Wednesday, September 30, 2026

20 years of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Celebrating two decades of our crazy minigolfing adventures.


The Crazy World of Minigolf Tour teed-off 20 years ago today!

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea

How it started.

We played the Victory Trail course at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea, Hampshire, England on this day in 2006.

At the end of our 9-hole round on Saturday 30th September I won a free game by firing the cannon on the lucky last hole!

Richard Gottfried playing the Lucky Last Hole at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea

From 600 courses in the UK to more than 1,500.

When our crazy golfing travels began in 2006 there were around 600 miniature golf courses in the UK and wider British Isles.

There are now more than 1,500 - and there are lots of new places to play the game opening all the time.

Unfortunately, several courses have closed over the years. But on a brighter note, some others have been refurbished, redeveloped, or completely transformed into new layouts.

When we originally set off to visit as many courses as possible the target list was 600 in the British Isles. And 20 years later, we have around 50 of those original courses to visit.

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

We've now been to 1,131 courses overall in the last 20 years, with 1,062 of those locations in the British Isles.

Together with my brother Christopher - a charter member of the tour - and his family, we've visited a total of 1,189 courses.

Minigolf record makers.

Our travels have been recognised by the Guinness World Records, and I'm a record holder for "Most miniature golf courses visited" (902 at the time of going to press).

Check out the Guinness World Records 2024 book to see a lot more minigolf records too!

Minigolfing around the world.

Within the British Isles Emily and I have been to courses in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Jersey and the Isle of Man. We've also travelled to courses in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Finland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Spain (including Lanzarote & Tenerife in the Canary Islands, and Majorca in the Balearic Islands), Sweden and the USA.

Christopher and his family have travelled around the UK, as well as to courses in Türkiye, Spain (the Balearic Island of Majorca), Italy, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Indonesia, Croatia, the USA, Thailand, and Canada.

That's a combined total of 22 countries visited outside the UK / British Isles. Interestingly our tour has only been to two of the same countries in both branches - Spain and the USA!

Our list of miniature golf courses visited - 2006-2026.

You can see all of the courses we've visited on this Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list.

Blogging about minigolf around the world.

As well as the blog posts about our own crazy golf travels, we've also posted guest blogs from friends and family from their visits to courses around the world.

It's brilliant receiving photos, information and updates from - and about - crazy golf, minigolf, miniature golf putting, pitch & putt, adventure golf, and Putt-Putt courses around the world. There's such a wide-range and variety of courses out there.

We've met so many people and made some great friends on our travels since 2006. Many of whom have contributed to our travels by telling us about new courses, letting us know about course refurbs, or by sending over photos of courses they've been too. We've also received excellent photos of miniature golf courses from our family, friends, our networks, and course owners, managers, designers and builders themselves.

Minigolf guest blog posts from 31 countries - and international waters!

Over the last 20 years of blogging we've published guest blog posts about courses in England, Wales, Scotland, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Croatia, the Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guernsey, Indonesia, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Luxembourg, Morocco, the Netherlands, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain (including Lanzarote, Tenerife and Majorca), Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, the USA, on the high seas onboard the MSC Opera cruise ship (sailing from Italy - to Montenegro - to Greece), and even North Korea!

A BIG thank you to everyone we've met or spoken to on our crazy minigolf adventures over the pas two decades.

Related blog posts:

Link:

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Minigolf at Gowerton Golf Range in Swansea, Wales

A look back at our visit to the minigolf course at Gowerton Golf Range in Swansea, Wales.


Minigolf at Gowerton Golf Range in Swansea, Wales on the 16th August 2009

We visited Gowerton Golf Range in Gowerton, Swansea, Wales to play the 9-hole minigolf course there on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in August 2009.

Minigolf at Gowerton Golf Range in Swansea, Wales on the 16th August 2009

Minigolf at Gowerton Golf Range in Swansea, Wales on the 16th August 2009

Minigolf at Gowerton Golf Range in Swansea, Wales on the 16th August 2009

Minigolf at Gowerton Golf Range in Swansea, Wales on the 16th August 2009

Minigolf at Gowerton Golf Range in Swansea, Wales on the 16th August 2009

Minigolf at Gowerton Golf Range in Swansea, Wales on the 16th August 2009

Minigolf at Gowerton Golf Range in Swansea, Wales on the 16th August 2009

Minigolf at Gowerton Golf Range in Swansea, Wales on the 16th August 2009


Minigolf at Gowerton Golf Range in Swansea, Wales on the 16th August 2009

Minigolf at Gowerton Golf Range in Swansea, Wales on the 16th August 2009

Minigolf at Gowerton Golf Range in Swansea, Wales on the 16th August 2009

Time Machine Minigolf at Blue City in Warsaw, Poland

A look back at the Time Machine Minigolf course at the Blue City shopping centre in Warsaw, Poland.


Time Machine Minigolf at Blue City in Warsaw, Poland

The 723rd course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour was the Time Machine Minigolf course at Blue City in Warsaw, Poland.

Time Machine Minigolf at Blue City in Warsaw, Poland

Emily swung by the Time Machine Minigolf course in March 2017.

Time Machine Minigolf at Blue City in Warsaw, Poland

Time Machine Minigolf at Blue City in Warsaw, Poland

Time Machine Minigolf at Blue City in Warsaw, Poland

Find out more.

Visit the Arcade Bee website to find out more about the Time Machine Minigolf course.

Pirate's Cove Original Adventure Golf & Family Fun Center in Wisconsin Dells

A look at the Pirate's Cove Original Adventure Golf & Family Fun Center in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, USA.


It's been brilliant to see different minigolf courses around the world thanks to the photos and information sent to us from friends from their travels.

