Adventure Golf at Bents Garden and Home

A visit to the Jurassic Cove Adventure Golf course at Bents Garden and Home in Glazebury.

Emily recently visited Bents Garden and Home in Glazebury, Cheshire for an afternoon of minigolf on the new 9-hole Jurassic Cove Adventure Golf course.

During her time at the course Emily was on hand to provide minigolf hints and tips as well as enjoy some putting challenges and rounds with visitors at the centre.

Two-time WMF World Adventure Golf Masters women's champion Emily tees-off the minigolf event at Bents Garden and Home

Emily said "I really enjoyed my afternoon at Bents Garden and Home. I played the 9-hole course with four different families, playing the holes, demonstrating potential shots and discussing the merits of minigolf as a hobby. All the children and adults were very good, with some excellent shots and potential stars of the future taking part!"

Emily in action on the Adventure Golf course

"My best score around the 9-holes was 21. There are a few very ace-able holes and the course is spectacularly themed, with huge animatronic dinosaurs peppering the course, making the layout really exciting for the young and old."

Emily signing an autograph at the event

"The highlight was playing three-generations of a family who had travelled from near Southport to meet me, learn some techniques and try to beat me. The youngest member of the family was incredibly good and was leading the round until the very last hole when he unfortunately took a few too many shots, leaving me in the lead at the end of the round."

"I’d like to thanks Bents for their hospitality, and all the families whom I played against for making it a really successful event."

The themed kiosk at the course

The Jurassic Cove Adventure Golf course became the 738th course visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since 2006.

Visit the Bents Garden and Home website for more information, opening times and prices for the Jurassic Cove Adventure Golf course.

The Jurassic Cove Adventure Golf course at Bents Garden and Home has proven to be incredibly popular. So much so that a new Pirate-themed minigolf course will be opening there next Spring!

Links:
- Bents Garden and Home
- Jurassic Cove Adventure Golf

Related blog posts:
- Jurassic Cove Adventure Golf at Bents Garden and Home in Glazebury
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Celebrating nine years gluten free

Marking my Coeliac Anniversary - my Coeliacversary.

Nine years ago today I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease and began my journey into the world of all things gluten free.

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 painful, stressful and uncomfortable symptoms.

I'm still alive and kicking as I've avoided gluten (my Kryptonite) since 2008

Having suffered from a range of symptoms for around ten years I finally received a positive diagnosis of Coeliac Disease following some 'interesting' 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 my 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.

I can't thank Emily enough for her help and support throughout my struggles with the illness. She's been bloody marvellous.

We've tried not to let Coeliac Disease get in the way of things and we're always keen to get out and about to explore new places and try different things. Check out this minigolf/gluten free/coeliac awareness crossover blog post for example

Working together we've plotted the minefield of 'going gluten free' and barring the odd 'explosion' along the way we've found what works for us. At home we're a Gluten Free Zone, however there are a lot of hazards when I venture outside the house. I've reached the point now that except for anywhere that can offer 100% gluten free food and zero risks of cross-contamination I've more or less given up on dining out. The last meal out we had together was in Leeds last December. Happily we've got a return meal at 2 Oxford Place booked for later this month.

I do often wonder how many manufacturers, retailers, restaurants and take-aways consider the impact selling gluten free products (or not) has on their bottom line? If I find somewhere offering gluten free options and no cross-contamination then I'm going to spend some money there (my Coeliac Pound if you will). Plus I'll tell other Coeliacs. A Coeliac will travel a long way to eat safely and with confidence.

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 food and drink I've found since 2008.

Why I avoid gluten

Thank you to everyone for their support, tips, help and recommendations over the years. It's been very much appreciated.

For more info do check out NHS Choices and Coeliac UK.

You can also view the first blog post I wrote about gluten free / Coeliac stuff at 'Gluten Free Fish & Chips at Rossi's in Swansea'.

