National Miniature Golf Day on Saturday 13th May

Not long until National Miniature Golf Day 2017.

Each year National Miniature Golf Day falls on the second Saturday in May. In 2017 this will be on Saturday 13th May.

Where will you be playing the game?

Playing at the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness on a previous National Miniature Golf Day

For us most days seem like they are Minigolf Days!

However, there are two quasi-official annual awareness 'days' to celebrate the game. After National Miniature Golf Day is Miniature Golf Day. This is always on the 21st of September, this year it'll be on a Thursday.

For last year's National Miniature Golf Day we were in Woking and Guildford to compete in the Surrey Invitational Minigolf Tournament

If you're looking for a place to play in the UK you could take a look at the list of courses we've visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Our friends over at The Putting Penguin and A Couple of Putts have some great lists of courses in the USA.

Emily and I appear in the 2017 Dull Men's Club Calendar in the month of July. We've also got National Miniature Golf Day listed. The 13th is going to be quite the day considering it's Train AND Windmill Day too!

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the world's first Miniature Golf course, while the month of May is also National Golf Month.

Related blog posts:
- National Miniature Golf Day
- Miniature Golf Day
- Minigolf info for the year

It's Coeliac Awareness Week

Coeliac Awareness Week is taking place from the 8th to the 14th May.

This week is Coeliac Awareness Week. Organised by national charity, Coeliac UK, the focus this year is on dining out gluten free. And being able to do so safely.

Coeliac Disease 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 horrible, stressful and painful symptoms.

The only treatment is to adhere to a strict lifelong gluten free diet. In the UK it's estimated that 1 in 100 people have the condition.

While more places are offering gluten free menu options it's unfortunate that they are not also controlling cross-contamination risks. As little as one crumb of bread is enough to do a whole lot of damage to the gut of someone with Coeliac Disease.

I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease in 2008 and remember the years before when I could dine out quite easily. Now I barely ever do. The last meal I had out was last December at a 100% gluten free restaurant in Leeds.

I wonder how many manufacturers, retailers and restaurants consider the impact selling gluten free products (or not) has on their bottom line? If I find somewhere safe to eat then I'm going to spend some money there (my Coeliac Pound if you will) - and tell other Coeliacs to as well. Plus, I'll likely be dining out with someone else who is also going to spend money there.

For more information about Coeliac Disease and Coeliac UK's Awareness Week visit the Coeliac UK website. The hashtag for the week is #glutenfreevolution.

Over in the USA the whole of May is Celiac Awareness Month.

Link:
- Coeliac UK

Related blog posts:
- Coeliac Disease
- Gluten Free
- Funny things about being a Coeliac #9 - Menu disclaimers
- My life as a Coeliac in LEGO form
- What a perfect Crazy Golf obstacle for a Coeliac
- Gluten - my Kryptonite

666 - the parking space of the Beast

I never realised the Merseyway Car Park in Stockport held a parking space for the devil!

Lucky we could find a parking space so easily on Saturday

Last month we visited Wigan. To get there from Stockport you have to travel passed Bolton on the Highway to Hell (aka the A666).

Miniature Railway at South Park in Cheadle Hulme

A look at the miniature railway layout at Cheadle Hulme's South Park.

To the trains

This week we found out there was a miniature railway at South Park in Cheadle Hulme! Once we heard about it we had to go and take a look.

Having a nice sit down in the park

The miniature railway is operated by Stockport Model Engineers and it's a marvellous looking layout.



The Friends of South Park tell me that the railway runs on Sundays between 11am and 3pm - weather and volunteer permitting. We're looking forward to having a go on it in the future.

Two days too early

  

The track is quite a long one

It stretches down the much of the side of the park

And also goes into some covered areas

There's also a 'branch line' that ends at the second car park!

Since we moved to Cheadle Hulme we've found quite a few miniature railways in the area. Our other local ones in Stockport are the Dragon Miniature Railway at the Wyevale Garden Centre in Marple and Brookside Miniature Railway in Poynton. We've also recently visit Miniature Railways in Wigan, Southport and Chester.

