National Postcard Week

Happy National Postcard Week.

This week is National Postcard Week in the USA.

Post Card - Jekyll Island, Gergia. Golf House and miniature golf course. Marsh Post Card Service. Postally unused, undated

We're huge fans of sending and receiving postcards and have built up a big collection of minigolf, crazy golf, putting and adventure golf postcards over the years.

Post Card - South of the Border. South Carolina at the N.C. - S.C. Border. ACE-HI ADVERTISING, INC. Postally unused, undated

Post Card. Grand Haven State Park, Grand Haven, Michigan. Water Wonderland Card Company. Postally unused, undated

• When did you last send a postcard?

• When did you last receive a postcard?

• Do you have a favourite postcard?

Check out Reflections of a Bygone Age for more information on postcard collecting.

The 2022 Picture Postcard Annual is available now and includes a feature that I wrote about Butlin's Monorails.

Butlinland Skegness – Putting Green and Monorail by John Hinde Studios. Sent on 4 Aug 1980

Here's a selection of postcards from our collection.

Bridlington Princes Parade. The Spa Boating Lake. Photochrom Co. Ltd.

Crazy Golf, North Shore, Blackpool. 50. Bamforth Post Card. Unposted. Undated

A Weetabix Gang Crazy Mini Golf Weeta-Card postcard from 1983

Pat Regan's Putting Green in Broadstairs - postcard. Undated

Miniature Golf Links, Brighton. Postally used 29 August 1927

One of two postcard designs you can find at Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing

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

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

Putting Green, Great Yarmouth. Postcard postally used on the 11th November 1927. Publisher unknown

Celiac Awareness Month

May is Celiac Awareness Month in the USA.

Check out Beyond Celiac website for more information.

In the UK Coeliac Awareness Week runs from the 9th to the 15th May.

Living a gluten free life

Having suffered from a range of symptoms for around ten years I finally received a positive diagnosis of Coeliac Disease following some 'interesting' and in-depth tests and procedures in 2008. It came as a relief to finally have a name for the mysterious cause of my illnesses and ailments, but at the time I was only given a brief summary and told that I'd have to "cut down on bread and beer". It was only later when I met with a Gastroenterologist and a dietitian that I found out that the only treatment for people with Coeliac Disease is a strict, life-long gluten free diet.

While having a life-long condition such as Coeliac Disease can be a pain - and horrible if I 'get glutened' - having the disease has had some positives. I've met great people since my diagnosis and have made some brilliant friends who I've met through Coeliac groups. I've also blogged a lot about living with the condition and the great 'free from' food & drink I've found since 2008.

The Big Mini Golf Tour tees-off in Greater Yarmouth this month

The Big Mini Golf Tour 2022 tees-off on National Miniature Golf Day - Saturday 14th May.

Miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business Improvement Area are coming together to promote the game.

We've played in and organised lots of miniature golf competitions, tournaments, challenges and events over the years and this year we are excited to be a part of the Big Mini Golf Tour in the seaside resort of Great Yarmouth.

The four-month event highlighting miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth area tees-off on National Miniature Golf Day, Saturday 14th May 2022 and runs until Miniature Golf Day on Wednesday 21st September 2022.

Mini Golf course map

You can plan your visit to the nine miniature golf courses in Hemsby, Clippesby, Great Yarmouth and Gorleston-on-Sea by checking out the Big Mini Golf Tour map.

Follow the Big Mini Golf Tour

Check out the Big Mini Golf Tour web links, further info and social media.

Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA

Funding from Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA has helped to bring you the ‘Big Mini Golf Tour’. Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA uses money raised from a business improvement district levy which is designed to raise the profile of the area, increase the number of people visiting and staying, improve the visitor experience and increase repeat visits, encourage people to stay longer and to visit more attractions and to provide incentives and opportunities to spend more in local businesses.

Princess Parade Crazy Golf course in Blackpool

The Princess Parade Crazy Golf course on Blackpool's North Shore is open for the season.

The course is now open daily 10am to 6pm (weather permitting). Take a look at the Princess Parade Crazy Golf Facebook Group for more information.

We've been to the course a number of times on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour over the years but it had always been closed. That was until Blackpool and the Fylde Street Angels and Blackpool Fulfilling Lives joined forces to refresh and reopen the Princess Parade Crazy Golf course on Blackpool's North Shore in 2019 and a number of other people and groups have been a part of the project.

