Happy National Roller Coaster Day

I heard via The Milky Way adventure park in Devon that today is National Roller Coaster Day. Over the years we've played a few minigolf courses next to, or underneath, roller coasters!

The Crazy Golf course at Fantasy Island in Ingoldmells sits right underneath a giant roller coaster 

The roller coaster ride that is the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

The two that courses that immediately spring to mind are the Crazy Golf course at Ingoldmell's Fantasy Island and the Pike's Pass Miniature Golf course at Circus Circus Casino in Las Vegas.

Check out the video of me playing the Pike's Pass course right next to the roller coaster.

Emily playing at Ingoldmells

One of the first unplayable courses we visited on our tour was the Extraordinary Golf course at Alton Towers. Unfortunately it was flooded when we arrived on a rainy day in June 2007 so we were unable to play any of the roller coaster and ride-themed holes.

In 2011 Clacton Pier was home to a minigolf course that sat just along from the thrill rides the pier offers.

The Minigolf course at Clacton Pier in 2011

We've visited the Aztec and Inca Adventure Golf courses in Southend-on-Sea that are part of Adventure Island, home to some roller coasters and rides.

The Milky Way adventure park itself also has an 18-hole Mini Golf Putting course.

Related blog posts:
- Crazy Golf at Fantasy Island in Ingoldmells, Lincolnshire
- Pike's Pass Miniature Golf at Circus Circus in Las Vegas
- Clacton Pier
- Aztec & Inca Adventure Golf at Adventure Island in Southend-on-Sea
- Alton Towers
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Links:
- National Roller Coaster Day website
- #NationalRollerCoasterDay
- The Milky Way

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Luton Mini Golf Meadows

Visiting the new meadows in Wardown Park, Luton.

Luton's new Mini Golf Meadows

Earlier this week I read about the developments at the old minigolf and crazy golf site in Luton's Wardown Park and today Emily and I headed down for a look at the new 'Luton Mini Golf Meadows'.

The area does look really nice

As part of our visit we met the project's co-ordinator Helen Hoyle who told us about the project, while we were able to tell her more about the minigolf courses that used to be there. We also completed a survey for the research while we wandered around the meadow.

Exploring the Mini Golf Meadows and completing my survey of 'Plot G'. Emily did 'Plot H'

The year-long project has been set-up to monitor how local Luton residents and insects react to the new meadows.

One of the pretty plots in the meadow

Over the years we played the minigolf courses in the park a fair bit. The Crazy Golf course that used to be in Wardown Park was the 18th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour way back on the 5th May 2007. The Grass Putting Miniature Golf layout became the 19th played on the 19th May. Until the meadows were planted minigolf had been played in the park since the 19th June 1934.

I spotted a metal cup from one of the grass minigolf holes sitting on the 'green' of the old Crazy Golf course. As a connoisseur of derelict minigolf courses it was interesting to see what had become of the old holes

Hole 1 as it used to look

Hole 1 now

A view of the old Crazy Golf site. The markings from the old fibreglass holes are still clear to see

Out standing in his field. In the middle of what once was a grass putting course

It was nice to see at some signs that the area was once home to two miniature golf courses.

A view of the Luton Mini Golf Meadows from the old Crazy Golf course

Hole 8 is no longer this way. You can find plots A-D there though

Signs of golf still exist 'in the rough'

Playing the Miniature Golf course back in 2010

Links:
- Department of Landscape at the University of Sheffield
- F3ues Urban BESS project
- Green Estate
- Pictorial Meadows
- Luton Borough Council

Related blog post:
- Crazy Golf in Wardown Park Luton

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Mark Swain Minigolfing in the USA Part 2

Miniature Golf at Vitense Golfland in Madison, Wisconsin.

Vitense Golfland in Madison, Wisconsin

Earlier this year my minigolf rival and friend Mark 'The Horse Whisperer' Swain visited the USA very kindly brought me back scorecards from the mini golf courses he visited out there.

A pair of scorecards from Vitense Golfland

Mark was lucky enough to visit and play at the Vitense Golfland miniature golf courses in Madison, Wisconsin.

Hopefully we'll get to visit and play at Vitense Golfland on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour one day...

Related blog posts:
- Mark Swain
- USA
- Mark Swain Minigolfing in the USA Part 1

Links:
- Mark Swain on Twitter
- Vitense Golfland
- The Putting Penguin, Minigolf course review-site in the USA
- The Crazy Golf Museum

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.

Mark Swain Minigolfing in the USA Part 1

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

One of the Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf courses in Wisconsin Dells

My friend and minigolf rival Mark 'The Horse Whisperer' Swain visited the USA earlier this year and was kind enough to bring me back some scorecards from the miniature golf courses he visited out there.

His first stop was at Pirate's Cove in Wisconsin Dells where there are five, yes FIVE, minigolf courses!

