Memories of the 2012 Oslympic Games

Looking back at the 2012 Oswestry Games multi-sport event in Shropshire.

Back in the summer of 2012 we were proud to be a part of the Oswestry Games. The festival of sport in Shropshire saw the sport of minigolf included in a multi-sport games event in the UK for the first time.

The coaches and competitors in the Pro-Am minigolf tournament at Cae Glas Park

The Oswestry Games, or 'Oslympics' as they became known, were a mammoth undertaking for the organisers at the Oswestry Sports Council and it was a real pleasure and honour for Emily and I to organise the minigolf events along with other coaches and players from the national tour.

The Oswestry Games consisted of more than 50 sports and cultural events held over ten-days in July 2012.

Minigolfing at the Oswestry Games

Things got off to a great start on our first night in the town - not only were we recognised while on our way to the sporting quiz night at the town's cricket club, but we also won the bronze medal in the quiz itself.

The bronze medal winning quizzing minigolfers

The Saturday morning of the Games saw us organise coaching sessions for locals youth and adult players on the 18-hole 'Eternit' miniature golf course in Cae Glas Park in the town centre. This was followed by the BMGA Oswestry Games Pro-Am Minigolf Classic team tournament in the afternoon - won by Marc 'The Force' Chapman, Steve Sturdy and Chris Powell.

On the tricky Cae Glas Park miniature golf course

Sunday was the closing day of the Games and a large number of clubs, regional organisations and national governing bodies gathered at the Leisure Centre for a jam-packed day of sporting fun, games and competition.

Playing the Putterfingers Crazy Golf course at the Oswestry Games

With a Putterfingers modular Crazy Golf course we took centre stage and had a large number of the public, athletes and competitors from other events joining us for a round on the 9-hole course.

We scooped Gold, Silver and Bronze medals at the Games - and what very fine medals they are too

We ended our trip to the Oslympics by contesting the BMGA & Putterfingers Oswestry Games Minigolf Championship - which I won!

The podium for the pro-tournament - Marc Chapman, me and John Moore

Did you know - Miniature Golf was once played during the actual Olympic Games! While it was not officially part of the Games programme, the participants in the Golf tournament at the 1904 Olympic Games held in St Louis, USA also competed in a Putting Championship on a specially built miniature golf course at the Glen Echo Country Club.

It'd be great to see miniature golf become an Olympic sport one day. And we'd also like to see the Oswestry Games return once more. Perhaps when the UK next hosts the Olympics, minigolf will be an event, and Oswestry will host their Games again.

The future for the sport of miniature golf looks bright, with the international governing body - the World Minigolf Sport Federation - gaining further recognition on the global stage all the time.

Back in 1989 the sport (Bahn Golf) was a demonstration event in the IWGA World Games in Karlsruhe, Germany. The WMF is also hoping to have minigolf included in other multi-sport events in the future.

We're hoping to one day visit the Olimpiapark Munchen too as the venue has an eternit miniature golf course that was set-up in the Athletes Village for the 1972 Olympic Games. That'd be a great course to play on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Miniature Golf at Baker's Golf in Lanesborough, Massachusetts, USA

A look at the Miniature Golf course at Baker's Golf in Lanesborough, MA, USA.

It's always nice to see different minigolf courses around the world and I recently received these photos from Kevin Dias who was back home in the USA and swung by Baker's Golf in Lanesborough, Massachusetts for a game on the outdoor miniature golf course.

Miniature Golf at Baker's Golf in Lanesborough, Massachusetts, USA. Photo by Kevin Dias, 2024

Take a look at the Baker's Golf website for more information.

Baker's Golf was established in 1943

Kevin was the brains behind The Putter King - a minigolf brand that brought together minigolfers from around the world in an international treasure hunt!

Ilfracombe Crazy Golf course to be revamped

There are plans to revamp the minigolf course in Ilfracombe, Devon.

We visited the course on Ilfracombe Promenade during our south west coast road-trip back in 2015.

It'll be nice to revisit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in the future.

Star Pins opening in Coventry

An indoor mini golf course will be part of the new Star Pins family entertainment centre in Coventry.

Star Pins Coventry is the first venue of the new brand from the team behind Roxy Leisure and King Pins. The Star Pins Coventry location is scheduled to open in November.

As well as ten pin bowling and mini golf, the entertainment centre will also feature darts, ping pong, shuffleboard, pool and ice-free curling.

Star Pins will be another new venue for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Tredegar Park Mini Golf re-opening

The Tredegar Park Mini Golf course in Newport, Wales re-opened today.

The course suffered damage at the hands of arsonists earlier this year and has been closed since while work was done to get the course ready.

The 9-hole outdoor mini golf course had been doing very well since re-opening in June 2023.

Check out the Tredegar Park Mini Golf Facebook Page for more information.

The Tredegar Park Mini Golf course was the 192nd played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in August 2010. It was one of the courses played as part of the 2010 Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament).

We wish the team at Tredegar Park Mini Golf all the very best for the re-opening of the course.

Free Mini Golf at Fremlin Walk in Maidstone

A free to play mini golf course is set-up at Fremlin Walk shopping centre in Maidstone, Kent this month.

Check out the Fremlin Walk website for more details and dates for availability.

Sweet Claw Adventure Crazy Golf at Iford Golf Centre

There's an Adventure Golf course at Iford Golf Centre in Christchurch, Dorset.

Check out the Iford Golf Centre website for more information.

