Richard Gottfried - Minigolf Player Profile

Richard Gottfried is a minigolf enthusiast and has played the game since he was a child.

A seven-time winner on the UK national minigolf circuit, including two BMGA British Club Championships, he has been a four-time finalist in the World Crazy Golf Championships, and has represented Great Britain in Nations Cup international tournaments in Finland and Sweden.

He was runner-up in American Golf's Adventure Golf Pairs Championship National Final, televised on Sky Sports, and is a winner of several independent Open and Masters titles.

As a global miniature golfer, Richard is currently a member of the American Mini Golf Alliance (AMA) and Putt18 World Pro League. A winner of  The Putt Park Annual Mini-Golf Tournament in Las Vegas, he has also been a member of domestic minigolf clubs including the Midlands Mini Golf Club (MMGC), the Green Mini Golf Club (GMGC), and the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club.

Richard is featured in the 2024 Guinness World Records as the record holder for "Most miniature golf courses visited" (902 at the time of going to press).

His minigolfing exploits have received coverage in online, broadcast and print media including the BBC, ITV, Sky Sports, Channel 5, The Guardian, The Independent, The Daily Telegraph, Metro, The Mirror, The Sun, The Star, The Daily Mail, the Manchester Evening News, Eastern Daily Press, Today's Golfer, GolfPunk Magazine, InterGame, InterFun, In A Pub Magazine, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC local and regional radio, Heart Radio, talkSPORT, and more.

Richard's involvement in the world of minigolf extends beyond competitions, and includes blogging, media relations, sponsorship, course design, advice and consultancy, content generation, digital marketing and new technology, event organisation and promotion.

Miniature Golf Player Profile - Richard Gottfried

Nickname
Squire

Putter
Fun-Sports

Laterality
Right-handed

Favourite Minigolf Balls
Finnish Heavy Gentlemen 100-Year Anniversary (3D)
NIFO 2
Tim 'Ace Man' Davies Legends Ball (M&G)

Tour Memberships
American Mini Golf Alliance (AMA) 2022-present

Putt18 World Pro League 2020-present

British Minigolf Association (BMGA) 2007-2018
American Golf Championship Tour 2017

British Minigolf Association (BMGA) Membership

Member 2016-2018
BMGA Tour Pro 2011-2015
Full member 2007-2010

BMGA Tour Debut
2007 - BMGA British Masters

Minigolf Club Membership

2020-2024 - Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club
2007-2020 - Midlands Minigolf Club (MMGC)
2010-2011 - Green Mini Golf Club (GMGC)

BMGA Tour Competition Victories
BMGA British Club Championships (w/ Midlands MGC) 2015
BMGA & Putterfingers Oswestry Games Minigolf Championship 2012
Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open 2009
Manchester Miniature Open 2009
Manchester Mini Masters 2009

Weymouth Open 2008
BMGA British Club Championships (w/ Midlands MGC) 2008

Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Champion 2018

Other Notable Wins
Winner - Putt18 Battle of the Brits 2021

Winner - Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Championships 2018
Winner - Low Score of the Week (qualifying for the end of season tournament) at Southwold Putting & Cafe on the Green 2018
Winner - The DinoFalls Masters 2018
Winner - MMGC DinoFalls Invitational Tournament 2018
Winner - The Butler Cup 2017
Winner (w/ P. Jones) - American Golf's Adventure Golf Pairs Championship Regional Qualifier (Wales) at Clays Golf Centre 2017
Winner - Southend Arnold Palmer Classic 2016
Winner - Southend Pier Invitational Tournament 2016
Winner - Hole-In-One Charity Challenge at the BMGA British Championships 2015
Winner - Dunton Hills Invitational 2015
Winner - Hole-In-One Charity Challenge at the BMGA British Championships 2014
Aces Champion - BMGA British Masters 2014
Winner - Chrizy Golf Masters - 2012
Winner - Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Championship August Playoff - Final - 2012
Winner - Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Championship June Playoff - 2012
Winner - The Putt Park Annual Mini-Golf Tournament (Las Vegas) - 2011
Winner - Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament) 2011
Winner (w/ C. Harding) - Weymouth Open Team Tournament - 2011
Winner - First edition of the Green Mini Golf Club (GMGC) Club Tournament 2010

