Best crazy golf and miniature golf courses in the UK

When we’re out and about on holiday, or even days out, if we spot a crazy golf course, we’re there like a shot. They can be crazy style, themed, or just basic miniature golf courses. We enjoy having a game even if we’re not doing the scoring (because I can’t hold phone, camera, golf club, ball, bag, and pencil and score card at once!).

I discovered a love for mini golf while on a choir tour in Austria during my school years – playing on the most random course involving rubber tyres in a meadow. Very odd. I’ve also played through puddles at a very wet hen do at Alton Towers.

We’ve visited some lovely miniature golf courses over the last few years, and thought I’d share some with you, in case you fancy a quick game or challenge with the family.

Some of our favourite UK miniature golf courses

In no particular order,

1. Victoria Park, Bath

A beautiful park, the crazy golf is wonderfully landscaped and hidden away in a corner near the tennis courts. It gets crowded, so head there early, and grab lunch afterwards in the club house restaurant.

2. St Nicholas park, Warwick

Spoilt for choice, St Nicholas Park has 2 mini golf options. One is run out of the tea shop at the park and is a very cheap to play 9 holes. It’s basic, but we like it for a quick round. The second option is by the funfair and is about double the price of the other. It’s a good 18 holes, with much more to see and play around, and coloured blue water fountains for kids to squeal about!

3. Funder Island, Woolacombe

Part of our annual camping holiday the last few years, the crazy pirate themed adventure golf course is in the kids rides adventure area in the middle of town. It’s a fun course, and not a bad price. Take plenty of money for the other rides or set a limit for tokens you’ll buy.

4. Clarence Pier, Southsea

We loved this course, although it’s only 9 holes. Pirate themed, there’s an easier or more challenging course you can choose to do. We did the easier one, but both rounds were fairly busy. Open late on the pier alongside the other rides.

5. West Cliff, Whitby

A cliff top miniature golf course, well maintained with lovely views of the sea. Cheap, and a friendly owner who’ll keep your extra bags in the hut while you play.

6. Cutteslowe Park, Oxford

A more basic course, but not bad for a council run mini golf. We managed to lose N’s ball inside one of the holes, but they didn’t seem too worried. We also had it to ourselves, although I expect it gets busier in the summer months. It’s sad that the last hole keeps your ball so even when it’s empty, you can’t go round again.

7. Wickstead Park, Kettering

Set within Wickstead Park, but worth a visit. You can get into the whole area free, but need to buy credits or a wristband to do the rides or golf. A great day out, not just the golf, but we played twice because we enjoyed the mini golf here so much.

8. Cleethorpes, promenade

Several crazy golf courses to choose from in the classic seaside town – try near the arcades for an indoors one, or a bit further out. The one we went to wasn’t particularly memorable in itself, but we played crazy golf on my hen do there so I’ve fun memories of it.

9. Stratford upon Avon, recreation ground

A really old fashioned course, a bit run down, but set in the recreation ground overlooking the river and theatre. Nice if you combine it with a day at one of the events or a picnic.

10. Babbacombe model village, Devon

You have to pay to enter the model village (worth a visit in itself), but it has a lovely little indoors golf course. More for younger children as it is small, but great if it’s raining, with lots of colour.

11. Junkyard Golf, Westgate Centre Oxford

Full of quirky junk made golf courses (hence the name), with a choice of 3 courses. If you’re taking under 18s, check times before you go as they’re only allowed in the daytime. Evenings are adults only.

There’s other Junkyard Golf venues too including Manchester.

12. Heatherton World of Activities, St Florence, Tenby

18 hole adventure golf, pirate themed like so many are. Get there early if you want to play golf only. Otherwise like Wickstead, go for the day and buy credits to get your moneys worth for all the activities on offer.

13. Cannon Hill Park, Edgbaston Birmingham

This is a lovely course, but be warned balls get lost in the water (fishing nets are provided to get them out). Quite a hard course, but lovely park location makes it a great day out.

