Thursday, October 03, 2019

Pitch and Putt at Roundham Head in Goodrington Sands, Devon

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


Pitch and Putt at Roundham Head in Goodrington Sands, Devon

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.


Pitch and Putt at Roundham Head in Goodrington Sands, Devon

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

Pitch and Putt at Roundham Head in Goodrington Sands, Devon
Bunkered

Pitch and Putt at Roundham Head in Goodrington Sands, Devon

Pitch and Putt at Roundham Head in Goodrington Sands, Devon

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

Wednesday, October 02, 2019

Comic Con at the Merseyway Shopping Centre in Stockport

A visit to The Comicon-Way.


Star Wars Speeder Bike from Return of the Jedi at the Merseyway Comic Con in Stockport
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.


Comic Con at the Merseyway Shopping Centre in Stockport
Cars from Transformers were among the attractions

Comic Con at the Merseyway Shopping Centre in Stockport
This wasn't the Gottfried they were looking for. Move along

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

Meeting a Star Wars Imperial Gunner at the Merseyway Shopping Centre Comic Con in Stockport
Meeting an Imperial Gunner at the event

Retro toys at the Merseyway Comic Con in Stockport
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.


St. Clements Golf & Sports Centre at 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.

St. Clements Golf & Sports Centre at Grève d'Azette, Jersey
A Putting Green

St. Clements Golf & Sports Centre at Grève d'Azette, Jersey
One of the regular golf greens

Merrie England

A specifically Yorkshire fast food place.


Merrie England in Huddersfield
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.


Merrie England in Huddersfield
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
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.


Pitch & Putt 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.


Pitch & Putt 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.


New Escape Room and Rage Room 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.

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

Tuesday, October 01, 2019

Harcourt Sands derelict holiday camp in Ryde

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


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.

Harcourt Sands holiday camp in Ryde on the Isle of Wight

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

Harcourt Sands holiday camp in Ryde on the Isle of Wight

Harcourt Sands holiday camp closed its doors in 2006.

Harcourt Sands holiday camp in Ryde on the Isle of Wight

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.


Minigolf rocket-ships

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

Happy 1st of October

The countdown to Halloween is on...

Halloween minigolf
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

Monday, September 30, 2019

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.


Emily and Richard Gottfried at the North Bay Crazy Golf course in Scarborough
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.


Free game pass from Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea
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.

Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea
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 in Southsea
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.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

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.


Putting Green at Altrincham Golf Course

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


Putting Green at Altrincham Golf Course

Putting Green at Altrincham Golf Course

The 19th hole is very good too.

The Old Hall pub and restaurant at Altrincham Golf Course

Friday, September 27, 2019

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.

Britain's Smallest Pub - The Lakeside Inn at Southport

Revisiting Britain's Smallest Pub, The Lakeside Inn at Southport.


Britain's Smallest Pub - The Lakeside Inn at Southport

We finished off our trip to Southport and Miniature Golf Day 2019 in the best way possible by visiting Britain's Smallest Pub, The Lakeside Inn.


Britain's Smallest Pub - The Lakeside Inn at Southport

The Lakeside Inn measures 22ft by 16ft and lays claim to being Britain's Smallest Pub.


Britain's Smallest Pub - The Lakeside Inn at Southport

We first visited it in October 2016.

We've also visited the Smallest Pub on the Planet. That's at the Cleethorpes Light Railway in Lincolnshire.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Pitch & Putt miniature golf course in Southport

A look at the Pitch & Putt miniature golf course in Southport.


Pitch & Putt miniature golf course in Southport

We had a look at the Pitch & Putt golf course while in Southport on Miniature Golf Day.


Pitch & Putt miniature golf course in Southport
Click for a view of the greens from a similar position in 2016

It looked quite different to when we first visited it in October 2016.


Pitch & Putt miniature golf course in Southport

Pitch & Putt miniature golf course in Southport
I wonder whether the course opened this season, or if it closed earlier in the year than previously as it looked quite overgrown

Pitch & Putt miniature golf course in Southport


Pitch & Putt miniature golf course in Southport
Only the 'F' remains on the GOLF sign atop the old Public Conveniences next to the course. All the letters were there the last time we visited


Related blog posts:
- Southport
- Pitch and Putt
- Southport Seafront Golf Classic Pitch & Putt course

Schär gluten free products in Düsseldorf, Germany

A look at Schär gluten free products on sale in Germany.


Schär gluten free products on sale in Germany
Lots of Schar gluten free food in Germany

Emily was recently in Düsseldorf, Germany and took these snaps of the Schär gluten free products available there. They are certainly different to the products available in the UK.


Savaiardi by Schär gluten free
Savaiardi

Vollkornbrot by Schär gluten free
Vollkornbrot

Pain Brioche by Schär gluten free
Pain Brioche

Knackebrod by Schär gluten free
Knackebrod

Zwieback by Schär gluten free
Zwieback

Carrotinis by Schär gluten free
Carrotinis

In 2017 Emily brought me back some Schär gluten free goodies from Spain.

Link:
- Schär gluten free

Related blog posts:
- Schär
- Gluten free