Minigolf Report from the 2011 Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament)

Minigolf Report
2011 Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament)

Luton’s Richard Gottfried wins the 2011 Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg in Newport

The 2011 Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament) was played out over five rounds and 45-holes, on three minigolf courses, on Saturday 16th July 2011.

Luton’s Richard Gottfried won the title in the eight player field with a total score of 114(+24), four shots clear of 2010 Runner-up Cwmbran’s Seve Kukielka on 118(+28) and seven clear of bronze medallist, the 2009 Champion, Europe’s Jas Kukielka on 121(+31).

The Top Three, from l-r Seve Kukielka, Richard Gottfried, Jas Kukielka

The defending champion, Leo Kukielka was unable to retain the title and finished in a disappointing tied sixth place with 2010 British Women’s Number One Cindy Kukielka, with Leo and the perennial Welsh Ladies Number One both scoring 135(+45).

On the morning of the tournament 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. With heavy rain forecast, and delivered, the tournament teed-off at a revised time of 11.30am

With North Wales’ finest, Peter Jones unable to commit to the invitation to play, and fellow invitees Paul and Owen Johnson competing in a Crazy Golf Tournament in the Midlands, eight players would contest the third edition of the Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg.

Rounds one to three were played at the 9-hole Crazy Golf course at Tredegar Park in Newport, Wales, with rounds four and five played at the two new Celtic Manor Adventure Golf courses.

At the 9-hole Tredegar Park Minigolf course Seve held the lead for rounds one to three, scoring consistently low scores of 20, 20 and 19. Jas Kukielka and Richard Gottfried were both scrapping for second place, with Seve taking a three-shot lead into the final two rounds.

Competitive Minigolf newcomers Maria and Chris Thomas made their debuts at the 2011 Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg, with the Welsh duo putting in some good rounds on a difficult Tredegar Park course, with Chris setting the clubhouse course record at 19(+1), prior to Richard scoring an 18(par). After Maria’s first round of 40, she settled into the action and carded two rounds of 28(+10), with both players continuing to put in competitive scores at the Celtic Manor courses.

At Celtic Manor’s 9-hole Celtic Challenge course Richard hit a round of 21, to Seve’s 29, to set a course record, and followed this up with a 31 on the 9-hole Kingdom of Legends course to finish four-shots clear of Seve.

Round by Round scores from the Tournament

New Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg champion Richard Gottfried said “I am very pleased to have won such a great title against some great opponents. The Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg is one of my favourite events of the year and the format of playing a mix of such different Minigolf courses in the competition makes it very interesting. Hard luck to Seve though, who played incredible well in the morning’s three rounds at Tredegar Park. I’m looking forward defending the title in what will be another highly competitive tournament next year.”

Final Tournament Rankings

The Aces Champions for 2011 were Seve Kukielka and Jas Kukielka who tied on four Holes-in-One apiece.

The cumulative scores for the Welsh & English players as 'Teams' saw England beat Wales 2, with Wales 1 in third place.

Photos from the 2011 Event

The 2011 Field. From l-r Emily Gottfried, Leo Kukielka, Cindy Kukielka, Seve Kukielka, Jas Kukielka, Chris Thomas, Maria Thomas, Richard Gottfried

 Emily Gottfried plays the first-hole at Tredegar Park

Chris Thomas plays the first-hole at Tredegar Park

Chris shows off the broken Putter after playing the first-hole at Tredegar Park

Richard Gottfried plays hole 6 at Tredegar Park

Chris playing hole seven at Tredegar Park

Maria Thomas plays hole 8 at Tredegar Park

Jas Kukielka plays hole 9 at Tredegar Park

Seve Kukielka plays hole 9 at Tredegar Park

Cindy Kukielka plays out of a bunker at Celtic Manor

Seve Kukielka plays over a water hazard at Celtic Manor

Jas Kukielka plays over another water hazard at Celtic Manor

The 2011 Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg Champion - Richard Gottfried

Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg Roll of Honour
2011 - Richard Gottfried (ENG)
2010 - Leo Kukielka (WAL)
2009 - Jas Kukielka (EUR)

Previous Results and Reports:
2010 Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament)

2009 Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament)