House of Holes indoor Crazy Golf opening in Derby this month

March 6, 2019, 8:38 am

≫ Next: New Ghetto Golf course opening in Newcastle

≪ Previous: BCK YRD GOLF indoor Crazy Golf opening in Chelmsford

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The new adults-only House of Holes indoor Crazy Golf course is opening in Derby this month.

The date has been set for the grand opening of Derby’s brand new adults-only indoor Crazy Golf course, with the House of Holes venue officially opening to the public on Saturday 16th March.

A sneak peak at hole 1 of the new House of Holes Crazy Golf course

House of Holes has been created in the former Grand Theatre on Babington Lane in Derby. As well as the intriguing Crazy Golf course the venue will serve street food and cocktails accompanied by music from a resident DJ.

The House of Holes course will consist of 18 individually themed holes decorated with memorabilia, shop mannequins and other odd and interesting obstacles including a full-size plane – a nod to Rolls-Royce and Derby’s aerospace industry – roller boots and a large neon-lit guitar, which was discovered in the building’s basement and is believed to be over 30 years old.

The venue has, over the years, been home to a number of nightclubs called Ritzy’s, McClusky’s and Confetti’s.

We're looking forward to seeing what the rest of the House of Holes Crazy Golf course looks like

In addition to the work on the course itself, House of Holes has employed local graffiti artists to decorate the walls of the building, while old copies of Viz cover the interior of the men’s toilets!

I'm a big fan Viz comic, although it's not as funny as it used to be

In the last couple of years indoor Crazy Golf has really taken off and is fast becoming a favourite choice for a fun night out, as well as a popular day time activity.

Bookings are now being taken via the House of Holes’ Facebook page, with an 18-hole round of Crazy Golf costing £10.

For more information check out the House of Holes website, Facebook Page, Instagram and Twitter.

We're looking forward to a return visit to Derby and playing the course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Related blog posts:
- Derby
- Indoor Crazy Golf

Links:
- House of Holes website
- House of Holes on Facebook
- House of Holes on Instagram
- House of Holes on Twitter

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New Ghetto Golf course opening in Newcastle

March 7, 2019, 3:13 am

≫ Next: A day out in Rhyl and Prestatyn

≪ Previous: House of Holes indoor Crazy Golf opening in Derby this month

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New Ghetto Golf indoor minigolf course opening in Newcastle upon Tyne.

The team at Ghetto Golf are set to open their next indoor Crazy Golf venue at Hoults Yard in Newcastle this summer.

The first Ghetto Golf course opened at Cains Brewery in Liverpool

The first Ghetto Golf course opened at Cains Brewery in Liverpool, with a second location opening in Digbeth, Birmingham in 2017.

With the growth in popularity of indoor adults-only Crazy Golf the new course in Newcastle will be a smash hit

In addition to the 18-hole minigolf course the Ghetto Golf venue will also have a bar and street food.

Some of the graffiti artwork at the Liverpool Ghetto Golf course

Space Invaders graffiti art at Ghetto Golf in Liverpool

For more information visit the Ghetto Golf website.

A Sonic the Hedgehog hole at Ghetto Golf in Birmingham

We're looking forward to checking out the new course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Related blog posts:
- Newcastle
- Ghetto Golf
- New courses
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Ghetto Golf in Liverpool
- Ghetto Golf in Birmingham first visit
- Ghetto Golf in Birmingham second visit
- Ghetto Golf in Birmingham third visit

Links:
- Ghetto Golf
- Hoults Yard

A day out in Rhyl and Prestatyn

March 7, 2019, 5:27 am

≫ Next: New Puttshack minigolf course opening at Lakeside Shopping Centre this spring

≪ Previous: New Ghetto Golf course opening in Newcastle

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Revisiting Rhyl and Prestatyn.

The seafront at Rhyl

Earlier this week I had a brilliant day out at the seaside with my friend and minigolf rival/team-mate Peter 'The Crazy Aced Assassin' Jones.

We had to revisit the Crazy Golf course in Prestatyn

The weather was wonderful for the time of year and we had a good time exploring the two seaside towns.

The Drift Park Crazy Golf course in Rhyl

The Drift Park Crazy Golf course in Rhyl

On the seafront in Prestatyn

The Crazy Golf course in Prestatyn

I've been to both Rhyl and Prestatyn a number of times since 2009 and we stay at Pontin's Prestatyn Sands holiday camp for the On the Buses fan-club events. However, until my latest visit I hadn't been to Marine Lake - the location of Britain's oldest miniature railway!

Steam trains have been running at Marine Lake since 1911

The station

The entrance to Marine Lake is also a crossing for the railway

The lake itself was being drained while we were there

As it was out of season we didn't get to have a go on the miniature railway or play any of the Crazy Golf courses. Luckily the amusement arcades were open so we were able to have a game of Bowlingo.

Bowlingo at Mr B's Amusement Arcade in Rhyl

I'm already looking forward to my next day out at the Welsh seaside.

Related blog posts:
- Rhyl
- Prestatyn
- Crazy Golf
- Miniature Railways

New Puttshack minigolf course opening at Lakeside Shopping Centre this spring

March 8, 2019, 4:01 am

≫ Next: Happy 34th Birthday to DK Fibreglass

≪ Previous: A day out in Rhyl and Prestatyn

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New Puttshack indoor high-tech minigolf venue opening at Lakeside Shopping Centre this spring.

The second Puttshack venue is set to open this Spring and will be located at the Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex.

I swung by Puttshack at Westfield London last December. The course is a new concept in miniature golf and features four 9-hole indoor minigolf courses featuring new technology to show real-time leader-boards, video highlights and interactive holes.

Puttshack is a joint venture between ping pong venue Bounce and TopGolf. The team at Puttshack have plans for a third venue to be located in the city of London.

Check out the Puttshack website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for more info.

Related blog posts:
- Puttshack
- New courses
- Crazy Golf in London

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Links:

- Puttshack

- intu Lakeside Shopping Centre

Happy 34th Birthday to DK Fibreglass

March 8, 2019, 6:16 am

≫ Next: Treetop Adventure Golf opening in Leicester this summer

≪ Previous: New Puttshack minigolf course opening at Lakeside Shopping Centre this spring

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Congratulations to the team at DK Fibreglass on achieving 34 years in business.

The Crazy Golf course at the MiniLinks in Lytham St Anne's

This week the team at DK Fibreglass are celebrating 34 years in business. In that time they have produced lots of Crazy Golf courses, many of which we've played on our travels.

Playing the Crazy Golf course in Hunstanton

The first DK Fibreglass Crazy Golf course we played was in Verulamium Park back in 2007. That particular minigolf course was replaced by another of the DK Fibreglass range, one which spells out the word 'CRAZY GOLF' in the layout.

Letters / Holes C and G on the Verulamium Park Crazy Golf course in St Albans

When we lived in Luton our local course at Wardown Park was a DK Fibreglass one and we played on it a lot before it was removed in 2015.

Hole 1 of the second DK Fibreglass course we ever played. Our old local course in Luton

One of the trademark obstacles on DK Fibreglass courses is 'Humpty'. I've been photographed with him a lot on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour!

The first Humpty I saw was on the first DK Fibreglass course I played. This was in St Albans back in 2007

Since our Crazy Golf adventures began in September 2006 we've visited 859 courses. Of those 31 have been DK Fibreglass minigolf courses. However, only one of those has been of the special '5 Star Crazy Golf' variety - a course I managed to complete a perfect round on back in 2011.

There are 5 numbered cups on the 5 Star Crazy Golf courses from DK Fibreglass

There are still a number of minigolf courses for us to visit around the country and we know that some of those are DK Fibreglass layouts. One of which is the Crazy Golf course at the Herrings Green Farm Birds Of Prey Activity Centre in Bedford.

Check out the DK Fibreglass website for more information on their products.

