Thursday, October 26, 2017

Mini Golf at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge

A look at the Mini Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull.

Mini Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull
It was a very wet Saturday when we called into the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge

On Saturday 9th September we visited the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge to play the new 18-hole Adventure Golf course. While there we also had to have a look at the 12-hole Mini Golf course - we've played it so many times over the years. It was the 72nd course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2008.

Mini Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull
Hole 1

Mini Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull
A nice hole to start your round - but it can be a tough second putt if you don't get your reboud right

Mini Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull
Hole 2

Mini Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull
The optical illusion can trick you into playing too hard a shot. This will leave you with a tough second putt

Mini Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull
Hole 3

Mini Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull
A nice ace opportunity

Mini Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull
Hole 4

Mini Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull
A nice tester

Hole 5

Mini Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull
Another good chance of a hole in one

Hole 6

Mini Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull
A good ace hole too

Mini Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull
Hole 7

Mini Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull
A potential round killer!

Mini Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull
Hole 8

Mini Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull
You need to play a perfectly paced shot on this hole. The reward is a lovely hole in one

Mini Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull
Hole 9

You do not want to end up in the ditch

Mini Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull
Hole 10

Mini Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull
I don't think I've ever scored a hole in one on this hole

Mini Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull
Hole 11

Mini Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull
Another potential round ruiner!

Mini Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull
Hole 12

Mini Golf course at Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull
A nice way to end your round

Visit the Four Ashes Golf Centre website for more information, opening times and prices.

Related blog posts:
- Minigolf Course Number 72 - Dorridge 
- Minigolf at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge
- Dorridge
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Adventure Golf course at the Four Ashes Golf Centre

Link:
- Four Ashes Golf Centre website

Video:
- Mini Golf at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge

Minigolf Apps

A look at minigolf apps.

There are a lot of apps about to enhance your minigolf experience and they offer a range of scoring functions, loyalty and reward schemes, games, reviews, contests, information and tips.

The Hastings Adventure Golf App and hole 2 in real-life - it's the trickiest hole on the Crazy Golf course in Hastings
The Hastings Adventure Golf App and hole 2 in real-life - it's the trickiest hole on the Crazy Golf course in Hastings

There's certainly a real mixed bag of apps available on Android and iPhone. Links below are to the Google Play Store location:




Have you had the chance to use one of these apps whilst enjoying a round recently? How do they compare with paper scorecards? Or do you know of any others? Let us know in the comments.

Related blog posts:
- New Mini Golf App
- App

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea

Playing the Crazy Golf course at the Rhos Fynach pub and restaurant in Rhos on Sea.


Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea
You can find the course on Rhos Promenade

We began our holiday in North Wales at Colwyn Bay and Rhos on Sea on Miniature Golf Day. To celebrate the occasion we teed-off on the Crazy Golf course at the Rhos Fynach pub and restaurant in Rhos on Sea.

Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea
Holing out on The Pirates Skull hole

Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea
The sign has a nice map of the course

Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea
Nice to see a windmill on the course

The Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea became the 462nd played and 781st visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea
The green of the windmill hole has a plateau on it too

In our match-up on the 9-hole course I won with a score of 31 to Emily's 34.

Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea
Playing out the windmill hole

Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea
Hole 3 - The Squid - is one of two holes on the course that has a choice of cups to aim for. A 'Kids' and an 'Adults' version - both were pretty tough!

Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea
The pirate ship on the 6th hole
 
Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea
Always nice to see some Crazy Golf advertising

The course has an excellent scorecard with a nice map of the layout.

Scorecard from the Rhos Fynach Crazy Golf course in Rhos on Sea
The course map is a neat touch

Scorecard from the Rhos Fynach Crazy Golf course in Rhos on Sea
The results of our round

Check out the Rhos Fynach website for more information, opening times and prices.

Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea
"Rules is Rules"!

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Rhos on Sea
- Wales

Link:
- Rhos Fynach

Videos:
- Crazy Golf at Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea - Hole 1
- Crazy Golf at Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea - Hole 5

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Broomy Hill Miniature Railway in Hereford

Visiting another miniature railway on our travels.

On Sunday 8th October we made an unexpected visit to a miniature railway. On our recent road-trip we made a stop in Hereford to look for a miniature golf course at Bishops Meadow (#788 on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour). While driving over the bridge into the town we spotted a sign for a miniature railway, so after finding the minigolf course we had to go to the railway as well. We're very glad we did as it was superb.

Broomy Hill Miniature Railway in Hereford

The Broomy Hill Miniature Railway is next to the Waterworks Museum and when we arrived just after lunch we found the trains well under steam.

Broomy Hill Miniature Railway in Hereford
The Broomy Hill Miniature Railway is spread out over a nice area

There are actually two miniature railways at Broomy Hill - a 'normal' miniature railway with larger miniature engines and an elevated track with model engines. Wonderful stuff.

Broomy Hill Miniature Railway in Hereford
One of the larger trains passes by the line out of Compton High Level Station

We had to have a go on both tracks and so joined the queue to buy our tickets. It was nice to see the railway busy. The weather was lovely and there were a number of groups, families and couples enjoying the afternoon.

Broomy Hill Miniature Railway in Hereford
The Rules

Broomy Hill Miniature Railway in Hereford
Ticket number one

Broomy Hill Miniature Railway in Hereford
The second 2nd Class ticket

If you're a fan of miniature railways then you'll love Broomy Hill.

