Winning the Weymouth Mini Golf Open

I won the Weymouth Open minigolf competition on this day in 2008.

The inaugural Weymouth Open minigolf tournament was held on the 18-hole Pirate Adventure Mini Golf course at the Weymouth Sea Life Centre at Lodmoor Country Park in Weymouth, Dorset on Sunday 12th October 2008.

Snaps of the Weymouth Pirate Adventure Golf course between 2008 and 2011

I had an excellent career record in Weymouth Open events. As well as winning the individual title in 2008, my team-mate Chris Harding and I were the Weymouth Open doubles champions in 2011.

I was also runner-up in the 2009 and 2011 events and seventh in 2010. In the 2009 tournament Kevin Moseley and I were tied after two rounds and it took 4-holes of a sudden-death play-off to separate us.

The Pirate Adventure Mini Golf course was the 77th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We've now been to 1,065 courses since September 2006.

A winner in Weymouth

2024 British Minigolf Association Tournament Calendar

Details of the 2024 British Minigolf Association Tournament Events Calendar.

The British Minigolf Association has published the tournament calendar for the 2024 season.

Visit the British Minigolf Association website to find out more, and details of how you can join the BMGA and take part in events.

Please note: events are subject to change. Further events may be added to the BMGA Tour schedule.

Winning the Weymouth Mini Golf Open

I won the Weymouth Open minigolf tournament on this day in 2008.

The inaugural Weymouth Open minigolf competition was held on the 18-hole Pirate Adventure Mini Golf course at the Weymouth Sea Life Centre at Lodmoor Country Park in Weymouth, Dorset on Sunday 12th October 2008.

I had an excellent career record in Weymouth Open events. As well as winning the individual title in 2008, my team-mate Chris Harding and I were the Weymouth Open doubles champions in 2011.

I was also runner-up in the 2009 and 2011 events and seventh in 2010. In the 2009 tournament Kevin Moseley and I were tied after two rounds and it took 4-holes of a sudden-death play-off to separate us.

The Pirate Adventure Mini Golf course was the 77th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We've now been to 1,037 courses since September 2006.

2023 British Minigolf Association Tournament Calendar

Details of the 2023 BMGA Tour events.

The British Minigolf Association has published the tournament calendar for the 2023 season.

Visit the British Minigolf Association website to find out more, and details of how you can join the BMGA.

Please note: events are subject to change. Further events may be added to the BMGA Tour schedule.

Winning the Weymouth Mini Golf Open

I won the Weymouth Open minigolf tournament on this day in 2008.

The inaugural Weymouth Open minigolf competition was held on the 18-hole Pirate Adventure Mini Golf course at the Weymouth Sea Life Centre at Lodmoor Country Park in Weymouth, Dorset on Sunday 12th October 2008.

I had an excellent career record in Weymouth Open events. As well as winning the individual title in 2008 my team-mate Chris Harding and I were the Weymouth Open doubles champions in 2011.

I was also runner-up in the 2009 and 2011 events and seventh in 2010. In the 2009 tournament Kevin Moseley and I were tied after two rounds and it took 4-holes of a sudden-death play-off to separate us.

The Pirate Adventure Mini Golf course was the 77th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We've now been to 1,004 courses since September 2006.

An oversized minigolf cheque

I won the Weymouth Open minigolf tournament on this day in 2008.

The inaugural Weymouth Open minigolf competition was held on the 18-hole Pirate Adventure Mini Golf course at the Weymouth Sea Life Centre at Lodmoor Country Park.

I had a very good record in Weymouth Open events. As well as winning the individual title in 2008 my team-mate Chris Harding and I were the Weymouth Open doubles champions in 2011.

I was also runner-up in the 2009 and 2011 events and seventh in 2010. In the 2009 tournament Kevin Moseley and I were tied after two rounds and it took 4-holes of a sudden-death play-off to separate us.

The course was the 77th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We've now been to 973 courses since September 2006.

British Minigolf Association events for 2021

The British Minigolf Association has announced its list of tournaments for the year ahead.

The British Minigolf Association (BMGA) Tour season tees-off with the Midlands Open on Saturday 29th May on the Adventure Golf course at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull.

The season comes to a close with the Cornwall Open on Sunday 21st November at the new Woodland Adventure Golf at China Fleet Country Club in Saltash.

A total of twelve events have been scheduled. The BMGA has stated that all dates should currently be considered as provisional due to Covid-19. A further five events are currently postponed with updates to follow.

