Thursday, June 25, 2015

Mini Golf Grass Putting Course in Seaton, Devon

The 602nd course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour was the Putting Green at Seafield Gardens in Seaton, Devon.

Golf Putting Green at Seafield Gardens in Seaton, Devon
On the green in Seaton

The 18-hole Mini Golf layout was a bonus discovery on our tour as we spotted a sign for the course while walking towards the town centre from the prom!

Golf Putting Green at Seafield Gardens in Seaton, Devon
A nice bit of signage letting people know the course is there

Unfortunately the course wasn't open when we arrived on Tuesday 2nd June. The weather was a bit drizzly on our visit so it was probably for the best.

Golf Putting Green at Seafield Gardens in Seaton, Devon

Golf Putting Green at Seafield Gardens in Seaton, Devon

Interestingly the 18-hole course is split into two sections.

Golf Putting Green at Seafield Gardens in Seaton, Devon
The lower section is next to the Bowling Green

Golf Putting Green at Seafield Gardens in Seaton, Devon
The upper section is next to the club house pavilion

Golf Putting Green at Seafield Gardens in Seaton, Devon

You can find the course in Seafield Gardens, Seafield Road, Seaton, Devon, EX12 2QS. For more information, opening times and prices check out the Leisure East Devon website.

Related blog posts:
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
Mini Golf in the South West of England

Link:
Leisure East Devon website

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Mini Golf in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Playing the Lister Gardens Mini Golf course in Lyme Regis.


Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

The 601st course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour was the Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset.

Minigolf explorers Richard and Emily Gottfried at the Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

The 18-hole Mini Golf layout would be the second played on our tour of the South West of England and the 365th played overall on our tour.

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

It's a great course, with some brilliant views of the seafront and The Cobb harbour area.

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

In our match on the Lister Gardens Mini Golf course on the 1st June 2015 Emily scored a very good 36 - hitting one ace and dropping only one shot - to my 40 for the win.

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset
Emily, the Lyme Regis Champion

We had to have another stroll along the prom before we left the seaside town on the 2nd June and on our walk back to the car I got my wish of a rematch. This time I won (38 to 40).

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset
Winning at the second attempt

During the summer months the course is open from 9am to 9pm, and is just £2.50 a round for adults.

Mini Golf in Lyme Regis

The course isn't particularly well signposted from the seafront, and can't be seen if you're below it. But if you're in Lyme Regis do check it out. As well as being called Lister Gardens the area is also known as Longmoor Gardens.



Check out the Lyme Regis Town Council website for more information, opening times and prices. We received great service from the staff on duty on our visits and Emily was very pleased to hear that her score of 36 was good enough to get her name on the Wall of Fame in the kiosk!

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset
Emily in action on the course

It was nice to be able to buy a postcard that showed the course. The Salmon Cameracolour Post Card shows 'The Cobb from Longmoor Gardens' and we saw them for sale in the Tourist Information Centre and the Post Office.

Mini Golf course at Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis, Dorset

There's also a grass Putting course in Lister Gardens, but on our visit it wasn't set out to play. It looked like a two-tier course and hopefully we'll give it a go on a return visit to Lyme Regis.

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Mini Golf in the South West of England

Link:
- Mini Golf on the Lyme Regis Town Council website

Videos:
- Crazy Golf in Lyme Regis, Dorset
- Mini Golf in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.

Monday, June 22, 2015

Mini Golf in the South West of England

Visiting 62 more miniature golf courses on a tour of the South West of England.

We've been on some big road-trips in the past few years and this summer we had a brilliant two-week holiday around the coast of South West England.

Minigolf Explorers Richard and Emily Gottfried at Gilmores Golf in Newquay, part-way through their mammoth road-trip around the South West coast of England
At Gilmores Golf in Newquay, part-way through our mammoth road-trip around the South West coast of England

During our time away we visited the milestone 600th course. The Jurassic Adventure Golf course at the Santa-Fe Fun Park in Swanage, Dorset became the 364th course played when we visited on Sunday 31st May.

Jurassic Adventure Mini Golf course in Swanage, Dorset
Jurassic Adventure Golf in Swanage

Two weeks later we visited Mini Golf course number 661 at Vivary Park in Taunton, Somerset. The 18-hole course was the 380th we've played since the tour began in September 2006, and the 17th played on our holiday.

Mini Golf at Vivary Park in Taunton, Somerset
Mini Golf in Vivary Park, Taunton

We got into playing minigolf after making a resolution in 2006 to visit as much of the UK's coast and on this trip we reached 227 seasides visited. We're looking forward to our next holiday already.

