Minigolfing North, East, South, West, High & Low

Since September 2006 our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour has taken us all over the UK to both seek and play many new, wierd and wonderful miniature golf courses and compete in BMGA Tour events.

In September 2009 I identified an interesting pattern in the 1st, 100th and 150th courses visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - in that they were all related to the word/area 'South'!!!

However, the pattern of milestone visits including a 'southerly-related' term finished with the the 175th course played being in NORTH WEST Las Vegas, Nevada. But the 168th course we played was in Sudbury, Suffolk, which according to Wikipedia and The Saxon Chronicle records the town as Suthberie ("south-borough"), circa the 9th Century.

Interestingly the landmark 250th course visit overall was to a minigolf course in a garden in EAST Finchley!

We've also played the highest located minigolf course in the UK - situated at the peak of The Great Orme, in Llandudno, Wales. The mountain is also home to the second highest minigolf course in the UK- which is half-way up the mountain!

The easternmost course in the British Isles is located in Lowestoft, Suffolk. Here there is a Pirate Themed Adventure Golf course.

In Denver, Colorado, USA I also played Miniature Golf at an altitude of one-mile, while in The Boondocks!

For further links and details of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour please visit the list page here.

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.

Conga dancing on the pages of The Racing Post!

Emily and I are photographed on page 7 of today's Racing Post. We were taking part in the Guinness World Record Attempt for the UK's Longest Conga at Huntingdon Racecourse yesterday!

I'm Conga-er #16, Emily is #15.

Eternit Sports and Social Club - No Miniature Golf

Driving to Kingsway Golf Centre in Melbourn to visit the Himalayas Putting Course we drove through Whaddon (itself home to a Crazy Golf course), and equi-distant between the two we found the "Eternit Sports and Social Club"!


The Miniaturegolf format of the sport of Minigolf is often called 'Eternit' as the primary construction material that makes up the course is Eternit. Miniaturegolf is a type of course most often found in Europe. On our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour we played one as part of the 2008 Nations Cup competition in Tampere, Finland. We've also played some in the UK (Clacton-on-Sea, Maidenhead, Windsor, Warrington, Oswestry, and West Bromwich), and visited a couple of others that were closed (Colchester and Vienna) and recently a visit to Pontypool Park in Wales turned up a demolished one.

Unfortunately, looking at Google Maps for the Eternit Sports and Social Club it doesn't seem like there is any Minigolf there.

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.

The Himalayas Putting Course at Kingsway Golf Centre, Melbourn, Cambs - course played #196

A visit to the new Putting course at Kingsway Golf Centre.


I was tipped off about a new Putting/Minigolf course at Kingsway Golf Centre in Melbourn, Cambridgeshire by my fellow BMGA Tour member Adam 'AK47' Kelly, who informed me that the old Crazy Golf course (#156) has been replaced by a new 9-hole Putting Course called 'The Himalayas'!

When we visited on Saturday 12th December 2009 the area looked like this:


Back then it was the 200th overall course location visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, and the 156th course played.

The new look course was great fun and there were a few good Ace opportunities out there. There were also some nice and tricky holes there too!







It's well worth a visit to Kingsway Golf Centre and having a play on the Himalayas. It's good value too, at £3 for multiple plays.

The centre also has a 9-hole Putting Green which became course played number 197!



Melbourn continues to be a Crazy Minigolf 'hotbed' of sorts, as these are the sixth and seventh Miniature Golf courses we've played in the area on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour!

Related blog posts:
- The 'original' Crazy Golf at Kingsway Golf Centre
- Whaddon Golf Centre (Putting Green & Crazy Golf)
- The Dolphin Pub (4-hole derelict Crazy Golf)
- Melbourn Village Fete (Miniature Crazy Golf)
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- The Himalayas Putting Course at St Andrews, Scotland
- Minigolf & Crazy Golf at Wigan's Haigh Country Park

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.

Huntingdon Races - a UK Conga Line Guinness World Record Attempt & Crazy Golf course played #195

On Bank Holiday Monday 30th August 2010 we visited Huntingdon Racecourse in Cambridgeshire for their Bank Holiday fun day event. Not only was there some great horse racing action, but there were a number of Guinness World Record attempts taking place - including World’s largest group of jockeys in a car, World’s largest group of John McCririck look-a-likes at a racecourse and the World’s greatest number of faces painted by an individual in one hour.

The Guinness World Record attempt that we were interested in though, was the attempt to break the record for the UK's longest Conga line!

The record is currently held by Manchester, with 1,500 people Conga dancing to the Black Lace Classic song.

Unfortunately, despite there being 4,523 people in attendance at the races, only 183 people bothered to Conga!? I was Conga-er number 16, Emily was number 15. It was still great fun, and the Conga is such a great Party-tune.


The Guinness World Record Attempt was the third that I have attempted and Emily's second. On the 25th May 2009 we helped break the Guinness World Record for "The Largest Picnic Across Multiple Venues". On the 19th December 2009 I, along with fellow minigolfer Brad Shepherd, attempted to break the Guinness World Record for Most Brussels Sprouts Eaten in a Minute!. Unfortunately I only managed to eat ten in each of my two attempts.

