Minigolf Report – End of BMGA Tour Season Competitions at Dorridge

30th November 2011
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report – End of BMGA Tour Season Competitions at Dorridge

Luton Minigolfers Richard & Emily Gottfried’s 2011 BMGA Tour Minigolf Season came to an end over the weekend of the 26th and 27th November as the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull hosted the final tournaments on the 2011 BMGA Tour

Richard competed in 14 BMGA Tour events, with Emily playing in 11 tournaments. 2011 was the pair’s fifth year as BMGA Tour players.

The Cambridgeshire MGC Invitational Tournament

On Saturday 26th November Emily competed in the first-ever Cambridgeshire Minigolf Club Invitational Tournament and finished in fourth place with a score of 79(+7).

Photo: The Cambridgeshire Minigolf Club team from l-r Brenda Smith, James Rutherford (Captain), Oliver Florence, Emily Gottfried

The three-round tournament was won by Cambridge’s James Rutherford. Oliver Florence was runner-up. Brenda Smith was third.

The Green MGC Invitational Tournament

On Saturday 26th November Richard competed in the first-ever Green Minigolf Club Invitational Tournament and finished in fourth place with a score of 75(+3).

The competition was won by Oxford’s Michael Smith, with Chris Smith runner-up and Seth Thomas of Wandsworth third.

The BMGA British Club Championships

In the BMGA British Club Championships on Sunday 27th November Richard played for the Midlands Minigolf Club and he and this three team mates finished the event in third place.

Photo: The Midlands Minigolf Club A-Team from l-r Richard Gottfried, Jam Trubridge (front), Chris Harding (Captain), Paul 'Johnson Paul Johnson' Johnson

Emily and her Cambridgeshire Minigolf Club team were fifth in the seven team event, which featured teams from five of the BMGA’s Minigolf Clubs.

In the first group match Richard and Emily’s teams faced-off, with the Midlands winning 4&3 in the 12-hole Matchplay Match. The Midlands Minigolf Club went on to defeat the Allstars team by two-holes, before losing to the Kent Hurricanes team 2&1. In the semi-finals the team lost to eventual champions, the Kent Spitfires, 2&1, before winning the 3rd/4th place play-off match against the Kent Hurricanes 3&2.

Following the defeat to the Midlands in their first match Cambridgeshire went on to lose against the Kent Hurricanes by one-hole. Following the opening two defeats the Cambridge Team went on to score wins against the Allstars 5&4, and 2&1 and beating the London Minigolf Club by one-hole in the 5th/6th place play-off match.

Ends

Minigolf at Watford TopGolf - Major Course Improvements & Match vs. 'Rowdy' Russell Fenner

On Wednesday 23rd November 2011 I met up with old Dodgeball UK adversary 'Rowdy' Russell Fenner for a long-awaited rematch at the 18-hole Adventure Golf course at Watford TopGolf.

I've been visiting the course at TopGolf Watford since the 2nd of December 2006, when the course became the 8th ever played on me and Emily's Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. On this latest visit the first thing I noticed (after seeing the price increase to £6 a round) was the amount of changes and improvements that had been made to the course!

Photo: The 'Rocky Pines' Canoe beside the 2-hole practice Putting area

The last time I played there was in March this year, when the course had had some extra changes made to it. At the time it wasn't in the best condition (the 18th hole being particularly horrible, especially when compared to how it used to be - a well placed shot between two rocks would reward you with a hole-in-one more often than not. See here for a photo of how it looked during the changes in July 2010). However, the new modifications have made the course the most playable it has been since our first visits back in 2006, 2007 & 2008!

As well as new obstacles, the felt has been completely relaid so there are no patches or tears. Each hole has also had a sign put up and they all now carry names.

Photo: Hole 1 "Canoe Canyon"

In July 2010 I played the Watford Adventure Golf course three times and on each visit the course was different! The first of those visits on the 7th saw the course a little worn in places, but quite playable. On my visit on the 13th a lot of pieces of felt were missing!? Most noticeably on the tee-off areas! Instead of felt the area was bare concrete. On my visit on the 22nd the finishing touches had been made to the 'refurb', with new patches of felt over worn areas, aling with new tee-off areas of felt (which play incredibly slowly). But the course was in a sorry state and not much fun compared to how it had been.