Here's the list of the 62 courses we visited in Dorset, Devon, Cornwall and Somerset:
Swanage (Santa Fe Fun Park) - Jurassic Adventure Golf - 600th course visited overall
Lyme Regis (Lister Gardens) - Crazy Golf

Mini Golf course in Lyme Regis, Dorset
The Lister Gardens Mini Golf course in Lyme Regis

Seaton - Grass Putting Green
Oak Mead Family Golf Centre - Grass Putting Green
Oak Mead Family Golf Centre - Pitch and Putt
Salcombe Regis, near Sidmouth (Thorne Park Golf Centre) - Crazy Golf

Mini Crazy Golf course at Thorne Golf Centre near Salcombe Regis, Devon
Putting on the Crazy Golf course at Thorne Park Golf Centre near Sidmouth

Salcombe Regis, near Sidmouth (Thorne Park Golf Centre) - Grass Putting Green
Salcombe Regis, near Sidmouth (Thorne Park Golf Centre) - Pitch and Putt
Sidmouth (The Victoria Hotel) - Grass Putting Green
Sidmouth (The Belmont Hotel) - Grass Putting Green
Sidmouth (The Triangle / Coburg Fields) - Grass Putting Green
Exmouth (Seafront) - Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf
Exmouth (Seafront) - Grass Putting Green
Exmouth (The Imperial Hotel) - Grass Putting Green
Dawlish Warren (Funderland) - Adventure Golf

Funderland Adventure Mini Golf course in Dawlish Warren, Devon
A crazy hole on the Funderland Adventure Golf course in Dawlish Warren

Dawlish (Station Road) - Swedish Felt B-Run Mini Golf
Teignmouth (Sea Front) - Jurassic Adventure Golf

Adventure Mini Golf in Teignmouth, Devon
The Adventure Golf course in Teignmouth

Torquay (The Imperial Hotel) - Crazy Golf

Mini Golf at The Imperial Hotel in Torquay, Devon
Our hotel in Torquay had a Crazy Golf course - what a bonus!

Torquay (Torre Abbey Gardens) - Jungle Journey Adventure Golf
Paignton (Sea Front) - Pirates Bay Adventure Golf
Paignton (Junior Browns) - UV Indoor Crazy Golf - course removed from venue
Goodrington Sands, Paignton - Beton Mini Golf - 600th course visited in the UK

Mini Crazy Golf course in Goodrington Sands Paignton
The Goodrington Sands Beton Mini Golf course in Paignton

Roundham Head, Goodrington Sands, Paignton - Pitch and Putt
Torquay (Torre Abbey Gardens) - Pitch and Putt
Dartmouth (near Higher Ferry) - Grass Putting course
Plymouth (The Hoe) - Grass Putting course
Plymouth (West Hoe Park) - Treasure Island Adventure Golf
St Martins (Parkdean Looe Bay Holiday Park) - Crazy Golf
Looe (Looe Bowling Club, Marine Drive) - Upper Grass Putting course
Looe (Looe Bowling Club, Marine Drive) - Lower Grass Putting course

Miniature Golf Putting Green in Looe, Cornwall
Looe Bowling Club in Cornwall is home to two grass Putting courses with some great views

St Austell (Kidzworld Cornwall, Stadium Retail Park) - Mini Golf
Swanpool, Falmouth (Swanpool Park) - Crazy Golf

Crazy Golf course in Falmouth, Cornwall
The Crazy Golf course in Swanpool Park, Falmouth is in a great spot

Falmouth (Gyllyngvase Beach) - Crazy Golf - now part of a garden
Penzance (The Alexandra Inn) - pub beer garden Crazy Golf

Crazy Golf course at The Alexandra Inn, Penzance, Cornwall
The beer garden of The Alexandra Inn, Penzance has a 17-hole Crazy Golf course in it!

St Ives (Porthminster Beach) - Grass Putting course
St Ives (Porthmeor Beach) - Grass Putting course
St Erth (Penwith Pitch and Putt) - Crazy Golf

Crazy Golf at Penwith Pitch & Putt in St Erth, near St Ives, Cornwall
The Penwith Pitch & Putt centre in St Erth, near St Ives, has a very bright and colourful Crazy Golf course

St Erth (Penwith Pitch and Putt) - Pitch and Putt
Perranporth (Boating Lake) - Grass Putting course
Newquay (Gilmores Golf) - Beton Crazy Mini Golf

Crazy Golf at Gilmores Golf in Newquay, Cornwall
Playing the Beton Mini Golf course at Gilmores Golf in Newquay

Newquay (Trenance Gardens) - Crazy Golf

Crazy Golf in Trenance Gardens, Newquay, Cornwall
The Trenance Gardens Crazy Golf course in Newquay

