The World Championships of Minigolf are taking place in Lahti, Finland.
This week sees the WMF World Minigolf Championships taking place in Lahti, Finland with 127 players from 19 countries and four continents lining up to compete.
The 2015 WMF World Minigolf Championships are being held on the Feltgolf and Miniaturegolf courses at the Lahti Minigolf Centre. Good luck to all of the participants, especially those making their debut appearances on the world stage.
The 2008 Great Britain team - Jouni Valkjarvi (coach), John 'Big Top Ted' McIver, Marion 'Mation' Homer, Sean 'Freebird' Homer, Tim 'Ace Man' Davies, Steve 'F1' Gow, Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried, Andy 'Sarge' Booth, 'Squire' Richard Gottfried
The GB team playing the Beton Concrete Minigolf course in Tampere, Finland
Emily playing the Swedish Felt minigolf course at the Manse Ratagolf Club in Tampere, Finland
Receiving some tips on the Middle Hill Eternit Miniaturegolf hole from Crazy Golf legend Tim 'Ace Man' Davies
In international minigolf action
Playing an incredibly long Feltgolf hole in Finland as Steve 'F1' Gow looks on
The World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) is the umbrella organisation of Minigolf sports association's worldwide and continental associations in Asia, Europe and America.
Following the recent WMF Delegates Conference eight new national minigolf federations were accepted into memebership, with Belarus, Kenya, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Togo, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam joining the existing 47 members. And this year New Zealand and Kenya are appearing in an international tournament for the first time.
Gilmores Golf became the 376th course played overall on our tour when we had a match on the 9th June 2015. In the contest Emily scored 46 to take the win as I scored 48.
We really enjoyed our visit to Gilmores Golf. The course had only recently reopened under new management and were gearing up for the season. When we first arrived in town we headed along for a look at the course ahead of playing it the next day. We didn't expect the course to be open, but as the concept is to have a bar, restaurant and evening events the course is open morning, noon and night.
The course is of the 'Beton' variety of minigolf which normally has a concrete playing surface and metal rails. The Gilmores Golf course has added felt, which makes it more playable considering the wear and tear on the course - it's been on the site since the 1960's! Check out photos of the course below.
When we visited we chatted to the course owner Elsie who enjoyed hearing about our quest to play all of the UK's minigolf courses. We'd also taken along some of our old postcards showing the course as it looked in the 1970's. It was nice looking at them again on the exact spot, albeit 40 years removed.
For more information, opening times for the minigolf (and the on-site Mexican restaurant) and prices visit the Gilmores Golf website and Facebook page.