So I was very pleased to see the improvements, both in the general look of the course and in the playability of it. Some new bunkers have been added, tricky rock obstacles put in place, and some of the holes have been extended and/or widened. To play the course now is very different indeed compared to 2010 and earlier this year.

Photo: Hole 2 "Ramp Rage"

Photo: A stone circle

Photo: The addition of two parallel planks add a new way to play your shots on this hole

Photo: Hole 7 "Pine Pass" has had an interesting change made to it. It used to be a great hole-in-one opportunity, however the rocks have been changed to block the path to the hole! A bit of practice and a nicely weighted shot could see Aces still drop, but it's not as easy as it used to be

Photo: Hole 13 "Cross Paths" has also been significantly changed with the addition of a third route to the hole. My shot made it to the smaller of the two entry points to the tunnel, but was slightly too strong a shot and lipped out when it reached the hole

Photo: 'Rowdy' Russell Fenner goes fishing for his ball on Hole 14

Photo: The bridge on Hole 14 as it is now. Link to how it was in 2010

Photo: The dogleg left Hole 15 has also been changed to now include a ramp & tunnel in the corner. Using a very bouncy standard course (golf) ball meant that the shot into it was not ideal. However, using a good specialist minigolf deadball may see a better result

Photo: A view of the exit ramp on Hole 15

Photo: Hole 18 "Pipe Dream"

Photo: Hole 18 "Pipe Dream" - the central obstacle

Photo: Hole 18 "Pipe Dream" - the last hole and ball collector

Photo: Hole 18 "Pipe Dream" - a view of the exit ramp from the main obstacle

In our match-up I scored a 44(+8) including holes-in-one on the 5th and 9th holes. 'Rowdy' Russell had a poor round though and scored a disappointing 55(+19), far worse than he normally plays as he usually gives me a good run for my money!

As the course is in such fine shape and with the many improvements made to it I think it's in good enough condition to once again host a British Minigolf Association Tour competition - it was the location for the London Invitational Tournament won by Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd in August 2008.

The Watford TopGolf Game Centre is located at Bushey Mill Lane, Watford Herts, WD24 7AB and is very easy to find if you follow the many Brown Signs it has had put up in the surrounding area.

Photo: Just one of the many Brown Tourist Signs pointing potential visitors TopGolf's way

In order for 'Rowdy' Russell to attempt to gain a measure of revenge for his minigolf defeat we decided to have a game of Pool.

I broke.

And with my shot managed to pot the black in the middle left hand pocket. As well as potting a red in the top right hand corner pocket.

So 'Rowdy' left with a 'win'.

After our dismal performances in the Sportingbet.com UK RPS Championships last month we decided against having a Rock Paper Scissors contest to confirm an overall winner of the evening's activity and chose to call it a draw.

TopGolf Watford can be found on facebook and twitter. TopGolf Watford Adventure Golf details online.

Previous Blog Posts About Visits to Watford TopGolf:
- 17/03/11 - Adventure Golf at Watford TopGolf - 16th March 2011
- 09/12/10 - Adventure Golf at Watford TopGolf - change to Hole 18
- 01/08/10 - Changes to the felt and mats at Watford TopGolf
- 05/02/10 - Minigolf Challenge Matches at Watford TopGolf (& course visit updates)
- 30/10/09 - Adventure Golf at Watford TopGolf
- 21/12/08 - Results of the Third Annual Watford Classic
- 04/02/08 - WHAT

Link to more information, photos and videos of other course visits on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Following a Random Brown Tourist Sign in Scotland to visit the 'Maid of the Loch'

While at Loch Lomond in Scotland on Sunday 20th November I made a point of following a random Brown Tourist Sign (as recommended by Amanda of the excellent Follow The Brown Signs website) to the intriguingly named 'Maid of the Loch'.

Photo: I noticed that Brown Tourist Signs in Scotland feature a Thistle in a blue oval, rather than being plain brown with white text and/or images 

I found out by having a look in the visitors leaflet for Loch Lomond that the Maid of the Loch was the last Paddle Steamer to be built in Great Britain.

