Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Scarborough's North Bay Crazy Golf - the 900th course we visited

We visited our 900th minigolf course back in June 2019.


North Bay Crazy Golf in Scarborough
At our 900th minigolf course!

We made the landmark 900th course visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour when we had a round at the North Bay Mini Golf course in Scarborough, North Yorkshire on the 7th June 2019.

We were staying near Peasholm Park and had seen a number of the other courses in the North Bay area shortly after arriving in the town. As it was a Friday - and a rainy one at that - none were open.

While walking along the clifftop we spied the North Bay Crazy Golf course and I couldn't run down the hill quickly enough to get a closer look at the 12-hole course.

Luckily for us the course was open


It's always brilliant to find unique courses and the North Bay Crazy Golf course was just that. There were some very nice hole-in-one opportunities and a few tricky second putts on the colourful course. What was really great to see was that the borders had felt on them that allowed skilful shots to be rewarded.

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough
  
North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough

In our round I shot a 24 to take the win, with Emily scoring a 26 and our friend Cat Patterson hitting a 33.

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough
Hole 1

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough
Hole 1

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough
Hole 2

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough
Hole 3

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough
Hole 3

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough
Hole 4

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough
Hole 5

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough
Hole 6

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough
Hole 7

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough
Hole 8

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough
Hole 8

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough
Hole 8

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough
Hole 9

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough
Hole 10

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough
Hole 10

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough
Hole 11

North Bay Mini Golf in Scarborough
Hole 12

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


The North Bay Crazy Golf course in Scarborough was the 900th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006. When our travels began there were around 600 courses in the UK.

As at January 2025 there are approximately 1,370 minigolf courses around the UK and British Isles (including Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man, and other islands). This includes public courses, as well as those at pay to enter attractions, holiday parks, hotels and other 'non-standard' locations. And there are new courses being planned, in development, and opening all the time!

We've now been to a total of 1,083 miniature golf courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, with 1,022 of them in the British Isles. Our travels have been recognised by the Guinness World Records, and I'm a record holder for "Most miniature golf courses visited" (902 at the time of going to press). Check out the Guinness World Records 2024 book and the Guinness World Records website to see a lot more minigolf records too!

Of the original list of 600 course we've still got to visit 39 of the public courses. In addition there are a further 150 courses at pay to enter attractions, hotels and holiday parks that we've not yet been to.

Drinking in a 'video shop'

Recalling a visit to what is now Rewind NQ in Manchester's Northern Quarter.


Rewind NQ in Manchester's Northern Quarter
Rewind NQ in 2024


Rewind NQ in Manchester's Northern Quarter

The theming is really well done and the bar had a chilled atmosphere. It's worth a visit.

Video Box Office ex-rental VHS tape at Blockbusters NQ in Manchester

Visit the Rewind NQ website for more information on the speakeasy bar and nightclub.


Rewind NQ in Manchester's Northern Quarter

Video shop hunting in 2025

We're big fans of video, videos stores, retail history and retro stuff and have been visiting and documenting the last remaining traces of the Blockbuster brand in the UK over the last few years. We've seen a number of the brand's shopfronts, signs and QuikDrop boxes. As well as some other video shops.

Video rental shops in the UK

It's very nice to see there are still businesses active in the 'video rental' sector!

Check out this blog post for more info.

Monday, June 09, 2025

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich

A look at the Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar at the Buttermarket in Ipswich, Suffolk.


The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Boom: Battle Bar's Crazier Golf course in Ipswich

We'd previously swung by Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich back in 2022 when it became the 1,009th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. On our most recent return trip to the town we had time for a game.

Crazier Golf at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
In our minigolf match I scored the win with a round of 13 shots (including 5 holes-in-one!) to Emily's round of 19

Here's a look at the holes and obstacles on the 9-hole Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich's Buttermarket shopping & entertainment centre.

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 1 - Loop De Loop

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 1

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 1

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 1

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 1

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 2 - The Fan-tastic Race

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 2

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 2

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
The 'cup' on hole 2!

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 3 - Barrel O' Laughs

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 3

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 3

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 3

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 3

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 3

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 3

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 4 - The A-maze-ing Hole

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 4

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
The four 'greens' on hole 4

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 5 - The Puttmill

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 5

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 6 - Ramp It Up

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 6

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 7 - Helter Skelter

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 7 is a very striking and imposing hole on the course!

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 7

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 7

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
The 'green' and 'cup' on hole 7 is in an oil drum

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 8 - Blame the Aim

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 8

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 8

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
The targets and gutter holes for misfires

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
This is the 'club' you use for your shot on hole 8!

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
It's the first time we've used a catapult (cataputter?) to take a shot on a minigolf course!

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
The green on hole 8

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 9 - Over the Hill

The Crazier Golf course at Boom: Battle Bar in Ipswich
Hole 9

Check out the Boom: Battle Bar website for more information on the Ipswich venue, other locations, and the range of games available.


Videos from our visit (June 2025).








Playing the first Boom: Battle Bar Crazier Golf course.



The Boom: Battle Bar Crazier Golf course in Norwich was the landmark 1,000th course visited by Richard, Emily & Christopher Gottfried on the combined Crazy World of Minigolf Tour! We're now up to 1,132 courses visited since September 2006.

Urban exploration - Blockbuster Video store in Basingstoke, Hampshire

A look at the former Blockbuster Video store in Basingstoke, Hampshire.


Former Blockbuster Video store at Chineham shopping centre in Basingstoke


Former Blockbuster Video store at Chineham shopping centre in Basingstoke
A painted over Blockbuster Video QuikDrop box

Orbis in Stamford is 100% gluten free

We recently found out that the Orbis restaurant in Stamford, Lincolnshire is 100% gluten free.


We recently found out that the Orbis restaurant in Stamford, Lincolnshire is 100% gluten free

Many thanks to our friend - and fellow Coeliac - Cat for letting us know that the Orbis restaurant in Stamford is 100% gluten free.

Take a look at the Orbis website for more information.


We're looking forward to checking it out in the future.

Sunday, June 08, 2025

Ghostbusters Crazy Golf

A look at Ghostbusters stuff at minigolf courses.


Ghostbusters was released in the USA on this day in 1984.

Slimer at Ghetto Golf at Hoults Yard in Byker, Newcastle
Slimer at Ghetto Golf at Hoults Yard in Byker, Newcastle

We've seen a couple of Ghostbusters-related things at miniature golf courses on our travels.

Slimer and a Stay Puft Marshmallow Man on a tenpin bowling themed hole at Ghetto Golf in Liverpool
Slimer and a Stay Puft Marshmallow Man on a tenpin bowling themed hole at Ghetto Golf in Liverpool