For more information visit the BMGA website.

12 years ago...

I won the Weymouth Open minigolf tournament on this day in 2008.

What a day that was!

The inaugural Weymouth Open minigolf competition was held on the 18-hole Pirate Adventure Mini Golf course at the Weymouth Sea Life Centre at Lodmoor Country Park.

I had a very good record in Weymouth Open events. As well as winning the individual title in 2008 my team-mate Chris Harding and I were the Weymouth Open doubles champions in 2011.

I was also runner-up in the 2009 and 2011 events and seventh in 2010. In the 2009 tournament Kevin Moseley and I were tied after two rounds and it took 4-holes of a sudden-death play-off to separate us.

The course was the 77th played on our travels. We've now been to 956 courses since September 2006.

I've heard that the Pirate Adventure Mini Golf course at the Weymouth Sea Life Centre has undergone some changed in recent few years. It'll be interesting to revisit the layout on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

In the Crazy Golf Museum - minigolf membership cards

A look at minigolf association and club membership cards in the UK.

As a collector of minigolf items and ephemera and Curator of the Crazy Golf Museum it's always nice to look back at things we've picked up along the way during our minigolf adventures.

British Minigolf Association

I joined the British Minigolf Association in 2007 and received my first BMGA membership card entitling me to discount at certain courses and entry into BMGA competitions.

British Minigolf Association membership card 2007

Here are my BMGA Tour Cards from 2008-2015.

British Minigolf Association membership cards 2008-2015

Midlands Minigolf Club

In 2007 I was invited to become a member of the Midlands Minigolf Club and am a member of the club to this day. While we don't have an official membership card the club does have an official Ball of Fame to commemorate the second BMGA British Club Championship title we won in 2015. The MMGC is now a three-time national title winning team.

The Midlands Minigolf Club Ball of Fame

Green Mini Golf Club

During the 2010 and 2011 seasons I was also a member of the Green Mini Golf Club in Hither Green, London. The GMGC was a superb club and the venue was home to the UK's only full-size Swedish Felt Mini Golf course. The GMGC held weekly Tuesday night tournaments and I enjoyed travelling from Luton to Hither Green and back after work each week to compete. I won the club's first-ever weekly tournament in 2010.

The Green Mini Golf Club membership card

European Minigolf Sport Federation and World Minigolf Sport Federation

I have competed in European Minigolf Sport Federation and World Minigolf Sport Federation competitions in Finland, England and Sweden and although a WMF player license is allocated to players a physical document is not issued. We did however have some very nice player cards created for us at the 2008 EMF Nations Cup in Tampere, Finland.

At the 2008 Nations Cup in Tampere, Finland

Are you a member of a minigolf club or association? I'd love to see and share more examples of membership cards from around the world.

British Minigolf Association tournaments - 2020

Play is set to resume on the British Minigolf Association tour.

The British Minigolf Association (BMGA) will resume the 2020 season with a double-header weekend of events at Dunton Hills in Essex in August.

The Cambridgeshire & Essex Minigolf Club Open is on Saturday 15th August, with the BMGA British Doubles Championship taking place the following day.

The last minigolf tournament held in the UK before lockdown was the 19th edition of the Planet Hastings Crazy Golf Open held on the 1st March. The season-opening Thanet Open had been held in Margate, Kent on 9th February.

Details of BMGA minigolf tournaments in the UK can be found on the British Minigolf Association website.

The UK's next competition in 2020

The first mid-pandemic socially distanced minigolf tournament in the UK is taking place on Sunday 26th July. Organised by the Welsh Minigolf Club the 2020 Dragon Classic will be held on the Dragon's Quest Mini Golf course at Fontygary Leisure Park in Rhoose, Barry.

Competitions around the world this year

In April the World Minigolf Sport Federation made the decision to cancel all 2020 international (world and continental) tournaments.

During the coronavirus pandemic a number of minigolf events and competitions have been held in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, the USA, Czech Republic, Portugal, Turkey and Poland.

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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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The Welsh Minigolf Grand Prix

The Welsh Minigolf Club has announced a new season-long event in the Welsh Minigolf Grand Prix.

Consisting of six open strokeplay events the Welsh Minigolf Grand Prix will see players awarded championship points based on their finishing position.