Related blog posts:
- Coeliac
- Gluten Free
- Funny things about being a Coeliac

Links:
- Coeliac UK
- Coeliac Disease on NHS Choices

Mini Golf Set from Lidl

Picking up a new miniature golf game for my collection.

When I popped to Lidl to buy some Feta cheese to go with our tea yesterday I didn't expect to return with a Mini Golf Set. But I did.

99p for the Feta cheese. £9.99 for the Mini Golf Set

What you get in the box - two putters, two balls, two holes, four obstacles, scorecards and an instruction book. It's a well made set and the obstacles work when you putt throughover them

There are twenty scorecards in the pad - with details in German, English and French

A closer look at the obstacles - gate, seesaw, climb and wavy track

Links:
- Lidl
- Crazy Golf Museum 

Mini Majors at MiniLinks in Lytham St Annes

The MiniLinks course in Lytham St Annes hosts competitions on its Par 3 Golf Course throughout the year, with special Mini Majors held to coincide with the big major tournaments in golf. Next up is the Mini US Open from the 15th to 18th June, with the Mini Open Championship in July and the Mini PGA Championship in August.

Everyone is welcome to participate in the Mini Masters events regardless of background, ability or skill.

The MiniLinks course at Lytham St Annes is open all year round. Check out the MiniLinks website and competition page for more info, opening times and prices.

The Crazy Golf course at the MiniLinks golf centre in Lytham St Annes was the 48th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour way back in April 2008.

The Crazy Golf course and MiniLinks Par 3 course back in 2008

Since then I've heard the Crazy Golf area has been improved and a Pennines Putting course has been added. I'm looking forward to a return visit to play the three layouts at MiniLinks.

Congo Rapids Adventure Golf courses in East Anglia

Visiting two new Adventure Golf courses in East Anglia

While recently visiting friends and family in East Anglia we headed along to two relatively new Mini Golf courses. Both are Congo Rapids Adventure Golf layouts, with one at Norwich Family Golf Centre in Norfolk and the other at Ufford Park Hotel in Melton, near Woodbridge in Suffolk.

A cannibal's BIG cooking pot at the Ufford Park course

Unfortunately the weather and time wasn't on our side in either visit, however both courses looked really good and there were a number of obstacles and features we hadn't seen before.

The BIG minigolf cave at Norwich Family Golf Centre

Congo Rapids Adventure Golf in Norwich was the 732nd course we've visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, while Congo Rapids Adventure Golf in Woodbridge became the 736th course visited since 2006.

A giant panda 'green' on one of the holes in Woodbridge

Visit the Congo Rapids Adventure Golf website for more info on the two venues, opening times and prices.

A cheeky monkey 'green' in Norwich

Links:
- Congo Rapids Adventure Golf
- Congo Rapids Adventure Golf Norwich
- Congo Rapids Adventure Golf Woodbridge
- Norwich Family Golf Centre
- Ufford Park Hotel

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Video:
- Congo Rapids Adventure Golf at Norwich Family Golf Centre

Schar gluten free goodies from Spain

Finding some different Schär gluten free products in Spain.

Emily was recently in Spain and picked up some Schär gluten free treats for me at the El Corte Inglés supermarket.

Emily bought four of the Schär products you can't buy in the UK

I was particularly interested in the Choco Butterkeks! They were one of my favourite types of biscuit before I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease in 2008

Luckily Emily got me two boxes

The last time Emily was in Spain I got this load of 'Sin Gluten' treats.

Links:
- Schar gluten free UK
- El Corte Inglés

Related blog posts:
- Gluten free
- Coeliac
- Spain
- Sin Gluten

Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man on the Isle of Wight

Windy Man Air Dancer spotted in Ryde on the Isle of Wight.

Our friends Karl and Sophia spotted a Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man during their holiday on the Isle of Wight and sent along a snap to add to my 'collection'!

A Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man on the Isle of Wight. Photo by Karl Moles

I've only seen this type of Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man at ground level once before. That one was in Flimwell, while en route to Hastings for the World Crazy Golf Championships in 2012. The only other time I've seen the blue Air Dancer was above a shop on the seafront at Bridlington in 2015.

