Monday, May 27, 2024

Adventure Golf at The Pumpkin House in Thursford

An Adventure Golf course has opened at The Pumpkin House at Brookhill Farm in Thursford, Norfolk.


An Adventure Golf course has opened at The Pumpkin House at Brookhill Farm in Thursford, Norfolk

Opening days/times for the 9-hole farm-themed minigolf layout will vary so please check the farm's website for more information.


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

Crazy Golf at the Gaggle of Geese pub in Buckland Newton, Dorset

There's a Crazy Golf course at the Gaggle of Geese pub in Buckland Newton, Dorset.


There's a Crazy Golf course at the Gaggle of Geese pub in Buckland Newton, Dorset

Check out the Gaggle of Geese website for more information.


It's another course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour next time we're down in Dorset.

Friday, May 24, 2024

Adventure Golf plans for the Lake District

A new adventure golf course could be created at Windermere in the Lake District.


A new adventure golf course could be created at Windermere in the Lake District

Choices Health Club have plans to build an 18-hole adventure golf course at Troutbeck Bridge Swimming Pool in Windermere.

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

New Adventure Golf course in Penrith

Foxy's Adventure Golf is opening at Penrith Golf Hub.


Foxy's Adventure Golf is opening at Penrith Golf Hub

A new 18-hole outdoor adventure golf course is opening at Penrith Golf Hub in Redhills, Penrith, Cumbria.

The course opens on Sunday 26th May.

Check out the Penrith Golf Hub website for more information.


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

Monday, May 20, 2024

Mini Golf at Ballers and Hackers Driving Range in Nottingham

There's a new Mini Golf at Ballers and Hackers Driving Range in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.


There's a new Mini Golf at Ballers and Hackers Driving Range in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire

Ballers and Hackers Activity Centre in Hucknall, Nottingham is now home to an outdoor mini golf course.

Check out the Ballers and Hackers website for more information.


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

Saturday, May 18, 2024

Twilight Zone Mini Golf in Las Vegas

Playing the Twilight Zone Mini Golf course in Las Vegas.


Twilight Zone Mini Golf in Las Vegas

Emily recently returned from a holiday to Las Vegas, Nevada, USA where she played the Twilight Zone Mini Golf course at the Horseshoe Hotel & Casino.

Twilight Zone Mini Golf in Las Vegas

The venue is home to an 18-hole indoor minigolf course.

Twilight Zone Mini Golf in Las Vegas

Visit the Twilight Zone Mini Golf website for more information.


Twilight Zone Mini Golf in Las Vegas

The Twilight Zone Mini Golf course was the 574th played and 1,053rd visited overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Twilight Zone Mini Golf in Las Vegas

Twilight Zone Mini Golf in Las Vegas

A wacky waving inflatable arm-flailing tube man in Las Vegas, Nevada

Spotting a wacky waving inflatable arm-flailing tube man in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.


A wacky waving inflatable arm-flailing tube man in Las Vegas, Nevada

Emily saw this wacky waving inflatable arm-flailing tube man while on holiday to Las Vegas recently.

PopStroke in Las Vegas

A look at the new PopStroke miniature golf courses in Las Vegas.


PopStroke in Las Vegas

PopStroke in Las Vegas

Emily recently returned from a holiday to Las Vegas, Nevada, USA where she swung by the new PopStroke courses at Town Square.

PopStroke in Las Vegas

The venue opened in April 2024 and is home to two outdoor 18-hole minigolf courses - the black and blue courses.

PopStroke in Las Vegas

PopStroke in Las Vegas

Check out the PopStroke website for more information about PopStroke Las Vegas.


PopStroke in Las Vegas

PopStroke in Las Vegas

Swingers Las Vegas

Swingers Crazy Golf Las Vegas is opening at the Mandalay Bay.


Swingers Las Vegas

Swingers Las Vegas is opening five 9-hole indoor crazy golf courses at MGM's Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

Emily recently returned from a holiday to Las Vegas, Nevada, USA where she swung by the new Swingers Las Vegas indoor minigolf venue where five 9-hole indoor crazy golf courses are being created at Mandalay Bay.

Swingers Las Vegas

The new Swingers Las Vegas crazy golf location is set to open this fall.

Swingers Las Vegas

Visit the Swingers Crazy Golf website for more information.

A wacky waving inflatable arm-flailing tube man in Boulder City, Nevada

Spotting a wacky waving inflatable arm-flailing tube man in Boulder City, Nevada, USA.


A wacky waving inflatable arm-flailing tube man in Boulder City, Nevada

Emily saw this wacky waving inflatable arm-flailing tube man while on holiday to the USA recently.