The base of the course itself has changed very little since it was first created in the late 1950's and it's wonderful that the area is easily recognisable from old postcards from the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

There have been some noticeable improvements to the course and the whole area it sits in. Most notable are the repairs to the obstacles as well as the addition of professional putting carpet to the holes. It makes the course very nice to play.

Here's a video of me playing the crazy golf course on Blackpool's North Shore at the launch event on Friday 28th May 2021.

It's been a pleasure to be a part of the Princess Parade Crazy Golf project and I've enjoyed supporting the teams at Blackpool & the Fylde Street Angels, Blackpool Fulfilling Lives, Blackpool Council and the Blackpool Civic Trust to get the course reopened.

We're looking forward to playing a few more rounds on the course in the future.

Filwood Crazy Golf Fun Day in Knowle West

The Filwood Fantastic Crazy Golf Club in Knowle West, Bristol are holding a Crazy Golf Fun Day on Saturday 7th May.

The action tees-off at the Filwood Community Centre at 10am and runs until 3pm.

The story of the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf course.

Take a look at this superb video telling the story of how the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf course in Knowle West, Bristol came about.

We loved being a part of the clubhouse and tee party online meetings and to play the unique course and meet the people involved was brilliant.

I managed to score a hole-in-one taking the direct route across the beachy 'bridge'

The real life miniature golf course was created during the pandemic and the ideas for the hole designs were generated by members of the Knowle West community during Lockdown 1.

I had the honour of cutting the ribbon to officially launch the course alongside Meg - the creative genius who led the lockdown project!

The Filwood Fantastic Crazy Golf course was the 966th course visited overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and the 549th we've played since September 2006.

There were so many fantastic people and organisations involved in the project and you can find out more about them via the links to their websites and social media below:

• Filwood Community Centre
• Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club
• Megan Clark-Bagnall
• Claudia Collins aka Claudia the Caddy
• Re:Work Bristol
• Nic Marshall Designs
• Knowle West Beaches
• Julian Wood

Visit the Filwood Crazy Golf Facebook Page and Filwood Community Centre website for more information and opening times.

The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing

I published my minigolf marketing ebook five years ago today.

The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing

It's been wonderful to see the guide read and used by a number of associations, federations, course owners and managers, community groups, charities, players and clubs around the world.

The feedback and reviews have been brilliant to see, with some people using the ebook to help them promote other sports too.

You can buy my minigolf marketing ebook on Amazon.

Don't worry if you don't have a Kindle as you can download the Kindle App on iOS, Android, Mac & PC.

The ebook is also available on Kobo.

It's just £1.99.

Minigolf Marketing

As a minigolfer with over a decade of experience as a tournament competitor and years of experience in marketing and communications I designed the guide so that anyone interested or involved in minigolf could help promote the game. It's a niche title, but an audience and subject I know a lot about.

Writing the book was brilliant and enabled me to bring two areas of my life together. I've worked in marketing since 2003 and have played minigolf since I was a child. Stepping up to compete on the national minigolf tour circuit and in international tournaments opened my eyes to the potential of the game. I’ve also had the honour of serving on the committees of the British Minigolf Association (BMGA) and the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF).

Minigolf is a sport for all. People of all ages, sexes, backgrounds and abilities can pick up a putter and play the game.

The Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Emily and I have visited 983 courses in the UK and overseas on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. When our travels began in 2006 there were around 600 courses in the UK.

Minigolf is booming

Minigolf is experiencing a real boom and new courses are being announced and opened all the time.

There are a huge amount of interesting and fun stories to tell and positive aspects to highlight to potential players, the media, sponsors and the wider sporting community. The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing gives federations, associations, courses, clubs, groups and fellow players ideas, inspiration and support in their marketing efforts.

Links:

• Minigolf and marketing consultancy
• The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing on Amazon
• The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing on Kobo

Not long until National Miniature Golf Day 2022

Where will you be playing a round on National Miniature Golf Day 2022?

National Miniature Golf Day at the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Skegness, Lincolnshire (May 2015)

There are two annual minigolf 'days' dedicated to celebrating the game each year.

National Miniature Golf Day

The first is National Miniature Golf Day. It is always marked on the second Saturday in May. This year the date is Saturday 14th May.