With Humpty at Bainland Country Park in Woodhall Spa

The Crazy Golf course in Beacon Park, Lichfield

Crazy Golf at Bitts Park in Carlisle

Emily playing Crazy Golf in Eglwyswrw, Wales

Crazy Golf at Merrivale Model Village in Great Yarmouth

Crazy Golf at Haigh Woodland Park in Wigan

With Humpty in Wigan

Rolling the dice on the Crazy Golf at the Vegas Amusement Arcade in Hunstanton

Crazy Golf in Knaresborough

With Humpty in Maidenhead

Another Humpty, this one is in Tywyn in Wales

DK Fibreglass courses we've visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour:

- Crazy Golf at Verulamium Park in St Albans (2007)

- Crazy Golf at Verulamium Park in St Albans (2013)
- Crazy Golf in Wardown Park in Luton

- Crazy Golf at Lytham St Anne's (2008)
- Crazy Golf at the MiniLinks in Lytham St Anne's (2017)
- Crazy Golf at the MiniLinks in Lytham St Anne's (2018)
- Crazy Golf at Fairhaven Lake in Lytham

- Minigolf at Riverside Gardens in Maidenhead

- Minigolf at Tywyn Leisure Park
- Crazy Golf at Knightly's Amusements and Fun Park in Towyn

- Crazy Golf at Bitts Park in Carlisle

- 5 Star Crazy Golf at Bainland Country Park in Woodhall Spa
- Crazy Golf at the Victorian Pavilion in Hunstanton

- Crazy Golf at the Vegas Amusement Arcade in Hunstanton

- Crazy Golf at Merrivale Model Village in Great Yarmouth

- Crazy Golf at The Grove Park in Carshalton
- Crazy Golf at Conyngham Hall in Knaresborough

- Crazy Golf at Haigh Woodland Park in Wigan
- Crazy Golf in Woodlands Park Gravesend
- Crazy Golf at Southwold Boating Lake
- Crazy Golf at Beacon Park in Lichfield
- Crazy Golf on Grass in Cromer
- Crazy Golf at Mill Hill Park in London
- Crazy Golf in Tamworth
- Crazy Golf at Shobnall Leisure Complex in Burton upon Trent
- Miniature Golf at Walton Hall Gardens near Warrington
- Crazy Golf in Saundersfoot
- Crazy Golf at the Dyfed Shires and Leisure Farm in Eglwyswrw
- Crazy Golf at the Penrhos Golf and Country Club in Llanrhystud
- Crazy Golf at Kingsway Golf Centre in Melbourn
- Crazy Golf at the Riviera Hotel in Weymouth
- Crazy Golf at The Woolpack Inn at Smeeth
- Crazy Golf at Tonbridge Golf Centre
- Crazy Golf at Ancaster Karting in Grantham

Related blog posts:

- DK Fibreglass

- Humpty courses
- Richard and Humpty

Links:

- DK Fibreglass website
- DK Fibreglass on Twitter
- DK Fibreglass on Facebook
- DK Fibreglass on Instagram

Treetop Adventure Golf opening in Leicester this summer

March 9, 2019, 4:10 am

≫ Next: Glo Crazy indoor Crazy Golf in Harlow, Essex

≪ Previous: Happy 34th Birthday to DK Fibreglass

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New Treetop Adventure Golf course to open in Leicester this summer.

The new Treetop Adventure Golf course location being built at the Highcross Shopping Centre in Leicester will be opening in mid-June.

The entrance to the Treetop Adventure Golf course in Manchester

The Leicester venue will feature two 18-hole indoor Adventure Golf courses, plus a Lucky Last Hole where you can try to win a free game.

There is some excellent theming at Treetop Adventure Golf

Treetop Adventure Golf in Leicester will be the third location, with the first Treetop Adventure Golf centre opening in Cardiff in 2015, followed by the Manchester venue last year.

The Treetop Adventure Golf course have well designed and tricky holes

For more information visit the Treetop Adventure Golf website.

Last September we visited the Treetop Adventure Golf venue at The Printworks in Manchester city centre. It's a superb setting.

The courses were the 799th and 800th courses we've visited in the British Isles.

Related blog posts:
- Treetop Adventure Golf
- New courses
- Leicester

Links:
- Treetop Adventure Golf
- Highcross Shopping Centre

Glo Crazy indoor Crazy Golf in Harlow, Essex

March 10, 2019, 9:44 am

≫ Next: Viking Adventure Golf at Moreton Hills Golf Centre

≪ Previous: Treetop Adventure Golf opening in Leicester this summer

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A look at the indoor Crazy Golf course in Harlow, Essex.