The six Welsh Minigolf Grand Prix events are:

• January 27th - Tropical Challenge - Treetop Adventure Golf, Cardiff
• February 23rd - Island Classic - Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf , Barry Island
• Date TBA - Parkland Challenge - Pembrey Country Park, Carmarthenshire
• Date TBA - Dragon Classic - Dragon's Quest Mini Golf, Fontygary
• October TBA (likely 4th) The Cardiff Open, Tee-Rex Golf, Cardiff
• November 17th - Combination Classic - Treetop Adventure Golf, Cardiff

Check out the Welsh Minigolf Club website and Facebook Page for more information about the Welsh Minigolf Grand Prix and other club tournaments.

British Minigolf Association tournaments for 2020

Details of British Minigolf Association competitions for the 2020 season.

Information about the British Minigolf Association's tour calendar for the year ahead has been announced on the BMGA's Facebook Page.

The 2020 season tees-off with the Thanet Open at Lost Island Adventure Golf at the Flamingo Arcade in Margate, kent on Sunday 9th February.

The year ends with the Star City Open at Adventure Island Minigolf at Star City in Birmingham on Sunday 6th December (TBC).

Eleven years ago today...

...I won the Weymouth Open minigolf tournament.

Weymouth Winner

What a day!

The inaugural Weymouth Open minigolf competition was held on the 18-hole Pirate Adventure Mini Golf course at the Weymouth Sea Life Centre at Lodmoor Country Park.

One of the holes on the incredibly tricky layout

I had a very good record in Weymouth Open events. As well as winning the individual title in 2008 my team-mate Chris Harding and I were the Weymouth Open doubles champions in 2011.

The Weymouth Open team champs

I was also runner-up in the 2009 and 2011 events and seventh in 2010. In the 2009 tournament Kevin Moseley and I were tied after two rounds and it took 4-holes of a sudden-death play-off to separate us.

Putting aboard a pirate ship

I've heard that the Pirate Adventure Mini Golf course at the Weymouth Sea Life Centre has undergone some changed over the last few years. It'll be interesting to revisit the layout on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. The course was the 77th played on our travels. We've now been to 925 courses since September 2006.

Playing in the 2010 edition of the competition

Entries open for the 2020 World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings

Entry to the 2020 World Crazy Golf Championships is now open.

Entries to next year's World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings are now open.

Taking place at Hastings Adventure Golf in East Sussex the World Crazy Golf Championships will tee-off on the 5th June 2020.

The reigning, defending and two-time back-to-back World Crazy Golf Champion - Marc 'The Force' Chapman

All competitors must beat the windmill and watermill as well as negotiate the bends, twists and ramps on the traditional seaside course at Hastings Adventure Golf – the UK’s ‘spiritual home of mini golf’.

The windmill hole at Hastings. One of the 18-holes competitors have to tackle in the World Crazy Golf Championships

2020 will be the 18th year that Hastings Adventure Golf has hosted the World Crazy Golf Championships.

Competitors can enter the 2020 World Crazy Golf Championships via the Hastings Adventure Golf website.

2019 Cardiff Open and Welsh Open minigolf tournaments

Minigolf tournament double-header in Cardiff this October.

The Cardiff Open minigolf competition is taking place at the Tee-Rex Adventure Golf course on Saturday 5th October.

The three-round tourney is organised by the Welsh Minigolf Club and carries points in the British Minigolf Association tour rankings. The event tees-off off at 2pm.

For more information about the 2019 Cardiff Open check out the event page, entry list and the Welsh Minigolf Club website.

The Cardiff Open is part of a tournament double-header weekend as the British Minigolf Association Welsh Open tournament takes place at Treetop Adventure Golf in Cardiff city centre on Sunday 6th October.

We haven't been to Cardiff for a while and so Tee-Rex Adventure Golf and Treetop Adventure Golf are new courses for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Entries open for the 2019 World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings

Entry to the World Crazy Golf Championships is now open.

Entries to the 2019 World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings are now open.

For the first time in its 17-year history the World Crazy Golf Championships is including a new junior competition category too.

Taking place at Hastings Adventure Golf in East Sussex from the 7th to 9th June the World Crazy Golf Championships boasts a £4,500 prize fund.

Each category competes for a separate prize fund. A £3,000 prize fund is allocated to the professional category, with the overall winner scooping £1,000 - the largest winner's prize in minigolf. A separate prize fund of £1,500 is allocated to the novice category. There are also opportunities for team entries in both the novice and professional categories. The junior category will have awards for first, second and third place.