Launched on the Loch in 1953 the ship is officially now an historic ship and was placed on the "Designated Vessels List" (which recognises ships of "substantial heritage merit with regional and local significance") in 2004.

Unfortunately on my visit the ship was not open for viewing as it is closed during the winter and will reopen at Easter 2012.

Loch Lomond also has a shopping centre, Sea Life centre, a couple of Minigolf courses (which I didn't get to play on this visit), restaurants, play area and on my visit there was a farmer's market too.

Links:
- Maid of the Loch Official Website
- Follow The Brown Signs Website
- The Brown Sign Way - A Website and Blog Dedicated to Tourist Attraction Signs

Crazy Golf & Mini Golf courses at Loch Lomond

On my trip to Scotland last weekend we made a visit to Loch Lomond in Balloch, Dunbartonshire. While we were having a wander around my Minigolf-alert alarm went off again as I spotted a sign for a Crazy Golf course!

I was very pleased with my find, as I hadn't known a course was there before we visited.

Unfortunately when I enquired about playing the course at the newsagents that hires out the Putters and Balls I was told that the course had been taken up for the time being to make way for a Twister fairground ride!?

So, in a way it was good to have found another new Minigolf course, but it was unfortunate (but not entirely surprising considering my track record) of finding it to be unplayable on the day I visit!

Looking at the leaflet for the Loch Lomond Shopping Centre and the one for the nearby 'Muddy Good Fun' activity centre I saw that there is another Minigolf course there. I spotted this once I got home to Luton. Muddy Good Fun also has a Segway Safari (new for 2011). On a revisit to a Crazy Golf course in Great Yarmouth I once found the Safari Golf had been turned into a Segway Grand Prix!

I've added the two courses to our 'to visit' list for 2012.

While at the Loch Lomond shopping centre I had a look around the Antiques Centre and noticed on two old postcards that there was a Municipal Putting Course on the seafront at nearby Helensburgh in what looked to be the 1930's. After a web search I found that there is another Putting Green at Hermitage Park in Helensburgh.

Blog link:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

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

An overgrown Mini Golf (Pitch & Putt) course at the Erskine Bridge Hotel in Scotland

While in Scotland last weekend I made a flying visit to the Erskine Bridge Hotel ahead of a social event taking place there next year.

While having a wander around my Minigolf-senses and radar were alerted to a patch of land and a sign - which happened to be the former location of a Mini Golf/Pitch & Putt course!

The sign had been covered over as the course is obviously not there/in use any more, but it had been a 9-hole layout.

Link to more information, photos and videos of other course visits on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Paradise Island Adventure Golf at Braehead, Scotland

On Saturday 19th November 2011 I headed to Glasgow, Scotland.

While there I visited the Braehead Shopping Centre and Xscape, which is home to Paradise Island Adventure Golf.

Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to replay the course (having previously visited and played the two 18-hole Adventure Golf courses in May 2009).

Link to more information, photos and videos of other course visits on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Richard Gottfried runner-up in the 1st Annual Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt

13th November 2011
News Release
For Immediate Use

Richard Gottfried runner-up in the 1st Annual Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt

Australia’s Allan Cox victorious in battle to win Putter King Title, Pat Sheridan of the USA third

Luton Minigolfer Richard Gottfried has finished as the runner-up in the Putter King’s international Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt. The two-month long competition ended in a draw on the 1st of November with Richard, 31, tied for first place with Australia’s Allan Cox, 50. The overall winner was decided on the 13th November as the votes cast for the best Minigolf Trick Shot submitted to the contest were counted, with Allan Cox winning with 212 votes to Richard’s 89.

The 1st Annual Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt took place on Miniature Golf courses worldwide and people were invited to track down and record items and achievements related to all forms of Minigolf.

Photo: Richard Gottfried & Putty, the Putter King Mascot

17 tasks were set, with some activities also carrying bonus points. Altogether Richard managed to complete 15 of the 17 tasks scoring a total of 820 points. The activities in the 2011 Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt had the players designing new holes, playing new courses, showing off their minigolf ball collections, (re)learning Maths & Physics (in a fun way) through the Putter King Education Programme, doing arts & crafts, autograph hunting, scoring holes-in-one, creating minigolf trick shots and a whole lot more!

