Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour is 20 years old this month

We're celebrating two decades of our crazy minigolfing adventures.

How it started.

We played the Victory Trail course at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea, Hampshire, England on Saturday 30th September 2006.

And at the end of our 9-hole round I won a free game by firing the cannon on the lucky last hole!

Travelling the UK (and the world) playing minigolf.

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

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.

As well as playing minigolf in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Jersey and the Isle of Man we’ve travelled to minigolf 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.

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.

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!

Related blog posts:

• Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
• A look at Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Southsea
• From the Vault - Southsea Minigolf 2006
• First courses played

Neon Greens Mini Golf in Dundee, Scotland

A new mini golf course is opening in Dundee, Scotland.

Neon Greens Mini Golf is opening at Murraygate in Dundee city centre.

Neon Greens will be an indoor mini golf layout.

Find out more on the Neon Greens Mini Golf Facebook Page.

Crazy Golf at Knockhatch Adventure Park in Hailsham, Sussex

A new crazy golf course is being created at Knockhatch Adventure Park in Hailsham, Sussex.

The new outdoor crazy golf course at Knockhatch Adventure Park will replace the existing layout.

Find out more on the Knockhatch Adventure Park website.

West Coast Mini Putt in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada

Swinging by West Coast Mini Putt in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.

My brother Christopher spotted there was a minigolf course nearby on his recent holiday in Canada.

Unfortunately West Coast Mini Putt in Richmond, British Columbia was closed when he was able to swing by.

West Coast Mini Putt in Richmond is an 18-hole indoor minigolf course.

Find out more about the course on the West Coast Mini Putt website.

The former Blockbuster Video store in Nuneaton

A look at the former Blockbuster Video store in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

Emily briefly revisited Nuneaton recently and while there took a photo of the former Blockbuster Video store on Regent Street in the town.

Back in 2021 the old sign at the former Blockbuster Video store was uncovered when the tenant of the building moved out. And we went along for a look.

Blockbuster Video in the UK.

At its peak in 2004 there were more than 9,000 stores around the world. 500-plus of those were in the UK.

Blockbuster ceased operations in the UK in December 2013. At the start of that year there were 528 Blockbuster locations in the UK. The number dwindled until October when only 264 shops remained. The last stores closed on the 16th December.

Even now there are still some visible remnants of the brand on the high street and on retail parks. And we've been to most of them on our travels.

Alton Water Mini Golf in Stutton, Suffolk

A look at the Alton Water Mini Golf course in Suffolk.

A big thank you to our friend Sophia Cook for sending over these photos of the Alton Water Mini Golf course in Stutton, Suffolk from her recent visit to Alton Water.

The Alton Water Mini Golf course is a 9-hole outdoor layout.

Alton Water is a manmade reservoir located on the Shotley peninsula near Ipswich, Suffolk.

Find out more

Check out the Alton Water website for more information on the Alton Water Mini Golf course.

The prices and rules of the Alton Water Mini Golf course

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Emily and I haven't made it to the Alton Water Mini Golf course on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour yet. However, my brother Christopher - a Charter Member of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - did visit the course in September 2020.

Related blog posts:

• Alton Water
• Ipswich
• Suffolk

A Wacky Waving Arm-Flailing Inflatable Tube Man in Canada

Spotting a Wacky Waving Arm-Flailing Inflatable Tube Man in Canada.

My brother and his family spotted this wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man in Clearwater, British Columbia while on holiday in Canada.

Check out more posts about wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube men and inflatable advertising in the links below.

Related blog posts:

• Wacky Waving Arm-Flailing Inflatable Tube-men
• Inflatable Advertising
• Marketing
• Canada

Link:

• Wacky Waving Arm-Flailing Inflatable Tube Men playlist on YouTube

Inflatable advertising at K-Dduk Korean restaurant in Valemount, British Columbia, Canada

Inflatable advertising at K-Dduk Korean restaurant in Valemount, BC, Canada.

My brother and his family spotted this inflatable advertising for the K-Dduk Korean restaurant in Valemount, British Columbia while on holiday in Canada.

Check out more posts about inflatable advertising and wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube men in the links below.

Related blog posts:

• Inflatable Advertising
• Marketing
• Canada
• Wacky Waving Arm-Flailing Inflatable Tube-men

YouTube Channel updates (August 2026)

I've created some new playlists on my YouTube Channel.

It's mostly TRAIN related stuff!

You can also find a fair few minigolf videos from the last 20 years of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour though.

Related blog posts:

• YouTube
• Trainspotting
• Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Toys R Us at TGJones in Oxford

There's a Toys R Us at TGJones in Oxford city centre.

You can find a Toys R Us concession at TGJones in Oxford, Oxfordshire.

