Sunday, November 04, 2018

Invasion of Manchester

Searching out Invader street art in Manchester.


MAN_16 - 10 points
MAN_16 - 10 points - my favourite

As a fan of retro videogames, tickable lists and urban exploration it's been brilliant to go 'Invader Hunting' in Manchester over the last year.

A Super Mario Invader - MAN_17 - 30 point
A Super Mario Invader - MAN_17 - 30 points

French street artist Invader visited the city in 2004 and put up 47 pieces of mosaic tile art with a total points value of 970. They look superb.

Yesterday I managed to find the last of the Invaders currently in place in Manchester.

Space Invader street art in Manchester
Invader Hunter

This was MAN_27 and a reactivation of a piece made by Invader in 2004. Unfortunately some of the Invaders have been destroyed or stolen, while some of the buildings the Invaders were on have been knocked down entirely!

The reactivated Invader MAN_27
The reactivated Invader MAN_27

To date I've managed to snap 37 Invaders on the Flash Invaders app - worth 770 points. I've also visited the locations of some of the destroyed / removed Invaders. Check out my Instagram profile to see more of them.

Space Invader MAN_45 in Manchester - 50 points
One of the large 50 pointers - MAN_45

I've seen some of the bootlegs / homages too.

_manic_ street art on Bunsen Street in Manchester
Not an Invader. This is the work of _manic_

Looking for the Space Invaders has been brilliant fun. Along with Emily we've seen a lot of the city we wouldn't necessarily have explored if we weren't Invader Hunting. It's always nice to be on a leaderboard for something too.

Number 14537 on the worldwide Flash Invaders leaderboard
I've got a way to go before I'll be troubling the top 100

The first Invader I spotted in Manchester that reminded me that they existed - and got me hooked on finding more - was MAN_08 on Withy Grove Stores on Dantzic Street.

Space Invader street art in Manchester
A classic

We've also snapped a few Invaders down in London and recently saw most of the Invaders in Newcastle.

To date Invader has invaded 77 cities around the world, putting up 3692 pieces. We're hoping to visit Paris where he's put up 1371 Invaders!

Check out the Invader website for more information.

Alex Ellison's Flickr page, Invader-Spotter and a whole host of people on Instagram have been very helpful in finding some of the more out of the way and hidden Invaders

Forgotten Garden Adventure Golf at The Alnwick Garden

A look at the Forgotten Garden Adventure Golf course in The Alnwick Garden at Alnwick Castle.


Forgotten Garden Adventure Golf at The Alnwick Garden by Christopher Gottfried 271018
The Fogotten Garden Adventure Golf course has some huge obstacles and decorations

Charter member of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Christopher Gottfried has added another course visit to his list as he recently spotted the Forgotten Garden Adventure Golf course in The Alnwick Garden while on a trip to Alnwick Castle in Northumberland.

Forgotten Garden Adventure Golf at The Alnwick Garden by Christopher Gottfried 271018
An oversized club, ball and spider at the miniature golf course

Forgotten Garden Adventure Golf at The Alnwick Garden by Christopher Gottfried 271018
At least the signmaker didn't forget

Forgotten Garden Adventure Golf at The Alnwick Garden by Christopher Gottfried 271018
A Tremor-sized worm!

Check out the Forgotten Garden Adventure Golf website for more details.

Forgotten Garden Adventure Golf at The Alnwick Garden by Christopher Gottfried 271018
Some nice big toadstool obstacles on the course

We're looking forward to playing the Forgotten Garden Adventure Golf and a visit to The Alnwick Garden - they've got a Poison Garden there! Intriguing.

Alnwick Castle by Christopher Gottfried 271018
Alnwick Castle

Christopher Gottfried has now been to 24 minigolf courses on his part of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, including courses in Turkey, Spain, Italy, Holland, Luxembourg, Germany, France and Indonesia!

Link:
- The Alnwick Garden

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Saturday, November 03, 2018

Fore Play Crazy Golf in Glasgow

There's a new indoor Crazy Golf course in Glasgow.

A new 9-hole indoor Crazy Golf course recently opened in Glasgow - Fore Play Crazy Golf.

Fore Play Crazy Golf is now open in Glasgow

Check out the Fore Play Crazy Golf website for more info.