Many thanks to my cousins Adam and Dolly Trigg and my friend and minigolf fan Simon Dewhurst for sending over some snaps from their visits to the Glo Crazy indoor Crazy Golf course in Harlow, Essex.

Simon's photo of the Glo Crazy course. The course looks like a winner. Unfortunately Simon wasn't on his visit

Emily and I are looking forward to playing the course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Dolly's photo of the Glo Crazy course. Dolly drew in her game on the layout, scoring one hole-in-one during her round

The 12-hole UV glow-in-the-dark Crazy Golf course can be found at the Q Entertainment centre in the town.

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

Viking Adventure Golf at Moreton Hills Golf Centre

March 11, 2019, 5:06 am

≫ Next: Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf in Cleethorpes

≪ Previous: Glo Crazy indoor Crazy Golf in Harlow, Essex

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New Viking Adventure Golf course opening at Moreton Hills Golf Centre in Greasby, Wirral this spring.

Major Golf Direct and Moreton Hills Golf Centre are opening a new Viking Adventure Golf course at the golf venue in Greasby, Wirral this spring.

You can follow progress of the Viking Adventure Golf course build on the Major Golf Direct Twitter account.

We're looking forward to giving the course a play on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Links:
- Major Golf Direct
- Moreton Hills Golf Centre

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Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf in Cleethorpes

March 11, 2019, 9:58 am

≫ Next: Playing the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes

≪ Previous: Viking Adventure Golf at Moreton Hills Golf Centre

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A visit to the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes.

Last May we had a brilliant short break in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire. The seaside resort has a number of minigolf courses, one of which is the classic Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf near the pier.

We'd visited Cleethorpes once before, back in May 2011. Unfortunately the course was closed on that occasion. Luckily the 18-hole course was open this time and I enjoyed a few games on the lovely layout during our few days in town.

The Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes became the 482nd played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Photos from our visit on the 18th May 2018.

Related blog posts:
- Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf in Cleethorpes
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Cleethorpes

Videos:
- Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes
- Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes - the windmill
- Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes - hole 15
- Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes - hole 18

Playing the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes

March 13, 2019, 8:36 pm

≫ Next: Oddballs Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes

≪ Previous: Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf in Cleethorpes

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A visit to the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire.

Last May we had a brilliant break in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire. The seaside resort has a number of minigolf courses, one of which is the classic Arnold Palmer Putting Course near the pier.

We'd visited Cleethorpes once before, back in May 2011. Unfortunately the course was closed on that occasion. Luckily the 18-hole course was open this time and I enjoyed a few games on the excellent layout during our few days in town.

Playing hole 13

Playing hole 15

Teeing off on hole 16

Holing out on hole 16

Playing hole 18

The Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes was the 482nd played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Another fine scorecard added to our collection

The scoring side

Photos from our visit on the 19th May 2018.

Hole 1

Hole 2

Hole 3

Hole 4

 

Hole 5

Hole 5

Hole 6

Hole 7

Hole 8

Hole 8

Hole 9

Hole 10

Hole 10

 

Hole 11

Hole 11

Hole 12

Hole 12

Hole 13

Hole 14

Hole 14

Hole 15

Hole 16

Hole 16

Hole 17

Hole 18

Related blog posts:

- Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf in Cleethorpes (2018)
- Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf in Cleethorpes
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Cleethorpes

Videos:
- Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes
- Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes: The Windmill
- Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes: Hole 15
- Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes: Hole 18

Oddballs Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes

March 15, 2019, 6:17 am

≫ Next: Terry's Traditional Crazy Golf and Putting in Cleethorpes

≪ Previous: Playing the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes

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A visit to the Oddballs Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire.

On our holiday in Cleethorpes last May we revisited a number of miniature golf courses, one of which was the Oddballs Crazy Golf course on the seafront.

The course has got a HUGE windmill on it

Back in May 2011 the Oddballs Crazy Golf course became the 226th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Photos of the Oddballs Crazy Golf course in May 2018.

What a view!

