Results of a Christmas list survey by Hastings Adventure Golf.
The team at Hastings Adventure Golf has conducted a survey which reveals that technology is slipping down the Christmas wish list of adults in Sussex.
What's on your Christmas wish list?
The survey revealed that technology, including mobile devices, PC and games, was not in the most desired category of gifts this year.
The unexpected revelation showed that the most wanted category of Christmas gifts was ‘clothes or accessories’. In close second place, was ‘an experience’ to include tickets to events, days out and mini-breaks. Technology took third place.
When asked specifically about ‘gift vouchers’ for days out or experiences, 50 percent of the adults surveyed agreed that the gift of an experience or day out was a great present.
With many people already owning more tech devices than ever before, active, fun and memorable experiences are becoming more popular as a gift choices.
Hastings Adventure Golf is always keen to get more people active and they run a number of events, competitions and promotions throughout the year. They have three outdoor minigolf courses on the seafront site - a classic Crazy Golf, an Adventure Golf layout and a Pirate Golf course. We've visited and played them a LOT on our Crazy Golf adventures since 2007!
While new technology might not be top of Christmas wish lists the Hastings Adventure Golf App has proved to be a popular free download to help people make the most of the experience.
Players visiting Hastings Adventure Golf can download the scorecard and loyalty app to keep a record of their visits and results, use the on-course selfie spot feature, and receive offers.
Opened in 1997, Dinosaur Valley Mini Golf has been a member of the US ProMiniGolf Association since 2000. Next year the course will host the 21st Annual Dinosaur Valley Mini Golf USPMGA event.
We've seen quite a few dinosaur, Jurassic and dragon themed courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour travels, but none have looked like the unique layouts at Dinosaur Valley Mini Golf. The dinosaur skeletons give the course a museum-like feel.
One of the steel dragons on the course
The seven course layouts were designed by Josee and Marcel Rainville, who have operated Josephine's Vegetables on the property since 1982. The courses are dedicated to their son Steven and his friend Tyler, and all families who have been impacted by cancer.
The layouts were designed to be unpredictable and fun to offer something different each time a game is played. Josee tells me that it is possible to score a hole-in-one on each of the 63-holes - however, attempting the feat took FIVE YEARS of playing! I bet 'The Putter King' Allan Cox would like to take on that challenge.
In 2003 Dinosaur Valley Mini Golf was the Tourism Federation Of Ontario’s Inaugural Innovation Award Winner, after it was nominated by Attractions Ontario.
Can you name this Pokemon? The hole has only seen one hole in one since 1997!!!
Interestingly five of the courses are what would be termed 'traditional' minigolf, in that you play the holes using a golf putter and ball. But two of the layouts are called Pool Putt and require you to use a pool cue! We always like to see variations of the game and have played Pit-Pat and Crazy Golf Pool on our travels. Emily also found some Snookergolf Billiards tables in Blankenberge, Belgium earlier this year.
The last stop on our mini road-trip around the midlands was in Stourport on Severn. Ahead of our visit we'd seen there were two miniature golf courses there - an interesting looking jungle-themed crazy golf and a grass putting layout - but when we arrived at Playland in Riverside Park we found another crazy golf course! A nice bonus.
This was the course we'd seen online ahead of our visit to Stourport on Severn
The 9-hole Crazy Golf course at Playland became the 469th played and 789th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.
Playing the bonus course
In our match-up on the course I won with a score of 25 to Emily's 29.
Having trouble with some numbers
We hadn't seen this obstacle on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour travels before
A look at the 9-hole Crazy Golf course
Hole 2
Emily playing a Cannon
Playing hole 2
The grass Putting course wasn't open on our visit and so became the 790th visited on our tour.
The grass Putting Green in Stourport on Severn
The 18-hole jungle-themed Crazy Golf course in Stourport on Severn became the 470th played and 791st visited on our travels.
The Crazy Golf & Putting Green are in Riverside Park
In our match-up on the course we tied with a score of 36, with Emily scoring three holes-in-one to my two aces.
A nice ace
Shooting another hole in one
The hut
One of the many signs for the Crazy Golf course
The Great Flood in 1947 must've been quite a sight!
The whole area would've been underwater!
