Happy National Mad Hatter Day

Today, 6th October, is National Mad Hatter Day.

A lot of hats in Luton

The occurrence reminded me of the time Emily and I helped break the Guinness World Record of 'Largest Gathering of People Wearing Boater Hats' while we lived in Luton back in 2014.

The event was organised by the Museum Makers team and saw 797 people turn out for the record attempt and SMASH the previous record of 250 boater wearers.

A pair of mad hatters

Luton is famous for it's hat industry. As is our new home town of Stockport!

Both football clubs are known as The Hatters and both towns have hat musuems.

The similarities don't end there as both towns are also under flight paths. You could call Stockport 'The Luton of the North', or Luton 'The Stockport of the South'. Though I can't imagine anyone would.

In fact it was the growth of the hat trade in Luton that contributed to the decline of the hat industry in Stockport.

Video from the official Guinness World Record attempt for the 'Largest Gathering of People Wearing Boater Hats' held at Wardown Park in Luton on Saturday 16th August 2014.

Crazy Golf at Tolcarne Beach in Newquay

Looking for the Crazy Golf course at Tolcarne Beach in Newquay.

During the summer of 2015 we spent two weeks on a minigolf tour of the South West of England.

While we found the hut for the Crazy Golf at Tolcarne Beach in Newquay the course itself had gone.

Junior Brown's amusements in Paignton, Devon

During the summer of 2015 we embarked on a minigolf tour of the South West of England.

We called in at Junior Brown's amusements Paignton, Devon, but unfortunately we were a year or so late to play the UV indoor Crazy Golf course there as it had been removed.

My bloggiest year to date

2019 is my bloggiest year since I first posted on the 21st December 2006. I've published 451 posts, including this one, so far this year.

My previous best was 448 posts in 2011.

It's not really surprising I've written so much this year when you consider all of the new minigolf courses opening, new gluten free places to eat at, miniature railways we've found and courses we've visited.

The Ham & Egger Files now contains 3,387 posts and has received more than 1.5 million page views.

At the Victoria Park Crazy Golf course in Scarborough. We hit our milestone 900th minigolf course visit while in the seaside town this summer

Thank you to everyone who reads the blog, shares links on social media, comments on posts, contributes and guest blogs here. It's all very much appreciated.

I wonder if 2019 will be the first year I reach 500 blog posts?

Please do give our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a Like on Facebook, watch our YouTube channel, follow us on Twitter @putting_gott and @Ems_Lems, and subscribe to our minigolf newsletter.

Eight years ago in Southsea

Looking back at a revisit to Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea.

We recently celebrated the milestone 13th year of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. The very first course we played was the Victory Trail at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea.

This photo was taken eight years ago when we were celebrating five years of our Crazy Golf adventures

At the end of that road-trip to Southsea in 2011 we'd played 276 courses, with visits made to 430 courses overall.

We've now visited 925 courses, playing 528 of them - some of them multiple times.

When our travels began there were around 600 courses in the UK. That number has grown massively in recent years and the game is booming.

Putting Green at Allen House Grounds in Guildford

Not playing the Putting Green at Allen House Grounds in Guildford, Surrey.

On a visit to Guildford, Surrey back in April 2012 my friend and minigolf rival Oliver 'The Machine' Florence competed in a number of sports and games. One of those wasn't playing Putting at Allen House Grounds as the course was not yet open for the season.

The Jabberwocky Maze at Allen House Grounds in Guildford was 'open'

Pitch and Putt at Roundham Head in Goodrington Sands, Devon

A look at the Pitch and Putt course at Roundham Head in Goodrington Sands.

During the summer of 2015 we visited 62 mini golf courses on a tour of the South West of England.

One of those was the Pitch & Putt course at Roundham Head, Goodrington Sands, Paignton, Devon.

It wasn't open at the time of our visit.

Bunkered

Luckily the Mini Golf course at Goodrington Sands was open. That became the 600th course we visited in the UK.

Comic Con at the Merseyway Shopping Centre in Stockport

A visit to The Comicon-Way.

I was in my element at the free Merseyway Comic Con!

We had a brilliant time at the free Comic Con at Stockport's Merseyway Shopping Centre on Saturday.

Cars from Transformers were among the attractions

This wasn't the Gottfried they were looking for. Move along

Fingers crossed there'll be another one in the future.

Meeting an Imperial Gunner at the event

There was plenty of 'plastic crack' on sale too!

The event was organised by the teams at the Merseyway and North West Comic Cons.

St. Clements Golf & Sports Centre in Grève d'Azette, Jersey

Looking for a Crazy Golf course and Putting Green in Grève d'Azette, Jersey.

During our holiday in Jersey back in May 2016 we went looking for a Crazy Golf course and Putting Green in Grève d'Azette, Jersey.

We found the St. Clements Golf & Sports Centre but saw no sign of a Crazy Golf course there.

We did see a closed Putting Green and the big golf course though.

A Putting Green

One of the regular golf greens

Merrie England

A specifically Yorkshire fast food place.