In total, there were 1,370 available points. Allan Cox (AUS) won the competition with 960 total points. Richard Gottfried (UK) finished in second place with 900 total points and Patrick Sheridan (USA) finished in 3rd place with 585 total points.

Richard filmed his minigolf trick shot, which involved him scoring a hole-in-one while wearing a Blindfold at Tea Green Golf Club, Wandon End, near Luton.

Richard said “Congratulations to Allan Cox for winning the Putter King Miniature Scavenger Hunt with his great minigolf trick shot and many thanks to the Putter King team for organising such a brilliant contest, I dread to think what lengths they’ll have us going to in next year’s contest!”

Contest winner Allan Cox is a Putt Putt Minigolf Pro and plays for the Ermington Putters Club in Sydney, Australia. (View his winning minigolf trick shot)

USA Minigolf rival Pat Sheridan, of The Putting Penguin Minigolf Team was the bronze medallist in the Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt with a very impressive haul of 585 points.

Richard Gottfried is a British Minigolf Association (BMGA) Tour Pro, Great Britain International Minigolfer & a member of the 2008 BMGA British Club Champions – the Midlands Minigolf Club. He has also won the Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open, Weymouth Open, and is a two-time Manchester Mini Major Champion. He and his wife/Coach/Opponent and sometimes team-mate Emily have played over 400 Crazy Golf and Minigolf courses on their Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. They are currently writing a book about their travels.

Ends

Links:
- Minigolf Trick Shot Video - Blindfolded Hole-in-One - Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt
- Full Results of the 1st Annual Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt 
- Putter King Results News Release
- Photo of Richard Gottfried with the Putter King Mascot
- My Entry for the Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt 2011
- Tea Green Golf Club

Please vote for my Putter King Minigolf Trick Shot Video

To decide the winner of the 1st Annual Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt competition the Putter King has set one final task - "Get the most votes for your trick shot video."

The Putter King has posted a Facebook Question asking for fans worldwide to vote on their favourite trick shot (mine or my rival Allan Cox's) and the contestant with the most votes as of Sunday, November 13th at 11:59 P.M. JST will be deemed the winner of the 1st Annual Putter King Scavenger Hunt.

Please vote for my video of a Blindfolded Minigolf Hole-in-One at the following link:

Choose your favorite trick shot and help decide the winner of the 1st Annual Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt.

Previous Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt Blog Posts:
- Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt - The Results Are In - Your Help Is Needed!
- My Entry for the Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt 2011
- The 1st Annual Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt

Putter King Related Blog Posts:
- The Jewel in the Crown - Minigolf Hole Design at the Putter King - Your Votes Needed
- Photos of the The Putter King Team at the BMGA English Open at Wroxham Barns, Norfolk
- Part III of the Putter King Interview Series - An Interview with UK Minigolfer Richard Gottfried

Play Putter Fingers Micro Golf and Win a Putt Returner!

There's an online competition running via the Putter Fingers website and their Facebook page where you can win one of five Putt Returners by playing the Putter Fingers Mini Golf Game.

My highest score so far is 2,758, with the top score at 2,900!

The competition is running throughout November 2011 and you can play the game as many times as you like!

Votes needed to help Brit win Japanese Miniature Golf Competition

7th November 2011
News Release
For Immediate Use

Votes needed to help Brit win Japanese Miniature Golf Competition

Luton’s Richard Gottfried tied with Australia’s Allan Cox in battle to win Putter King Title

Luton Minigolfer Richard Gottfried is looking for help in order to win an international Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt organised by the Putter King Minigolf franchise in Japan. The two-month long competition ended in a draw on the 1st of November with Richard, 31, tied for first place with Australia’s Allan Cox, 50. But a clear overall winner still needs to be decided, and your vote could count!

The 1st Annual Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt has been taking place on Miniature Golf courses worldwide and people were invited to track down and record items and achievements related to all forms of Minigolf.