Jurassic Adventure Golf at Grimsby Golf Centre

The new Jurassic-themed Adventure Golf course is now open at Grimsby Golf Centre in Lincolnshire.


The new Jurassic-themed Adventure Golf course is now open at Grimsby Golf Centre in Lincolnshire

The Jurassic Adventure dinosaur-themed adventure golf course is now open at Grimsby Golf Centre.

Check out the Grimsby Golf Centre website for more information.

The 18-hole outdoor adventure golf course is another new place for us to play on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Friday, May 17, 2024

Mini Golf Adventures at Activity for All on the Wirral

A new indoor mini golf course has opened on the Wirral.


A new indoor mini golf course has opened on the Wirral

Mini Golf Adventures is an 18-hole indoor glow-in-the-dark mini golf course at Arrowe Commercial Park in Upton.

Check out the Mini Golf Adventures website for more information.


It's be another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on a return trip to the Wirral Peninsula.

Thursday, May 16, 2024

Coca-Cola Street Golf at Gravity MAX Westfield Stratford City

There's a Coca-Cola Street Golf course at Gravity MAX Westfield Stratford City.


The new Gravity MAX Westfield Stratford City indoor entertainment centre will be home to a Coca-Cola branded indoor street crazy golf course.

Gravity MAX Westfield Stratford City opens on Friday 17th May.

Check out the Gravity MAX Westfield Stratford City website for more information.


We visited the Urban Street Golf at Gravity MAX in Liverpool last November.

The Coca-Cola Street Golf course will be a new one for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Urban Street Golf at Gravity MAX in Liverpool
Urban Street Golf at Gravity MAX in Liverpool

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Prestatyn Crazy Golf

A revisit to Prestatyn Crazy Golf.

I revisited and replayed the excellent Prestatyn Crazy Golf in Prestatyn, North Wales on Saturday (National Miniature Golf Day).

Prestatyn Crazy Golf course
I managed to capture this shot of the superb course and its classic crazy golf colours during a gap in players on the course during a busy and very warm summer afternoon

The course was originally the 147th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2009.

As one of our local seaside towns we used to head to Prestatyn a few times a year. We went there in December 2021 during the pandemic and before that the last visit was in June 2019! Where's the time gone since then!

The Prestatyn Crazy Golf is one of our favourite courses and is an excellent Arnold Palmer Putting Course.

I very much enjoyed my two rounds on the 18-hole layout and scored a 40 (+4) on each round. Not too bad considering how rusty my putting is!

It's a course that is well worth a visit and I'm very much looking forward to another game there this summer.

Minigolf consultancy

As a marketing professional I use my extensive knowledge and skills in supporting and promoting the game I enjoy as a hobby, a competitive sport and a leisure activity.

My marketing activity sees me work across the minigolf industry, from traditional British seaside crazy golf courses, to new inland adventure golf layouts, competitive socialising venues and within retailtainment.

Since 2006 Emily and I have visited more than 1,000 minigolf courses in the UK and overseas. This has given me an insight into many aspects of minigolf including course operators, pop-ups, competitions, equipment, national associations, international federations, clubs, suppliers, designers, builders and technology providers.

My involvement in the world of minigolf includes blogging, media relations, sponsorship, course design, advice and consultancy, content generation, digital marketing and new technology, event organisation and promotion, and participation in tournaments around the world.

I have consulted on a number of minigolf business concepts in the UK and USA including Princess Parade Crazy Golf in Blackpool; the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club in Knowle West, Bristol; Tea Green Golf in Luton; Burray Crazy Golf in Orkney; Prestwick Putting and Crazy Golf; Portaputt Crazy Golf; Aces Minigolf Gloucester; Southend Pier Crazy Golf; Knaresborough Mini Golf; Glory Holes art-based Crazy Golf in Saltaire; Putting at the Kiosk in Bedford; Visionary Crazy Golf at the London Design Festival, and The Big Mini Golf Tour in Great Yarmouth.

Richard Gottfried - Minigolfer

As a volunteer I served three terms on the Executive Committee of the British Minigolf Association and was a member of the World Minigolf Sport Federation’s Marketing and Media Committee for six years.

My sports, games and travel blog at the Ham & Egger Files contains over 5,500 posts that have attracted 3.3 million page views. Read my posts about the next normal rules of minigolfcompetitive isolationsocial distancing, the boom in minigolf and competitive socialisingartainment, the concept of retailtainment, as well as the increase in shopping mall and garden centre miniature golf courses. You can also sign-up to receive my minigolf enewsletter.

My specialist knowledge and experience in the worlds of minigolf and marketing were demonstrated in InterGame’s discussion of the opportunities and challenges of operating a mini-golf venue amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the Let’s Talk Leisure feature with Briq Bookings.