The course has a number of enlarged saucy seaside postcards dotted around it

There's a miniature version of Cleethorpes Pier on the course

The BIG minigolf windmill

  

Related blog posts:
- Cleethorpes
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- A visit to the Oddballs Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire

Link:
- Oddballs Crazy Golf course on Twitter

Terry's Traditional Crazy Golf and Putting in Cleethorpes

March 15, 2019, 2:20 pm

≫ Next: Pirate Crazy Golf at the Fairworld Amusement Arcade in Cleethorpes

≪ Previous: Oddballs Crazy Golf course in Cleethorpes

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A visit to Terry's Traditional Crazy Golf and Putting in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire.

On our holiday in Cleethorpes last May we revisited a number of miniature golf courses, two of which were Terry's Traditional Crazy Golf and Putting Green.

A view of the Crazy Golf course

The Putting Green

When we arrived the courses were closed, as they were when we first visited in May 2011. Luckily the courses were open the next day so we were able to have a round.

It was nice to finally play the traditional seaside Crazy Golf course. It'd had a lick of paint since our last visit

Photos of Terry's Traditional Crazy Golf and Putting courses on the 18th May 2018.
 

Hole 1

Hole 2

Hole 3

Hole 4

Hole 5

Hole 6

Hole 7

Hole 7

Hole 7

Hole 8

Hole 9

Related blog posts:
- Cleethorpes
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Terry's Traditional Crazy Golf and Putting in Cleethorpes

Pirate Crazy Golf at the Fairworld Amusement Arcade in Cleethorpes

March 18, 2019, 1:58 pm

≫ Next: New Mr Mulligans Adventure Golf course opening in Basildon

≪ Previous: Terry's Traditional Crazy Golf and Putting in Cleethorpes

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Playing the Pirates Landing indoor Adventure Crazy Golf at the Fairworld Amusement Arcade in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire.

Last May we returned to the seaside resort of Cleethorpes in Lincolnshire and while in town swung by the Fairworld Amusement Arcade for a game of indoor Crazy Golf on the Pirates Landing Adventure Golf course.

We also played the course on our previous visit to Cleethorpes back in May 2011. The 10-hole course was the 227th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The Pirates Landing course is worth a play at just £2 a round

I also had a play on another seaside amusement arcade classic - the shooting gallery. This one was a crazy laboratory setting

Related blog posts:
- Cleethorpes
- Indoor Crazy Golf
- Amusement Arcades
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Indoor Adventure Golf at the Fairworld Amusement Arcade in Cleethorpes

New Mr Mulligans Adventure Golf course opening in Basildon

March 19, 2019, 6:32 am

≫ Next: New Roxy Ball Room, with Crazy Golf course, opening in Liverpool

≪ Previous: Pirate Crazy Golf at the Fairworld Amusement Arcade in Cleethorpes

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A new Mr Mulligans Adventure Golf venue is opening at Festival Leisure Park in Basildon, Essex.

The latest Mr Mulligans indoor Adventure Golf centre is opening at Festival Leisure Park in Basildon, Essex this spring.

The new location will be the thirteenth Mr Mulligans venue and will feature two indoor Crazy Golf courses as well as a bar and restaurant.

We've played a number of the Mr Mulligans Adventure Golf courses, most recently at the Space Golf course in Newcastle. Those three layouts were the 841st, 842nd and 843rd visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Playing at Mr Mulligans Space Golf in Newcastle on Miniature Golf Day last year

Check out the Mr Mulligans website for more details about the Basildon venue and their other courses.

New Roxy Ball Room, with Crazy Golf course, opening in Liverpool

March 19, 2019, 7:23 am

≫ Next: Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in the UK

≪ Previous: New Mr Mulligans Adventure Golf course opening in Basildon

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A new Roxy Ball Room entertainment venue is opening in Liverpool.

The team at Roxy Ball Room are opening the doors to their latest indoor entertainment centre in Liverpool next month.

The new location in Rainford Square will feature a 9-hole Crazy Golf course, ping pong, pool, arcade games, as well as a bar and restaurant.

The indoor Crazy Golf course at Roxy Ball Room in Leeds

We've played the minigolf courses at Roxy Ball Room's Leeds and Manchester venues on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We're looking forward to checking out Roxy Ball Room in Liverpool.

We saw in the New Year at Roxy Ball Room Manchester

Visit the Roxy Ball Room website for more details of the new Liverpool location and their other venues.