14. Bunkers! indoor golf, Swansea

2 different courses, made up of junk and randomly themed and choose to play one or both. You even get to play Elliot with ET on the bike for one hole. Children are only allowed to play during the day, and worth booking to make sure you get the slot you want on weekends, school holidays or rainy days.

15. Cotswold County Park and beach

Not a huge miniature golf course, but it wasn’t busy on a sell out car park day we were there. A bit of a faff having to walk back and forth to the shop to get the golf clubs but nice to do something with younger children. On sunny days, book for the car park and get there early otherwise you may not get in.

16. The Light Banbury adventure golf

10 holes of indoor crazy golf, wear white for neon ultraviolet glow. Children can’t play after a certain time so check online before going. It doesn’t take long to complete at quiet times. The best bit about The Light is all the different activities alongside the golf.

17. Fairhaven Lake mini golf

Lovely 18 hole golf course by Fairhaven lake and tennis courts in Lytham St Annes. It does get busy, but you can see places like Lytham Hall recreated in golf hole form.

These are only a snapshot, and there’s plenty more mini golf courses around the country. Here’s some of the crazy golf sites others have recommended to us around the UK.

Recommended crazy golf courses around the UK

South England

Globalls, Brighton – Tropicana or Jurassic theme, it’s glow in the dark crazy golf

Moby Golf at Golf kingdom, Dagenham – A large 18-hole course, follow the course along the lagoon with a Moby Dick whale theme.

Wandsworth has Putt in the Park which looks like a nice traditional 12 hole miniature course, with a cafe nearby.

Suzy recommends Mr Mulligans Stevenage, who have a chain of crazy golf courses across the country. Lost World has two different 18 hole courses to choose from, both with different themes – Jungle Explorers and Ocean Adventures. Mr Mulligans has different locations including Birmingham and Cheltenham which Lynn reviewed in her post Mr Mulligan’s in The Brewery.

Jaime likes Mulligans at Ramsdale Golf Course Calverton, Nottinghamshire and says they love that it’s well laid out so you are not packed in. It’s a mixed course with both easier and harder elements so it keeps everyone entertained.

Kara says Mighty Claws Adventure Golf in Bournemouth is lots of fun. It is based on a story and has animatronic dinosaurs and fun but challenging holes to complete – they have other sites in Southampton which Emma reviewed, and Kent.

Louise enjoyed Jurassic golf in Wokingham is good, with animatronic dinosaurs and not too big.

Midlands

Fran shares their game at Paradise Island Adventure golf at Rushden Lakes, Northampton. It’s not far from us so is calling out for a visit.

North

Jane recommends Treetop Adventure Golf, Manchester. There are two really great courses to play, they’re indoors too so great for rainy day play. They also do quiet sessions lowering the sound and removing the strobe lighting etc.

Other Manchester crazy golf options includes the outdoors Dino Falls Adventure Golf next door to the Trafford Golf Centre, Stretford. 2 courses to choose from, with 18 holes. There’s also Paradise Island Adventure Golf at the Trafford Centre with 2 different 18 hole courses. And Putters Manchester at Manchester Arndale. This is super high tech, allowing you to compare scores to the best crazy golf players in Manchester not just your group. It’s bright and neon, so maybe better for those forewarned and maybe a bit older.

Puttstars, Rochdale – a choice of 3 indoor courses. The food isn’t brilliant, so look elsewhere for that.

Joanne shares her family’s experiences of Pirate Adventureland golf at both Hull and Castleford. Pirate themes are big in crazy golf and they’re a lot of fun.

Nikki enjoyed Jurassic Falls dinosaur themed golf at Xscape Castleford, and also shares their visit to 4D glow in the dark golf at the same venue.

Emma and her children are fans of Jurassic Cove crazy golf at Bents Garden Centre, Lancashire. You can’t beat a dinosaur theme if you want to introduce young children to a game of golf.

The Hole in the Wand, Blackpool – this magical wizard themed 9 hole course is on the promenade next to the Blackpool tower. It sounds like a lot of fun, players must be over 3, and there’s a reward at the end.

Do you like to play crazy golf? Where’s your favourite place to play?

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