Miniature Golf Day

The second of the annual minigolf days is Miniature Golf Day. It is always on the 21st September. This year that will be a Wednesday.

The Big Mini Golf Tour - teeing-off in Greater Yarmouth next month

The Big Mini Golf Tour 2022 tees-off on National Miniature Golf Day - Saturday 14th May.

Miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business Improvement Area are coming together to promote the game.

The Big Mini Golf Tour - teeing-off in Greater Yarmouth in May 2022

Miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business Improvement Area have come together to promote the game.

The four-month event highlighting miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth area tees-off on National Miniature Golf Day, Saturday 14th May 2022 and runs until Miniature Golf Day on Wednesday 21st September 2022.

Mini Golf course map

You can plan your visit to the nine miniature golf courses in Hemsby, Clippesby, Great Yarmouth and Gorleston-on-Sea by checking out the Big Mini Golf Tour map.

Follow the Big Mini Golf Tour

Check out the Big Mini Golf Tour on social media.

Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA

Funding from Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA has helped to bring you the ‘Big Mini Golf Tour’. Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA uses money raised from a business improvement district levy which is designed to raise the profile of the area, increase the number of people visiting and staying, improve the visitor experience and increase repeat visits, encourage people to stay longer and to visit more attractions and to provide incentives and opportunities to spend more in local businesses.

Dodgeballing again!

Back in action with the Cheadle & Gatley Griffins Dodgeball Club.

It was brilliant to be back in action with the Cheadle & Gatley Griffins Dodgeball Club last night.

Richard Gottfried - Dodgeballer

The session in Parrs Wood, Manchester was the first one for the club's adult members since March 2020.

The games were my first since the 10th March 2020 - that's 777 days!

I played 4, won 2, lost 2 in games. A fun mix of Prison Rules, Super Catch and Secret Spy.

I was also the third last player in the Last Person Standing game at the end of the night.

Check out the Cheadle & Gatley Griffins Dodgeball Club website for more info on the Tuesday night sessions.

See the British Dodgeball website for more info on the serious side of the game.

My 'all-time' Dodgeball Win-Loss Record (2005-2022) now stands at 991 games played, 453 wins, 494 losses and 44 tied games.

I've been playing the game since the eighties so this is my fifth decade!

Mini Golf at Laser Quest Derby

A look at the Mini Golf course at Laser Quest Derby.

A BIG thanks go to our friend and minigolf rival Jam Trubridge for sending over these snaps of the Mini Golf course at Laser Quest in Derby.

We love playing both minigolf and laser tag so the 9-hole course is in the right location. It'll be ace to play it on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in the future.

Coeliac UK Awareness Week 2022

Dates for your diary: Coeliac UK Awareness Week 2022 - 9th-15th May.

This year Coeliac Awareness Week runs from the 9th to the 15th May.

Coeliac UK's mission is to raise awareness of this serious autoimmune disease that affects 1 in 100 people.

Coeliac Disease ('Celiac' in the USA and Canada) is a lifelong autoimmune condition, where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. In Coeliac Disease the immune system mistakes substances found inside gluten as a threat to the body and attacks them. This can trigger a number of painful, horrible, stressful and uncomfortable symptoms.

Living a gluten free life

Having suffered from a range of symptoms for around ten years I finally received a positive diagnosis of Coeliac Disease following some 'interesting' and in-depth tests and procedures in 2008. It came as a relief to finally have a name for the mysterious cause of my illnesses and ailments, but at the time I was only given a brief summary and told that I'd have to "cut down on bread and beer". It was only later when I met with a Gastroenterologist and a dietitian that I found out that the only treatment for people with Coeliac Disease is a strict, life-long gluten free diet.

While having a life-long condition such as Coeliac Disease can be a pain - and horrible if I 'get glutened' - having the disease has had some positives. I've met great people since my diagnosis and have made some brilliant friends who I've met through Coeliac groups. I've also blogged a lot about living with the condition and the great 'free from' food & drink I've found since 2008.

Key Facts about Coeliac Disease

• Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition, not an allergy.
• If a close relative (e.g. parent) is diagnosed, your chance of having it is 1 in 10.
• Many people can now be diagnosed with two blood tests.
• Gluten must remain in the diet until diagnosis.

