Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Adventure Golf in Littlehampton's Norfolk Gardens

A revisit to the miniature golf courses in Littlehampton.


Photo of the Adventure Golf course at Norfolk Gardens in Littlehampton, West Sussex

While in West Sussex for the Splash Point Open minigolf tournament at the course in Worthing we stayed over in East Preston so that we could revisit nearby Littlehampton.

Photo of the Adventure Golf course at Norfolk Gardens in Littlehampton, West Sussex
The course has some nice views of the sea too

I first visited the seaside resort in 2012 when I found all of the courses to be closed, while on a revisit in 2014 we managed to play Pit-Pat at Western Putting on Banjo Road and the Sharksville Adventure Golf course at Harbour Park.

Photo of the Sharksville Adventure Golf course at Harbour Park in Littlehampton
At Sharksville

Photo of the Pit-Pat Crazy Snooker course in Littlehampton
Pit-Pat Crazy Snooker - what a game!

On Saturday 25th July we managed to play the Adventure Golf course at Norfolk Gardens. The holes there are MASSIVE!

Photo of the Adventure Golf course at Norfolk Gardens in Littlehampton, West Sussex
Look how loooooooong the first hole is!

In our match-up we drew with scores of 29.

Photo of the Adventure Golf course at Norfolk Gardens in Littlehampton, West Sussex
Emily on the very crazy second hole

The course became the 381st played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and we've now visited 661 in total. Check out the photos below to see some of the interesting holes.

Photo of the Adventure Golf course at Norfolk Gardens in Littlehampton, West Sussex

Photo of the Adventure Golf course at Norfolk Gardens in Littlehampton, West Sussex

Photo of the Adventure Golf course at Norfolk Gardens in Littlehampton, West Sussex

Photo of the Adventure Golf course at Norfolk Gardens in Littlehampton, West Sussex

Photo of the Adventure Golf course at Norfolk Gardens in Littlehampton, West Sussex

Photo of the Adventure Golf course at Norfolk Gardens in Littlehampton, West Sussex

Photo of the Adventure Golf course at Norfolk Gardens in Littlehampton, West Sussex

Photo of the Adventure Golf course at Norfolk Gardens in Littlehampton, West Sussex
 
Photo of Adventure Golf 'Star' Richard Gottfried in Littlehampton
A little bit of clever editing

Looking back through our tour records I noticed that the Littlehampton course is very similar in design and build to the Adventure Golf course in Scarborough - 55th course we played.

A view of the Adventure Golf course in Scarborough - it's very similar to the one in Littlehampton
A view of the Adventure Golf course in Scarborough - it's very similar to the one in Littlehampton

Hopefully on our next visit we'll have more time, and better weather, so we can get to play the Swedish Felt Crazy Golf and grass Putting courses there.

Photo of the Putting course at Western Putting in Littlehampton
The Putting Green at the Western Putting site

Photo of the Crazy Golf and Pit-Pat courses at Western Putting in Littlehampton
We noticed that the Swedish Felt Mini Golf course at Western Putting has some new felt. Note the Pit-Pat course standing in the middle of the Crazy Golf layout

There's also a Pitch & Putt course at Norfolk Gardens. And a Miniature Railway!

Photo of the Miniature Railway at Norfolk Gardens in Littlehampton
The train arrived while we were playing our round

Photo of the Miniature Railway at Norfolk Gardens in Littlehampton
Hopefully we'll have time for a go on the train next time we're in town

Many of the minigolf courses and leisure facilities in Littlehampton (and nearby Bognor Regis) are operated by Inspire Leisure. We've always found them in good condition and received very good service. Check out the Inspire Leisure website for more info.

Photo of the Putting Green Café in Littlehampton
Norfolk Gardens is also home to the Putting Green Café

Links:
Inspire Leisure
- Harbour Park

Related blog posts:
- A Stack of Minigolf Courses Visited in Littlehampton, but None Played!
- Littlehampton
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

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

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing

A revisit to the Splash Point Mini Golf course in Worthing.