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

Dinosaur mini-golf at Swinton Square in Salford

There's a dinosaur mini-golf course at Swinton Square in Salford until Sunday 11th August.

The 9-hole course is free to play!

Check out the Swinton Square website for more information.

We played the Dino Crazy Golf pop-up at Swinton Square on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in 2022.

Plonk Crazy Golf in Hackney

The Plonk Crazy Golf in Hackney, London has had a makeover and reopens on Friday 2nd August.

Plonk Crazy Golf Hackney is an outdoor version of Plonk Crazy Golf, courses that are more often found at indoor locations in the capital.

Check out the Plonk Crazy Golf website for more information about the 9-hole layout in Hackney, as well as the other Plonk Crazy Golf courses.

We've visited several of the Plonk Crazy Golf venues on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, including the very first Plonk Crazy Golf course when it was a pop-up at Efes Snooker Hall in Dalston back in 2015.

Crazy Golf at the Northwich Piña Colada Festival

Northwich's Piña Colada Festival will see a pineapple-themed Crazy Golf course set up on the High Street.

Northwich Piña Colada Festival takes place on Saturday 17th August and is a free event.

Find out more on the Northwich Piña Colada Festival website.

Globetrotters Mini Golf at Tilgate Park

Globetrotters Mini Golf has returned to Tilgate Park in Crawley, West Sussex.

The 9-hole outdoor mini golf course features obstacles themed from around the world.

The mini golf course is open until Sunday 1st September.

Check out the Globetrotters Mini Golf website for more information.

Crazy Golf in Burnley town centre

Burnley town centre will be hosting a Crazy Golf course as part of a programme of summer activities.

The Crazy Golf course will be set up on St James's Street on Friday 16th and Friday 23rd August. The course will be free to play.

Find out more on the Burnley Business Improvement District (BID) website.

Mini Golf at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet

Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet will have a 12-hole Jurassic-themed outdoor mini golf course set up for the summer holidays.

Find out more on the Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet website.

The A-Team in Hale Barns

Seeing two of The A-Team's vehicles at Robs Car Fest in Hale Barns.

Face parks however he likes!

It was brilliant to see The A-Team van and Face's Chevrolet Corvette at the charity event held at The Bulls Head pub in Hale Barns near Altrincham, Greater Manchester.

I love it when a plan comes together

Robs Car Fest was due to be held at the Hale Barns Carnival, however that event was cancelled due to weather conditions. Luckily the pub was able to host the car show in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

The A-Team vehicles at the pub

The A-Team's GMC Vandura van

Templeton Peck's Corvette

Check out the Robs Car Fest Facebook Group for more information.

Crazy Fool

K.A.R.R. not K.I.T.T.

Seeing something a bit different in Hale Barns.

One of the other vehicles at Robs Car Fest at The Bulls Head pub in Hale Barns was K.A.R.R - the prototype evil talking clone version of K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider!

K.A.R.R. from Knight Rider

Robs Car Fest was due to be held at the Hale Barns Carnival, however that event was cancelled due to weather conditions. Luckily the pub was able to host the car show in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

A look inside K.A.R.R.

Check out the Robs Car Fest Facebook Group for more information.

Abandoned Minigolf course in San Antonio, Puerto Del Carmen, Lanzarote, Spain

A look at the abandoned minigolf course in San Antonio, Puerto Del Carmen.

Here's a look at the old minigolf course in San Antonio. It's a course Emily went to while on a holiday to Lanzarote back in May 2022.

The course was the 989th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Check out the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list for more information and links to courses we've visited since 2006.

Minigolf at Hotel Beatriz Playa & Spa in Puerto Del Carmen, Lanzarote, Spain

A visit to the minigolf course at Hotel Beatriz Playa & Spa in Puerto Del Carmen, Lanzarote.

Here's a look at the Hotel Beatriz Playa & Spa minigolf course in Puerto Del Carmen. It's a course Emily went to while on a holiday to Lanzarote back in May 2022.

The course was the 992nd visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Check out the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list for more information and links to courses we've visited since 2006.

Abandoned Minigolf course at Calle Las Acacias in Teguise, Lanzarote, Spain

A look at the abandoned minigolf course at Calle Las Acacias in Teguise, Lanzarote.

Here's a look at the abandoned minigolf course at Calle Las Acacias in Teguise. It's a course Emily went to while on a holiday to Lanzarote back in May 2022.

The course was the 991st visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Check out the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list for more information and links to courses we've visited since 2006.

Abandoned Mini Golf Aquarium course in Puerto Del Carmen, Lanzarote, Spain

A visit to the abandoned Mini Golf Aquarium course in Puerto Del Carmen.

Here's a look at the abandoned Mini Golf Aquarium course in Puerto Del Carmen. It's a course Emily went to while on a holiday to Lanzarote back in May 2022.

The course was the 990th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Check out the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list for more information and links to courses we've visited since 2006.

Jurassic Kingdom Crazy Adventure Golf in Puerto Del Carmen, Lanzarote, Spain

Playing the Jurassic Kingdom Crazy Adventure Golf course in Puerto Del Carmen, Lanzarote.

Here's a look at the Jurassic Kingdom Crazy Adventure Golf in Puerto Del Carmen. It's a course Emily played while on a holiday to Lanzarote back in May 2022.

The course was the 559th played and 988th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Check out the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list for more information and links to courses we've visited since 2006.