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Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in the UK

March 19, 2019, 11:01 am

≫ Next: Entries open for the 2019 World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings

≪ Previous: New Roxy Ball Room, with Crazy Golf course, opening in Liverpool

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A look at Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in the UK.

A view of the Arnold Palmer Putting course in Prestatyn

Arnold Palmer Putting Courses are a design classic and include all the elements that make a Crazy Golf course great – the Windmill, the Waterwheel, an Obelisk, ledges, bunkers, traps, flat loops, hills and plateaus – everything laid out to make a course interesting, testing and most of all fun!

The Windmill at Hastings Crazy Golf course - home of the World Crazy Golf Championships

Crazy Golf - and Arnold Palmer Putting Courses - are as much a part of the British seaside as fish & chips, sunburn, buckets & spades and drizzle.

Emily playing the Windmill hole at Whitby

The Arnold Palmer branded miniature golf courses were part of the Arnold Palmer Enterprises empire set-up in 1961 that saw the legendary golfer's name licensed and franchised to a wide-range of activities and products including Dry Cleaning centres and an Arnold Palmer brand foot detergent.

Pencils from the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Prestatyn

A scorecard from the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleehorpes

  

My brother Christopher recently found this Free Game Pass for the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Hastings while looking through our old family photo albums. One of us must have won it on a holiday there in the 90's or 90's!

I managed to win a free game at the Whitby Arnold Palmer course on our visit in 2015

A scorecard from the Arnold Palmer Minigolf course in Southend-on-Sea

By 1966 there were 130 Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in the USA, with ten in Japan and some in South Africa.

The Masters Putting Course in Southport was one of the first Arnold Palmer Putting Courses to open in the UK

The first Arnold Palmer Putting Course in the UK opened in Coventry in 1965 and was part of an Arnold Palmer Driving Range. A course was also located at a Driving Range in Sheffield.

A scorecard from the Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in Skegness - this has a wonderful listing of other courses. Some of these still exist, while others have closed

Sadly over the years a number of Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in the UK have been closed, abandoned, demolished or converted beyond recognition.

The Oval, Cliftonville, PT4419. Postally used postcard postmarked from Thanet, Kent on the 24 September 1975. By Photo Precision Limited, St. Ives, Huntingdon

In recent years the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Exmouth has been demolished, while the two Arnold Palmer courses in Great Yarmouth have been replaced by one Adventure Golf course. The two courses in Cliftonville, Margate were closed in 2014 and removed shortly after. The course that was once in Folkestone is no longer playable - as it was used to make an art installation.

This is what happened to the Folkestone Arnold Palmer Putting Course!

Luckily, one of the very best examples of an Arnold Palmer Putting Course can still be found at Hastings Adventure Golf in East Sussex. The 18-hole Crazy Golf course is celebrating it's 44th birthday this year, having opened on Saturday 21 March 1975.

A postally unused Hastings Mini Golf postcard C6911 by Judges Limited Hastings. The player is on hole 12. That hole looks the same today

A postally used postcard showing Hastings Crazy Golf. Postmark of 29 July 1976. Published by Photo Precision Limited. Code PLX3778

Hastings Crazy Golf in 2015

The Hastings course was the 39th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2007 and is one of our favourite layouts. We've played there a number of times over the years and competed in the World Crazy Golf Championships on the course between 2007 and 2015.

Playing in the 2015 World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings

You can still find playable examples of Arnold Palmer Putting Courses - in varying conditions and some with modifications - in the following locations:

• Bognor Regis - built in 1993
• Broadstairs
• Caister-on-Sea (Haven Holiday Park)
• Canvey Island (9 holes of an 18 hole course remain)
• Cleethorpes
• Filey (Primrose Valley Holiday Park)
• Gorleston-on-Sea
• Hastings
• Mablethorpe (Haven Golden Sands Caravan Holiday Park)
• Mablethorpe (Hooks Island)
• Prestatyn
• Skegness x2 (9 and 18 hole courses)
• Southend-on-Sea (1 of 2 courses remain - the 'East' course) - upgraded
• Southport
• Weston-Super-Mare
• Whitby

For a time there was also a new type of 'Arnold Palmer Putting Course' in Shanklin on the Isle of Wight. Formerly a Beton-style of Miniature Golf, it received a refurbishment a few years ago and became an oversized version of many of the courses listed above! However, it was recently renovated once again and is now a dinosaur Adventure Golf course.

