Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Minigolf in Carcassonne - Lac de la Cavayère

A look at the minigolf course in Lac de la Cavayère, France.


Minigolf in Carcassonne - Lac de la Cavayère. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2018

Charter member of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Christopher Gottfried has been off on his travels in continental Europe again and this time has come up trumps in finding a minigolf course at Lac de la Cavayère.

Minigolf in Carcassonne - Lac de la Cavayère. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2018

However, the course is only open in July and August!

Minigolf in Carcassonne - Lac de la Cavayère. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2018

Minigolf in Carcassonne - Lac de la Cavayère. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2018

Minigolf in Carcassonne - Lac de la Cavayère. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2018

Minigolf in Carcassonne - Lac de la Cavayère. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2018
  
Minigolf in Carcassonne - Lac de la Cavayère. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2018

Minigolf in Carcassonne - Lac de la Cavayère. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2018
A view of the course from afar

Christopher remarked that the place seems to combine my love of mini golf and park benches... one for every hole it seems!

Minigolf in Carcassonne - Lac de la Cavayère. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2018
What a lovely spot it'd be to have a sit down

Minigolf in Carcassonne - Lac de la Cavayère. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2018
There do certainly seem to be ample facilities for sitting

A couple of days ago Christopher was in Sète and spotted Mini Golf listed on this map (C1), however it's been turned into a skatepark.

Mini Golf in Sète, France. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2018
C1 is now a skatepark

Earlier this month Christopher ticked off a few more minigolf course visits in Europe during a cycling trip in the Mosel Valley in Luxembourg and Germany.

Saturday, May 26, 2018

Putting Green at Beach Gardens in Swanage, Dorset

A look at the minigolf grass Putting course at Beach Gardens in Swanage.


Many thanks to our friend and minigolf rival Tiger Pragnell for sending over these minigolf snaps from his recent trip to Swanage. While on holiday in the Dorset seaside resort he found a Putting Green that we missed on our tour of the South West coast in 2015!

Putting Green at Beach Gardens in Swanage, Dorset. Photo by Tiger Pragnell, May 2018

Putting Green at Beach Gardens in Swanage, Dorset. Photo by Tiger Pragnell, May 2018

Putting Green at Beach Gardens in Swanage, Dorset. Photo by Tiger Pragnell, May 2018
A nice flag. And bench

Tiger also swung by the Jurassic Adventure Golf course at the Santa-Fe Fun Park on the seafront. That particular course was the 600th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The Adventure Golf course in Swanage. Photo by Tiger Pragnell, May 2018
The Adventure Golf course in Swanage

Adventure Golf at Dinton Pastures Country Park in Wokingham

A look at the new Adventure Golf course at Dinton Pastures Country Park in Wokingham.


Many thanks to fellow minigolf adventurer Matt Dodd for sending over a snap from his visit to the new Adventure Golf at Dinton Pastures Country Park in Wokingham.

Dinton Adventure Golf. Photo by Matt Dodd, May 2018

The 18-hole Dinton Adventure Golf layout opened earlier this month and Matt and his family were among the first players to have a round on the course.

Dinton Adventure Golf course is located at Dinton Pastures Country Park, Davis Street, Hurst, Wokingham, Berkshire RG10 0TH. Visit the Dinton Adventure Golf course website for more info.

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Happy Birthday Pac-Man

Today is Pac-Man's 38th birthday!


Pac-Man was originally launched in Japan on the 22nd May 1980. His first appearance in the USA was on the 10th October.

Pac-Man at Level in Preston
The last place I saw Pac-Man was at Level in Preston while visiting the new Crazy Golf course there

I'm a big fan of Pac-Man and have seen him (and some of his clones) a fair bit on my travels.

Not Pac-Man
'Pac-Man' on a shop sign in Preston

Check out all the other Pac-Man related blog posts on the Ham & Egger Files. I think Credit Cruncher in Bristol is my favourite bootleg Pac-Man shop sign.

Monday, May 14, 2018

Crazy Golf at Hall Lane in Upminster

A look back at the Crazy Golf course at Hall Lane in Upminster.


My mate and minigolf rival Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd recently sent me over these pics of the Crazy Golf at Hall Lane in Upminster, Essex from his archive. They were taken a couple of years ago and before the 2017 refurbishment of the course.

Crazy Golf at Hall Lane in Upminster. Photo by Brad Shepherd 2016

Crazy Golf at Hall Lane in Upminster. Photo by Brad Shepherd 2016

Crazy Golf at Hall Lane in Upminster. Photo by Brad Shepherd 2016

Check out what the Hall Lane Crazy Golf course looks like now on the Upminster & Cranham Residents' Association website. Very smart and clean.