Huntingdon Racecourse and the event - in aid of Racing Welfare - was a great day out, at a not too unreasonable price. The event was also great for Emily as she won on the two horses she picked for a flutter in the first two races!


As an added bonus, the Racecourse had also put on a variety of entertainment and activities, one of which was Crazy Golf!!!

The 6-hole portable course was the 195th course played on The Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and was quite good fun, despite it's relatively small size and the type of obstacles. It was free to play and proved to be incredibly popular throughout the day.









In the two matches we played I beat Emily 10(-2) to 16(+4), and Emily then beat me by 13(+1) to 14(+2). I also had one solo round and scored a 14(+2).

Minigolfing in all four Home Nations in 2010

The playing of the 2010 Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament) meant that we have now visited each of the four home nations to compete in Minigolf tournaments in the same calendar year!

The year of Minigolfing competitions started in England with the Luton Invitational Minigolf Tournament on the 1st January 2010, followed by the first British Minigolf Association (BMGA) Tour event of the year on the 24th January at the BMGA National Open at Adventure Island Mini Golf, Star City, Birmingham.

Scotland was the next stop this year for the Codonas Classic and the BMGA Scottish Open at Codonas Amusement Park in Aberdeen on the 15th and 16th May.

On the 31st July and the 1st August we visited Northern Ireland to play in the 2010 NIBBAL-IT Doubles Minigolf Tournament.

And of course the final of the four home nations visited was Wales, where we competed 2010 Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament) at the 9-hole Crazy Golf course at Tredegar Park, Newport.

Click for details of visits to the rest of the UK, and other countries and islands.

Last chance to vote for our 'Minigolf at the Seaside' Holiday Competition Video

Today is the last day to vote on our Minigolf at the Seaside video to help us win a 10,000 minute holiday in the Enjoy England 'Enjoy Every Minute' competition.

All you need to do is click on the link here and then click on the voting link and select our video as the one you'd like to vote for!

The vote closes today (August 27th) and the winner will be announced tomorrow, receiving 10,000 minutes of holiday in England!

Thank you for voting on our minigolf video, it's very much appreciated.

Many thanks.

Richard & Emily

Cwmbran Darts Classic 2010

Prior to the 2010 Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament) the participants warmed up their hand-eye coordination with the Cwmbran Darts Classic 2010.

Before the 2009 Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament) the players competed in The Boules Invitational Tournament at The Mumbles, in Swansea (Abertawe), Wales, when Seve Kukielka defeated Richard Gottfried in the final.

The format for the Cwmbran Darts Classic 2010 saw six players split into two groups of three. Each player played each other in a 301 one-leg shootout, with the top two players from each group progressing to the semi-finals (Group A's winner would face the Runner-up from Group B and vice versa).

Eventually Cwmbran's own Leo 'Young Gun' Kukielka take the victory with a 2-1 victory over his father Jas 'Hob Nob' Kukielka (the 2009 Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg champion).

Full results:
Group A
Jas Kukielka beat Paul Johnson
Paul Johnson lost to Richard Gottfried
Richard Gottfried lost to Jas Kukielka

Group B
Leo Kukielka beat Emily Gottfried
Emily Gottfried lost to Seve Kukielka
Leo Kukielka beat Seve Kukielka

Semi-final 1
Jas Kukielka beat Seve Kukielka

Semi-final 2
Leo Kukielka beat Richard Gottfried

Final
Leo 'Young Gun' Kukielka bested Jas 'Hob Nob' Kukielka 2 legs to 1

Ranking positions
5th & 6th - Paul Johnson beat Emily Gottfried by getting nearest the Bull after neither player could checkout on a double!?

3rd & 4th - Richard Gottfried beat Seve Kukielka to take the podium (and a measure of revenge over his Petanque defeat in 2009)

Photos:

Defeated finalist Jas Kukielka.


Leo lifts the trophy after his win.
Leo in action.

Jas in action.

'Squire' Richard in action.

Wacky Waving Arm-Flailing Inflatable Tube-man spotted at a funfair in Luton

Following on from my spots of Wacky Waving Arm-Flailing Inflatable Tube-men (as sold by Al Harrington of Family Guy fame*) I found one advertising Slush Puppies at the Funfair at Wardown Park in Luton this evening.






While in the park I took a snap of the Mini & Crazy Golf course there.


For other blog posts about Wacky Waving Arm-Flailing Inflatable Tube-men click here, here, here and here.

For more links to courses visited and played on The Crazy World of Minigolf Tour click here.

* At his Wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man Emporium and Warehouse

Full Minigolf Report - 2010 Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament)

Minigolf Report
2010 Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament)



Cwmbran's Leo Kukielka wins the Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg

The 2010 Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament) was played out over five rounds and 48-holes, on two minigolf courses, in two countries on Saturday 21st August 2010.