We're also currently working our way through the parks of Stockport challenge set by the Friends of Alexandra Park. We've now been to 11 of the 33 on the Stockport Nature Watch list. Plus a few more not on the list.

There's a little skatepark at South Park too. I'll have to take my BMX with me next time...

Related blog posts:
- Miniature Railways
- Cheadle Hulme
- Stockport
- Park

Links:
- Stockport and District Society of Model Engineers website
- Friends of South Park Facebook Page

Videos:
- South Park Miniature Railway in Cheadle Hulme 1 of 2
- South Park Miniature Railway in Cheadle Hulme 2 of 2

Jurassic Cove Adventure Golf at Bents Garden and Home in Glazebury

New Adventure Golf course now open near Warrington.

The new Jurassic Cove Adventure Golf course at Bents Garden and Home in Glazebury near Warrington is now open.

That's a BIG T-Rex!

Emily's friend Matthew Blakeley was at the garden centre last week and took these great snaps of the course. It looks like a nice layout.

The entrance to Jurassic Cove

Plenty of dinos to spot around the course

The route to the Adventure Golf course

You can see the dinosaurs from afar

Hitching a lift!

We're looking forward to a game on the new course

For more information on the Jurassic Cove Adventure Golf course, opening times and prices visit the Bents Garden and Home website.

New Mini Golf App

There's a new minigolf App available for Android and iPhone.

The Mini Golf App is a free download which allows players to score and keep a record of their round, as well as pick up reward points for each visit.

The App, created by ConceiveIT, is in use by Hastings Adventure Golf, Rainforest Adventure Golf in Ireland and Paradise Adventure Golf in Sweden, with more courses set to follow.

A screenshot of the App showing hole 2 of the Crazy Golf course at Hastings Adventure Golf. It's one of the trickiest holes around

I enjoyed using the Hastings Adventure Golf App - especially seeing the classic Crazy Golf course holes on screen while I marked the scores. We've played so many games on the course over the years. All three of the courses at Hastings are included on the app so you can see the best routes to the cup on each hole on the Pirate Golf, Adventure Golf and Crazy Golf layouts.

Playing hole 2 at Hastings for real

There are many advantages to the app, and I can see why courses and players would want the option to use it. It's always nice to see innovation and especially pleasing to see rewards for frequent visitors to miniature golf courses.

If you're a minigolf course business check out the Mini Golf App website for more info on how you can get your own course app.

If you're a player heading to Hastings, Dundrum or Täby Centrum then it's worth downloading the app and signing up to the course rewards.

The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing

As a keen marketer, writer and minigolfer I've written an ebook to help promote the great game.

You can now buy The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing on Amazon and Ganxy. There's a preview of the book below.



If you'd like to know more about my marketing work and how I can help please do get in touch via my website.

The Golf Show by American Golf at Event City, Manchester

A visit to the American Golf Show in Manchester.

This afternoon Emily and I swung into day one of The Golf Show by American Golf at Event City in Manchester. We're glad we did as there were plenty of putting opportunities. And Golf Darts!

Minigolfing Adventurers at our 729th course!

First up was a round on the TomTom Sports Adventure Putting course. The 6-hole layout became the 729th course we've visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. It's the 702nd we've been to in the UK and the 429th we've played since our minigolfing travels began in 2006.

Emily playing hole 1 en route to victory on the Adventure Putting layout

In our minigolf match-up Emily picked up the win 13-14 and landed a spot in tied second place on the leaderboard.

Next we had a go on teeofftimes.co.uk's incredibly lengthy Long Putt Challenge.

Emily putting on the loooooooooooong putt challenge hole

While neither of us managed to ace it, we did get close.

The elevated green on the Long Putt Challenge hole

We then noticed the giant inflatable Dartboard at the end of the hall. It looked brilliant.

I need a bigger back garden so I can get one of these dartboards!

The team at Golphin had set-up the Golf Darts game to promote their training programme for youngsters and I must say it was a great way to get non-golfers into giving the game a go. A fine crossover sport.

