I’m bringing Japan Park Golf back to South Shields for its third year
England’s first official Japan Park Golf course has returned to South Shields for 2026.
Ken ‘Zak’ Smith opened England’s first official Japan Park Golf course at the bowling greens in North Marine Park during the summer of 2024.
He brought the game, which is best described as a combination of mini-golf and croquet, to South Shields after he was introduced to it when he lived in Scotland for more than 20 years.
In order to bring the game to South Tyneside, Ken co-founded Sanddancer Community Japan Park Golf and even registered it with Japan’s Nippon Park Golf Association to make it the first official course in England.
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‘Better than ever’
Now Ken, who is from South Shields, has launched the course for 2026 and thanks to funding from the National Lottery and Sport England, he has been able to buy more equipment and improve the course in North Marine Park.
He said: “The game is set up better than it ever has been before and already our visitor numbers are up on last year.
“There are still a lot of people in South Shields who haven’t heard about Japan Park Golf - it is a fun game for the whole family, no matter what age people are.
“Last year we had schools come down and get involved so we’d like to see that again or we can bring the game to local schools, as well as care homes and community clubs.
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“Due to us getting grants, the game is still free for people to play - all we ask for is a donation to the charities that we support.
“Our total raised over the years so far is more than £4,800 from around 5,000 visitors, which is absolutely brilliant.
“Weather permitting, we’ll be here right throughout the school holidays and on weekends.”
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Ken is also on the lookout for more volunteers to come along to North Marine Park to help him and the committee members run the Japan Park Golf games.
If you’d be interested in volunteering or wish to find out more about Sanddancer Community Japan Park Golf, visit: https://japanparkgolfsouthshields.co.uk/ or https://www.facebook.com/groups/849955460056718.