I love the quaint look of the Merrie England branding. They even have a mock Tudor style inside

I'd never heard of the Merrie England coffee shop brand until I visited Huddersfield in May this year. It's a chain with branches in Huddersfield, Halifax and Brighouse.

There seem to be Merrie England coffee shops on every main street and shopping area in Huddersfield!

Looking on the Merrie England website they offer gluten free options too.

Do you have any fast food brands specific to your town or city?

Laser Zone in Huddersfield

As well as having a sixth sense in finding minigolf courses I can also sniff out a laser tag arena wherever I go.

Laser Zone in Huddersfield

I haven't had a game of laser tag in quite a few years. I really need to get something organised.

Laser Zone in Huddersfield has a sister site in Bradford.

Pitch & Putt at Crooklets Beach in Bude, Cornwall

A look at the Pitch & Putt course at Crooklets Beach in Bude, Cornwall.

I really like seeing golf signs painted on roofs

During the summer of 2015 we visited 62 miniature golf courses on a tour of the South West of England.

One of those was the Pitch & Putt course at Crooklets Beach in Bude, Cornwall.

A little Pitch and Putt sign

We didn't have time to play it, but did play the Crazy Golf course at Bude Haven Recreation Ground.

There's a RAGE ROOM in Stockport town centre!

A new Rage Room and Escape Room has opened in Stockport.

TRAPP'D and DESTROY'D - two new activities in Stockport

They're a fairly recent addition to the alternative activity / competitive socialising scene.

Have you tried one?

The last time I did anything like a rage room was playing the Crockery Shy at the Yattendon & Frilsham Fete back in 2012.

The Escape Room can be found on Facebook and online.

The Rage Room can be found on Facebook.

Fartown

Fartown is in Huddersfield.

I can't be the only one that finds this funny

Harcourt Sands derelict holiday camp in Ryde

A look at the abandoned Harcourt Sands holiday camp in Ryde on the Isle of Wight.

Back in October 2016 we visited the Isle of Wight and the first place we looked round was Ryde.

We're always looking for miniature golf courses and found the Pirate Adventure Golf course on the esplanade, the Mini Golf at Puckpool Park and a sign for a non-existent Pitch & Putt course at Appley Park.

While wandering back from Puckpool Park to the seafront we saw the remains of the derelict Harcourt Sands derelict holiday camp.

It's always a sad, but interesting, sight to see an abandoned holiday camp.

Harcourt Sands holiday camp closed its doors in 2006.

When the camp was open it was home to a Putting Green.

Blast off!

A look at some of the minigolf rocket-ship obstacles we've seen on our travels.

We've seen some quirky rocket-ships on our Crazy World of Minigolf Golf Tour travels.

Have you seen any interesting rocket obstacles on a course? Do let us know.

Happy 1st of October

The countdown to Halloween is on...

Are you looking forward to Halloween?

Check out my Halloween-themed blog post for details of upcoming events.

Related blog posts:
- Halloween
- Halloween-themed minigolf
- Halloween-themed minigolf at Minigolfnews

13 years of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Marking 13 years of our crazy golf travels.

Today we're celebrating 13 years of our minigolfing adventures.

At our 900th minigolf course visit earlier this year

While we were visiting my brother Christopher at uni in Portsmouth back in 2006 we played the Victory Trail course at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea. At the end of our round on Saturday 30th September I won a free game by firing the cannon on the lucky last hole.

We last played the Treasure Island Adventure Golf course in Southsea on the 30th September 2016 to celebrate ten years of our travels. I won another free game then too. I also won a free game when we revisited the course on the fifth anniversary of our tour on the 30th September 2011. Incredibly I won again on the 7th August 2015

That was the beginning of our minigolf travels. We've now visited 925 courses, 39 of which have been overseas.

The first course we visited on what would become our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

How different would our lives have been if I'd missed my shot on the final hole?

The lucky last hole at Treasure Island Adventure Golf

When our travels began there were around 600 courses in the UK. That number has grown massively in the last eight years. When we first set out to visit all the courses in the country there were only two indoor courses, one in Felixstowe and one in Great Yarmouth. Both are still open and have been joined by around 100 other indoor minigolf venues!

My brother Christopher has now been to 30 courses in the UK and nine overseas countries on his own branch of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Altogether we've visited 947 courses.

Check out our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list of courses for links to the courses we've been to.

Putting Greens at Altrincham Golf Course

A look at the two Putting Greens at Altrincham Golf Course.

While in Altrincham back in March 2018 we swung by Altrincham Golf Course as we'd spotted the pub there while driving along the Stockport Road.

Altrincham Golf Course has two Putting Greens, a 6-hole and a 9-hole.

The 19th hole is very good too.

The Swingers Open Crazy Golf tournament 2019

Enter The Swingers Open for a chance to win a trip to New York!

Entries are now open to the third annual Swingers Open minigolf tournament in London.

The event will see two qualifying events take place at the Swingers City Crazy Golf venue in October before the grand final takes place at Swingers West End in November.

The Swingers Open minigolf tournament is being run in association with Tanqueray No. Ten gin and the prize is a trip to New York for the four team members.

Check out the Swingers Crazy Golf website for more information and the event format.