At the Pirate's Cove Original Adventure Golf & Family Fun Center you can choose to play Black Beard's 18, Captain Kidd's 18, Pirate's Lookout 18, Pirate's Challenge 18 or Captain Hook's 19 - or if you've got plenty of time play all five!

The big minigolf scorecard from Pirate's Cove

There are three more courses on the other side

Hopefully we'll get to visit and play at Pirate's Cove on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour one day...

Related blog posts:
- Mark Swain
- USA
- Mark Swain Minigolfing in the USA Part 2

Links:
- Mark Swain on Twitter
- Pirates Cove Original Adventure Golf & Family Fun Center
- The Putting Penguin, Minigolf course review-site in the USA
- The Crazy Golf Museum

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.

Mini Golf courses in Wales

A look back at our big minigolf roadtrip to Wales.

Crazy Golfing on the classic Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Prestatyn

Back in 2009 we headed off on a tour of Wales and ended up visiting 93% of all the public minigolf courses in the country!

The Minigolf course at Gowerton Golf Range

Between the 9th and 21st August we drove 983 miles, played 28 courses and visited 15 more that were unplayable. Unbelievable that it was six years ago already!

Crazy Golfing at Tywyn Leisure Park

Crazy Golf at Knightly's Amusements and Fun Park in Towyn

Crazy Golfing in Aberystwyth

Playing the Crazy Golf course in Swansea during round two of the 2009 Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament)

Playing the highest minigolf course in the UK - the Rocky Pines Adventure Golf course atop The Great Orme in Llandudno

Here's the list of courses we were able to play on the trip:

121 Barry Island/Ynys y Barri (Smuggler's Cove) - Adventure Golf

122 Porthcawl (Trecco Caravan Park) - Adventure Golf
123 Porthcawl (Trecco Caravan Park) - Putting

124 Swansea/Abertawe (Southend Park, The Mumbles) - Crazy Golf
125 Swansea/Abertawe (Singleton Boating Lake) - Crazy Golf

126 Gowerton (Gowerton Golf Range) - Minigolf
127 Gowerton (Gowerton Golf Range) - Putting Course

128 Pembrey/Pen-bre (Pembrey Country Park) - Crazy Golf

129 Pendine Bay - Crazy Golf

130 Saundersfoot - Crazy Golf

131 Heatherton Park, near Tenby - Adventure Golf

132 Eglwyswrw (Dyfed Shires & Leisure Farm) - Crazy Golf

133 Henllan Station (Teifi Valley Railway), near Newcastle Emlyn - Crazy Golf

134 Llanrhystud (Penrhos Golf & Country Club) - Crazy Golf

135 Aberystwyth - Crazy Golf
136 Aberystwyth - Putting

137 Aberdovey/Aberdyfi - Putting

138 Tywyn (Leisure Park) - Crazy Golf

139 Isle of Anglesey/Ynys Môn (Holyhead Park) - Crazy Golf

140 Isle of Anglesey/Ynys Môn (Bodorgan, Henblas Country Park) - Crazy Golf

141 Isle of Anglesey/Ynys Môn (Anglesey Sea Zoo) - Swedish Felt

142 Llandudno (Great Orme/Y Gogarth) - Alpine Adventure Golf

143 Llandudno (Great Orme/Y Gogarth) - Rocky Pines Adventure Golf - The highest minigolf course in the British Isles

144 Towyn (Knightly's on Sandbank Road) - Crazy Golf

145 Rhyl (Drift Park) - Minigolf - Revisited in September 2014

146 Rhyl (Welsh Dragon) - Adventure Golf - Revisited in September 2014

147 Prestatyn (Bastion Road, Central Beach) - Arnold Palmer Putting Course/Crazy Golf. Revisited in September 2014. Host venue for The Butler Cup and Holiday on the Buses Pro Tournament won by Emily. RICHARD WINS A FREE GAME ON THE TOP HOLE

148 Llangollen (Riverside Park) - Minigolf

Visiting the last remnants of the abandoned Crazy Golf course in Llanfairfechan

The courses we were unable to play were:

21 Barry Island/Ynys y Barri - Crazy Golf - Played in the late 1980's/early 1990's - Demolished for new Smuggler's Cove Adventure Golf

22 Pendine Sands - Crazy Golf - Demolished

23 Saundersfoot (Merlewood Hotel) - Putting Course - for hotel guests only

24 Gumfreston (The Dinosaur Park) - Adventure Golf - was just closing

25 Herons Brook Animal Farm - Crazy Golf (Demolished five years ago)

26 Aberystwyth Cliff Railway (Constitution Hill) - Claimed to have a new Crazy Golf course - it did not exist
27 Aberystwyth Cliff Railway (Constitution Hill) - The 'Games Room' did have a broken minigolf arcade machine that was out of order