It's another course we'll have to visit on our never-ending quest to visit every minigolf course in the UK. When we began in 2006 there were 600 courses. To date we've visited 853, including 38 courses overseas.

Friday, November 02, 2018

Glo Crazy in Harlow, Essex

We recently heard there's an indoor Crazy Golf course in Harlow, Essex.

The 12-hole UV glow in the dark Crazy Golf course is called Glo Crazy and can be found at the Q Entertainment centre in the town.

Glo Crazy UV minigolf is open in Harlow, Essex

Check out the Glo Crazy website for more info.

It's another course we'll have to visit on our never-ending quest to visit every minigolf course in the UK. When we began in 2006 there were 600 courses. To date we've visited 853, including 38 courses overseas.

Thursday, November 01, 2018

Teezers Crazy Golf in Coventry

There's a new indoor Crazy Golf course opening in Coventry this month, it's called Teezers.

Teezers Crazy Golf is opening in Coventry in November 2018

Check out the Teezers Coventry Facebook page for more info.

It's another course we'll have to visit on our seemingly never-ending quest to visit every minigolf course in the UK. When we began in 2006 there were 600 courses. To date we've visited 853, including 38 courses overseas.

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Crazy Golf in Dunoon

A look at the Crazy Golf course in Dunoon, Scotland.

Many thanks to Martin Evans, head of the Telegraph Pole Appreciation Society, for sending over this snap of the Crazy Golf course in Dunoon. It's a course we're yet to visit!

Crazy Golf at Dunoon. By Martin Evans September 2018

By a strange coincidence Telegraph Pole Appreciation Day and Miniature Golf Day are both on the 21st of September each year. Who would've thought there'd be so much crossover between the two hobbies.

You can view a post about the telegraph poles Martin found on his trip on the Telegraph Pole Appreciation Society website.

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

88 years since the first National Tom Thumb Golf Championship took place

Celebrating 88 years since the first National Tom Thumb Championship was contested in Chattanooga.


Garnet Carter created the first artificial miniature golf course in the USA in 1926. The first of the 'Tom Thumb Golf' brand of miniature golf course was an 18-hole layout located near Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee.


By 1930 there were some 25,000 miniature golf courses in the USA, 3,000 of which were the now patented Tom Thumb course franchises.


The course and fantasy theming soon caught the imagination of visitors and on the 23rd October 1930 the final of the first-ever National Tom Thumb Championship took place.

Qualifying events had taken place in all of the then 48 states of the USA, with 200 players representing 30 states in the grand final. The event had a total cash fund of $10,000, with the champion winning $2,000!

Le Tom Thumb Golf, Westende Bains, Belgium
We haven't played a Tom Thumb Golf course on our travels, but we do have some nice old postcards of Tom Thumb courses in our collection. This one is of a course at Westende Bains in Belgium

Today hundreds of tournaments take place around the world and the game is experiencing a real boom.

Check out the Crazy Golf Museum website for more details of minigolf history.

Monday, October 22, 2018

Mini Golf at Brodick, Isle of Arran

A view of the Crazy Golf course at Brodick, Isle of Arran.

Stockport-based artist Eamonn Murphy recently stumped us on Twitter when he challenged us to identify a Crazy Golf course he had visited.

Crazy Golf at Brodick, Isle of Arran by Eamonn Murphy, September 2018
What a location for a course

We had no idea it was the course at The Taste of Arran Shop & Mini Golf in Brodick, Isle of Arran.

It looks like a cracking layout with some wonderful views. We can't wait to play it.

Like buses, you don't see the Crazy Golf course in Brodick in twelve years of minigolfing and then two people tell you about the course! Check out Martin Evans photo of the course in this guest blog post.

Crazy Golf at Brodick, Isle of Arran

A look at the Crazy Golf course at Brodick, Isle of Arran.

A big thank you to Martin Evans, founder of the Telegraph Pole Appreciation Society, for sending over this photo of the Crazy Golf course at Brodick on the Isle of Arran. It's a course we're yet to visit and it looks marvellous!

Crazy Golf at Brodick, Isle of Arran. By Martin Evans September 2018
What a colourful layout

You can find the course at The Taste of Arran Shop & Mini Golf.

By a strange coincidence Telegraph Pole Appreciation Day and Miniature Golf Day are both on the 21st of September each year. Who would've thought there'd be so much crossover between the two hobbies.