Related blog posts:
- Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man
- Isle of Wight

World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings

All the best to the 57 players from three countries playing in the 15th annual World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings this weekend.

55 UK players, along with former champion Olivia Prokopova from the Czech Republic and Portugal's Nuno Cunha, will compete on the 18-hole Crazy Golf course at the Hastings Adventure Golf Complex this Saturday and Sunday.

Playing the potential round-killer second hole at Hastings Crazy Golf course in my last tilt at the title back in 2015

I look forward to seeing who finishes in 17th place...

Related blog posts:
- Crazy Golf in Hastings
- Back at Hastings Adventure Golf

Manchester's Junkyard Crazy Golf course is on the move

New Junkyard Golf Club venue in Manchester.

Junkyard Golf Club in Manchester is on the move and heading to a new and improved permanent venue at First Street. The Junkyard Crazy Golf course has had two successful spells as a pop-up at the Great Northern Warehouse and its current location in Piccadilly.

Junkyard Golf Club's course is certainly crazy

The last rounds of Crazy Golf at the current spot in Piccadilly Place will be played on the 20th August, with play at the new course set to tee-off on the 24th August.

A loop-di-loop I actually did well on. Despite the fact it's made out of an old tyre!

There are currently two Junkyard Golf Club locations - Manchester and London - with a third site to open in Oxford later this year. The London venue has three courses at the Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane.

The Junkyard Crazy Golf Club courses in Manchester's Piccadilly Place were the 718th and 719th courses visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour last November and in January this year they became the 421st and 422nd played.

Visit the Junkyard Golf Club website for more information.

A 'tickable list' I won't be attempting to complete

Finding a new tickable list activity in Stockport.

On our way back from a visit to the Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery last week we had a wander and a look at some of the interesting architecture we have in the town. Crossing the road from Stopford House - itself a stark example of Brutalism, and the setting for the police station in Life on Mars - we had a look across the town's landscape from atop a wall in a car park on Piccadilly. It was only when we were walking down the stairs that we noticed this plaque.

Wow

Now, we do like a tickable list activity. Well, we'd have to considering we've visited more than 700 miniature golf courses in the last ten and a bit years after first seeing a list of 600 back in 2006. We're also part way through visiting all the parks and green spaces in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport after the Friends of Alexandra Park suggested it as a pleasant way to pass the time. We've been to ten out of the 33 listed so far, plus five that were not on the list. But to start finding all of these structures would be utter madness.

The plaque in place on the refurbed wall

I'm sure my fellow members of the Dull Men's Club will be intrigued to know there are - at least - 669 such structures in Stockport.

Another view of the retaining wall

I'm a fan of funny signs and I've seen some comedy plaques in the past so I had a look online to see if I could find a mention of any of the 669+ such structures. I indeed found a partial list. A list which showed the cost to refurbish the wall was £65,967.

Brutalist architecture at its finest

Related blog posts:
- Stockport
- Dull Men's Club

Junkyard Crazy Golf in Oxford

New Junkyard Crazy Golf course opening in Oxford.

I've heard that the team at Junkyard Golf Club are opening a new course in Oxford later this year.

Junkyard Golf Club's brand of Crazy Golf isn't run of the mill

It's a smart move as Oxford has been crying out for a minigolf course for years. While there are three minigolf layouts in the city these are in parks on the outskirts, rather than in the city centre.

Growing up in nearby Abingdon I was sad to hear that the town's only Crazy Golf course was recently removed to make way for a new play area. At least people in the town can soon head over to Oxford for a game.

Part of the glow-in-the-dark section of the Junkyard Crazy Golf course in Manchester

Junkyard Golf Club currently has two locations - Manchester and London - with the Manchester course soon to be moving to a new permanent space at First Street after two successful spells as a pop-up at the Great Northern Warehouse and in Piccadilly. The London venue has three courses at the Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane.