28 Tywyn (Leisure Park) - Putting (ran out of time on visit)

29 Porthmadog - Crazy Golf (arrived at 5.30pm, course closed at 6pm but would not let us play)
30 Porthmadog - Swedish Felt (arrived at 5.30pm, course closed at 6pm but would not let us play)
31 Porthmadog - Putting (arrived at 5.30pm, course closed at 6pm but would not let us play)

32 Criccieth - Miniature Golf (Pitch & Putt) #1
33 Criccieth - Miniature Golf (Pitch & Putt) #2

34 Abergwyngregyn (Aber Falls Tavern) - course unplayable, Tavern under redevelopment

35 Llanfairfechan - Crazy Golf - only holes 13, 14, 15, 16 & 17 remain - no kiosk

We're looking forward to more trips to Wales in the future. We're regularly visitors and next time we'll hoping to give the new Treetop Adventure Golf course in Cardiff.

Check out our blog post of English to Welsh translations for Minigolf!

There are a fair few ways to say 'minigolf' in Welsh!

Related blog posts:
- Minigolf Tour of Wales - Stats & Facts
- Minigolf etc. - English to Welsh translations
- Wales
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

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Sparkle City Mini Putt in Spartanburg, South Carolina

I recently received a nice surprise in the post - some great merchandise and ephemera from my fellow minigolf bloggers at A Couple of Putts!

What a fine array of minigolf merch

This year Robin Schwartzman, one half of the A Couple of Putts team, has been the Hub-Bub Artist-in-Residence and created a brilliant looking and free to play miniature golf course called Sparkle City Mini Putt in downtown Spartanburg in South Carolina, USA.

The scorecard from Sparkle City Mini Putt looks great

Sparkle City Mini Putt sounds like a marvelous idea. Hopefully one day we'll get to play the layout on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Visit the A Couple of Putts blog to follow the travels of Tom Loftus (aka Mr. Tee) and Robin Schwartzman (aka The Pink Putter) on their minigolf travels.

Check out the links below for more details on the 9-hole minigolf course. To play the course you can take along your own putter and ball, or call in at one of five local business where you can borrow some equipment for free.

Links:
- A Couple of Putts blog
- Sparkle City Mini Putt website
- Sparkle City Mini Putt on Facebook
- Sparkle City Mini Putt / Hub-Bub on Twitter
- Sparkle City Mini Putt – Spartanburg, SC blog post on A Couple of Putts

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Canoe Lake Mini Golf in Southsea

Finally finding the Mini Golf course at Canoe Lake in Southsea, Hampshire.

Over the years I've visited Southsea a fair bit, and indeed it's where the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour began back in 2006. During the last nine years we've visited all of the miniature golf courses in the town, except one.

The long first hole at Canoe Lake

On a number of occasions we tried to find the Crazy / Mini Golf course at Canoe Lake but to no avail. That was until last weekend.

Finally at the Canoe Lake Mini Golf course - just 668 course visits and nine years after the first stop down the road near the pier!

As I was in town for my brother Christopher's Stag Do I made a point of having a good search online in advance and was given some directions by Susan Hayles (@SusansSolent) on Twitter too.

A view of the Canoe Lake Mini Golf course

As I arrived at Canoe Lake from the the seafront I headed in the general direction of where I now thought the course would be and lo and behold there it was!

Teeing-off on the first

I had a great round on the 12-hole grass Mini Golf layout and scored a 29. My round was made even more pleasing by scoring an ace on the third.

The scene of my ace

It was the sort of course I could've happily spent a day putting around. There were some tricky holes, it was well maintained and had a unique look and feel.

The dogleg seventh hole in the corner is really tricky

Speaking with the course owner Richard after my round I discovered that the main reason we never found the course on our previous visits to Southsea was that the course had closed down in 2007, and stayed closed for another three years before Richard took it over. The site used to be home to a concrete Crazy Golf course, now consigned to history. The new 12-hole course is good fun and I was told that the layout changes each year. He's done a great job in resurrecting the putting facility and it's well worth a visit.

I really liked the 12th hole - there's a tree right in the middle of the hole!

Before I left I had another round, this time scoring a 30. The course record is an impressive 23 and I'll be back to have a crack at that score.

The Canoe Lake Mini Golf course was the 387th played and 669th visited on the tour.

I do like a nice scorecard and the Canoe Lake Mini Golf course certainly got a  good one

The scoring side

We've actually been really close to the course before, and in 2011 we went on a Swan Boat on the lake as well.

This angle is from the other side of the lake - the Mini Golf course would've been behind the blue huts. See below too

A round on the 12-hole course is just £2.50 and there are cold drinks available from the hut. The Canoe Lake Mini Golf course hasn't got a website, but check out the links below for details of the café and other facilities in the area.

The course is great value and good fun

Links:
- Canoe Lake Leisure and Greens Café at Canoe Lake - next to the Mini Golf
- The Belle Isle - scorecard sponsor

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Southsea
- Grass Putting

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