In total 17 tasks were set, with some activities also carrying bonus points. Altogether Richard managed to complete 15 of the 17 tasks scoring a total of 820 points. The activities in the 2011 Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt have had the players designing new holes, playing new courses, showing off their minigolf ball collections, (re)learning Maths & Physics (in a fun way) through the Putter King Education Programme, doing arts & crafts, autograph hunting, scoring holes-in-one, creating minigolf trick shots and a whole lot more!

Photo: On the 24th and 25th October Richard built "PK Island" to complete Task 3 on the Putter King List - a full-size minigolf hole with a plateau and ramp obstacle. Photos - 1, 2, 3, 4. Videos - 1, 2

To decide the ultimate winner of the competition the Putter King has set one final task – ‘Get the most votes for your trick shot video.’

The Putter King has posted a Facebook Question asking for fans worldwide to vote on their favourite trick shot (Richard’s or Allan's) and the contestant with the most votes as of Sunday, November 13th at 11:59 P.M. Japan Standard Time (JST) will be deemed the winner of the 1st Annual Putter King Scavenger Hunt.

Richard filmed his minigolf trick shot, which involved him scoring a hole-in-one while wearing a Blindfold at Tea Green Golf Club, Wandon End, near Luton. You can find the two minigolf trick shots on the Putter King Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/putterking where you can also vote for the one you’d like to win.


Video: Richard scoring the Blindfolded Hole-in-One Minigolf Trick Shot at Tea Green Golf Club!

Richard said “The Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt has been a great event and it’s unbelievable that the final is so close. The Hunt has been a truly international competition and I never thought it’d come down to a battle between a Brit against an Aussie to win a Japanese Minigolf contest with an American in third place! We’re definitely Crazy Golfers with the lengths we’ve gone to win.”

USA Minigolf rival Pat Sheridan, of The Putting Penguin Minigolf Team was the bronze medallist in the Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt with a very impressive haul of 585 points. Rival finalist Allan Cox is a Putt Putt Minigolf Pro and plays for the Ermington Putters Club in Sydney, Australia.

Photo: Great Britain's Richard Gottfried with Putty, the Putter King Mascot!

Richard is a British Minigolf Association (BMGA) Tour Pro, Great Britain International Minigolfer & a member of the 2008 BMGA British Club Champions – the Midlands Minigolf Club. He has also won the Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open, Weymouth Open, and is a two-time Manchester Mini Major Champion. He and his wife/Coach/Opponent and sometimes team-mate Emily have visited over 400 Crazy Golf and Minigolf courses on their Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. They are currently writing a book about their travels.

Ends

Grand Final of the Namco Luton Business Bowling Championships 2011

Results of the 2011 Namco Luton Business Bowling Championships Grand Final

On Thursday 3rd November 2011 the EcoStyle Tenpin Bowling Team competed in the Grand Final of the Luton Business Bowling Tournament at Namco in Luton.

The winners of the tournament were Vauxhall, with G Casino runners-up. The EcoStyle Tenpin Bowling Team finished in third place.

Photo: The EcoStyle Tenpin Bowling Team from l-r Simon Hall (Captain), Emily Gottfried, Richard Gottfried

In May the EcoStyle-CEuk Team entered the second qualifying heat to attempt to qualify for the Ultimate Championship Final in November. In that event the team finished 4th. The EcoStyle Team were also runners-up to G Casino in the July qualifier.

Photo: Emily Gottfried with the certificate for being the "Worst Bowler Ever"! Her scores of 80 and 96 weren't that bad!

EcoStyle promotes awareness and understanding of renewable energy technologies. They design and manufacture demonstration models to teach renewable energy in schools and colleges, or for use as marketing tools within industry.

Previous Blog Posts:
- EcoStyle Tenpin Bowling Team Runners-up in Namco Luton Business Bowling Tournament
- EcoStyle-CEuk Tenpin Bowling Team 4th in Namco Luton Business Bowling Tournament

2011 Worlds Crazy Air Hockey Championships in Hastings

Results of the Worlds Crazy Air Hockey Championships 2011

In addition to the Worlds £2 Tat Challenge taking place at The Buttons on Saturday 29th October 2011, the venue also saw the Worlds Crazy Air Hockey Championships take place amongst a group of twelve Crazy Golfers, with a new champion guaranteed to be crowned following a no-show by 2010 Champ Kevin 'AWOL' Moseley!