Winner (w/ M. Smith & J. Davies) - Kent Open Team Tournament 2010

Aces Champion - Midland Open 2010
Five-time Scrap Iron Cup Champion

Other Notable Results

Runner-up (w/ S. Kukielka) - Welsh Mini Golf Club Doubles Championship 2019
Runner-up (w/ P. Jones) - American Golf's Adventure Golf Pairs Championship National Final 2017
Runner-up - Great Northern Minigolf Open - 2017
Runner-up - National Miniature Golf Day Tournament 2016 & 2019
Runner-up - Surrey Invitational Tournament 2014 & 2016
Runner-up (w/ Midlands Minigolf Club 1st team - M.Smith, C.Harding, R.Gottfried & C.Smith) - BMGA British Open Team Championship 2014
Runner-up - Category 2 BMGA British Minigolf Championships 2012
Runner-up - The Brewmaster's Open 2012
Runner-up - Birdies Pop Up Golf Official Launch Night Competition 2011
Runner-up - Putterfingers Micro Putt Mini Golf Competition 2011
Runner-up - 1st Annual Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt 2011
Runner-up (w/ W. Collins) - Lost World Adventure Golf Pro-Am Classic 2011
Runner-up - London Invitational Tournament 2011
Runner-up - BMGA British Matchplay Championships 2010

Runner-up - Midlands Invitational Tournament 2010

Runner-up (w/ Leo Kukielka) - Codonas Classic 2010

Runner-up - Spring Classic 2010

Runner-up - Weymouth Open 2009
Runner-up - London Open 2009
Runner-up - Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament) 2009
Runner-up - Adventure Island Mini Golf League 2008
3rd - Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Championships 2019
3rd - Surrey Invitational Tournament 2019
3rd - The Butler Cup 2018
3rd - Midlands Invitational Tournament 2015
3rd - Midlands Open 2015
3rd (w/ Midlands Minigolf Club) - BMGA British Club Championships 2011, 2012 & 2013

3rd (w/ John Moore & Ed Odametey) BMGA Oswestry Games Pro-Am Minigolf Classic 2012

3rd (w/ Kevin Moseley) - BMGA British Doubles Championships 2010

3rd - Midlands Invitational Tournament 2008
4th (w/ B. Shepherd, E. Gottfried & J. Trubridge) - Caddyshackers Open 2019
4th - BMGA British Masters 2013
4th - Midlands Open 2010

4th - London Invitational Tournament 2010

4th - BMGA English Open 2008

4th - Midlands Invitational Tournament 2007
5th - BMGA Players Championships 2007
7th - BMGA British Minigolf Championships 2012
9th - BMGA British Masters 2011

10th - BMGA British Adventure Golf Open 2013

Par-3 Miniature Golf events
T13th - MiniLinks Mini US Open 2017 (Par-3 Miniature Golf tournament debut)
15th - MiniLinks Mini Open 2017
T24th - MiniLinks PGA Championship 2017

Richard Gottfried playing hole 2 in the 2014 World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings

International Tournaments
16th - Putt18 World Pro League 2021

18th - Putt18 World Pro League 2020

4th - Putt18 4 Nations Cup 2020

20th - World Crazy Golf Championships 2015
32nd - World Crazy Golf Championships 2014
21st - Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships 2013
5th - Great Britain Team at the WMF World Adventure Golf Masters 2013
12th - WMF World Adventure Golf Masters (Male Category) 2013
20th - WMF World Adventure Golf Masters 2013
17th (Finalist) - Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships 2012
4th - Great Britain Team at the WMF World Adventure Golf Masters 2012
11th - WMF World Adventure Golf Masters (Male Category) 2012
14th - WMF World Adventure Golf Masters 2012
25th - Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships 2011
34th - Great Britain Player at the WMF Nations Cup (Male Category), Stockholm, Sweden 2011
41st - Great Britain Player at the WMF Nations Cup, Stockholm, Sweden 2011
10th - Great Britain Team at the WMF Nations Cup, Stockholm, Sweden 2011
11th - WMF World Adventure Golf Masters (Male Category) 2011
18th (Finalist) - WMF World Adventure Golf Masters 2011
17th  (Finalist) - Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships 2010

17th  (Finalist) - Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships 2009
17th  (Finalist) - Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships 2008
51st - Great Britain Player at the WMF Nations Cup, Tampere, Finland 2008
13th - Great Britain Team at the WMF Nations Cup, Tampere, Finland 2008
39th - Virgin Money World Crazy Golf Championships 2007

