Crazy Golf at Marine Gardens in Fleetwood

A look at the Crazy Golf course at Marine Gardens in Fleetwood.

We had a walk round the 18-hole Crazy Golf course at Marine Gardens in Fleetwood on our recent return trip to the seaside town.

We first visited the layout on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2012.

The location is also home to a Pitch & Putt course.

Pitch & Putt at Marine Gardens in Fleetwood

And the remains of a Miniature Railway!

The line used to run around the Pitch & Putt course

Where the line ends

You can still see a miniature railway tunnel on the perimeter of the Pitch & Putt course

There was once a Crazy Golf course a stone's throw away at Marine Hall Gardens. We played that course in 2009. Sadly it was removed in 2012.

Tommy Chip Cone says "Stay safe."

I spotted this pandemic-themed sign on a chip cone mascot at Tommy's fish & chip shop in Middleton, Rochdale earlier this week.

Mini Golf at Puttstars in Rochdale

Playing Puttstars Mini Golf at Rochdale Riverside.

We played our first games of indoor minigolf since last August when we swung by Puttstars Mini Golf at Rochdale Riverside yesterday evening.

We played two of the three 9-hole courses at the venue, with Pinball becoming the 545th course we've played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and the Zig Zag layout number 546 since 2006.

The scoring system differs to other minigolf courses and your strokes add up to points - with bonus points given depending on whether you play a 'joker' during your round. I won on one course and Emily got the win on the other. There are no paper scorecards, print outs or results sent to you after your round so you better be quick and take a photo of the screen at the end of your game!

Visit the Puttstars website for more information, opening times and prices.

We've now been to a total of 958 miniature golf courses on our travels. When our adventures began in 2006 there were around 600 courses in the UK, with just two of those indoors. There are now more than 1,000 courses in total and more than 100 of those are indoor locations, with more new courses opening all the time.

Springfield Park Model Railway in Rochdale

A visit to the Springfield Park Model Railway in Rochdale.

We're big fans of miniature railways but until very recently never knew there was one at Springfield Park in Rochdale!

Visit the Rochdale Society of Model & Experimental Engineers (RSMEE) website for more information and running times of the railway.

Adventure Golf advertising

We spotted this advert for the Dino Islands Adventure Golf course at Sandham Gardens in Sandown Bay on the Isle of Wight at the Red Funnel Ferry Terminal in Southampton.

We're yet to play the Dino Islands Adventure Golf course at Sandham Gardens on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, but did play the course that was on the same spot before it.

Visit the Dino Islands Adventure Golf website for more information.

Pitch & Putt at Marine Gardens in Fleetwood

A look at the Pitch & Putt miniature golf course at Marine Gardens in Fleetwood.

We took a look at the Pitch & Putt course at Marine Gardens on our recent trip to the seaside town.

The location is also home to a Crazy Golf course. And the remains of a Miniature Railway!

The Marine Gardens Crazy Golf course and part of the old miniature railway line

There also used to be a Crazy Golf course a stone's throw away at Marine Hall Gardens. We played that course in 2009. Sadly it was removed in 2012.

Marine Hall Gardens in Fleetwood

Harry Hot Dog at Blackpool Fish Factory

When in Blackpool...

...you've got to have a snap with a hot dog man!

Let's Talk Leisure with Briq Bookings

Let's Talk Leisure with Marketing Consultant Richard Gottfried.

I was recently interviewed by Steven Helder from Briq Bookings for their Let's Talk Leisure series with people in the world of leisure and entertainment.

Check out the discussion at Let's Talk Leisure with Marketing Consultant Richard Gottfried.

You can find out more about how Briq Bookings are helping leisure and entertainment businesses improve the online booking journey for their customers on the Briq Bookings website.

Pac-Man at Southampton Inside/Out

We spotted Pac-Man and a blue ghost while walking around Southampton last month!

They were created as part of the social distancing floor markings as part of the Southampton Inside Out dining campaign to create more places to dine out during the coronavirus pandemic.

Only Foods and Sauces in Southampton

I've spotted a few different homages to Only Fools and Horses on my travels over the years - the latest being Only Foods and Sauces in Swaythling, Southampton.

Check out the Only Foods and Sauces Facebook Page for more information.

East Park Mini Golf course in Southampton, Hampshire

A visit to the East Park Mini Golf course in Southampton, Hampshire.

We were recently down in Southampton and while there swung by the East Park Mini Golf course.

We played the 18-hole course in May 2019 when it became the 881st visited and 513th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Nu Game Arcade in Southampton

It was a nice surprise to find the Nu Game Arcade in Southampton last month. It was also brilliant that we happened to be the first customers on the opening day too!

We spotted the sign for the Nu Game Arcade on the first floor as we were leaving the Marlands shopping centre. We're glad we did as it's been a while since I've played at an arcade.

It was brilliant to have a go on two of my favourite games - Metal Slug on the Neo Geo MVS and Robocop.

Check out the Nu Game Arcade Facebook Page for more information.

Elephant Parade in Southampton

Finding an art trail in Southampton.

We enjoy finding and following art trails on our travels and we spotted two while in Southampton. The first was The Mayor's Mayflower Mosaic Trail and the second was the Elephant Parade - the world’s largest art exhibition of decorated elephant statues - where there were 25 elephant statues at the Westquay shopping, dining and entertainment centre.

Visit the Elephant Parade section of the Westquay website for more information.

Toys R Us in Southampton

A visit to the old Toys R Us store on the Western Esplanade in Southampton, Hampshire.

We made a trip to the former Toys R Us store at Western Esplanade in Southampton last month.

There was still a lot of signage up on the large old unit.

I worked in the Gipsy Lane Toys R Us store in Luton, Bedfordshire back in the year 2000.

Toys R Us closed in the UK in April 2018. It's interesting to see that there are still remnants of the brand on some retail parks in the UK. 

Check out my blog posts below about other former Toys R Us stores:

• Brighton Hill Retail Park in Basingstoke
• Central Retail Park in Manchester
• Deepdale shopping centre in Preston
• Enfield Retail Park in Enfield
• Festival retail park in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent
• Gemini Retail Park in Warrington
• Interchange Retail Park at Copdock Mill, Ipswich
• Riverside Retail Park in Nottingham
• Teesside Retail Park in Stockton-on-Tees
• Western Esplanade in Southampton
• Wyvern Retail Park in Derby