Cwmbran's Leo Kukielka won the title in the eight player field with a total score of 112(+16), three shots clear of his brother Seve Kukielka on 115(+19) and four clear of bronze medallist Paul Johnson on 116(+21). Jas Kukielka, a pre-tournament favourite as the reigning and defending 2009 Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament) Champion finished in a disappointing 7th place with a score of 125(+29).

On Friday 20th August a draw was held to decide the groups and order of play for the first round, with the groups reorganised based on scores after each round.

Details of the draw:
Group 1
- Richard Gottfried
- Owen Johnson
- Leo Kukielka

Group 2
- Peter Jones*
- Cindy Kukielka
- Emily Gottfried
*Did not play

Group 3
- Jas Kukielka
- Paul Johnson
- Seve Kukielka


Rounds one to three were played at the 9-hole Minigolf course at Tredegar Park in Newport, Wales, with rounds four and five played in England at the 12-hole Roman-themed Wye Valley Miniatvre/Miniature Golf course in Symonds Yat West.

Round one scores & rank - Tredegar Park
- Richard Gottfried - 21 - 6
- Owen Johnson - 28 - 8
- Leo Kukielka - 20 - 5
- Cindy Kukielka - 19 - 3
- Emily Gottfried - 19 - 3
- Jas Kukielka - 23 - 7
- Paul Johnson - 18* - 1
- Seve Kukielka - 18* - 1
* Course Record

Round two scores & running totals & rank - Tredegar Park
- Richard Gottfried - 20 - 41 - 4
- Owen Johnson - 22 - 50 - 8
- Leo Kukielka - 21 - 41 - 4
- Cindy Kukielka - 19 - 38 - 3
- Emily Gottfried - 22 - 41 - 4
- Jas Kukielka - 18* - 41 - 4
- Paul Johnson - 18* - 36 - 1
- Seve Kukielka - 19 - 37 - 2
* Course Record

Round three scores & running totals & rank - Tredegar Park
- Richard Gottfried - 20 - 61 - 5
- Owen Johnson - 20 - 70 - 8
- Leo Kukielka - 16* - 57 - 4
- Cindy Kukielka - 17 - 55 - 2
- Emily Gottfried - 22 - 63 - 7
- Jas Kukielka - 20 - 61 - 5
- Paul Johnson - 19 - 55 - 2
- Seve Kukielka - 17 - 54 - 1
* Course Record

Round four scores & running totals & rank - Symonds Yat West
- Richard Gottfried - 30 - 91 - 5
- Owen Johnson - 33 - 103 - 8
- Leo Kukielka - 26* - 83 - 1
- Cindy Kukielka - 32 - 87 - 3
- Emily Gottfried - 32 - 95 - 6
- Jas Kukielka - 35 - 96 - 7
- Paul Johnson - 32 - 87 - 3
- Seve Kukielka - 31 - 85 - 2
* Course Record

Round five (final round) scores & running totals & rank - Symonds Yat West
- Richard Gottfried - 28 - 119 - 5
- Owen Johnson - 34 - 137 - 8
- Leo Kukielka - 29 - 112 - 1
- Cindy Kukielka - 30 - 117 - 4
- Emily Gottfried - 27 - 122 - 6
- Jas Kukielka - 29 - 125 - 7
- Paul Johnson - 29 - 116 - 3
- Seve Kukielka - 30 - 115 - 2

Final Rankings of the 2010 Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament)
1st - Leo Kukielka (WAL)
2nd - Seve Kukielka (WAL)
3rd - Paul Johnson (ENG)
--------------------------------
4th - Cindy Kukielka (WAL)
5th - Richard Gottfried (ENG)
6th - Emily Gottfried (ENG)
7th - Jas Kukielka (WAL)
8th - Owen Johnson (ENG)

New Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg champion Leo Kukielka said "Rydw i'n hoffi iawn o enill y Cystadleuaeth Cymraeg a rwyn eisiau enill mwy o cystadleuaeth ardraws Prydain." ("I am very pleased to have won the Welsh Tournament and, hopefully, I will go on to win some more tournaments in Britain.")

Outgoing Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg champion Jas Kukielka said "Having to look out for the park ranger whilst playing our 'free' rounds in Tredegar Park put me on edge for the first couple of rounds and I never recovered, but I couldn't have handed the trophy over to a better player!"

Welsh Ladies Number One Cindy Kukielka narrowly missed out on the bronze medal but did win the 2010 Aces Champions prize with a total of 8 holes-in-one, the next nearest to Cindy was Leo on 4 Aces across the tournament. Birmingham's Owen 'Jackpot' Johnson picked up the competition MVP prize having shown great improvement in his scores over the rounds (especially rounds 1-3).

Photos from the tournament:
Tredegar Park, Newport, Wales





Symonds Yat West, England









New Champion Leo Kukielka

The top three - from l-r - Seve Kukielka, Leo Kukielka, Paul Johnson
The prize-less three - from l-r - Emily Gottfried, Jas Kukielka, Richard Gottfried

As a side note the cumulative scores for the Welsh & English players as 'teams' are below:
Wales - 112 + 117 + 125 + 115 = 469
England - 119 + 137 + 122 + 116 = 498

Results of the 2009 Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament) held in Swansea (Abertawe).