In our match-up I overturned the minigolf defeat to Emily by scoring 53 with my five chips/throws to her 0!

Emily on her way to five 'throws' out of the board!

We then had to go back to the Adventure Putting for another round. This time I picked up the win 13-14.

More minigolfing

Finally I stepped up to have a go on the Pressure Putt Challenge in the Skills Zone.

The Pressure Putt Challenge was tough

The tricky charity putting challenge saw me attempted to sink a succession of putts from two-foot intervals. It's a lot more difficult than you think. Especially when you're against the clock.

If you miss any of your putts you have to return to the first two-footer and work your way back. I finished on the 8 foot mark, which wasn't too bad. Good fun for the £2 charity donation to the On Course Foundation.

Check out our videos from the event on YouTube.

The Golf Show at Event City is on until Sunday and tickets are free. Book your place online via the American Golf website.

Three weeks ago today we were in Wrexham for another one of American Golf's free events - the Adventure Golf Pairs Championship. Peter Jones and I won the regional qualifier at Clays Golf Centre and will be playing in the Grand Final at The Belfry in September.

Give the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a Like on Facebook, watch our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter @putting_gott and @Ems_Lems. Please do sign-up to receive our miniature golf newsletter too.

Crazy Golf at Hope Park in Keswick

My mate and minigolf rival Simon 'Practice' Hall sent me a snap of the Crazy Golf course he spotted at Hope Park while on holiday in Keswick, Cumbria.

A view of the Crazy Golf course. Locally its known as 'Obstacle Golf'

Emily and I visited Keswick as part of a big minigolf roadtrip in 2012. On that occasion we played the Putting Course at Hope Park as the Crazy Golf course was very busy.

Minigolf in Armenia

Armenia to host first national minigolf tournament.

The Mini-Golf Association of Armenia is holding the country's first minigolf tournament on Sunday 30th April. The event is to be held at Ararat Valley Country Club and places in the Open competition are still available.

Entry is 3000 AMD (converting the Armenian Dram to Sterling it works out at just under £5!). For further information on the event and registration please contact the Mini-Golf Association of Armenia.

You can see photos of Ararat Valley Country Club's miniature golf course on the Mini-Golf Association of Armenia's Facebook Page. It looks like an interesting, hilly and loopy layout.

The Mini-Golf Association of Armenia is one of 62 members of the World Minigolf Sport Federation.

Visit the National Golf Association of Armenia's website to find out more about minigolf developments in the country.

Mr Mulligan's Dino Golf at Tonbridge Golf Centre

New Mr Mulligan's Adventure Golf course now open in Kent.

There's a new Adventure Golf course in Tonbridge, Kent as Mr Mulligan's Dino Golf is now open at Tonbridge Golf Centre.

The 18-hole Adventure Golf course looks very good and is certainly a lot different to the course I found there back in 2011.

Check out the Tonbridge Golf Centre and Mr Mulligan websites for more info, opening times and prices.

We've played Mr Mulligan's Adventure Golf courses in Castleford, Milton Keynes, Sidcup, Stevenage and Woking. We've yet to visit the Nottingham course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

With Mr Mulligan at the indoor 'underwater' Adventure Golf course in Stevenage

A Mr Mulligan's Adventure Golf course is also planned to open in Cheltenham.

Latest report from the Woodstock Petanque Club

Yesterday we spent a nice afternoon playing Boules at Woodstock Pétanque Club in Edgeley, Stockport. The day was even nicer as I won all three of my games! Emily also played well on her first appearance of the new season, with two wins from three games.

Throwing in game 1

In my first game I was teamed up with Richard J to take on Barbara and Joan. Richard had won the first session of the season so was undefeated in his three games so far. It was also the first-time we'd been paired together, but what a team we made, picking up the victory 13-4.

Playing across the newly refurbed terrain at Alexandra Park

Next up was a game against Emily and Hilary J. For this contest I was paired with Andrew and in a close match we won 13-11.

