Mini Golf at Clays Golf Centre in Wrexham

Playing the Mini Golf course at Clays Golf Centre in Wrexham.

On Friday 7th April we headed to Wrexham to meet up with our friend Peter Jones to compete in the Regional Qualifier for the 2017 American Golf Adventure Golf Championship at Clays Golf Centre.

Putting at Clays Golf Centre

The event took place on the 9-hole Miniature Golf course where each of the holes is based on famous holes from regular golf. The course has some very long and large layouts.

The course became the 725th visited and 425th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

A long second putt on the not so miniature Mini Golf course

While we were at Clays Golf Centre we also got to have a play on the indoor Putting Green and the grass Putting Green.

Clays Golf Centre gets the double thumbs-up from us

The 9-hole Putting course

In case of fire!

The Indoor Putting Studio

We had a great time at Clays Golf Centre and received a nice welcome from the team at the American Golf store and throughout the centre. We'll definitely revisit in the future.

Peter Jones on Pete's Practice Putting Area

Check out the Clays Golf Centre, American Golf Wrexham and American Golf websites for further info, opening times and prices.

Photos of the 9-hole Miniature Golf course at Clays Golf Centre.

Hole 1 

Hole 1

Hole 1

Hole 1

Hole 1

Hole 2

Hole 2

Hole 2

Hole 2

Hole 3

Hole 3

Hole 4

Hole 4

Hole 4

Hole 5

Hole 5

Hole 5

Hole 5

Hole 6

Hole 6

Hole 7

Hole 7

Hole 8 

Hole 8

Hole 9

Hole 9 

Hole 9

Hole 9

Hole 9

You can find Clays Golf Centre on Bryn Estyn Road in Wrexham, LL13 9UB.

Just follow the brown tourist signs and you'll find Clays Golf Centre

Videos:
- Adventure Golf at Clays Golf Centre in Wrexham - 1 of 4
- Adventure Golf at Clays Golf Centre in Wrexham - 2 of 4
- Adventure Golf at Clays Golf Centre in Wrexham - 3 of 4
- Adventure Golf at Clays Golf Centre in Wrexham - 4 of 4
- Hole in One on the Putting Green at Clays Golf Centre in Wrexham

Related blog posts:
- Minigolf - English to Welsh translations
- Mini Golf courses in Wales
- Wales

Pacer Railbuses at Ashburys and Stockport

Riding a much maligned workhorse of the north's rail network.  

Prior to yesterday I had only ridden on one Pacer Railbus - from Paignton to Torquay on our South West Minigolfing Roadtrip in 2015. They're a 'popular' train up north and we quite often see - and hear - them squealing along the many lines in Greater Manchester.

At Paignton station in the summer of 2015

While in the city I managed to make a trip from Ashburys station in Openshaw one stop along to Manchester Piccadilly riding in Pacer Railbus 142037.

I wasn't the only one catching the train from Ashburys. However, I was probably the only person who'd specifically gone there to get on a Pacer Railbus

Prior to its arrival a four-coach Pacer had sped through the station. I also saw a Class 323 and a Class 150 heading towards Hadfield and New Mills Central respectively.

Ashburys railway station

My final destination was back home to Cheadle Hulme, but as I didn't fancy waiting around for the next train I hopped aboard my second Pacer of the day, 142013 to Chester via Stockport where I alighted for a walk home.

Back in the borough

Quite the day out!

Ashburys railway station is in Openshaw, Manchester. Ashburys doesn't refer to the area, rather it's taken from the name of the company that built the station in 1850

The station is the closest to Manchester City's Etihad Stadium

There was some unexpected greenery under the stairs on an unused bit of the other platform

One of the most interesting things at Ashburys station was this abandoned glove

Network Rail have a signalling centre very close to the station

323230 arriving at Ashburys station

I was looking in the wrong direction and hadn't even heard this Pacer until it was almost too later

Sprinter 150147 heading away from Ashburys station

Pacer Railbuses 142037 & 142054 at Manchester Piccadilly station

Down the other end they were Pacer Railbuses 142030 & 142054

Earlier in the day I'd seen Pacer Railbus 142067 at Manchester Piccadilly

Related blog posts:
- Trains
- Manchester
- Stockport
- Top Trainspotting

Videos:
- Pacer Railbus 142037 at Ashburys railway station in Manchester
- Pacer Railbus 142013 at Stockport railway station

Class 121 'Bubble Cars' at Aylesbury

Yesterday I noticed a post about an old type of train in the Dull Men's Club Facebook Group.