A look at the layout
A sly snake in the jungle-themed Crazy Golf course
Emily holing out
One of the most colourful settings we've playing minigolf in
The tricky first hole
The course is a really nice layout
Well worth a play
Stourport on Severn is an interesting town and well worth a visit. It has a seaside resort feel to it - dating back to its role as a day-trip destination for workers from Birmingham in times gone by. The colourful minigolf courses, variety of amusements, pubs and other facilities in the town make it a nice destination.
Finding out about the Holiday Lights Mini Golf and festivities at Fun Fore All Family Fun Park in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania.
A view of the Holiday Lights Mini Golf course
We love sharing what's going on in the world of minigolf through our blog and social media channels and it's brilliant to see courses getting involved with different festivities.
One such course is Fun Fore All in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. The team there love theming their two 18-hole courses and recently had a successful Halloween. Now attention has turned to Christmas and their Holiday Lights Mini Golf which runs from November 17th to January 2nd.
Fun Fore All Family Fun Park's two 18-hole miniature golf courses are being transformed into a fully playable walk-through holiday lights experience.
The courses will have a variety of themed festive lights including Country & Western, penguins, the Taj Mahal, under the sea, and a Victorian Christmas. Holiday Lights Mini Golf will also have a walk-through light tunnel, a twenty-foot Christmas tree, and a holiday musical show that plays several times an hour.
It sounds brilliant. We love seeing courses getting involved in different events and seasonal activities. On our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour we've seen a few Christmas-themed layouts, including the Chrizy Golf course in Manchester back in 2012!
Running from November 17th through to January 2nd from 5-10pm each night, the event is also packed with many other holiday inspired activities for the festive season including live reindeer, free pictures with Santa Claus every Friday and Saturday night, Christmas cookie decorating, a drop off for letters to Santa, a holiday concert, face painting, balloon art, caricature art, and great holiday food and drinks like hot chocolate, hot apple cider from Soergel Orchards, smores, and gourmet Kettle Korn, cinnamon roasted nuts & caramel apples from J.D.’s Popcorn. For a complete list of events, visit the Fun Fore All Holiday Lights website.
A portion of the proceeds raised during the Holiday Lights Mini Golf event are going to benefit Highmark’s Caring Place, which provides support for children grieving the loss of a loved one. Visit the Highmark’s Caring Place website to learn more about. Holiday Lights Mini Golf is $10 per person for one course or $15 for both courses.
For more information and the schedule for the Holiday Lights Mini Golf check out the Fun Fore All Fun Park website. You can take a Virtual Tour of Fun Fore All online too.
While living with Coeliac Disease isn't the best thing in the world, the fact that having to be incredibly careful about every little thing you eat or drink does make you get excited about new products you see while out shopping. Lately the Co-op has been getting me interested and excited about food again as they've launched a lot of new gluten free items in their Free From range.
It's always exciting receiving a free from food parcel!
While having our own dedicated free from section in a supermarket is convenient it's also nice to see 'normal' food products being made gluten free as standard.
I've been tweeting with the team at the Co-op and they were kind enough to send me four of the new soups in the range to try out. From l-r they are Tomato & Lentil, Red Thai Chicken, Carrot & Coriander, and Chicken & Vegetable. I've tried the Chicken & Vegetable soup already - as well as the Minestrone - as I picked them up in a two for £3 deal recently. They taste really good and are large portions, very filling. The pots do say they serve 2, but I'm not one for sharing!
PLAY-OFF is a MUST WATCH for anyone who's ever played Crazy Golf! There are some really nice touches about the joy (and frustration) the sport provides.
A visit to the new Ghetto Golf course in Digbeth, Birmingham.
Hole 18 of the Ghetto Golf course in Digbeth
While on a recent visit to Birmingham I swung by the new Ghetto Golf course at the Custard Factory in Digbeth.
Ghetto Golf's entrance
Unfortunately I didn't have time for a game on the 18-hole indoor Crazy Golf course as I had a train to catch. The course was looking nice and busy during my later afternoon visit.
Some of the holes look amazing - I love the Sonic the Hedgehog loop-di-loop 18th.
It looks like Ghetto Golf could be a blockbuster venue
Some of the holes are rather risque!
This caption is censored!
I'm looking forward to a game with Emily at Ghetto Golf in Birmingham (and at the Liverpool course).
Hole 3 is a bus
Yes, an actual bus!
There's plenty of seating to celebrate your win (or grouch about your loss) at Ghetto Golf
Visit the Ghetto Golf website for more information, opening times and prices.
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