In a thrilling final Wales' Peter 'The Puckmaster' Jones defeated England's Phil Exall 7-3 to take the title he's waited a whole year to get his hands on.

Photo: The 2011 Worlds Crazy Air Hockey Champion - Peter 'The Puckmaster' Jones

Full Results of the 2011 Worlds Crazy Air Hockey Championships

In round one results:
- Seth Thomas defeated Jam Trubridge 2-1
- Keith Kellard beat Chris Harding 4-3
- Pasi Aho (FIN) lost to Phil Exall 6-7
- Richard Gottfried and Alex Exall drew 4-4 - the match was decided by a best-of-three game of Rock Paper Scissors which Alex won 2-1
- Marc Chapman beat Scott Lancley 6-1
- Peter Jones, Denis Exall and Paul 'Johnson Paul Johnson' Johnson all received 'byes'

In round two results:
- Seth Thomas lost to Peter Jones 4-7 (with one minute to go)
- Keith Kellard bested Denis Exall 7-3
- Phil Exall beat Paul 'Johnson Paul Johnson' Johnson 7-5
- Alex Exall defeated Marc Chapman 6-3

In the first semi-final:
- Keith Kellard lost to Peter Jones 3-4

In the second semi-final:
- Alex Exall lost to Phil Exall 6-7

The final saw last year's defeated finalist Peter Jones facing-off against Phil Exall to decide the ultimate champion at the event, with Peter Jones coming out the winner with a 7-3 victory, with a minute still remaining on the clock!

Photo: Phil Exall versus Peter Jones in the final

You can watch the closing stages of the match here:



Photos from the event:

Photo: Father versus son as Phil Exall battles Alex Exall as the crowd looks on

Photo: Alex Exall versus Richard Gottfried in a rematch from 2010. Alex would once again get the better of Richard

Photo: Phil Exall squares off against International campaigner Pasi Aho of Finland, by way of Germany

Photo: Marc Chapman takes on rival and Undisputed International Worlds Crazy Air Squash Champion Scott Lancley

Photo: Seth Thomas plays Peter Jones

Photo: Seth Thomas continues to play Peter Jones

Photo: Paul 'Johnson Paul Johnson' Johnson and Phil Exall have a meeting of the paddles at the half-way line

Photo: Denis Exall faces-off against Keith 'Puck Boy' Kellard

Links:
- Crazy Minigolfers Play Air Hockey Tournament in Hastings
- The Undisputed International Worlds Crazy Air Squash Championships

2011 Worlds £2 Tat Challenge at the Old Town Amusements in Hastings

Results of the 2011 'Worlds £2 Tat Challenge' at the Old Town Amusements in Hastings

Following the completion of the first day's play in the 2011 Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships a group of Seaside Amusements fans made the now traditional and ceremonial walk to The Old Town Amusement Arcade to compete in the second-annual '£2 Tat Challenge'.

Photo: Vice-Chairman of the PTA Scott Lancley runs through the rules of the £2 Tat Challenge 

This Amusements Challenge Tournament saw a total of 26 participants compete for the title on Saturday 29th October 2011. The field was double that of the 2010 event when ‘Johnson’ Paul Johnson took the win with a haul of nine pieces of tat. This year the title was not to be Paul Johnson’s again, as the man now known as Paul ‘Johnson Paul Johnson’ Johnson only managed to win one bit of tat with his stake money.

Photo: Defending champion Paul 'Johnson Paul Johnson' Johnson crashes out of the 2011 £2 Tat Challenge with just one piece of tat. Note Jam Trubridge continuing to play-on in his debut Tat Challenge 

The brains behind the £2 Tat Challenge are Scott ‘Donkey Gringo’ Lancley (the International Worlds Crazy Air Squash Champion) and Emily ‘Lemony’ Gottfried. The rules of the £2 Tat Challenge are simple – the aim is to win the most amount of 2p falls prizes with a stake of £2. The overall winner then gets to bag up all of the tat as their prize!

The 2011 Honours went to newcomer and junior Polly who managed to bag a grand total of eleven pieces of tat with her £2!