My fellow Dull Men's Club member had spotted a Class 121 'Bubble Car' at Princes Risborough railway station and it reminded me that I'd seen them before at Aylesbury station.

What a mixture of trains at Aylesbury Maintenance Depot back in July 2011

What I hadn't realised at the time was they are the longest serving DMUs in the UK, having started life in 1960. I thought they were en route to a heritage day or line, not that Chiltern Railways were still regularly using them in service!

Unfortunately the end of the line is nearing for the Class 121 'Bubble Cars' as spare parts are becoming more difficult to source and the engines are getting ever more frail.

Highway to hell?

Having been to Bolton at the end of last year I must say I really like the town. But it does make me smile that the road that takes you there is the A666!

New Adventure Golf course at Bents Garden and Home in Glazebury.

New minigolf course open at Bents Garden and Home in Glazebury near Warrington.

Bents Garden and Home centre in Glazebury, Warrington has a new Adventure Golf course.

The dinosaur-themed course opened this month and it's another course fairly local to us. We're looking forward to heading along for a game on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

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

Start of the Pétanque season in Stockport

Boules club back in action at Alexandra Park.

Today saw the start of the 2017 Pétanque season in Stockport as 18 members of the Woodstock Pétanque Club met on the terrain at Alexandra Park in Edgeley.

Club organiser Jackie B in action on the Edgeley piste

It was marvellous to be back out and playing pétanque in some wonderful weather. In my match-up I was drawn to play in a triples game alongside Carol H and newcomer Hilary 2. In a very close match against David W, Jackie and Paul we picked up the win 13-10.

Carol H pointing a shot on the way to victory

It was my third ever win at the club, and the second teaming up with Carol H. My record at Woodstock Pétanque Club is now 3 wins and 4 defeats, with a 'winning streak of sorts' carried over from last year.

Club stalwart Andrew Smith plays a shot in our pre-match warm up

The Woodstock Pétanque Club meets-up from 1pm on the second and fourth Sunday of each month. New players are very welcome. It costs just £10 for the annual membership, with a £1 fee per week when you play - with prizes up for grabs for results over the three games played.

Check out the Woodstock Pétanque Club website, on Twitter as well as the Pétanque in Manchester Facebook Group for more info and to check on playing dates.

The Friends of Alexandra Park are also on Facebook so do give them a like and a follow too.

Report from the Great Northern Minigolf Open in Wigan

Scott Lancley wins the inaugural Great Northern Minigolf Open in Wigan.

Margate's Scott Lancley won the Great Northern Minigolf Open played in Wigan's Haigh Woodland Park on Saturday 8th April.

Scott Lancley on his way to victory on Haigh Woodland Park's Crazy Golf course

Played over two rounds on the park's two 18-hole courses, Lancley won with a 36 hole score of 87. Stockport's Richard Gottfried was runner-up on 93, with Ramsbottom's Russ Dent finishing in third place on 95. A total of nine players took part in the first staging of the event.

The finishers in the Great Northern Minigolf Open

Russ Dent was making a return to competitive minigolf after a seven-year break and rolled back the years with an impressive round of 44 on the Adventure Golf course to lead by five shots after round one. Gottfried and Lancley were in a tie for second after round one.

Russ Dent hitting only his second shot in seven years

Richard Gottfried playing the Windmill and Plateau hole on the new Adventure Golf course as John Moore looks on

However, Lancley's visit to the north wasn't for nothing as he stormed to an amazing round of 38 on the Crazy Golf course to take the title and the trophy.

The top three from l-r Richard Gottfried, Scott Lancley, Russ Dent

Results of the 2017 Great Northern Minigolf Open:
1st - Scott Lancley - 49+38=87
2nd - Richard Gottfried - 49+44=93
3rd - Russ Dent - 44+51=95
4th - Emily Gottfried - 52+49=101
5th - John Moore - 54+50=104
6th - Cat Patterson - 65+59=124
7th - Ryan Lancley - 65 DNF
8th - Ethan Rottenbury - 67 DNF
9th - Zoe Lancley - 83 DNF

Speaking after his victory Scott said "I'm humbled to have won the first Great Northern Minigolf Open and put my win down to my vast experience of the second course we played today."