Newquay (Trenance Gardens) - Pitch and Putt
Newquay (Killacourt) - Grass Putting course - out of season
Newquay (Tolcarne Beach) - Crazy Golf - course on the cliff has been removed
Newquay (Narrowcliff, near Tolcarne Beach) - Crazy Golf - hut remains, no course evident
Newquay (The Headland Hotel, near Fistral Beach) - Grass Putting course
Porth Island, Newquay (Krazy Golf at Newquay Football Golf) - Crazy Golf

Krazy Golf on Porth Island in Newquay, Cornwall
Putting at the Krazy Golf course on Porth Island, Newquay

Mawgan Porth - Crazy Golf
Mawgan Porth - Pitch and Putt
Berryfields Holiday Park, Porthcothan Bay - Crazy Golf
Padstow (Greens Cafe) - Crazy Golf - 650th course visited overall

Greens Cafe Crazy Golf course in Padstow, Cornwall
Playing a Pyramid hole in Padstow

Padstow (Greens Cafe) - Grass Putting / Pitch and Putt
Bude (Bude Haven Recreation Ground) - Crazy Golf

Bude Haven Crazy Golf course in Bude, Cornwall
A snakey hole in Bude

Bude (Bude Haven Recreation Ground) - Grass Putting Green 1
Bude (Bude Haven Recreation Ground) - Grass Putting Green 2
Bude (Crooklets Beach) - Pitch and Putt
Westward Ho! - Putting course on a signpost - not found
Westward Ho! (Pebble Ridge) - Pirate Adventure Golf
Woolacombe (The Bay Hotel) - Mini Golf (Pitch and Putt)
Woolacombe (Funderland) - 15-hole Adventure Golf
Ilfracombe (The Promenade) - Crazy Golf
Taunton (Vivary Park) - Mini Golf

It wasn't possible to stop at, or play all of the mini, crazy and adventure golf courses, or all the putting greens and pitch & putts we saw on this trip, or those we'd heard about beforehand.

On Broad Road in Swanage there is a piece of parkland that overlooks the bay and pier. This area has appeared on many postcards over the years and used to be home to a grass Miniature Golf course.

The Parkdean Holiday Park in West Bay, near Bridport used to have a Crazy Golf course. We checked, it's no longer there.

After we'd played the Crazy Golf course in Lister Gardens in Lyme Regis we noticed on the town map that the gardens are also home to a grass Putting Green. We had noticed a two-tier patch of land near to the course, but it wasn't laid out for putting. Perhaps it was too early in the season.

This year the Ladram Bay Holiday Park has created a Jurassic Adventure Golf course at the site in Otterton near Budleigh Salterton. We didn't get a chance to play it. Charter member of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Christopher Gottfried did visit the course on a trip to Devon last year.

On that trip Christopher also visited Paignton and spotted a Crazy Golf course on the pier. On our visit we saw it had been removed. There were trampolines instead. The stroll along the pier wasn't all for naught though as I got to have a go on a Hillbilly Shooting Shack.

It's not minigolf, but it's a seaside classic - a Hillbilly Shooting Shack on Paignton Pier
It's not minigolf, but it's a seaside classic - a Hillbilly Shooting Shack on Paignton Pier

Other Crazy Golf courses we had to skip on this trip due to time constraints are at:
- Pecorama Games, Gardens and Trains in Beer
- Exmouth World of Country Life
- Babbacombe Model Village
- Holywell Bay Fun Park
- Lappa Valley Steam Railway
- Old MacDonald's Farm and Bed & Breakfast
- Bideford Atlantic Village
- Devon Railway Centre

There are also quite a few more miniature golf courses at holiday camps, caravan parks and hotels in the area.

Thanks to everyone for their tips and hints about places to visit on the trip, and special mentions to Tim 'Ace Man' Davies for his excellent course list on MiniatureGolfer.com, Jam Trubridge, Matt Dodd, Helen Dodd, Chris Harding, and Christopher Gottfried.

There'll be more blog posts about the courses we visited in the coming weeks so watch this space!

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Dorset
- Devon
- Cornwall
- Somerset

Videos:
- Crazy Golf Hole in One at the Jurassic Adventure Golf course in Swanage
- Mini Golf Hole in One at the Jurassic Adventure Golf course in Swanage
- Crazy Golf in Lyme Regis, Dorset
- Mini Golf in Lyme Regis, Dorset
- Mini Golf Hole-in-One at The Imperial Hotel in Torquay
- Crazy Golf Hole-in-One at The Alexandra Inn, Penzance 
- Playing Krazy Golf on Porth Island, Newquay

New Minigolf course opening in Peterborough

New Mini Golf course opening at Dobbies Garden Centre in Peterborough.

