There aren't too many examples left in the UK, but the majority of those still out there are in very playable condition. They are superb fun and a real test of putting skill.
I highly recommend giving them a play the next chance you get to have a game of miniature golf.
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Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and oats. For people with Coeliac Disease gluten is a very dangerous substance that causes all manner of health problems. Check out the Coeliac UK website for more information.
As well as the Manchester site you can find Junkyard Golf courses in London, Leeds, Oxford and Liverpool. There is also a new course opening Newcastle upon Tyne later this year.
A new Crazy Golf course is planned to open in Dundee.
A new indoor Crazy Golf course is hoped to open as part of a new adventure play centre. The venue will also have tenpin bowling lanes.
The site is a former Toys 'R' Us superstore on Kingsway West Retail Park in Dundee.
The family entertainment centre would be built by House of Play.
The proposal is another example of the popularity of using former retail spaces for retailtainment options giving a people to visit, revisit and stay in a shopping area.
While on a trip to Barrow-in-Furness last year we saw the remains of the old Kwik Save there.
The former Kwik Save in Barrow-in-Furness
The company went into administration in 2007. The brand does live on, albeit in a much smaller form, and is now owned by Costcutter.
Definitely not 'Now Open'
The changing face of the high street and retail marketing has seen a number of former shop premises turned into family entertainment centres and competitive socialising venues including crazy golf, tenpin bowling, axe throwing, retro arcade gaming, darts, ping pong and more.
A look at the Adventure Golf course at Center Parcs Elveden Forest in Thetford, Norfolk.
My brother Christopher, a founder member of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, and his family were recently on holiday at Center Parcs Elveden Forest in Norfolk and sent over these photos of the Adventure Golf course there.
The approach to the course on Treasure Island looks really good.
Marvellous steak and eggs at The Remedy Kitchen in Manchester
It was delicious.
* technically I should call it 'dinner' since I now live in the North West!
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Finding 100% gluten free food.
As someone with Coeliac Disease the challenge to find food that is not only safe, but healthy and tasty when out of the house is massive.
The Remedy Kitchen in Manchester city centre is superb as it's one of the very few 100% gluten free places that are safe for people with Coeliac Disease in the whole of the UK.
The Remedy Kitchen was previously called 3 Squared Cafe and rebranded last year. The name is different, but the approach to serving high quality food is the same.
Tenpin bowling, minigolf and more at Gutterball Alley in North Shields.
The team behind Lane7 have opened a new family friendly venue with Gutterball Alley.
The first Gutterball Alley family entertainment centre in North Shields is home to tenpin bowling, guttergolf minigolf, pool, arcades, ping pong and indoor baseball batting cages.
A new Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf venue is opening in Putney, London this year.
London will be home to a new indoor Adventure Golf venue as Jungle Rumble sets up on Putney High Street.
My friend and fellow minigolf enthusiast Simon Dewhurst tipped me off about the course after he saw a banner advertising jobs at the course while down in London recently.
A look at how minigolf has been used in artistic creations.
We've seen the worlds of art and minigolf combine a number of times over the years.
A relatively new term for this combination is 'artainment' - where art and entertainment mix to immerse visitors to an exhibition, gallery or installation in an interactive experience.
We've seen a number of art trails created in the last couple of years and they are becoming a popular part of 'retailtainment' and 'shoppertainment' where entertainment options have been added to the high street or shopping malls to help attract and retain customers.
Crazy Golf and art.
There is currently an art installation pop-up Crazy Golf course at Coal Drop's Yard in King's Cross, London. It's playable until the 29th March. Club Golf is a combination of sport, art and retail entertainment. Artists Baker & Borowski created the 9-hole themed Crazy Golf layout inspired by the rave culture in the King's Cross area back in the 1980's and 90's.
Club Golf at the Coal Drops Yard shopping and dining area in King's Cross, London
Minigolf is a very visual thing and each course is a work of art in its own right. We love seeing time, effort and thought put into the design of a minigolf hole and when they are aesthetically pleasing it's marvellous.
My favourite miniature golf layouts are Arnold Palmer Putting Courses. They are a design classic and look wonderful. They are also a real test of putting skill and incredibly playable today.
The old Arnold Palmer Putting Course from The Rotunda amusement park in Folkestone was turned into an art installation in the seaside town back in 2008.
Our friends Tom and Robin at A Couple of Putts in the USA have also played on and created a number of art-minigolf holes on their adventures, including Sparkle City Mini Putt in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
The team at The Putting Penguin have seen and reviewed a number of art designed courses over the years too.
We're looking forward to seeing where the next art-based minigolf course pops up.