The two 9-hole Junkyard Crazy Golf Club courses in Manchester's Piccadilly Place were the 718th and 719th courses visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour last November and in January this year they became the 421st and 422nd played.

Visit the Junkyard Golf Club website for more info.

The Cheshire Line Tavern

A visit to the Cheshire Line Tavern in Cheadle.

As a bit of a train nerd it was marvellous to find out that a nearby disused railway station on our doorstep is now a pub!

The Cheshire Line Tavern in Cheadle

The station opened as Cheadle North in 1866 and at one time was a double track line and saw more than 200 trains pass through a day!

The single track line and former station last November

The station closed to passengers in 1964.

The line itself is still in use for freight, and the occasional luxury charter. Unfortunately we didn't see any pass by while we were in the pub. However, I've seen a handful of trains on the Mid Cheshire Line since we moved to the area last summer.

We didn't see any trains pass by our window seat on our visit last November

Visit the Cheshire Line Tavern's website for more info.

Links:
- Cheshire Line Tavern
- Disused Railway Stations

Related blog posts:
- Train nerdery
- Disused stations
- Cheadle
- Pubs

Win a Dull Men's Club 2017 Calendar

With five months of the year gone how would you like to win a Dull Men's Club Calendar?

To celebrate the start of June we've got 12 of the Dull Men's Club 2017 Calendars to giveaway.

Win one of these

To win one, all you need to do is Like, Share and Comment on this Facebook post and Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Facebook Page. The competition closes at 6pm (UK time) on Friday 16th June, so there'll be plenty of time to put the calendar up in your office/kitchen/shed ready for the month of July where Emily and I are the 'pin-ups'.

Winners names will be drawn out of a hat and details will be posted on Facebook.

Where will you be sticking yours?

The Dull Men's Club is where dull men, and women who appreciate dull men, share thoughts and experiences about ordinary things.

The cast of characters in the 2017 calendar. Eagle eyes will spot there are 13 dull subjects on the calendar. That's because there's an extra one for January 2018

As well as our Crazy Golf adventures the Dull Men's Club 2017 Calendar also features a pencil enthusiast, cutlery sculptor, tombstone traveller, prefabricated buildings fan, lost glove spotter, a bubbleologist, giant pumpkin growers, a barbed wire enthusiast, a brown sign follower, village pump spotter, a vintage radio collector, and a couple who built a life-size railway station in their back garden.

Throughout the calendar you'll find obscure, odd and some might say 'slightly interesting' events and awareness days listed for your attention.

There was a lot going on on Saturday 13th May. Don't worry if you didn't celebrate 'National Miniature Golf Day' then though, as Saturday 21st September is 'Miniature Golf Day'

Related blog posts:
- Dull Men's Club

Link:
- Dull Men's Club

Mini Golf at the King Street Festival in Manchester

Crazy Golf course at the King Street Festival in Manchester.

Manchester's King Street Festival is taking place this weekend, 3rd and 4th June, and will include Crazy Golf from the team at UrbanCrazy.

Between 11am and 8pm you can do battle with the fashion and history-inspired obstacles on a King Street-themed mini golf course set-up on Lower King Street.

On target on a previous UrbanCrazy city layout

Check out the King Street Festival website for more info on the events and entertainment taking place.

It says there's 'free fizz' at the festival too. Nice.

Links:
- King Street Festival
- UrbanCrazy

Related blog posts:
- Manchester
- UrbanCrazy

Crazy Golf tournament at Holey Molies in Skelton-in-Cleveland

One Year Anniversary Crazy Golf competition at Holey Molies Mini Golf in Skelton-in-Cleveland.

The team at Holey Molies Crazy Golf course in Skelton-in-Cleveland are organising a minigolf tournament to celebrate a successful first year for the course. The open event is offering a top prize of £1,000 to the overall champion.

Qualifying is taking place between Monday 10th July to Saturday 15th July, with the finals held on Sunday 16th July. More info on the format and rules can be found on the Mini Golf 1k Competition Facebook event listing.