On Saturday 25th July 2015 we revisited sunny Worthing in West Sussex to compete in the Splash Point Open tournament held on the 18-hole Splash Point Mini Golf course just off the seafront at the town's Denton Gardens.

A view of Splash Point Mini Golf course from the balcony of Worthing Rowing Club

Back in 2010 the course became the 181st visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and we've returned a number of times since then for both competitions and fun rounds.

Photo of Richard Gottfried playing the 18th hole at Splash Point Mini Golf course in Worthing
Playing the 18th

Photo of Emily Gottfried playing the 10th hole at Splash Point Mini Golf course in Worthing
Emily putting at the Splash Point Open

Since the course opened in 2010 it's been a great addition to the seaside resort. Over the years the owners Anthony and Peter have added some classic Crazy Golf obstacles including a windmill and loop-di-loop, as well as keeping the layout very well maintained.

A view of the Splash Point Mini Golf course ahead of the 2015 Open tournament
A view of the Splash Point Mini Golf course ahead of the 2015 Open tournament - is that Top Gull in the foreground?

Miniature Golf has been played in Denton Gardens since the 1920's and it's a great location for a game. Check out the Splash Point Mini Golf website, Twitter and Facebook for opening times, prices and further info.

Photo of Splash Point Mini Golf's course sign

Splash Point Mini Golf is one of the few courses that has it's own postcard - in fact it has two!

Postcard from Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing

Postcard from Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing

The scorecard/loyalty card is smashing too.

Scorecard from Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing

Scorecard from Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing

Links:
Splash Point Mini Golf website
- The Crazy Golf Museum

Related blog posts:
- Splash Point Mini Golf
- Worthing
- Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing - Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Course Visit #181
- Worthing Splash Point Minigolf - Course Revisit - May 2011

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

Splash Point Open Mini Golf tournament report

Gottfried’s compete at the Splash Point Mini Golf Open in Worthing.

Leagrave minigolfers Richard and Emily Gottfried competed in the second-annual Splash Point Open minigolf tournament held at the 18-hole Splash Point Mini Golf course in Denton Gardens, Worthing on Saturday 25th July.

Competing in a 24-player field Richard shot rounds of 40, 44 and 36 for a 54-hole score of 120 to finish in 13th place overall.

Richard on the 18th hole at Splash Point Mini Golf

Emily finished in 17th place after rounds of 38, 42 and 48 for a total of 128.

Emily playing the 10th hole at Splash Point Mini Golf

The tournament was won by Oxford’s Michael Smith who defeated Hove’s Peter Emmerson in a sudden-death play-off after both players had scored totals of 100.

Richard said “I always enjoy visiting Worthing and Splash Point Mini Golf, even though it’s an incredibly tough course. After the terrible start to my second round I was pleased to shoot par on my final round.”

Emily said “Splash Point Mini Golf is a great course to play, with some very ace-able holes, but some which can be killers. I managed to go from one extreme to another, with a lot of holes-in-one, but some really bad hole scores as well. I let myself down on the final round but was happy with my first two rounds.”

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Adventure Golf in St Nicholas Park, Warwick

A revisit to the Adventure Golf course in Warwick's St Nicholas Park.

Adventure Golf course in St Nicholas Park, Warwick
The 16th hole at Warwick Adventure Golf

The 18-hole Adventure Golf course at St Nicholas Park in Warwick was the 27th course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour way back in July 2007 when we were in town for that year's BMGA English Open tournament.

We revisited the layout in April 2011 and this month Emily gave the course another play while on holiday in the midlands on the 17th of July.

Adventure Golf course in St Nicholas Park, Warwick
Emily safely on the green on a hole with an interesting water hazard (just ask our friend and fellow Minigolf Pro Jam Trubridge!)

Adventure Golf course in St Nicholas Park, Warwick
A new addition to the course is a four-hole practice area. It looks great

Adventure Golf course in St Nicholas Park, Warwick
One of the loooooong holes at Warwick Adventure Golf

Adventure Golf course in St Nicholas Park, Warwick
A downhill shot

Adventure Golf course in St Nicholas Park, Warwick
In the match-up on the 18-hole course Emily played against her sister Jo and niece Kate, with Jo winning with a score of 45. Emily hit a 46, with Kate carding a 50

Designed by UrbanCrazy the course is very tricky indeed and well worth a play.