The Peterborough Minigolf course at Dobbies Garden Centre
A view of the Peterborough Minigolf course from our visit in July 2015

A brand new miniature golf course is opening in August 2015 - Peterborough Minigolf.

The team at Peterborough Minigolf are working with course designers and builders UrbanCrazy to create a 12-hole course, with a 'Lucky 13th' hole where you can try to win a free game.

We've played a number of UrbanCrazy's courses on our tour and always enjoyed the look and playability of them.

UrbanCrazy Mini Golf course in Barnard Castle, County Durham
My favourite hole of the Barnard Castle Mini Golf course designed and built by UrbanCrazy. Here's a video of me getting a hole-in-one on it

The new 12-hole course will be at Dobbies Garden Centre in Peterborough and the Grand Opening is on Saturday 1st August. For more information visit the Peterborough Minigolf website and the links below.

Links:
Peterborough Minigolf website
- Peterborough Minigolf on Facebook
Peterborough Minigolf on Twitter
- UrbanCrazy website
- Dobbies Garden Centre, Peterborough
- The UrbanCrazy World Of Miniature Golf

Related blog posts:
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Peterborough
- Playing the Peterborough Minigolf course

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.

Manston Adventure Golf in Kent

New Adventure Golf course opening at Manston Golf Centre in Kent.

This month sees a new Adventure Golf course opening in Thanet, Kent. This new 18-hole layout will feature cannons, pirates, dinosaurs and a volcano!

For more information and photos of the new minigolf course as it nears completion check out the Manston Adventure Golf Facebook page.

My fellow pro minigolfer, friend, rival, sometimes doubles team-mate, and local lad Scott 'Donkey Gringo' Lancley has been along for a sneaky peek and enjoyed his first look and play of the half-pirate/half-jurassic course.

The Adventure Golf course is due to open on Saturday 27th June and you'll be able to find it at Manston Golf Centre, Manston Road, Manston, Kent, CT12 5BE.

Links:
- Manston Adventure Golf on Facebook
- Manston Golf Centre website

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Kent

Jurassic Falls Adventure Golf in Chingford

There's a new Adventure Golf course opening in Chingford, London - Jurassic Falls Adventure Golf!

The 18-hole course is scheduled to open at the end of July 2015.

You can find out more about the course, opening times and prices on the Jurassic Falls Adventure Golf website. You can subscribe to the Jurassic Falls Adventure Golf newsletter on the site too.

You'll be able to find the prehistoric adventure golf course on the Southend Road (A406), Chingford, Waltham Forest, London, E4 8TA.

The team behind the course also created the Moby Adventure Golf course in Chadwell Heath, Romford. We played that layout on out tour last June.

Minigolf Explorer Richard Gottfried playing Moby Adventure Golf course in Chadwell Heath, Romford in June 2014
The theming in Chingford will be different to that in Romford

Links:
- Jurassic Falls Adventure Golf website
- Jurassic Falls Adventure Golf on Twitter
- Jurassic Falls Adventure Golf on Facebook

Related blog posts:
- Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses in and around London
- Minigolf and Crazy Golf in Essex

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.



Friday, June 19, 2015

Another Luton

Visiting our third 'Luton'.

The village sign for Luton in Devon
Luton in Devon

On our recent holiday we visited Devon and en route to Teignmouth from Dawlish we had to pop into one of the other places in the UK called 'Luton'. This one is near Newton Abbot.

All of the road signs on the way said Luton was 1 and a half miles away!

Look! There's another one

And another!

One of the two approach roads to Luton in Devon
One of the two approach roads to Luton in Devon. Heading away from this Luton on the way to Teignmouth we had to drive across a golf course - that was interesting

The village sign was partially obscured by a hedge and stinging nettles. It was purely by chance that we spotted it too. Driving into this Luton we didn't see any signs, but after we'd driven through the village I did a three point turn near a farm on Fore Street and there it was!

Lutonians Richard and Emily Gottfried in Luton, Devon
'Home' again

Back in April 2012 we visited Luton in Chatham, Kent. That's little more than a street. We drove by that Luton again last year.

The only road sign we saw for Luton in Kent showed it was one mile away
The only road sign we saw for Luton in Kent showed it was one mile away

There's another Luton in Devon, near Honiton. We didn't have time to visit on our road-trip, but next time we're down that way we're going to pop along for a look.

I'm originally from Oxford and on a road-trip to Scotland and back in 2012 we spotted an Oxford in Northumberland.

Related blog posts:
- Luton

Link:
- Luton, Devon on Wikipedia