You can read my top 20 must-do tips for venues in the InterFun Guide for Operators.

As a consultant I contributed to the Guinness World Records 2024.

You can buy my ebook, The Minigolfer’s Guide to Marketing, on Amazon.

Please do get in touch to find out how I can help with your minigolf, crazy golf and adventure golf activities.

Saturday, May 11, 2024

National Windmill Day

Today is National Windmill Day - and National Miniature Golf Day.


The windmill hole on the grass putting miniature golf course at the Palm Bay Café in Cliftonville, Margate back in 2007
The windmill hole on the grass putting miniature golf course at the Palm Bay Café in Cliftonville, Margate back in 2007

As with National Miniature Golf Day, National Windmill Day is celebrated on the second Saturday of May each year.

Playing a windmill hole in Skegness on a previous National Miniature Golf Day
Playing a windmill hole in Skegness on a previous National Miniature Golf Day

Windmills are a familiar sight on minigolf courses around the world. We've played a fair few on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour over the years.

Emily playing a windmill hole at the Rhos Fynach Crazy Golf course on Miniature Golf Day in 2017
Emily playing a windmill hole at the Rhos Fynach Crazy Golf course on Miniature Golf Day in 2017

A Dutch-themed hole at Glo-Golf indoor Crazy Golf at the Riverside Bowl in Andover
A Dutch-themed hole at Glo-Golf indoor Crazy Golf at the Riverside Bowl in Andover

Playing the windmill hole on the Crazy Golf course at Penwith Pitch & Putt in Cornwall
Playing the windmill hole on the Crazy Golf course at Penwith Pitch & Putt in Cornwall 

Happy National Miniature Golf Day

There are two 'miniature golf days' each year.


Today is National Miniature Golf Day!

Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf in Skegness on National Miniature Golf Day 2015
Playing the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Skegness on National Miniature Golf Day 2015

Each year there are two Miniature Golf Days - National Miniature Golf Day on the second Saturday in May and Miniature Golf Day on the 21st September.

Friday, May 10, 2024

Tomorrow is National Miniature Golf Day 2024

Tomorrow is National Miniature Golf Day.


Minigolf courses we've played on Miniature Golf Days
Minigolf courses we've played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on previous Miniature Golf Days

National Miniature Golf Day is always marked on the second Saturday in May.

Mini Golf Days

Each year there are two 'minigolf days', the second of which is Miniature Golf Day. It is always on the 21st September. This year that will be a Saturday.

The Minigolf Nations Cup 2008 in Finland

We made our Great Britain team debuts at the 2008 Nations Cup of Minigolf in Tampere, Finland 16 years ago today!


The 2008 Minigolf Nations Cup

Our Great Britain Minigolf team, sponsored by UrbanCrazy, finished the tournament in 13th place. In the individual rankings I finished in 51st place and Emily was 53rd.

In action at the Minigolf Nations Cup in Tampere, Finland
In action at the Minigolf Nations Cup in Tampere, Finland

The 2008 Great Britain squad - Jouni Valkjarvi (coach), John 'Big Top Ted' McIver, Marion 'Mation' Homer, Sean 'Freebird' Homer, Tim 'Ace Man' Davies, Steve 'F1' Gow, Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried, Andy 'Sarge' Booth, 'Squire' Richard Gottfried
The 2008 Great Britain squad - Jouni Valkjarvi (coach), John 'Big Top Ted' McIver, Marion 'Mation' Homer, Sean 'Freebird' Homer, Tim 'Ace Man' Davies, Steve 'F1' Gow, Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried, Andy 'Sarge' Booth, 'Squire' Richard Gottfried

Richard Gottfried - International Minigolfer

Emily Gottfried - International Minigolfer

We've also played for the Great Britain national team in World Minigolf Sport Federation and European Minigolf Sport Federation tournaments in Stockholm, Sweden and Hastings, England.

The Beton Concrete Mini Golf course at the Manse RG Club in Tampere was the 50th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. The Eternit Miniature Golf course was the 51st and the Swedish Felt Minigolf course there was the 52nd played. We've now been to 1,045 courses since 2006.

Thursday, May 09, 2024

Dino Golf expanding at Mote Park Outdoor Adventure in Maidstone

The Dino Golf course at Mote Park Outdoor Adventure in Maidstone, Kent is doubling in size from 9 to 18-holes.


The Dino Golf course at Mote Park Outdoor Adventure in Maidstone, Kent is doubling in size from 9 to 18-holes

Visit the Mote Park Outdoor Adventure website for more.


It's a course we're yet to get to on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.