Photo: New Worlds £2 Tat Challenge Champion Polly receives her prize of all the tat. Last year's Champion Paul 'Johnson Paul Johnson' Johnson manages to get in on the photo 

In total 127 pieces of tat were won this year with the players spending £52 in total to compete. In the 2010 event the thirteen players won 36 pieces of tat between them.

Photo: The motley crew of Tatters, Ratters and Sharks assemble for the obligatory Group Photo at the 2011 Worlds £2 Tat Challenge Competition

The Full Rankings for the 2011 £2 Tat Challenge can be seen below:

Rank Player Country Tat Won
1 Polly ENG 11
2 Richard Gottfried ENG 10
2 Stu Bowker ENG 10
4 Chris Harding ENG 9
4 James Rutherford ENG 9
6 Pasi Aho FIN 8
7 Alex Exall ENG 7
7 Chris Jones ENG 7
9 Phil Exall ENG 5
9 Terry Exall ENG 5
9 Emily Gottfried ENG 5
12 Anna Green ENG 4
12 Jam Trubridge ENG 4
12 Jes ENG 4
12 Keith Kellard ENG 4
12 Seth Thomas ENG 4
12 Trevor Exall ENG 4
18 Brad Shepherd ENG 3
18 Leo Kukielka ENG 3
18 Marc Chapman ENG 3
18 Peter Jones WAL 3
22 Denis Exall ENG 2
23 Adam Kelly ENG 1
23 Paul Johnson ENG 1
23 Scott Lancley ENG 1
26 Albert ENG 0

Photos from the event:

Photo: Two Crazy Golf World Champions and an Exall line-up at the 2p pusher for a crack at Worlds Tat Challenge Glory. From l-r Keith Kellard, Terry Exall and Chris Harding

Photo: From l-r Jam Trubridge and Seth 'Wandsworth' Thomas tackle The Buttons

Photo: Peter 'Toy Jeep' Jones having a rare old time at the amusements

Photo: From l-r Tat Challenge Rookie Trevor Exall and last year's loser Marc Chapman wait for the prize to drop. Chapman managed to win three pieces of tat this year, beating his total haul of zero last year

Photo: Denis 'I'll bring the bell' Exall pumps the 2p pusher full of money. His tactic and motto was simple - "It's quality of the prizes, not quantity that counts." Not in this game it's not Den ;-)

Photo: From l-r Anna Green, Adam 'ASBO' Kelly and Scott Lancley tackle The Pushers

Photo: Brad Shepherd, Terry Exall, Alex Exall and Phil Exall take a gander at Chris Harding's last push for the win

Photo: The mighty haul of 127 pieces of Tat won by the 26 players!!!

Photo: From l-r Chris Harding and James Rutherford collect a prize each for finishing in tied third place. Peter Jones finished in tied 18th place and just happens to be in the photo

Photo: From l-r Richard 'The Town Crier' Gottfried and Stu 'Stewy' Bowker take their prize each for finishing as tied runners-up. Stu chose the quality prize that Denis Exall had won

Photo: Squire the Town Crier invites one and all to join in the fun at the 2011 Worlds £2 Tat Challenge

The '£2 Tat Challenge' was an open invitation competition and featured in the Unofficial Booklet of the 2011 World Crazy Golf Championships.

Anticipation for the 2012 event is growing already!

Following the inaugural £2 Tat Challenge in Hastings last October there were also two tat Challenges in May 2011 which saw Richard Gottfried and Alan Norman crowned as interim champions. Controversially Alan subsequently exchanged 37 pieces of Tat from the overall winner’s swag-bag that he won for one Pingu Teddy Bear that he promptly called 'Penny'!?

£2 Tat Challenge Hall of Fame
#1 - Paul Johnson - 9 pieces of Tat
#2 - Richard Gottfried - 10 pieces of Tat
#3 - Alan Norman - 6 pieces of Tat +1
#4 - Polly - 11 pieces of Tat

Links:
- £2 Tat Challenges at 'The Buttons' in Hastings - May 2011
- 'The £2 Tat Challenge' at 'The Buttons' in Hastings - October 2010