The course was never open on my previous visits back in 2010 and 2012 on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Sunday, May 13, 2018

Miniature Railway in Ipswich

Taking a look at the track layout at Ipswich Model Engineering Society.


We recently found out there's a Miniature Railway in Ipswich. Emily grew up in the town and we visit often, but never knew about it!


Last Sunday we popped along for a look. It was marvellous.

The station, bridge and signage at Ipswich Miniature Railway - wonderful

Hopefully we'll be able to coincide a future visit to the town with one of the Ipswich Model Engineering Society open days.

We had a nice chat with one of the club members who told us about the history of the club and track layouts. Ipswich Model Engineering  



Ipswich Miniature Railway

Ipswich Miniature Railway

Ipswich Miniature Railway

Miniature Railway in Ipswich

Check out the Ipswich Model Engineering Society website and Facebook group for more info.

Miniature Railway in Ipswich
You can find the Miniature Railway tucked away down this path off Foxhall Road

Related blog posts:
- Miniature Railways
- Ipswich

Munch Mart in Ipswich

We spotted what looked like Pac-Man on a shop sign while driving along Nacton Road in Ipswich last weekend! We had to stop to get a snap of it.

Munch Mart in Ipswich
That's not Pac-Man!

Mini Golf at Sandown Park Golf Centre in Surrey

A look at the new Adventure Golf course at Sandown Park Golf Centre in Surrey.


Many thanks to my mate, minigolf rival and blogger Oliver 'The Machine' Florence for these snaps of the horse-themed Adventure Golf course at Sandown Park Golf Centre, taken during a round against Richard 'Michael Skaggs' Skeggs.

Richard Skeggs playing Mini Golf at Sandown Park Golf Centre in Surrey. Photo by Oliver Florence 120518
I've never seen a tee-off area like this before!

I'm looking forward to playing a round there on my Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Richard Skeggs playing Mini Golf at Sandown Park Golf Centre in Surrey. Photo by Oliver Florence 120518
What a huge minigolf loop-di-loop

The minigolf course at Sandown Park Golf Centre looks like it'd be a nice spot to play the biannual Surrey Invitational Tournament on.

Saturday, May 12, 2018

Happy National Miniature Golf Day!

Today is a prime time to play a game of minigolf as it's National Miniature Golf Day.


Crazy Golf at the Rhos Fynach in Rhos on Sea
Have a great day!

We hope you have a superb time wherever you get to play the game.

Friday, May 11, 2018

Coeliac UK Awareness Week

Coeliac UK’s Awareness Week starts on Monday 14th May.


Coeliac Disease is a lifelong autoimmune condition, where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. In Coeliac Disease, the immune system mistakes substances found inside gluten as a threat to the body and attacks them. This can trigger a number of painful, stressful and uncomfortable symptoms.

Next month is my tenth year gluten free. Any suggestions for how I can celebrate my Coeliacversary?

My life as a Coeliac in LEGO form
My life as a Coeliac in LEGO form

Having suffered from a range of symptoms for around ten years I finally received a positive diagnosis of Coeliac Disease following some 'interesting' tests and procedures in 2008. It came as a relief to finally have a name for the mysterious cause of my illnesses and ailments, but at the time I was only given a brief summary and told that I'd have to "cut down on bread and beer". It was only later when I met with my Gastroenterologist and a dietitian that I found out that the only treatment for people with Coeliac Disease is a strict, life-long gluten free diet.

Coeliac Richard Gottfried
There's no sign of gluten in me

For more information about Coeliac Disease and Coeliac UK's Awareness Week visit the Coeliac UK website.

May is Celiac Awareness Month in the USA.

Wednesday, May 09, 2018

Minigolf in the Mosel Valley, Germany

A selection of minigolf photos from a cycling trip in the Mosel Valley, Germany.


Charter Member of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Christopher Gottfried has just returned from a cycling trip in the Mosel Valley, Germany. While travelling along the route he managed to spot quite a few miniature golf courses.

He began his journey in Luxembourg where he found this Eternit Miniature Golf course on the Esplanade de la Moselle in Remich.

Miniature Golf course on the Esplanade de la Moselle in Remich. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2018
Minigolf in Remich

He followed that visit over the border in Germany when he went looking for the Minigolf course in Nittel.

A sign for the Minigolf course in Nittel. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2018
A sign for the Minigolf course in Nittel

Next up was a stop in Zeltingen-Rachtig where he found this Beton / Concrete style of Minigolf course.

The Minigolf course in Zeltingen-Rachtig. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2018
The Minigolf course in Zeltingen-Rachtig

The Minigolf course in Zeltingen-Rachtig. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2018
The Hammer Cage lane - you have to pitch the ball from a tee, across the grass and onto a large concrete circular 'green. We've played this tricky hole in Finland and Sweden

In Traben-Trarbach he found this Eternit Miniature Golf layout.