Back in 2015 our friend and minigolf rival Mark 'The Horse Whisperer' Swain visited the USA and very kindly brought us back scorecards from the mini golf courses he visited out there.

One of the places he got to visit was Pirate's Cove Original Adventure Golf & Family Fun Center in Wisconsin Dells where he found five minigolf courses!

Miniature Golf at Pirate's Cove Original Adventure Golf & Family Fun Center in Wisconsin Dells

Photo of the Miniature Golf course at Pirate's Cove Original Adventure Golf & Family Fun Center in Wisconsin Dells

Miniature Golf at Pirate's Cove Original Adventure Golf & Family Fun Center in Wisconsin Dells

Miniature Golf at Pirate's Cove Original Adventure Golf & Family Fun Center in Wisconsin Dells

At the Pirate's Cove Original Adventure Golf & Family Fun Center you can play Black Beard's 18, Captain Kidd's 18, Pirate's Lookout 18, Pirate's Challenge 18 or Captain Hook's 19.

Scorecard from the Miniature Golf courses at Pirate's Cove Original Adventure Golf & Family Fun Center in Wisconsin Dells
The big minigolf scorecard from Pirate's Cove

Scorecard from the Miniature Golf courses at Pirate's Cove Original Adventure Golf & Family Fun Center in Wisconsin Dells
There are three more courses on the other side

Pirate's Cove Original Adventure Golf & Family Fun Center in Wisconsin Dells is on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour 'to visit' list.

Find out more.

Check out the Pirates Cove Original Adventure Golf & Family Fun Center website for more information.

20 for 20 - World Adventure Golf Masters Championship

20 for 20: 20 years of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


This month we're celebrating two decades of our crazy minigolfing adventures.

Emily is a two-time Women's World Adventure Golf Masters Champion - winning the international title at the World Adventure Golf Masters (WAGM) events held at Hastings Adventure Golf in 2011 and 2013.

Emily Gottfried - WMF World Adventure Golf Masters Women's Champion
Emily Gottfried - WMF World Adventure Golf Masters Women's Champion in 2011

Related blog posts:

Monday, September 28, 2026

Crazy Golf in Abingdon-on-Thames

Looking back at the old Crazy Golf course at the Abbey Meadows in Abingdon-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.


Crazy Golf at the Abbey Meadows in Abingdon-on-Thames

One of the courses we've visited and played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour travels but has since become a 'lost' course was the 10-hole Crazy Golf layout at the Abbey Meadows in my home town of Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

Crazy Golf at the Abbey Meadows in Abingdon-on-Thames

The course was the first one I ever played way back in the early 1980's.

Crazy Golf at the Abbey Meadows in Abingdon-on-Thames

The course had been in the park since the 1950's but was removed at the end of the 2016 season as part of renovations to the area.

Crazy Golf at the Abbey Meadows in Abingdon-on-Thames

Crazy Golf at the Abbey Meadows in Abingdon-on-Thames

Crazy Golf at the Abbey Meadows in Abingdon-on-Thames

It's always sad to see an old miniature golf course removed. Especially so when it's not replaced by a new one.

Crazy Golf at the Abbey Meadows in Abingdon-on-Thames
The last hole of the first course I ever played

In August 2007 the course became the 31st played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Crazy Golf at the Abbey Meadows in Abingdon-on-Thames
Playing hole 5 in 2007

Crazy Golf at the Abbey Meadows in Abingdon-on-Thames
Playing hole 5 in 2012

Crazy Golf at the Abbey Meadows in Abingdon-on-Thames
Playing hole 5 for the very last time in 2016

We revisited the Abbey Meadows Crazy Golf course in Abingdon in June 2012 and December 2014.

Crazy Golf at the Abbey Meadows in Abingdon-on-Thames
The course was very mossy on our visit in 2014

Mumbles Crazy Golf at Southend Gardens in Swansea, Wales

A look back at a visit to the Mumbles Crazy Golf course at Southend Gardens in Swansea, Wales.


We visited the Mumbles Crazy Golf course at Southend Gardens in Swansea, Wales on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour during a big road-trip around the Welsh coast back in August 2009.

Mumbles Crazy Golf at Southend Gardens in Swansea, Wales on the 15th August 2009

Mumbles Crazy Golf at Southend Gardens in Swansea, Wales on the 15th August 2009

Mumbles Crazy Golf at Southend Gardens in Swansea, Wales on the 15th August 2009

Mumbles Crazy Golf at Southend Gardens in Swansea, Wales on the 15th August 2009

Mumbles Crazy Golf at Southend Gardens in Swansea, Wales on the 15th August 2009

Mumbles Crazy Golf at Southend Gardens in Swansea, Wales on the 15th August 2009

Mumbles Crazy Golf at Southend Gardens in Swansea, Wales on the 15th August 2009

Mumbles Crazy Golf at Southend Gardens in Swansea, Wales on the 15th August 2009

Mumbles Crazy Golf at Southend Gardens in Swansea, Wales on the 15th August 2009

Mumbles Crazy Golf at Southend Gardens in Swansea, Wales on the 15th August 2009

Mumbles Crazy Golf at Southend Gardens in Swansea, Wales on the 15th August 2009

Mumbles Crazy Golf at Southend Gardens in Swansea, Wales on the 15th August 2009

Mumbles Crazy Golf at Southend Gardens in Swansea, Wales on the 15th August 2009

Mumbles Crazy Golf at Southend Gardens in Swansea, Wales on the 15th August 2009

Mumbles Crazy Golf at Southend Gardens in Swansea, Wales on the 15th August 2009

Looking online, the course is still there.

Find out more.

Visit the Swansea Council website for more information on the Southend Gardens Crazy Golf course.