Minigolf scorecard and pencil from the Adventure Golf course in St Nicholas Park, Warwick
The Golden Putter Mini Golf course in Warwick has a very nice scorecard and pencil. A nice addition to the Crazy Golf Museum

For more information on the course, opening times and prices visit the Golden Putter website.

Prices for the Golden Putter Mini Golf course in Warwick (July 2015)
Prices for the Golden Putter Mini Golf course in Warwick (July 2015)

We've played the permanent Golden Putter Mini Golf courses in Staines and Wroxham, and their portable course when it was set-up on Clacton Pier. Golden Putter Mini Golf also have courses in Birmingham's Cannon Hill Park and Rotherham's Clifton Park. Both are on our 'to visit' list.

Related blog posts:
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Adventure Golf at St Nicholas Park in Warwick
- Revisit to the 18-Hole Adventure Miniature Golf Course at St Nicholas Park in Warwick

Link:
- Golden Putter website

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

Minigolf in Stratford-upon-Avon

A revisit to Stratford-upon-Avon's minigolf course.

Minigolf course at the Recreation Ground in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
Minigolf in Stratford-upon-Avon

While on holiday in the midlands this week Emily made a return trip to Stratford-upon-Avon and the 18-hole Minigolf course at the Recreation Ground on Swan's Nest Lane.

Minigolf course at the Recreation Ground in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
  
Minigolf course at the Recreation Ground in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
The minigolf course can be found in the Recreation Ground on Swan's Nest Lane in Stratford-upon-Avon

The course was originally the 49th visited and played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2008. We've visited the course to play in a number of competitions including the British Doubles, Midlands Open, Midlands Invitational and the English Open. It's one of the finest courses in the country and a real skill-based course. Well worth a visit.

Minigolf competition in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
At the 2008 Midlands Invitational Tournament

Minigolf competition in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
On the course during the 2009 Midlands Invitational Tournament

Minigolf competition in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
In action at the 2010 Midlands Open

Minigolf course at the Recreation Ground in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
A view of the Stratford-upon-Avon minigolf course in 2015

Check out the Stratford Minigolf course website for more information, opening times and prices.

Minigolf course at the Recreation Ground in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
Upon first seeing the course it appears to be quite flat, but on closer inspection you'll find there are so many subtle lumps, bumps and obstacles it makes for a really testing round

The course was recently the setting for the MMGC Midlands Masters tournament organised by the Midlands Minigolf Club - the reigning, and two-time, BMGA British Club Champions.

Along with my MMGC team-mates Chris Harding, John Moore and Jam Trubridge the club won the national title for the first time when the Stratford course hosted the event in 2008.

Check out the links to videos from the closing stages of a 'friendly' Minigolf Doubles Match between me & Kevin Moseley and Jam Trubridge & Peter Jones played after the 2009 Midlands Invitational Tournament.

Videos:
Minigolf Doubles Match in Stratford Upon Avon - part 1 of 2
Minigolf Doubles Match in Stratford Upon Avon - part 2 of 2 

Related blog post:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Links:
- Stratford Minigolf website
- Midlands Minigolf Club on Facebook

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

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Crazy Golf in Goodrington Sands

A visit to our 600th minigolf course in the UK!

Crazy Golf course in Goodrington Park at Goodrington Sands, Paignton, Devon

Having visited 21 courses overseas the 600th course visited in the UK was the 18-hole Beton-style Concrete Mini Golf course at Goodrington Park in Goodrington Sands, Paignton, Devon on Thursday 4th June 2015.

Crazy Golf course in Goodrington Park at Goodrington Sands, Paignton, Devon
Visiting our 600th course in the UK

The courses is known as Quaywest Crazy Golf and from the scorecard is operated by Goodtime Leisure. It certainly lived up to its name as we had a good time playing the course and a pleasant and leisurely round of Crazy Golf.

