AN entrepreneur inspired by a popular 1980’s film has invested £100,000 into a new indoor golfing venture, thanks to assistance from TEDCO Business Support and Virgin StartUp.

Skelton based Andy Oliver has launched Holey Molies, the first 18 hole mini golf course in the North East housed entirely indoors.

The course, which boasts the longest first hole in the world on a mini-golf course, is based in a 19,000sq ft unit on Skelton Industrial Estate and has created 24 new jobs for the area.

The founder of Holey Molies said: “The idea for the business came about in a bit of an unusual way. When I was about 12 years old, I watched a film called Overboard and the main character in the film set up what looked like the most amazing mini-golf course in his local town inspired by the seven wonders of the world. The idea stuck and I’ve wanted to set up a mini-golf course ever since.

“I felt the unit could support a mini-golf course not only of a decent size, but a unique design and so I got to work identifying how to finally make my dreams of creating an international-quality mini-golf course a reality.”

The course is on Alum Way, Skelton Industrial Estate.