The Arnold Palmer-style Crazy Golf course at Shanklin Seafront in 2016

Lost Arnold Palmer Putting Courses:

• Ayr (Haven Craig Tara Holiday Park, formerly Butlin's)
• Battersea
• Blackpool, Starr Gate
• Bognor Regis (Butlin's)
• Camber Sands - now a Car Park
• Cliftonville, Margate (2 courses)
• Coventry
• Eastbourne
• Exmouth
• Folkestone - now an Art Installation on Beach Huts!
• Goodrington
• Great Yarmouth (2 courses) - turned into Castaway Adventure Golf
• Hornsea Potteries
• Hove
• Ladram Bay
• Leicester
• Manchester
• Minehead (Butlin's)
• Nottingham
• Prestatyn
• Pwhelli (Butlin's)
• Rhyl
• Scarborough
• Sheffield
• South Shields
• Southend-on-Sea ('West' course demolished)
• Tynemouth
• Weymouth
• Whitley Bay
• Withernsea

Here's to many more years of enjoyment playing the Arnold Palmer Putting Courses that remain.

Playing at the Skegness Arnold Palmer Putting Course in 2015

If you know of any Arnold Palmer Putting Courses missing from the lists above do get in touch.

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes

We have been travelling on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006 and in that time have visited 859 courses. 821 of them have been in the British Isles and 38 overseas.

At the Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in Skegness

Of the 859 courses we've visited, 25 have been Arnold Palmer Putting Course locations.

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Great Yarmouth

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Great Yarmouth

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Great Yarmouth

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Blackpool

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Blackpool

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Exmouth

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Exmouth

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Cleethorpes

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Mablethorpe

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness

  

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Whitby

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Whitby

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Whitby

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Whitby

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Southport

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Broadstairs

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Broadstairs

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Weston-Super-Mare

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Weston-Super-Mare

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Gorleston-on-Sea

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Gorleston-on-Sea

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Southend-on-Sea

The old Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Southend-on-Sea before it was completely removed

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course at the Little Oasis in Cliftonville, Margate shortly before it was completely removed

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Canvey Island. This used to be an 18-hole course. When I played it only 9-holes remained

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Prestatyn

The Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Bognor Regis

Related blog posts:
- Arnold Palmer Putting Courses
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Entries open for the 2019 World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings

March 20, 2019, 10:44 am

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Entry to the World Crazy Golf Championships is now open.

Entries to the 2019 World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings are now open.

For the first time in its 17-year history the World Crazy Golf Championships is including a new junior competition category too.

Taking place at Hastings Adventure Golf in East Sussex from the 7th to 9th June the World Crazy Golf Championships boasts a £4,500 prize fund.

Each category competes for a separate prize fund. A £3,000 prize fund is allocated to the professional category, with the overall winner scooping £1,000 - the largest winner's prize in minigolf. A separate prize fund of £1,500 is allocated to the novice category. There are also opportunities for team entries in both the novice and professional categories. The junior category will have awards for first, second and third place.

The reigning and defending World Crazy Golf Champion - Marc 'The Force' Chapman

The junior category is open to those aged 8 to 14 and will be played on Friday 7th June at 5.30pm. The novice competition category, that was introduced two years ago, will continue to be played over one day, Saturday 8th June, while the Crazy Golf Professional category is played over two days, Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th June.

Simon Tompkins of Hastings Adventure Golf said “We are thrilled to introduce the junior category to this year’s championships. The three separate competitive categories - professional, novice and junior, help make the championships even more inclusive."

He added “The novice category was established two years to give non-professionals an event of their own. Now the addition of the junior category makes the championships an open playing field for younger players too. So get the putters polished and start practicing!”

All competitors must beat the windmill and watermill as well as negotiate the bends, twists and ramps on the traditional seaside course at Hastings Adventure Golf – dubbed the UK’s ‘spiritual home of mini golf’.

The windmill hole at Hastings. One of the 18-holes competitors will have to tackle in the World Crazy Golf Championships

Following last year’s fantastic efforts, there will again be prizes for 'best dressed' and 'personality of the competition'.

