Getting close to 1,000 courses

We're edging closer to our 1,000th minigolf course visit!

Crazy Putting Challenge minigolf course at Hamptworth Golf Club - the 875th course we visited during a road-trip to Southampton in 2019

Where will it be...?

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

In 2006 we set out to visit every miniature golf course in the UK. When we began there were around 600 courses in the UK. There are now more than 1,000, with new courses opening all the time.

At the Adventure Golf Course at the Pleasure Beach Gardens in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk during a tour of the Norfolk coast in 2016

We have visited 983 courses in total (944 in the British Isles (UK home nations, plus Jersey & the Isle of Man) plus 39 in eleven overseas countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden and the USA).

Playing the Mini Golf Pitch and Putt course at Onchan Park on the Isle of Man in July 2018

Where will the next ones be...?

Putt Noodle Mini Golf at the Castle Quarter in Norwich

A look at the Putt Noodle Mini Golf course at the Castle Quarter in Norwich.

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2022 

My brother Christopher has had a round at the new Putt Noodle Mini Golf at the Castle Quarter in Norwich, Norfolk.

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2022 

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2022 

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2022 

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2022 

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2022 

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2022 

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2022 

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2022 

Putt Putt Noodle Crazy Golf in Norwich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2022 

We swung by the course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour last November, just before it opened!

Check out the Putt Putt Noodle website for more information.

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Great Yarmouth, June 2011

A look at the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Great Yarmouth, June 2011.

This particular 18-hole course was the 22nd course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in June 2007.

There has been a miniature golf course on the same spot since the 1920's. First with a grass Putting layout, then the Arnold Palmer Putting Course and now with Castaway Island Adventure Golf.

We're looking forward to a return to the Great Yarmouth area for the Big Mini Golf Tour this summer.

7 days to go until National Miniature Golf Day

There are 7 days to go until National Miniature Golf Day.

Check out this post from the World Minigolf Sport Federation about National Miniature Golf Day 2022.

The Big Mini Golf Tour tees-off in 7 days

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 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 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.

Crazy Golf at The Lion by Olivers in Brinsley, Nottinghamshire

There's a new pub Crazy Golf course at The Lion by Olivers in Brinsley, Nottinghamshire.

Check out The Lion by Olivers website and social media for further details on the 9-hole Crazy Golf course.

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

While the course is outdoors, the pub adds UV lighting so players can putt in the dark. It sounds ace.

Crazy Putt London Adventure Golf at Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range

A look at the Crazy Putt Adventure Golf course at Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range in London.

A big thank to our fellow crazy minigolf adventurer Matt Dodd for sending over these snaps from his visit to the Crazy Putt Adventure Golf course at Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range in London.

Crazy Putt Adventure Golf course at Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range in London. Photo by Matt Dodd, May 2022

Crazy Putt Adventure Golf course at Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range in London. Photo by Matt Dodd, May 2022

Crazy Putt Adventure Golf course at Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range in London. Photo by Matt Dodd, May 2022

Crazy Putt Adventure Golf course at Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range in London. Photo by Matt Dodd, May 2022

Crazy Putt Adventure Golf course at Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range in London. Photo by Matt Dodd, May 2022

Visit the Crazy Putt Adventure Golf course website for more information.

It's another new course in London for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Putting Green at Station Park in Moffat

A look at the Putting Green course at Station Park in Moffat, Dumfriesshire.

Our friend and minigolf rival John Moore sent us this photo of the Putting Green at Station Park in Moffat. It's not a course we had on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour radar before now!

Putting Green at Station Park in Moffat. Photo by John Moore, May 2022

Visit the Station Park website for more information.

South Downs Way Adventure Golf at Marwell Resort

A look at the new South Downs Way Adventure Golf at Marwell Resort in Hampshire.

A big thank you as always goes to our fellow minigolf explorer Matt Dodd for sending over these photos from his visit to the South Downs Way Adventure Golf course at Marwell Resort in Hampshire earlier this year.

South Downs Way Adventure Golf at Marwell Resort. Photo by Matt Dodd, March 2022

South Downs Way Adventure Golf at Marwell Resort. Photo by Matt Dodd, March 2022

South Downs Way Adventure Golf at Marwell Resort. Photo by Matt Dodd, March 2022

South Downs Way Adventure Golf at Marwell Resort. Photo by Matt Dodd, March 2022

South Downs Way Adventure Golf at Marwell Resort. Photo by Matt Dodd, March 2022

South Downs Way Adventure Golf at Marwell Resort. Photo by Matt Dodd, March 2022

South Downs Way Adventure Golf at Marwell Resort. Photo by Matt Dodd, March 2022

The South Downs Way Adventure Golf course opened at Marwell Resort last year.

Visit the Marwell Resort website for more information.

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

Mini-Golf at Talkin Tarn Country Park in Brampton

A look at the Mini-Golf course at Talkin Tarn Country Park in Brampton, Cumbria.

Our friend and crazy golf rival John Moore sent us these snaps of the Mini-Golf course at Talkin Tarn Country Park in Brampton. It's another course we didn't know about before, so we'll be swinging by the next time we're up that way on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Mini-Golf at Talkin Tarn Country Park in Brampton. Photo by John Moore, May 2022

Mini-Golf at Talkin Tarn Country Park in Brampton. Photo by John Moore, May 2022

Mini-Golf at Talkin Tarn Country Park in Brampton. Photo by John Moore, May 2022

Mini-Golf at Talkin Tarn Country Park in Brampton. Photo by John Moore, May 2022

Mini-Golf at Talkin Tarn Country Park in Brampton. Photo by John Moore, May 2022

Visit the Talkin Tarn Country Park website for more information.

Tee-rific Crazy Golf in Blackburn

There's a new indoor crazy golf course in Blackburn, Lancashire.

Tee-rific Crazy Golf - an 18-hole indoor course - has opened in Blackburn.

Visit the Tee-rific Crazy Golf Facebook Page for more information.

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

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.