Crazy golf course opens in Knowle West

A new crazy golf course has opened in Knowle West.

Filwood Crazy Golf in Filwood Community Centre has nine holes and even includes a mini replica of the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the course was performed by crazy golf enthusiast Richard Gottfried.

“I love the game and have been playing since I was a little kid,” said Richard, who has played more than 950 courses across the UK with his wife, Emily.

“This is our 966th course visit today. But we haven’t seen anything as unique as this, so we’re really looking forward to getting on the course and having a game.”

The course was opened by Richard Gottfried, with Filwood Crazy Golf being the 966th course he has played. Photo by Charlie Watts  

The design of the course – which also includes a Pokémon-themed, loop-de-loop and pool table hole – has been inspired by local people.

For the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club during lockdown last year, local families made their own courses at home, which have now been recreated in the community.

Megan Clark-Bagnall, who ran the Mini Golf Club, was at the launch, and said it was exciting to see ideas become a reality.

“It feels like a genuinely community-backed project that’s involved everybody’s different skills to make happen – whether they helped to design it at home or helped with the big build,” Megan said.

The crazy golf course was made out of recycled materials by local charity re:work and a team of volunteers.

Knowle West resident Kimberlee Daly and her children Niamh and Henry took part in the Mini Golf Club last year.

“We loved it. It really kept us going during lockdown and it gave the kids something to look forward to,” she said.

At home, the family made their own Pokémon-themed golf hole “because Filwood Community Centre is a PokéStop on the game Pokémon GO” – which has been recreated for Filwood Crazy Golf.

“It felt like such an abstract idea, so to see it all together and to see other people using it is amazing,” added Kimberlee.

Friends Carol Bush and Sue Bradley, both from Knowle West, said the crazy golf course is a “good laugh”. Photo by Charlie Watts

There is a sewing machine on one of the golf holes, while another pays tribute to the Northern Slopes and a third is decorated with book pages.

Caryn Davies was also at the launch with her family, and said the course is brilliant because it’s “actually crazy, rather than mildly eccentric”.

“It’s really nice to have it for local people, but also it’s something that will bring people here as well.”

Caryn Davies’ family was one of the first to play Filwood Crazy Golf. Photo by Charlie Watts

There was also a ‘tee’ party for the launch, with baking group Rising High making scones for the occasion.

Zoe Goodman – one of the local councillors for the area – called the course “fantastic”. She said: “It’s amazing – you come into the courtyard of the community centre and you see this.

“It’s really colourful, good fun and something for all ages and abilities.”

Filwood Crazy Golf in Filwood Community Centre costs £1 to play, and is open for bookings and drop-ins throughout the week. Email suzie@filwoodcentre.org.uk or visit www.filwoodcentre.org.uk/crazy-golf.

Charlie Watts is reporting on Knowle West as part of Bristol24/7’s community reporter scheme, a pilot project which aims to tell stories from areas of Bristol traditionally under-served by the mainstream media

Main photo by Charlie Watts

Read more: Kindness rocks in Knowle West