You can view a post about the telegraph poles Martin found on his trip on the society website.

Like buses, you don't see the Crazy Golf course in Brodick in twelve years of crazy golfing and then two people tell you about the course! Check out Eamonn Murphy's photo of the course in this guest blog post.

Sunday, October 21, 2018

Guide to constructing a minigolf course from Mini Golf Ltd

Stan Stoyanov of Mini Golf Ltd. recently got in touch offering a free intro guide to constructing a minigolf course. Take a look at the PDF.

It's an interesting look into what goes into bringing a miniature golf course to life!

Stan Stoyanov and Mini Golf Ltd. are based in Sofia, Bulgaria and you can see a gallery of courses on the website.

38 of the 847 courses we've visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour have been overseas, but we haven't been to Bulgaria. Yet.

Links:
- Miniature Golf Plans
- Free Guide from Mini Golf Ltd

Southwold Putting in Suffolk

A visit to Southwold Putting and Cafe on the Green.


Southwold Putting & Cafe on the Green
You get a splendid view of the art deco pier from the course

While on a trip to East Anglia in May we swung by the seaside town of Southwold and were pleasantly surprised to see the Putting course there was open. On our last visit to Southwold in May 2009 we were two days too early to play it!

Southwold Putting & Cafe on the Green
The course was the 478th played on our tour

The Southwold Putting & Cafe on the Green site has new operators and it looks a lot different to 2009.

Southwold Putting & Cafe on the Green

Southwold Putting & Cafe on the Green
A lovely spot for a nice sit down, or a game of minigolf. Or both

The Southwold Putting course was the 478th played and 811th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We're now up to 847 courses visited since September 2006.

Southwold Putting & Cafe on the Green
The course was a good test of putting skill

Southwold Putting & Cafe on the Green
I managed to score aces on the 7th and 11th holes. It's always nice to score holes-in-one on grass Putting courses

It was really nice to have a round on the Putting course at Southwold. I managed to shoot the low round of the week and qualify for the course's end-of-season tournament too! What a nice bonus.

Southwold Putting & Cafe on the Green
The previous best had been a 45

The end-of-season competition is taking place on Sunday 28th October. Unfortunately I won't be able to compete in the two-round tournament this time. I'd love to give the course another go though. Fingers crossed the competitors get some unseasonably nice weather for the event next weekend.

Check out Southwold Putting & Cafe on the Green on Facebook for more info.

Related blog posts:
- Southwold
- Southwold Putting Green (2009)
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Link:
- Southwold Putting & Cafe on the Green

Crazy Golf in Leysdown-on-Sea, Isle of Sheppey

A look at the Crazy Golf course in Leysdown-on-Sea, Isle of Sheppey.


Crazy Golf in Leysdown-on-Sea, Isle of Sheppey. Photo by Simon Martin, October 2018

Many thanks to our friend Simon Martin for sending over these snaps of the Crazy Golf in Leysdown, Isle of Sheppey. It's a new one for us to see!

Crazy Golf in Leysdown-on-Sea, Isle of Sheppey. Photo by Simon Martin, October 2018

The only miniature golf course we found on our visit to the Isle of Sheppey in 2014 was the Pitch & Putt at Barton's Point Coastal Park.

We'll have to swing by next time we're down that way.

Check out Simon's website, including the Mini Golf photography project he did a few years ago.

Related blog posts:
- Mini Golf by Simon Martin
- Simon Martin
- Isle of Sheppey
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Dragon's Lair Mini Golf in North Wildwood, New Jersey

A look at the Dragon's Lair Mini Golf course in North Wildwood, New Jersey, USA.


Dragon's Lair Mini Golf course in North Wildwood, New Jersey. Photo by Adam Lueb, 2018

Many thanks to Adam Lueb for sending over these great photos from his visit to the Dragon's Lair Mini Golf course in North Wildwood New Jersey. Another course we'd love to visit!

Dragon's Lair Mini Golf course in North Wildwood, New Jersey. Photo by Adam Lueb, 2018

Dragon's Lair Mini Golf course in North Wildwood, New Jersey. Photo by Adam Lueb, 2018

Dragon's Lair Mini Golf course in North Wildwood, New Jersey. Photo by Adam Lueb, 2018

It's interesting to see a glow in the dark medieval themed course. I bet my brother, and charter member of the Crazy World Minigolf Tour, Christopher would love to play the course too. He's really into knights and castles.