The end of WHSmith, and the start of TGJones

The start of July 2025 marked the end of WHSmith on the British high street after 233 years. Following the sale of the business to Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital WHSmith shops underwent a rebrand to the new name of TGJones.

Toys R Us in the UK

Toys R Us returned to the UK shopping scene with an online presence in 2022 and with concessions opening inside some WHSmith shops in 2023. There are currently Toys R Us concessions open at TGJones and WHSmith at Welcome Break shops.

Toys R Us at Hobbycraft.

You can also find Toys R Us concessions at Hobbycraft stores.

Working at Toys R Us

My first job while at university in the year 2000 was as one of Geoffrey's helpers at the Luton Toys R Us store. I worked on the video game and electronics section.

The old Toys R Us

At its peak there were 105 Toys R Us stores in the UK. It's been very interesting to find that there are still remnants of the brand on some retail parks in the UK and we've visited several of these closed, abandoned, derelict and demolished Toys R Us locations on our travels.

Links:

• Toys R Us
• TGJones

Related blog posts:

• Toys R Us
• TGJones
• WHSmith
• Retail

Crazy Pool and Tech Putt at Roxy Ball Room Holborn

The new Roxy Ball Room venue in High Holborn, London is now open.

The venue is home to a range of competitive socialising games and activities, including Crazy Pool and Tech Putt.

Find out more on the Roxy Ball Room website.

TallyHo Golf - from a Triple Bogey to an Eagle

Playing the TallyHo Golf Daily Mini Golf game.

I'm so glad that you get to replay your round once each day on the Daily Mini Golf Game from TallyHo Golf.

I went from a Triple Bogey to an Eagle round!

They were a tough 3-holes on the course today.

You can play the TallyHo Golf game on the web and on mobile. The game provides a 3-hole layout to play every day of the week, with a bonus challenge hole to compete on a separate leaderboard each day.

Find out more about the Daily Mini Golf Game and the TallyHo Golf scorecard app on the TallyHo Golf website.

Related blog posts:

• TallyHo Golf
• Games
• Apps

Ted's Crazy Golf in Oxford's Westgate Centre

A look at Ted's Crazy Golf at the Westgate Centre in Oxford.

Emily swung by Ted's Crazy Golf in Oxford's Westgate Centre on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Ted's Crazy Golf opened this month and is home to two 9-hole indoor crazy golf courses - Bad Bones and Fun House.

Link:

• Ted's Crazy Golf website

Adventure Golf at Bridgemere Garden Centre in Cheshire

A new adventure golf course is opening at Bridgemere Garden Centre in Cheshire.

Expedition Falls Adventure Golf is being created at Bridgemere Garden Centre in Nantwich, Cheshire.

The course is from the team at Bermuda Falls Adventure Golf in Henlow, Bedfordshire and Highfields Park Adventure Golf in Nottingham.

World Rock Paper Scissors Day 2026

Happy World Rock Paper Scissors Day.

Today is World Rock Paper Scissors Day!

World Rock Paper Scissors Day is always on the 27th August.

Competing in Rock Paper Scissors tournaments.

Emily and I have competed in several Rock Paper Scissors competitions over the years, including the International Rock Paper Scissors Championships and UK Rock Paper Scissors Championships.

Competitive Rock Paper Scissors draws a crowd!

Check out the videos in my Rock Paper Scissors Playlist on YouTube. The RPS events we've played in have been wild and crazy events with spectacular atmospheres!

Rock Paper Scissors tournaments around the world.

Do you know of any other Rock Paper Scissors tournaments or championships that take place in the UK or around the world? Do let me know in the comments.

Taking on football legend Neil 'Razor' Ruddock at the International Rock Paper Scissors Championships in 2012

Related blog posts:

• Rock Paper Scissors
• Janken
• International Rock Paper Scissors Championships
• UK Rock Paper Scissors Championships
• UK Rock Paper Scissors Championships

Videos:

• Rock Paper Scissors Playlist on YouTube
• UK Rock Paper Scissors Championship 2010 - The Grand Final
• UK Rock Paper Scissors Championship 2010 - Opening Match
• UK Rock Paper Scissors Championship 2010 - Emily Gottfried's 1st Round Win
• UK Rock Paper Scissors Championship 2010 - Richard Gottfried's 2nd Round Loss
• Sportingbet UK Rock Paper Scissors Championship 2011 - Emily Gottfried's 2nd Round Win
• Sportingbet UK Rock Paper Scissors Championship 2011 - Emily Gottfried vs. Oliver Florence in the Last 32 / 3rd Round

TallyHo Today - Daily Mini Golf Game from TallyHo Golf

The Daily Mini Golf Game from TallyHo Golf is launching a full version in September.