Mini Golf course in Goodrington Park at Goodrington Sands, Paignton, Devon
Always pleasing to see a Mini Golf course open

The course became the 370th played since our tour began on the 30th September 2006 and was the seventh played on our tour of the South West of England.

Crazy Golf course in Goodrington Park at Goodrington Sands, Paignton, Devon
Playing the Goodrington Sands course

Crazy Golf course in Goodrington Park at Goodrington Sands, Paignton, Devon
Emily in action

Crazy Golf course in Goodrington Park at Goodrington Sands, Paignton, Devon
About to putt in for a nice two from a tricky spot

Crazy Golf course in Goodrington Park at Goodrington Sands, Paignton, Devon
We had great weather on our trip to the English Riviera

Crazy Golf course in Goodrington Park at Goodrington Sands, Paignton, Devon
A nice two

Crazy Golf course in Goodrington Park at Goodrington Sands, Paignton, Devon
Emily tapping in on a long hole

Mini Golf course in Goodrington Park at Goodrington Sands, Paignton, Devon
Hole 2 onwards

Mini Golf course in Goodrington Park at Goodrington Sands, Paignton, Devon
A view of the course

Miniature Golf course in Goodrington Park at Goodrington Sands, Paignton, Devon
The 12th

Minigolf course in Goodrington Park at Goodrington Sands, Paignton, Devon
The course is in a very nice setting in Goodrington Park
  
Mini Golf course in Goodrington Park at Goodrington Sands, Paignton, Devon
The pleasing 17th hole

A round of Crazy Golf on the layout costs £4 for adults and in our match-up I won with a score of 39 to Emily's 42. It was very pleasing for us both to score aces on the 17th hole.

Mini Golf course in Goodrington Park at Goodrington Sands, Paignton, Devon
The Goodrington Sands Mini Golf Champion

While having a wander around Paignton it was great to see the course on a postcard - and you could get 12 for £1! I had to buy some for my collection and to post out.

Overall the 600th course visited on our tour was on Sunday 31st May at the Jurassic Golf course at Santa-Fe Adventure Park in Swanage, Dorset.

Visiting and playing miniature golf courses came about from our love of travelling around the UK. We began going to different seasides when we got our first car in 2006 and after a trip to Southsea, Hampshire we found the MiniatureGolfer website where there were around 600 minigolf courses listed around the UK. Since then we've tried to play as many as we can.

A view of the nice seaside resort of Goodrington Sands, Paignton, Devon
A view of the nice seaside resort of Goodrington Sands

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

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

Seaside Shields museum exhibition

This summer South Shields Museum & Art Gallery is going back in time to look at all the fun of yesteryear's seaside with the Seaside Shields exhibition.

Crazy Golf is a classic part of seaside heritage and it's good to see that the game is being featured as part of the exhibition as a Putterfingers Portable Crazy Golf course will be at the museum on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th August for the Seaside Shields Golf Championship.

We've visited South Shields on our coastal travels and back in 2009 the Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf course became the 100th played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Richard Gottfried playing the Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf course in South Shields, Tyneside
Adventure Golfing in South Shields

Emily revisited South Shields in 2012 and had another round on the course.

Over the years we've also played a few Putterfingers minigolf courses on our tour.

Seaside Shields runs until the 31st October 2015. For more information check out the South Shields Museum & Art Gallery website and minigolf event page.

In 2011 Stevenage Museum ran an exhibition on British Holiday Camps. That also featured Crazy Golf.

Don't forget to check out The Crazy Golf Museum website and on Twitter for more on the history of miniature golf.

Links:
- South Shields Museum & Art Gallery
- Putterfingers
- Crazy Golf Museum
- Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf course
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Related blog posts:
- Gottfried's Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Minigolf Course Played No. 100!!!
- Revisit & Replay of Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf in South Shields
- "Morning Campers!" A British Holiday Camp Exhibition at Stevenage Museum - with Crazy Golf!
- Museum
- Putterfingers

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