Personal Best Competition Rounds (18-holes)
MOS (Adventure, Crazy, Mini-Golf) = 27(-9)
Miniaturegolf (Eternit) = 28(-8)
Concrete (Beton) = 33(-3)
Feltgolf (Swedish Felt) = 34(-2)

Course Records (Current)
Blackpool Pleasure Beach Adventure Golf (12-holes) - 24(par)

Course Records (Previous)
2010 Birmingham Adventure Island Mini Golf at Star City (18-holes) - 28(-8) - Joint Record
2009 Weymouth Pirates Adventure Golf at Lodmoor Country Park (18-holes) - 41(+5) - Joint Record
2008 Wroxham Barns Minigolf (18-holes) - 34(-2)
2007 Hastings Seafront Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf (18-holes) - 32(-4) - Joint Record

Highest BMGA Rankings Position
BMGA Strokeplay Order of Merit Rankings - 5th - 14/04/2013 - 12/05/2013

BMGA Season Only Ranking - 5th - 15/07/2012 - 23/09/2012 & 14/10/2012 - 11/11/2012 (End of Season)
BMGA Order of Merit Ranking - 7th - 04/07/2010 - 19/09/2010

BMGA Matchplay Order of Merit Rankings - 9th - 25/04/2012 - 22/07/2012

Highest BMGA Rankings (as at End of Season)
BMGA Strokeplay Order of Merit - 11th - 2013
BMGA Strokeplay Order of Merit - 15th - 2012
BMGA Season Only Rankings - 5th - 2012
BMGA Order of Merit Rankings - 11th - 2009/10
BMGA Strokeplay Order of Merit Rankings - 15th - 2012
BMGA Matchplay Order of Merit Rankings - 15th - 2012

Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Rankings
October 2010 - 26th

October 2009 - 31st
June 2009 - 45th

WMF World Minigolf Men's Rankings (General Class)
March 2016 - 408th
December 2015 - 387th
March 2015 - 409th
December 2014 - 383rd
March 2014 - 397th
December 2013 - 372nd
March 2013 - 406th
November 2012 - 391st
March 2012 - 345th
November 2011 - 406th
March 2011 - Unranked
November 2010 - 413th

March 2010 - 358th

November 2009 - 418th
March 2009 - 352nd
November 2008 - 425th

Sports and Minigolf Awards
Guinness World Record Holder for "Most miniature golf courses visited" 2024

Named 'The nation's 'craziest' putting couple' w/ Emily Gottfried by Today's Golfer magazine, March 2021

Named 'UK's Biggest Adventure Golf Enthusiasts' w/ Emily Gottfried by ITV Granada Reports, 2017
Named 'Mini-golf's iron man' by the Eastern Daily Press, 2017
Named 'Britain's Barmiest Golfers' w/ Emily Gottfried by Today's Golfer magazine, November 2016
Named 'Officially Britain’s Craziest Golfer' by Today's Golfer magazine, October 2015
3rd place - Oswestry Games Oslympics Open Quiz - 2012
Genius Gluten Free Christmas Hero - 3rd Dec 2012
#Minigolf Internet Champion - 2012
Runner-up - "Best Bow Tie" Award - 2011 - ALT-LSN Awards
"Best Bow Tie" Award - 2008, 2009 & 2010 - ALT-LSN Awards
"Sports Man of the Year" - 4th (tied) - The Luton Sports Network Luton Sports Awards for 2010
"Sports Man of the Year" - Top 6 - The Luton Sports Network Luton Sports Awards for 2009
"Sports Man of the Year" - 4th - The Luton Sports Network Luton Sports Awards for 2008
"Most improved player on the BMGA Tour" - Winner - MiniatureGolfer.com Awards 2008

Other Honours

2013 Great Britain Minigolf Sport Squad Member
2012 Great Britain Minigolf Sport Squad Member
2011 Captain of the Great Britain (B) Team at the WMF Nations Cup
2011 Great Britain Minigolf Sport Squad Member
2009 & 2013 Captain of the Midlands Minigolf Club 'A Team' in the BMGA British Club Championships
2008 Great Britain Minigolf Sport Squad Member

Richard Gottfried teeing-off in the final of the 2009 'Castle Golf' World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings

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