Monday, July 01, 2019

95 years of Mini Golf in Worthing's Denton Gardens

A look at the history of miniature golf in Worthing's Denton Gardens.


Minigolf was first played in Denton Gardens on Tuesday 1st July 1924!


Almost a century later and the relatively new Splash Point Mini Golf course there is going strong and is popular with locals, tourists, enthusiasts and the characters of the British Minigolf Association tour.


Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing's Denton Gardens
Playing hole 7 - the hardest hole on the course

The first miniature golf courses in Denton Gardens were of the grass Putting variety, when both sides of the lawn in the gardens were given over to minigolf Putting courses.

Worthing, Denton Gardens, Putting Green. The Photochrom Co Ltd. Posted to Birchington, Kent on 30 July 1928
Worthing, Denton Gardens, Putting Green. The Photochrom Co Ltd. Posted to Birchington, Kent on 30 July 1928

Putting Green, Denton Gardens, Worthing. Photogravure by S. & E. Ltd., Hastings. Postally unused. Undated
Putting Green, Denton Gardens, Worthing. Photogravure by S. & E. Ltd., Hastings. Postally unused. Undated

The Putting Green, Denton Gardens, Worthing. Picture Post Card by Wardell's. Postally unused. Undated
The Putting Green, Denton Gardens, Worthing. Picture Post Card by Wardell's. Postally unused. Undated

In 2010 our friends Anthony Pope and Peter Emmerson created the 18-hole Splash Point Mini Golf course. It was the 181st played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Interestingly the same kiosk that can be seen in the postcards above is still in use today.

Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing's Denton Gardens
Playing hole 13 on the 3rd July 2010. The course has a lot more foliage now!

We've returned on many occasions to compete in tournaments and to play for fun. You can see what the course looked like on our return to the course in April this year.

Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing's Denton Gardens
Emily playing hole 12

Check out the Splash Point Mini Golf course website and give the course a follow on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.


Related blog posts:
- Worthing
- Splash Point Mini Golf
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Splash Point Mini Golf in Denton Gardens, Worthing
- A look at Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing's Denton Gardens

Summer Mini Golf Checklist 2019

The Summer Mini Golf Checklist 2019.


Download and complete the Summer Mini Golf Checklist.


We're BIG fans of minigolf and the summer, so we've created a Summer Mini Golf Checklist containing 18 minigolf 'things to do', plus a 19th hole activity.


Summer Mini Golf Checklist 2019

Summer in the Northern Hemisphere began on the 21st June and ends on the 23rd September. Fingers crossed we get some more nice weather into October too.

We hope you enjoy ticking off the activities on the Summer Mini Golf Checklist wherever you are in the world.

The first three people to complete the Summer Mini Golf Checklist 2019 will win a free game with us, either at their local course (if we're in the area), or at one of our local courses (if they're in the area).

Do post on social media about how you're progressing using the hashtags #summerminigolf19 and #minigolf.

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

Mario & Luigi Ice Cream Vans

Spotting some Mario & Luigi Ice Cream Vans on our travels.

We spotted a couple of Mario & Luigi ice cream vans on our weekend away in the Peak District.

Mario & Luigi Ice Cream Van
Mario and Luigi in Buxton. Along with a Micky Mouse Robin Hood!

Mario & Luigi Ice Cream Van
Luigi and Mario on an ice cream van in Hathersage 

We've seen Mario in quite a few interesting places in the last couple of years.

Related blog posts:
- Bootlegs
- Mario
- Luigi
- Ice Cream Van

Sunday, June 30, 2019

Mini Golf at the Resort Horizont & Splendid in Pula, Croatia

A look at a Mini Golf course in Pula, Croatia.



Mini Golf at the Resort Horizont & Splendid in Pula, Croatia

While we were exploring the minigolf courses in St Helens, Merseyside my brother Christopher was on holiday in Croatia. Staying on the Istria peninsula he managed to find a minigolf course at the Resort Horizont & Splendid in Pula!


Mini Golf at the Resort Horizont & Splendid in Pula, Croatia

Resort Horizont & Splendid in Pula, Croatia

Resort Horizont & Splendid in Pula, Croatia

Mini Golf at the Resort Horizont & Splendid in Pula, Croatia

Mini Golf at the Resort Horizont & Splendid in Pula, Croatia

Christopher has now been to 28 courses in nine overseas countries. Emily and I have visited 871 courses in the British Isles and 39 courses in eleven overseas countries for a total of 910 course visits. The combined total of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour is now up to 926 courses since September 2006.

Mini Golf at the Resort Horizont & Splendid in Pula, Croatia

More photos of the Mini Golf course in Pula, Croatia.

Mini Golf at the Resort Horizont & Splendid in Pula, Croatia


Mini Golf at the Resort Horizont & Splendid in Pula, Croatia

Mini Golf at the Resort Horizont & Splendid in Pula, Croatia

Mini Golf at the Resort Horizont & Splendid in Pula, Croatia
  
Mini Golf at the Resort Horizont & Splendid in Pula, Croatia

Saturday, June 29, 2019

Crazy Golf at The Railway Hotel in Garswood, St Helens

A visit to the Crazy Golf course at The Railway Hotel in Garswood, St Helens.


Crazy Golf at The Railway Hotel in Garswood, St Helens

Last Saturday we visited Garswood in St Helens, Merseyside as Emily had recently spotted what looked like a Crazy Golf course in a pub beer garden. The sighting was correct and The Railway Hotel in the St Helens village did indeed have a course!


Crazy Golf at The Railway Hotel in Garswood, St Helens

Sadly the 9-hole Crazy Golf course was no longer in use. While we didn't get to have a game, we did however enjoy sitting in the sun in the beer garden before moving on to our next location.