Symptoms and diagnosis

Anyone with symptoms should go to isitcoeliacdisease.org.uk to see if they should be tested.

Symptoms may include:

• Severe or occasional diarrhoea, excessive wind and/or constipation.
• Persistent or unexplained nausea and vomiting.
• Recurrent stomach pain, cramping or bloating.
• Any combination of iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency.
• Anaemia.
• Tiredness.
• Sudden or unexpected weight loss (but not in all cases).
• Mouth ulcers.
• Skin rash (dermatitis herpetiformis).
• Tooth enamel problems.
• Liver abnormalities.
• Unexplained subfertility.
• Repeated miscarriages.
• Neurological (nerve) problems such as Ataxia (loss of coordination, poor balance and peripheral neuropathy (numbness and tingling in the hands and feet).

About Coeliac UK

Coeliac UK is the national charity for everyone who needs to live gluten free. It's work began in 1968 and it is a totally independent organisation with no government funding.

Coeliac UK strives for better diagnosis, care and treatment, plus safer gluten free food in more places.

Visit the Coeliac UK website for more information.

Stratford-upon-Avon Minigolf has re-opened

The minigolf course in Stratford-upon-Avon has re-opened.

Stratford-upon-Avon Minigolf

We were very happy to hear that the minigolf course at the Recreation Ground in Stratford-upon-Avon has re-opened. It closed last year after 20 years in operation.

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.

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.

Playing the course in a competition in 2010

The 18-hole minigolf course in Stratford-upon-Avon is one of the very best miniature golf courses in the country and a real pleasure to play. It's a real test of putting skill.

The course in 2015

Hopefully we'll get to play there again soon.

Tournament action on the course in 2010

Gluten free at The Oxford Place in Leeds

We had another superb meal at The Oxford Place.

We revisited our favourite restaurant at the weekend and had an excellent three-course meal.

It was lovely to return and once again were in the nice position of having lots and lots of choices on the 100% gluten free menu.

A very happy pair of diners

It really does make a massive difference in being able to visit a restaurant, sit down, place an order, be served, and eat great food without once worrying about cross-contamination. The team at The Oxford Place make sure your dining experience is safe and as normal as can be for someone with Coeliac Disease.

The Oxford Place really is a must visit restaurant for anyone with Coeliac Disease or gluten intolerance.

We were already thinking about what we're going to order on our next visit before we'd even paid the bill for this meal!

Check out The Oxford Place's website for more information.

20 days until the Big Mini Golf Tour tees-off

The Big Mini Golf Tour 2022 begins on Saturday 14th May - National Miniature Golf Day!

We've played in and organised lots of miniature golf competitions, tournaments, challenges and events over the years and this year we are excited to be a part of the Big Mini Golf Tour in the seaside resort of Great Yarmouth.

Miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business Improvement Area have come together to promote the game.

The four-month event highlighting miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth area tees-off on National Miniature Golf Day, Saturday 14th May 2022 and runs until Miniature Golf Day on Wednesday 21st September 2022.

Mini Golf courses in the Greater Yarmouth area

You can see the details of participating courses in Hemsby, Clippesby, Great Yarmouth and Gorleston-on-Sea in the Big Mini Golf Tour List.

The Big Mini Golf Tour Map of courses in the Greater Yarmouth area

The Big Mini Golf Tour Map of courses is below.

Visit Great Yarmouth

Funding from Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA has helped to bring you the “Big Mini Golf Tour”.

The Big Mini Golf Tour

Check out the Big Mini Golf Tour links for more information.

Crazy Golf at Hoveton Hall in Norfolk

A look at the Crazy Golf course at Hoveton Hall in Norfolk.

Ace

My brother, and charter member of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, Christopher and his family found another crazy golf course on his travels when he visited Hoveton Hall Estate in Norfolk.

The Crazy Golf course at Hoveton Hall became the 1,021st course visited in total on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

Here are photos of the 9-hole Crazy Golf course at Hoveton Hall.

Hole 1 - Snakes & Ladders

Hole 2 - an anthropomorphic house

Hole 3 - Mount Everest

Hole 4 - Humpty!

Hole 5 - Connect 4

Hole 6 - Dice

Hole 7 - Pool

Hole 8 - Dominoes

Hole 9 - Ace of Diamonds

Mini Golf in Banbury, Oxfordshire

There are plans for a Mini Golf course to open at The Light cinema and entertainment centre at the Castle Quay Waterfront in Banbury, Oxfordshire.