The approach to the minigolf course in Traben-Trarbach. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2018
The approach to the minigolf course in Traben-Trarbach

The minigolf course in Traben-Trarbach. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2018
The Eternit miniature golf course in Traben-Trarbach

The minigolf course in Traben-Trarbach. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2018
The minigolf course in Traben-Trarbach

While in Kobern-Gondorf he spotted an indoor Abenteuergolf course, as well as an Eternit Miniature Golf.

Abenteuergolf course in Kobern-Gondorf. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2018
Christopher Gottfried outside an indoor Adventure Golf course in Kobern-Gondorf

The Miniature Golf course in Kobern-Gondorf. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2018
The Eternit Miniature Golf course in Kobern-Gondorf

The last course he found on his mini-tour was in Bernkastel-Kues.

Minigolf course in Bernkastel-Kues. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2018
The minigolf course in Bernkastel-Kues

Check out the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list for details of the 815 courses Emily and I have visited, along with the 20 Christopher has been too as well.

Knowing my interest in petanque and trains Christopher also sent over these snaps from the trip.

A Boule-Platz in Traben-Trarbach. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2018
A Boule-Platz in Traben-Trarbach

A freight train in Bernkastel-Kues. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2018
A freight train in Bernkastel-Kues

Tuesday, May 08, 2018

Bermuda Fun Golf

A look at Bermuda Fun Golf.


Many thanks to Adam Lueb for sending over these great photos from his visit to Bermuda. He was recently on holiday in the British Island territory and swung by one of the few miniature golf courses in the area, located as it is in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Bermuda Fun Golf. Photo by Adam Lueb, May 2018

It's always brilliant to see snaps of different courses around the world. Hopefully one day we'll get to play the course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, but in the meantime we can check out the course and views in the pics.

Bermuda Fun Golf. Photo by Adam Lueb, May 2018

Bermuda Fun Golf. Photo by Adam Lueb, May 2018

Bermuda Fun Golf. Photo by Adam Lueb, May 2018

Bermuda Fun Golf. Photo by Adam Lueb, May 2018

Bermuda Fun Golf. Photo by Adam Lueb, May 2018

Follow the big green feet to Bermuda Fun Golf. Photo by Adam Lueb, May 2018
These big green feet start by the main street off the dock and lead to the snorkel beach fun area

Bermuda Fun Golf. Photo by Adam Lueb, May 2018

You can find Bermuda Fun Golf at the Royal Naval Dockyard, Sandys Parish, Bermuda. Check out the Bermuda Fun Golf website for more pics and info.

Bermuda Fun Golf. Photo by Adam Lueb, May 2018

Many thanks again to Adam for the pics. Do give him a follow on Instagram.

Last year Adam was in New Hampshire and sent me a photo of the indoor miniature golf course at Funspot New Hampshire - the 'The Largest Arcade in the World'!

This Saturday is National Miniature Golf Day

National Miniature Golf Day is always on the second Saturday in May, this year it falls on Saturday 12th May.


Jiggers Miniature Golf in Thorpeness - the 814th course we've visited

We hope you have a brilliant time wherever you get to play the game.

For some inspiration, why not check out the list of 815 courses we've visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Monday, May 07, 2018

Now up to 815 minigolf course visits

We've just got back from a brilliant long weekend of minigolf fun in the sun.


Having ticked off another five minigolf courses in East Anglia we're now up to 815 visits on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. 777 of them have been in the UK.

Southwold Putting and Cafe on the Green
It was 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

During the Bank Holiday weekend we played at Southwold Putting & Cafe on the Green and Jiggers Miniature Golf at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel.

Jiggers Miniature Golf course at Thorpeness Golf Club and Hotel
Emily playing the new Jiggers Miniature Golf course in Thorpeness. It's a great 9-hole City Golf layout

We also visited the Crazy Golf course at Southwold Boating Lake, a Putting Green at Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel and the new Pirate Adventure Golf course at Stonham Barns. The latter of which is still under construction and is replacing the Crazy Golf course we've played before.

More blog posts from our trip to follow soon...

In the meantime, check out the full list of courses we've visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Sunday, May 06, 2018

Minigolf in Nittel, Germany

A look for the Minigolf course in Nittel, Germany.


Cheers go to my brother, and Charter Member of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, Christopher Gottfried for sending along this photo of a sign for the Minigolf course in Nittel, Germany.

There was no sign of the Minigolf course or Bürgerhaus in Nittel, Luxembourg
What a lot of signs

In typical Crazy World of Minigolf Tour fashion he went searching for the Minigolf and the Bürgerhaus, but couldn't find either.