Dragon's Lair Mini Golf course in North Wildwood, New Jersey. Photo by Adam Lueb, 2018

Check out the guest blog posts from Adam's visits to minigolf course at Funspot New Hampshire and Bermuda Fun Golf.

Dragon's Lair Mini Golf course in North Wildwood, New Jersey. Photo by Adam Lueb, 2018
On Adam's trip to Bermuda he had to follow some green feet to another course!

Many thanks again to Adam for the snaps from Dragon's Lair. Do give him a follow on Instagram.

Check out the Dragon's Lair Mini Golf website for more information.

Sunday, October 14, 2018

Bali Mini Golf in Indonesia

Photos from a course visit to Bali Mini Golf in Indonesia.


Bali Mini Golf in Indonesia

Charter member of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Christopher Gottfried was recently on holiday in Bali, Indonesia and while there he swung by Bali Mini Golf and Luwak Coffee Garden!

Bali Mini Golf and Luwak Coffee Garden in Indonesia
Christopher at Bali Mini Golf

You can find minigolf courses - and interesting business combinations - around the world!

Bali Mini Golf and Luwak Coffee Garden in Indonesia

Bali Mini Golf in Indonesia

Bali Mini Golf in Indonesia

Bali Mini Golf in Indonesia

Bali Mini Golf in Indonesia
  
Bali Mini Golf in Indonesia

Bali Mini Golf in Indonesia

Bali Mini Golf in Indonesia


Since 2011 Christopher has now visited 23 courses on his own mini-Crazy World of Minigolf Tour! Details below:

  1. Brighton - Crazy Golf
  2. Paignton Pier - Crazy Golf
  3. Herne Bay - Mini Golf
  4. Great Yarmouth - Windmill Theatre Indoor Crazy Golf
  5. Margate (Cliftonville) - Little Oasis Crazy Golf
  6. Newquay - Mini Golf
  7. Letoonia Golf Resort, Belek, Turkey - Minigolf
  8. Mundesley - Adventure Island Golf
  9. Ladram Bay - Crazy Golf
  10. Majorca (Vista Alegre, Porto Cristo, Mallorca) - Minigolf
  11. Sirmione, Lake Garda, Italy - Minigolf
  12. Gorleston-on-Sea (Pop's Meadow) - Crazy Golf
  13. Amsterdam - GlowGolf
  14. Remich, Luxembourg - Eternit Miniature Golf
  15. Nittel, Germany - Minigolf
  16. Zeltingen-Rachtig, Germany - Beton Minigolf
  17. Traben-Trarbach, Germany - Eternit Miniature Golf
  18. Kobern-Gondorf, Germany - Abenteuergolf
  19. Kobern-Gondorf, Germany - Eternit Miniature Golf
  20. Bernkastel-Kues, Germany - Minigolf
  21. Ville de Sète, France - Mini Golf - now a skatepark
  22. Lac de la Cavayère, Carcassonne, France - Mini Golf - only open in July and August
  23. Bali Mini Golf and Luwak Coffee Garden, Indonesia - Mini Golf


Related blog posts:
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Christopher Gottfried
- Guest Blog Posts

Link:
- Bali Mini Golf

Hitting another milestone on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

We've recently had a cracking weekend away and visited seven new minigolf courses, playing six of them as one had closed down.

Our mini-roadtrip took us to Newcastle Upon Tyne, Hartlepool, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Skelton-in-Cleveland and Seaton Carew.

We've now been to 846 courses overall, 808 in the British Isles and played 500 of them.

Emily and Richard Gottfried at Saltburn Minigolf course
At Saltburn Minigolf course

The latest additions to our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour visited list are:


More photos and videos to follow here on the blog and on our social media accounts.

Mario mini market in Levenshulme

Spotting Super Mario at a European food store in Levenshulme, Manchester.


Mario Mini Market on the Stockport Road in Levenshulme, Manchester

While having a wander along the Stockport Road in Levenshulme we spotted Super Mario on the sign for a mini market!

Mario Mini Market in Levenshulme, Manchester

In August we spotted Mario's takeway in Blackpool. That place also had Luigi on the window.

Related blog posts:
- Bootleg
- Mario
Super Mario