Holey Molies is also home to the World's Longest Mini Golf Hole. The hole measures 264 feet and will be verified by Guinness World Records later in the year.

Check out Holey Molies website and Facebook Page for more details on the course.

Urban Axe Throwing at Whistle Punks in Manchester

The sport of urban axe throwing has hit Manchester.

We're always looking for new and interesting sports and games to play and on Friday we popped into Whistle Punks Urban Axe Throwing Arena at the Great Northern Warehouse while we were in Manchester for the Great City Games.

The lanes set up for some axe throwing

Chatting to the man there it sounds great fun and good value too, with an hour and a half of axe throwing for £20 per player off-peak. Check out the booking and FAQ pages on the Whistle Punks website for more info.

The board outside has taken a battering

I do enjoy target sports. Over the years I've played darts and archery (and archery tag) and competed in bun throwing, Christmas tree throwing and egg throwing. I've played some variations of skittles and bowling too.

As well as the Manchester site you can throw some axes for fun at the London venue. There's also a brand new Birmingham location that opened this month.

It looks like a fun sport and would be brilliant for a 'do'.

Link:
- Whistle Punks Urban Axe Throwing

Related blog posts:
- Sports and games played to date

Another one for the Park Bench Appreciation Society

Nature is encroaching on this bench on Unthank Road in Norwich.

Another snap for the Park Bench Appreciation Society's members to enjoy

The park is fairly near to the wonderful Eaton Park. Well worth a visit and also home to a number of benches. As well as a Crazy Golf course, Grass Putting, a Miniature Railway and a marvellous pavilion and bandstand.

Eaton Park Miniature Railway in Norwich

Last Friday we visited the wonderful Eaton Park in Norwich. After we'd played the superb Crazy Golf course we went for a look at the Miniature Railway. It looked like a brilliant layout.

Another miniature railway visited on our travels

Eaton Park's Miniature Railway comprises two tracks - an elevated track and a longer ground level track.

The elevated track on the Larch End loop above the line out of Parkside station

Subject to weather conditions the miniature trains operate every Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday between 1 and 5pm (April to October).

 

The ground level track cutting through a park pathway

A view of Parkside station, a signal box and a tunnel

The turntable at Parkside station

 

Larch End station on the elevated track line

Hopefully next time we visit Eaton Park we'll be there on a day the miniature railway is open.

Links:
- Norwich & District Society of Model Engineers
- Friends of Eaton Park

Related blog posts:
- Miniature Railways
- Norwich
- Eaton Park Crazy Golf in Norwich

Crazy Golf in Viz comic issue 266

Jack Black & his Dog Silver in the Crazy Golf Mystery.

I've been a fan of Viz for many many years and eagerly await each issue and this month I was incredibly surprised to see a minigolf story! Get to the shops now and pick up issue 266 to read Jack Black & his Dog Silver in the Crazy Golf Mystery. The tale features Kim Jong-un on his visit to the seaside resort of Twilight-on-Sea!!!

Jack Black & his Dog Silver in the Crazy Golf Mystery in Viz issue 266, July 2017

The adventure is not all that far from the truth as the North Korean dictator does indeed have his own Miniature Golf course. Check out the blog post 'Mini Golf in Pyongyang, North Korea' to see snaps of the course my friend Dylan Harris took on a trip there in 2015.

Kim Jong-un's Miniature Golf course in Pyongyang

Disused railway stations - Felixstowe Beach in Suffolk

As a bit of a train nerd I recently joined the Disused Stations group on Facebook and last weekend found the perfect station location to take a photo of for the group while revisiting Felixstowe in Suffolk.

As we were driving over the level crossing on our way to the seafront we remembered there was an old platform to the left of us.

The disused Felixstowe Beach railway station on a sunny Sunday in May

Felixstowe Beach railway station taken closed to goods in 1966 and passengers in 1967. The station buildings were demolished in 2004.

Links:
- Disused Stations website
- Disused Stations Facebook Group