At The Railway Hotel in Garswood, St Helens
A nice spot to spend a while on a sunny Saturday afternoon

We'd love to know more about the history of the pub beer garden Crazy Golf course. It looked like it had been there for quite some time. It's the sort of course a minigolf time machine would be perfect for so we could see what it was like when it was first built.

The course was the 906th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Crazy Golf at The Railway Hotel in Garswood, St Helens
Hole 1

Crazy Golf at The Railway Hotel in Garswood, St Helens
Hole 2

Crazy Golf at The Railway Hotel in Garswood, St Helens
Hole 3 - 'Middle Hill', an obstacle found on Eternit Miniature Golf courses

Crazy Golf at The Railway Hotel in Garswood, St Helens
Hole 3

Crazy Golf at The Railway Hotel in Garswood, St Helens
Hole 4 also has a hint of an Eternit course about it

Crazy Golf at The Railway Hotel in Garswood, St Helens
Hole 5

Crazy Golf at The Railway Hotel in Garswood, St Helens
Hole 6

Crazy Golf at The Railway Hotel in Garswood, St Helens
Hole 7

Crazy Golf at The Railway Hotel in Garswood, St Helens
Hole 7

Crazy Golf at The Railway Hotel in Garswood, St Helens
Hole 8

Crazy Golf at The Railway Hotel in Garswood, St Helens
Hole 9

Crazy Golf at The Railway Hotel in Garswood, St Helens
Hole 9 - we reckon this was a very tricky last hole to play

We've visited a few pubs with minigolf courses. The Railway's course reminded us most of the old concrete course at The Dolphin pub in Melbourn, Cambridgeshire.

Related blog posts:

What a weekend of minigolf!
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Friday, June 28, 2019

Adventure Golf at Clarkes Golf Centre in Rainford, St Helens

A visit to the new Adventure Golf course at Clarkes Golf Centre in Rainford, St Helens.


Adventure Golf at Clarkes Golf Centre in Rainford, St Helens

Last weekend we made a visit to the new Adventure Golf course at Clarkes Golf Centre in Rainford, St Helens. However, we were there a week too early, as it should be opening today!


Adventure Golf at Clarkes Golf Centre in Rainford, St Helens
A look at hole 12 of the new course

Adventure Golf at Clarkes Golf Centre in Rainford, St Helens
Hole 13

The course was the 909th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.



Adventure Golf at Clarkes Golf Centre in Rainford, St Helens
A view of the new course

Adventure Golf at Clarkes Golf Centre in Rainford, St Helens
Hole 17 on the right and the tee of hole 18 on the left

Adventure Golf at Clarkes Golf Centre in Rainford, St Helens
Hole 17's green

Adventure Golf at Clarkes Golf Centre in Rainford, St Helens
Hole 18

Adventure Golf at Clarkes Golf Centre in Rainford, St Helens
Hole 18

Check out the Clarkes Golf Centre website for more information.

Par 3 Golf course at Clarkes Golf Centre in Rainford

Clarkes Golf Centre in Rainford is also home to a Driving Range, Par 3 Golf course and a very nice looking Putting Green.

Putting Green at Clarkes Golf Centre in Rainford

Related blog posts:
What a weekend of minigolf!
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Thursday, June 27, 2019

Mini Golf at the Palace Fun Centre in Rhyl

A visit to the new Mini Golf course at the Palace Fun Centre in Rhyl.


Mini Golf at the Palace Fun Centre in Rhyl

The Palace Fun Centre and Amusement Arcade in Rhyl is now home to a new indoor Mini Golf course.


Mini Golf at the Palace Fun Centre in Rhyl

I was surprised to find the course on my visit to the seaside town yesterday!


Mini Golf at the Palace Fun Centre in Rhyl
At the 911th course on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

The 9-hole jungle-themed minigolf course opened last Saturday.

The Mini Golf course at the Palace Fun Centre became the 911th course visited and 523rd played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. In my round I shot a 21, including one hole-in-one.

Mini Golf at the Palace Fun Centre in Rhyl
Hole 1 begins on the ground floor

Mini Golf at the Palace Fun Centre in Rhyl
The ball shoots through some bamboo pipes

Mini Golf at the Palace Fun Centre in Rhyl
Hole 1's green

Mini Golf at the Palace Fun Centre in Rhyl
Hole 2

Mini Golf at the Palace Fun Centre in Rhyl
Hole 2

Mini Golf at the Palace Fun Centre in Rhyl
Hole 3

Mini Golf at the Palace Fun Centre in Rhyl
Hole 4

Mini Golf at the Palace Fun Centre in Rhyl
Hole 4

Mini Golf at the Palace Fun Centre in Rhyl
Hole 5

Mini Golf at the Palace Fun Centre in Rhyl
Hole 5

Mini Golf at the Palace Fun Centre in Rhyl
The 'green' of hole 5

Mini Golf at the Palace Fun Centre in Rhyl
Hole 6

Mini Golf at the Palace Fun Centre in Rhyl
Hole 7

Mini Golf at the Palace Fun Centre in Rhyl
Hole 8 sees you putt into the UV area

Mini Golf at the Palace Fun Centre in Rhyl
The green on hole 8

Mini Golf at the Palace Fun Centre in Rhyl
Hole 9 - the tiger's mouth

Mini Golf at the Palace Fun Centre in Rhyl
Hole 9 eats your ball

Visit the Palace Fun Centre website for more information.

The Palace Fun Centre in Rhyl

Mini Golf at the Palace Fun Centre in Rhyl

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