New Toys R Us stores opening in the UK.


Toys R Us in Northampton
Toys R Us in Northampton, June 2021

While Toys R Us stores have been closed in the UK since 2018 the brand has lived on in one form or another in other parts of the world.

The new version of Toys R Us will be opening by Toys R Us ANZ who relaunched the business in Australia in 2019. They plan to rollout the brand with an online and physical retail presence in 2022 and 2023.

Toys R Us closed in the UK in April 2018. It's been very interesting to find that there are still remnants of the brand on some retail parks in the UK and we've visited a number of these closed, abandoned, derelict and demolished Toys R Us locations on our travels.

Toys R Us in Stockton-on-Tees
Toys R Us in Stockton-on-Tees, April 2021

Working at Toys R Us

My first job while at university in the year 2000 was as one of Geoffrey's helpers at the Luton store. I worked on the video game and electronics section.

Toys R Us in Basingstoke
Toys R Us in Basingstoke, May 2021

Visiting Toys R Us

With a keen interest in old and defunct brands we've visited a number of former Toys R Us sites over the last couple of years, the latest being in Norwich and Ipswich.


Toys R Us in Milton Keynes
Toys R Us in Milton Keynes, June 2021


Toys R Us in Southampton
Toys R Us in Southampton, May 2021

The future of Toys R Us

It'll be interesting to see what the future holds for Toys R Us and how the relaunch in the UK will go.

As can be seen, some of the former locations are still vacant, while others have been let to new shops. Some former Toys R Us stores have been pulled down, with others converted to retailtainment centres featuring trampoline parks and minigolf courses.

Toys R Us in Northampton
It'll be interesting to shop at Toys R Us again in the future

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

New mini golf course in Coventry

A new mini golf course and tenpin bowling centre is planned to open in Coventry city centre.


A new mini golf course and tenpin bowling centre is planned to open in Coventry city centre.

The former Debenhams shop unit at the West Orchards Shopping Centre in Coventry is set to become a tenpin bowling and adventure golf venue.

The retail entertainment and minigolf boom.

 

Crazy Golfing in Coventry

It'll be another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

We've played minigolf at Allesley Park and Teezers Retro Golf in Coventry before. There's also a new Galaxy Quest Mini Golf at Laser Quest that we need to play and plans for a Boom: Battle Bar in the city too.

Happy National Pumpkin Day

Today is National Pumpkin Day.


Pumpkins at a Farm Shop in Handforth, Cheshire

Pumpkins at a Farm Shop in Handforth, Cheshire

Monday, October 25, 2021

Halloween in the City is back in Manchester

Halloween in the City has returned to Manchester city centre.


Halloween in the City in Manchester

We saw a few of the new Halloween monster inflatables that have popped up in Manchester during a wander round town on Saturday.

Halloween in the City in Manchester

The full Halloween in the City event is taking place in Manchester on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st October with a number of large-scale monsters adorning buildings around the city centre as well as other themed activities.

Halloween in the City in Manchester

Check out the Halloween in the City website for more information.


Halloween in the City in Manchester

Urban Playground Mini Golf at the Arndale Centre in Manchester

A new indoor mini golf course is opening as part of the new Urban Playground at the Arndale shopping centre in Manchester.


Putters Mini Golf at the Urban Playground in the Manchester Arndale Centre

A new competitive socialising venue is opening at the Arndale Centre in Manchester and one of the activities on offer will be mini golf.

Putters Mini Golf at the Urban Playground in the Manchester Arndale Centre

The Urban Playground in Manchester is opening sometime this year and will be home to the indoor miniature golf course, The Cube Live and food & drinks.

Putters Mini Golf at the Urban Playground in the Manchester Arndale Centre

Putters Mini-Golf at the Urban Playground will be a tech-based course. Visit the Urban Playground website for more information.


Putters Mini Golf at the Urban Playground in the Manchester Arndale Centre

The Urban Playground will be another new local venue for us.

The Urban Playground entertainment centre is being created by the Mellors Group who own Skegness Pier and Fantasy Island in Ingoldmells. We've played minigolf at Fantasy Island before. The course there was underneath a rollercoaster! There's a new Lava Creek Adventure Golf course we haven't yet had a go on at Fantasy Island too.

Ghostbusting in Urmston

I saw an Ecto-1a car and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man in Urmston, Greater Manchester two years ago today!


The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters at the Eden Square Shopping Centre in Urmston, Greater Manchester

It was a brilliant way to kick off the Halloween season.

Friday, October 22, 2021

Par-59 Crazy Golf opening in Cardiff

The new Par-59 Crazy Golf venue is opening in Cardiff next year.


Par-59 Crazy Golf is opening in Cardiff in Spring 2022

Plans are still going ahead for the Par-59 Crazy Golf venue to open in Cardiff, Wales. The location was originally going to be at the Capitol Shopping Centre in Cardiff city centre, however plans have changed with the site now opening in a former nightclub on St Mary Street.

The Par-59 brand is being opened by footballer Gareth Bale and is set to open in Spring 2022.

Par-59 will feature three 9-hole indoor crazy golf courses along with a bar and restaurant.

Visit the Par-59 website for more information.


It'll be another new course for us to visit in Cardiff on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Thursday, October 21, 2021

Today is Back to the Future Day

Happy Back to the Future Day.


A Back to the Future DeLorean in MediaCityUK
We saw a Back to the Future DeLorean time machine at MediaCityUK in Salford a few days before the coronavirus pandemic lockdown was put in place

A Back to the Future DeLorean in MediaCityUK
If you could travel in time would you go to the future or the past?

Visit the Back to the Future car's website for more information.