Visit the Castle Quay Waterfront website for more information.

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

Filwood Crazy Golf in Knowle West, Bristol

The story of the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf course.

Check out this superb video telling the story of how the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf course in Knowle West, Bristol came about.

We loved being a part of the clubhouse and tee party online meetings and to play the unique course and meet the people involved was brilliant.

I managed to score a hole-in-one taking the direct route across the beachy 'bridge'

The real life miniature golf course was created during the pandemic and the ideas for the hole designs were generated by members of the Knowle West community during Lockdown 1.

I had the honour of cutting the ribbon to officially launch the course alongside Meg - the creative genius who led the lockdown project!

The Filwood Fantastic Crazy Golf course was the 966th course visited overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and the 549th we've played since September 2006.

There were so many fantastic people and organisations involved in the project and you can find out more about them via the links to their websites and social media below:

• Filwood Community Centre
• Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club
• Megan Clark-Bagnall
• Claudia Collins aka Claudia the Caddy
• Re:Work Bristol
• Nic Marshall Designs
• Knowle West Beaches
• Julian Wood

Check out the Filwood Crazy Golf Facebook Page and Filwood Community Centre website for more information and opening times.

One month until National Miniature Golf Day 2022

There are two annual minigolf 'days' dedicated to celebrating the game each year.

National Miniature Golf Day

The first is National Miniature Golf Day. It is always marked on the second Saturday in May. This year the date is Saturday 14th May.

Playing the Championship Adventure Golf course in New Brighton, England on National Miniature Golf Day in 2017

Miniature Golf Day

The second of the annual minigolf days is Miniature Golf Day. It is always on the 21st September. This year that will be a Wednesday.

The first miniature golf course

The world's first miniature golf course opened in St Andrews, Scotland in 1867. The Himalayas Putting Course is still open and is a superb place to have a game.

Playing The Himalayas course at the St Andrews Ladies' Putting Club 2012

Playing minigolf around the world

There are tens of thousands of miniature golf courses around the world and millions of people play the game each year.

When our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour began in 2006 there were around 600 courses in the UK and just two of those were indoor venues.

The game has boomed in recent years and there are now more than 1,000 adventure golf, crazy golf and mini-golf layouts in the country, with more new courses opening all the time. Traditionally, a lot of the courses were outdoors in seaside towns, but you can now find courses in towns and cities around the UK.

One month until the Big Mini Golf Tour tees-off

The Big Mini Golf Tour tees-off on Saturday 14th May - National Miniature Golf Day!

We have played in and organised lots of miniature golf competitions, tournaments, challenges and events over the years and this year we are excited to be a part of the Big Mini Golf Tour in the seaside resort of Great Yarmouth.

Miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business Improvement Area have come together to promote the game.

The four-month event highlighting miniature golf courses across the Greater Yarmouth area tees-off on National Miniature Golf Day, Saturday 14th May 2022 and runs until Miniature Golf Day on Wednesday 21st September 2022.

Mini Golf courses in the Greater Yarmouth area

You can see the details of participating courses in Hemsby, Clippesby, Great Yarmouth and Gorleston-on-Sea in the Big Mini Golf Tour List.

The Big Mini Golf Tour Map of courses in the Greater Yarmouth area

The Big Mini Golf Tour Map of courses is below.

Visit Great Yarmouth

Funding from Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA has helped to bring you the “Big Mini Golf Tour”.

The Big Mini Golf Tour

Check out the Big Mini Golf Tour links for more information.

Swingers Crazy Golf in New York

A new Swingers Crazy Golf venue is opening in New York City.

The New York venue will be the second Swingers Crazy Golf location in the USA following the course at Dupont Circle in Washington D.C. which opened last summer.

The New York Swingers Crazy Golf will feature three indoor Crazy Golf courses at the Virgin Hotel on Broadway in the Flatiron District of New York City.

Check out the Swingers Crazy Golf website for more information.

We played the first Swingers Crazy Golf pop-up course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in Shoreditch back in September 2014. The brand has grown since then, with Swingers in The City opening next to the Gherkin in 2016 and Swingers West End following in 2018.

Emily about to score a hole in one on hole 4 of the Swingers Crazy Golf course in London's West End