Scott on his way to victory on the Crazy Golf course

Players had travelled from Kent, other parts of Greater Manchester, Bedfordshire and Tyneside to compete in the tournament.

For once John Moore hadn't travelled the furthest to compete

The Aces championship for most holes-in-one was a very close contest. The first course had proven incredibly tough and no players had recorded an ace during the 18-holes. John Moore was the first to hit an ace, doing so on hole 1 of the Crazy Golf course. Richard followed this with a hole-in-one on the second. There was another drought until Russ hit a perfect shot on the 14th hole. Emily managed until the last minute to get an ace, doing so on the 18th. However, it was to be Scott taking the Aces title to go alongside the main event as he hit aces on the 16th and 18th to do the double.

Nuts! Richard playing the Adventure Golf course

Russ on his way to a clubhouse lead after round one

Scott in action during round one

Emily plays the Tank hole 16th on the Crazy Golf course

The Social Fun and Games Club at Roof East

Birdies Crazy Golf to be a part of the Social Fun and Games Club in London.

This summer the Social Fun and Games Club is launching on a rooftop in East London. From Thursday 4th of May you can visit Roof East in Stratford to have a game of minigolf on the Birdies Crazy Golf course.

Loopy for Crazy Golf

The Social Fun and Games Club looks brilliant fun. In addition to playing rooftop Crazy Golf you can also have a game of bowls or play baseball. if sport isn't your thing then you can relax at the Rooftop Film Club or have a dance and skate at Rooftop Rollers - the first rooftop roller disco in London. There will also be cocktails and street food available.

Birdies Crazy Golf was the 672nd course visited on our tour

We played Birdies Crazy Golf back in 2015! How time flies.



Visit the Social Fun and Games Club and Roof East websites for more information, opening times and prices.

Check out this list of Crazy Golf courses in London to see where you can get your fix of the game in the capital.

Links:
- Social Fun and Games Club website
- Roof East website

Related blog posts:
- Details of Crazy Golf, Minigolf and Adventure Golf courses in London
- Rooftop Minigolf Courses in London
- Playing Mini Golf in London at Birdies Crazy Golf Club
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Videos:
- Minigolf at Birdies Crazy Golf Club in Waterloo, London (1 of 2)
- Minigolf at Birdies Crazy Golf Club in Waterloo, London (2 of 2)

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.

York Art Gallery to host Leisure Land Golf this summer

Doug Fishbone's Leisure Land Golf travels to York Art Gallery.

York Art Gallery will be hosting Doug Fishbone's Leisure Land Golf this summer, with the Crazy Golf course open from the 3rd June to 3rd September. The miniature golf layout consists of holes and obstacles created by different artists from the contemporary art world.

Our friends and minigolf rivals Gareth and Lhurlyn Holmes were lucky enough to play Doug Fishbone's Leisure Land Golf course at the Venice Biennale in 2015, while I got to have a game on the course in a visit to the New Art Exhange in Nottingham with another friend and rival Jam Trubridge last summer. The art-installation Crazy Golf course became the 401st played and 682nd visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Alongside more traditional collections, York Art Gallery endeavours to bring a variety of artworks to the gallery including contemporary pieces by cutting-edge artists.

Doug Fishbone's Leisure Land Golf will be open to the public from the 3rd June to the 3rd September 2017 in the Artists Garden. Created during York Art Gallery’s recent refurbishment, the Artists Garden is a free public space used to display a changing series of art installations, offering a place of reflection and inspiration in the heart of the city centre.

York Art Gallery recently ran an Art Happens campaign to bring the course to the city. Entry to the Artists Garden is free. For a small fee, or for those donors who selected one of the higher rewards in the Art Happens campaign, visitors can play a round of crazy golf during garden open times.

We're looking forward to playing the course in its new location this summer. Emily and I love visiting York and Yorkshire. Now we live up north we're hoping to visit the area even more in the coming weeks, months and years.

Check out the York Art Gallery website for more information on Doug Fishbone's Leisure Land Golf.

What a scrap metal van!

I spotted this Scrap Metal van in Cheadle Hulme earlier and had to get a snap of it. There's so much going on on it!

Let Stevie Scrap move your cr*p!