TallyHo Today, the Daily Mini Golf Game from TallyHo Golf is currently available in beta and will launch a full version on Monday 7th September 2026.

I've been enjoying playing the fun and challenging game. The game provides a 3-hole layout to play every day of the week, with a bonus challenge hole to compete on a separate leaderboard each day.

It's nice to see all of the collated stats for your game as they develop over time.

You can play the game on the web and on mobile.

Find out more about the Daily Mini Golf Game and the TallyHo Golf scorecard app on the TallyHo Golf website.

Related blog posts:

• TallyHo Golf
• Games
• Apps

Indoor Adventure Golf at Atriwm in Carmarthen, Wales

There will be an indoor adventure golf course at the new Atriwm centre in Carmarthen, Wales.

The Atriwm centre in Carmarthen is being created in a former Debenhams in St Catherine's Walk Shopping Centre.

An indoor adventure golf course will be one of several sport and leisure activities to feature in the centre.

Visit the Carmarthen County Council website for more information.

Mini-Golf at the Elwick Place leisure complex in Ashford, Kent

An indoor mini-golf course is planned to open as part of a new leisure and entertainment complex in Ashford, Kent.

The Elwick Place leisure complex in Ashford will feature indoor mini-golf alongside several other games including tenpin bowling, darts and curling.

Swing by Golfbaren indoor minigolf in Stockholm, Sweden

A look at the Swing by Golfbaren indoor minigolf and speakeasy in Stockholm, Sweden.

The Swing by Golfbaren indoor minigolf and speakeasy in Stockholm, Sweden was the 800th course we visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

There's an 'upstairs' 12-holes open for all to play, while hidden 'downstairs' are a further 6-holes which can be booked for private events.

The venue has lots of interesting minigolf items on display

The Beavis & Butt-Head PC CD-ROM game

Find out more on the the Swing by Golfbaren website.

Mini Golf and Interactive Golf at Spinners Reading

Spinners Reading has had a recent refurbishment.

There are some new games to play at Spinners Reading in Reading, Berkshire.

The indoor competitive socialising venue still has its mini golf course, and this has been joined by an Interactive Golf putting game.

They've also got Electric Boules!

Check out the Spinners Reading website for more information.

Crazy Golf at Woolacombe Sands Holiday Park

There's a crazy golf course at Woolacombe Sands Holiday Park in North Devon.

The crazy golf course at Woolacombe Sands Holiday Park is an outdoor layout.

Find out more on the Woolacombe Sands Holiday Park website.

Winning the 2012 World Alternative Games Egg Throwing Championships

A look back at the 2012 World Alternative Games Egg Throwing Championships in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales.

I was one half of the winning pair to scoop the title of World Egg Throwing Championships at the World Alternative Games in 2012!

My team-mate Jas Kukielka and I were victorious in a field of 19 teams, with players from Wales, England, France, the Republic of Ireland, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands competing for the gold medal.

The 2012 World Alternative Games Egg Throwing Championships Gold Medal winning team and the Silver Medallists - from l-r Jas 'Jasain Bolt' Kukielka, Richard Gottfried (with Egg), Seve Kukielka

The sport involves one player as the Egg Thrower and one as the Egg Catcher. Each pair chose two raw eggs and throw / toss / lob the egg to their partner. The Thrower always remains at one end, with the Catcher moving further back after each successful catch until there is just one team left standing with a whole unbroken egg.

About the World Alternative Games.

The World Alternative Games was a festival of sport that took place in Britain’s Smallest Town – Llanwrtyd Wells in Wales. The inaugural edition in 2012 saw over 50 different weird and wacky, odd and obscure sports taking place during the two week event.

The World Alternative Games were held in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018.

Find out more on the World Alternative Games website.

Ham & Egging.

When I started blogging about taking part in different sports and games back in 2006 I never realised that six years later I’d be an actual world champion!

Related blog posts:

• Egg
• Egg Throwing
• Llanwrtyd Wells
• World Alternative Games

Interactive Golf at Spinners Plymouth

Spinners Plymouth has an Interactive Golf game.

The indoor competitive socialising venue has an Interactive Golf putting game.

Check out the Spinners Plymouth website for more information.

Free Crazy Golf Funday in Alfreton, Derbyshire

There will be a free Crazy Golf Funday in Alfreton, Derbyshire on Thursday 27th August.

Players can get a free round by completing a town centre trail and handing in the entry slip at the course.

Find out more on the Visit Amber Valley website.

Pirate Island Adventure Golf in Newnham in the Forest of Dean

A look at the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course in Newnham in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.

Last week I asked the question "Where in the world was this adventure golf course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour?".

The answer was the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course in Newnham in the Forest of Dean.

We played the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in October 2017.

Visit the Pirate Island Adventure Golf website for more information.