Broomy Hill Miniature Railway in Hereford
Broomy Hill was the eleventh miniature railway we've visited since last year!

Broomy Hill Miniature Railway in Hereford
Riding the Santa Fe

Broomy Hill Miniature Railway in Hereford
There were plenty of trains running so we didn't spend too long queuing for our go

Broomy Hill Miniature Railway is operated by the Hereford Society of Model Engineers Ltd. Visit their website for more information and opening times.

Broomy Hill Miniature Railway in Hereford

Broomy Hill Miniature Railway in Hereford
Some of the model trains

There are plenty of spots for a nice sit down along the lines too.

Broomy Hill Miniature Railway in Hereford
Howards Halt

Broomy Hill Miniature Railway in Hereford
What a view

Broomy Hill Miniature Railway in Hereford
Having a sit down in Compton

Related blog posts:
- Miniature Railways
Hereford

Link:
- Broomy Hill Miniature Railway / Hereford Society of Model Engineers

Videos:
- The Sante Fe on the Hereford Miniature Railway
- A L.N.E.R. steam engine on the Hereford Model Railway

Happy World Tripe Day

Celebrating World Tripe Day 2017.

There's plenty of tripe at the market in Leeds

Today is World Tripe Day - an opportunity for tripe lovers to celebrate their love of tripe.

There's plenty of tripe at the market in Leeds
There's plenty of tripe at the market in Leeds 

Check out the Tripe Marketing Board's blog for some top tips for celebrating World Tripe Day.

Ever since I first spotted tripe on a butcher's stall at Wigan Market in 2012 I've been following the Tripe Marketing Board with interest. Although not enough interest to have actually eaten tripe. I'm fairly certain that cow's stomach is something of an acquired taste.

Tripe spotted in Stockport
Tripe spotted in Stockport

Otherwise known as Chitterlings
I'm all for truth in advertising, but blimey!

The Tripe Marketing Board is dedicated to educating the public about eating tripe as part of a healthy, balanced diet and was formed as an industry-wide response to the continuing post-war decline in tripe sales in the UK. This was due to the ending of rationing, increasing affluence and a widespread perception that it is not fit for human consumption.

The Tripe Marketing Board tell me that up until the 1960s you could find hundreds of tripe shops throughout Lancashire, with many of the shops run by United Cattle Products (UCP) and offering nose-to-tail food at the attached cafes and restaurants. The country's last remaining Tripe Shop is in Stalybridge. I'll have to go there when I eventually get round to travelling on the once a week Parliamentary one-way rail service from Stockport to Stalybridge.

Visit the Tripe Marketing Board website for more information about tripe. You can also use Tripe Adviser to locate sellers of the delicacy.

Links:
Tripe Marketing Board website
Tripe Marketing Board on Twitter
Tripe Marketing Board on Facebook

Related blog posts:
Marketing
- Tripe
Food
- Tripe in Stockport
There's truth in advertising and then there's this!

Putting Course at Bishops Meadow in Hereford

A visit to the Putting Course at Bishops Meadow in Hereford.

Bishops Meadow Putting Green in Hereford
Hole 1

On Sunday 8th October we stopped off in Hereford to visit the Putting Course at Bishops Meadow. Unfortunately the course wasn't open so we couldn't have a game.

Bishops Meadow Putting Green in Hereford
Bishops Meadow Putting Green in Hereford

Bishops Meadow Putting Green in Hereford
Another unplayed course added to our tour

Bishops Meadow Putting Green in Hereford
There's no hole on hole 1

Bishops Meadow Putting Green in Hereford
Hole 2

Having a wander around the 18-holes it looked like holes 5-8 to have disappeared as part of some building work.

Bishops Meadow Putting Green in Hereford
The fairway of hole 5

The Putting Course at Bishops Meadow in Hereford was the 788th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

Bishops Meadow Putting Green in Hereford
Hole 12

On our previous visit to Hereford we played the Adventure Golf course next to the Bowling Alley. That course was #194 on the tour.

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

Monday, October 23, 2017

Adventure Golf at Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham

Playing the two Adventure Golf courses at Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham.


Golden Putter Adventure Golf at Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham

On Saturday 9th September we swung by Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham to play the two 18-hole Golden Putter Adventure Golf courses.

Golden Putter Adventure Golf at Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham
The second hole on the Red course. One of only two holes I aced on our visit

The courses were the 458th and 459th played, and 771st and 772nd visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Golden Putter Adventure Golf at Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham
You could take an interesting route to reach the cup on this hole

In our minigolf match-up on the Black course I won with a score of 46 to Emily's 56. On the Red course we tied with scores of 43.

Golden Putter Adventure Golf at Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham
The weather in the morning had been dreadful and made for some extra tricky putting!
 
Golden Putter Adventure Golf at Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham
A very soggy green

As well as the courses in Birmingham, Golden Putter has layouts in Wroxham, Rotherham and Warwick. Visit the Golden Putter website for more information, opening times and prices.

Golden Putter Adventure Golf at Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham
The Rules

Cannon Hill Park was really nice and we had a pleasant time having a wander. The mac theatre and arts centre in the park is well worth a visit too.

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Mini Golf at Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham
- Cannon Hill Park
- Birmingham

Link:
- Golden Putter website

Videos:
- Adventure Golf at Golden Putter Adventure Golf in Birmingham 1, 2