This is the 17th year that Hastings Adventure Golf has hosted the World Crazy Golf Championships - an event that is now firmly considered the pinnacle competition for Crazy Golfers in the UK and beyond.

Competitors can enter the 2019 World Crazy Golf Championships via the Hastings Adventure Golf website. All entrants are entitled to half price practice on the Crazy Golf course at the complex.

2018 saw the largest number of competitors in the field since 2005. Marc 'The Force' Chapman from Kent was crowned the World Crazy Golf Champion and scooped the £1,000 top prize. His score was 226, 26 under par, beating the 2017 top score of 235, 17 under par recorded by the Czech Republic’s Olivia Prokopova.

Commenting on his big win Marc said “It felt amazing to finally become the World Crazy Golf Champion! It was a great personal ambition of mine to win the event and I had been close to it a few times before - which made the win even more amazing!”

Adam Kelly took the runner-up prize of £750 and Michael Smith, former World Crazy Golf Champion, took home £500 for third place.

The novice title and £500 went to Russell Smith from Tunbridge Wells. The runner-up Chris Horn took home £300, while third place went to Italian player Mark Berezicki who won £200.

* Players are classified as a novice if they:
- have not entered the World Crazy Golf Championships before.
- are not a recognised international player.
- have not finished in the top ten of a British Minigolf Association tour event.

Playing Dino Falls Adventure Golf at the Trafford Golf Centre

March 21, 2019, 9:57 am

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A revisit to the Dino Falls Adventure Golf course at the Trafford Golf Centre.

Hole 1 of the 18-hole Dino Falls Adventure Golf course

Yesterday evening we visited the Trafford Golf Centre in Manchester for a round on one of our local minigolf courses. Our friend and new minigolf rival Celine joined us for the round - and almost won!

Celine playing a shot on hole 2 of the course

In our match-up I took the win with a round of 42. Emily was second on 43, with Celine third on 48. Emily and Celine had both completed the front-9 with scores of 20, while I hit 22.

Emily and a T-Rex

Playing a shot at Dino Falls Adventure Golf

Check out the Dino Falls Adventure Golf course website for more information, opening times and prices.

The team at the Trafford Golf Centre have plans to open a second 18-hole adventure golf course at the site. You can understand why when you see how busy and popular the course is, especially when the sun is out.

Dino Falls Adventure Golf was the 476th course played and 792nd visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Watch me on The Chase

March 24, 2019, 9:43 am

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I've been reliably informed that my episode of The Chase is being repeated on Challenge next Tuesday, 2nd April. It's one day late if you ask me!

You can watch my appearance on The Chase at 8pm on Tuesday 2nd April. It's repeated again at 1am on the 3rd

I was a contestant on Series 5, Episode 39 of the long-running ITV quiz show. The episode was filmed in 2011 and aired in March 2012.

Related blog posts:
- Appearing on ITV's The Chase!
- The Chase

Gluten free in Leeds

March 25, 2019, 3:53 am

≫ Next: Terry's Traditional Crazy Golf course and Putting Green in Cleethorpes

≪ Previous: Watch me on The Chase

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A gluten free day out in Leeds.

Last Saturday we visited the Gluten Free Food Fair organised by Leeds Coeliac Group at Pudsey Civic Hall. It was the first gluten free food fair we've been to in a while and it was nice to buy some cakes and savouries from some new suppliers.

About to eat my first Jam Doughnut in over a decade!

We bought some brilliant food and drink from Wildcraft Gluten Free Bakery, Lottie's Bakehouse, K&N's Gluten Free Kitchen, Gluten Freekz, Barkat and Green's Beers.

We couldn't be near Leeds and not have a meal at our favourite restaurant, The Oxford Place. Once again we had a superb meal, although after scoffing the jam doughnut from Wildcraft Bakery earlier in the day I only had room for two courses.

I had the Pan Seared King Scallops with Samphire, Tomato and Shallot to start

Emily had the Duncombe Park Shot Pheasant & Black Pudding Terrine, Homemade Piccalilli and Sweet Onion Marmalade for her starter

We both had a Gourmet Beef Burger with Smoked Mango Chutney, Harrogate Blue Cheese & Skinny Frites for our main course

A very happy Coeliac