My final game of the afternoon was a three-on-two game pitting me and David C against the trio of Cath, Hilary J and Jean W. The match was also the last to finish as we battled to a 13-8 victory, the scoreline not showing how close the game actually was.

A head scratcher

My record at Woodstock Pétanque Club is now 6 wins and 4 defeats.

All-time

• Played 10, won 6, lost 4

2017

• Played 4, won 4

2016

• Played 6, won 2, lost 4

Woodstock Pétanque Club meets on the piste at Alexandra Park in Edgeley, Stockport on the second and fourth Sundays of the month. Membership for the year is £10, with a £1 fee for each afternoon you play. A bargain of a price to spend playing a fun and skillful game in great company.

Visit the Petanque in Manchester Facebook Group and Ptonk in the Park Twitter account for more info.

Not sitting down in Stockport

Having a wander round Stockport at the weekend I quite fancied a sit down. Alas, it wasn't to be at this point of my amble.

No sitting down here

Check out the Park Bench Appreciation Society and the Dull Men's Club for more thrilling imagery and posts.

150 years of miniature golf

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the world's first miniature golf course.

The world's first miniature golf course

The Himalayas Putting course at St Andrews was created in 1867 specifically for female players to use. We visited and played The Himalayas in 2012. It's a wonderful layout and a must-do for fans of minigolf or 'regular' golf.



To mark the occasion, The British Golf Museum at St Andrews has created a special exhibition - Shining Examples: 150 years of the St Andrews Ladies’ Putting Club - which runs until March 2018.

What a view

You can read more about the history of the St Andrews Ladies’ Putting Club on their website. It's interesting to note there had previously been a small putting area set-up before 1860, while the 9-hole course opened in 1867.

The first hole on the 9-hole course sees you putting across a path

Today there is a 9-hole and an 18-hole course, both open to the public for a nominal charge.

A nice long tee-shot

We're looking forward to a return visit to St Andrews, a visit to the exhibition and a few more games on the famous links minigolf course.

Emily putting on The Himalayas

Visit The British Golf Museum at St Andrews and the St Andrews Ladies’ Putting Club websites to find out more.

The British Golf Museum was closed on our visit to St Andrews. Still, not going in gave us even more time to play The Himalayas

The Himalayas is a real pleasure to play

The Himalayas sits next to the Old Course at St Andrews

A long minigolf hole

 

Lots of challenging lumps and bumps

Look how hilly that route to the cup is

Playing the first hole on the 9-hole layout

The Rules

Other key dates in world minigolf are:

• 1916 - The first minigolf course in the USA. James Barber opened the 'Thistle Dhu' layout in Pinehurst, NC.
• 1926 - The very first Crazy Golf course in the UK opened on South Parade in Skegness, Lincolnshire, England.
• 1926 - The first artificial miniature golf course in the USA. Garnet Carter created the 'Tom Thumb' miniature golf course near Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, TN.
• National Miniature Golf Day always falls on the second Saturday in May. In 2017 this will be on Saturday 13th May.
• Miniature Golf Day is always on the 21st of September, which is on a Thursday in 2017.
• 30th September marks the day we visited our first course on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2006.

Visit the World Minigolf Sport Federation's website for details of World Championships taking place this year, as well as events from their 62 member nations.

Check out the online Crazy Golf Museum for more information about the history of minigolf.

Give the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a Like on Facebook, watch our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter @putting_gott and @Ems_Lems. Please do sign-up to receive our miniature golf newsletter too.

Mighty Claws Adventure Golf in Bournemouth

New Adventure Golf course opening at Playgolf Bournemouth.

There's a new 18-hole Adventure Golf course opening at Playgolf Bournemouth next month. The Mighty Claws Adventure Golf layout is prehistoric themed and features moving dinosaurs.

We're really looking forward to a return visit to Bournemouth to play the new course.

Once completed you'll be able to find the course at Playgolf Bournemouth, Riverside Avenue, Bournemouth BH7 7ES. Check out the Mighty Claws Adventure Golf website for more information, opening times and prices.