The reigning and defending World Crazy Golf Champion - Marc 'The Force' Chapman

The junior category is open to those aged 8 to 14 and will be played on Friday 7th June at 5.30pm. The novice competition category, that was introduced two years ago, will continue to be played over one day, Saturday 8th June, while the Crazy Golf Professional category is played over two days, Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th June.

Simon Tompkins of Hastings Adventure Golf said “We are thrilled to introduce the junior category to this year’s championships. The three separate competitive categories - professional, novice and junior, help make the championships even more inclusive."

He added “The novice category was established two years to give non-professionals an event of their own. Now the addition of the junior category makes the championships an open playing field for younger players too. So get the putters polished and start practicing!”

All competitors must beat the windmill and watermill as well as negotiate the bends, twists and ramps on the traditional seaside course at Hastings Adventure Golf – dubbed the UK’s ‘spiritual home of mini golf’.

The windmill hole at Hastings. One of the 18-holes competitors will have to tackle in the World Crazy Golf Championships

Following last year’s fantastic efforts, there will again be prizes for 'best dressed' and 'personality of the competition'.

This is the 17th year that Hastings Adventure Golf has hosted the World Crazy Golf Championships - an event that is now firmly considered the pinnacle competition for Crazy Golfers in the UK and beyond.

Competitors can enter the 2019 World Crazy Golf Championships via the Hastings Adventure Golf website. All entrants are entitled to half price practice on the Crazy Golf course at the complex.

2018 saw the largest number of competitors in the field since 2005. Marc 'The Force' Chapman from Kent was crowned the World Crazy Golf Champion and scooped the £1,000 top prize. His score was 226, 26 under par, beating the 2017 top score of 235, 17 under par recorded by the Czech Republic’s Olivia Prokopova.

Commenting on his big win Marc said “It felt amazing to finally become the World Crazy Golf Champion! It was a great personal ambition of mine to win the event and I had been close to it a few times before - which made the win even more amazing!”

Adam Kelly took the runner-up prize of £750 and Michael Smith, former World Crazy Golf Champion, took home £500 for third place.

The novice title and £500 went to Russell Smith from Tunbridge Wells. The runner-up Chris Horn took home £300, while third place went to Italian player Mark Berezicki who won £200.

* Players are classified as a novice if they:
- have not entered the World Crazy Golf Championships before.
- are not a recognised international player.
- have not finished in the top ten of a British Minigolf Association tour event.

Mini Golf Masters

This week will see a number of Mini Masters miniature golf tournaments taking place.

Teeing-off on Wednesday 4th April is the first MiniLinks Mini Major of the year at MiniLinks in Lytham Saint Annes.

Hole 1 of the MiniLinks Par-3 miniature golf course

DinoFalls Adventure Golf at Trafford Golf Centre in Manchester is hosting its first-ever DinoFalls Masters tournament between Thursday 5th and Sunday 8th April.

On Sunday 8th April two CrazyPutt Masters Tournaments are being held at the CrazyPutt Adventure Golf courses in Nottingham and London.

You can find the CrazyPutt Adventure Golf courses at the Riverside Family Golf Centre in Nottingham and the N1 Golf Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range in London.

In April 2007 I made my British Minigolf Association tournament debut in the British Masters. This year the 18th staging of the event will be at Mr Mulligan’s Dino Golf in Sidcup on Sunday 22 April.

We visited the Adventure Golf courses in Sidcup back in 2010

Back in 2009 I won the Mini Masters at the Championship Miniature Golf course in Manchester.

The 2009 Mini Masters Champion

Minigolf rankings for 2016

The national tour minigolf season is over and Emily and I are still ranked in the BMGA Strokeplay Order of Merit 2015-2016.

I am ranked in 40th position with 2,825 ranking points, while Emily is in 62nd place with 1,462 points. A total of 149 players are listed in the rankings.

Minigolfers Emily and Richard Gottfried

In the World Minigolf Sport Federation international rankings Emily is ranked 102nd in the Women's ranking list, while I am 408th in the Men's list.

Emily Putting at the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Southend

This season we competed in a number of independent miniature golf competitions including the:
- Surrey Invitational Tournament - Richard = 3rd, Emily = 4th
- Southend Pier Invitational Tournament - Richard = 1st, Emily = 9th
- Southend Arnold Palmer Classic - Richard = 1st, Emily = 7th
- Stevenage Invitational Tournament - Richard = 1st, Emily = 3rd (tied)

In action on Southend Pier's Crazy Golf course

Related blog posts:
- WMF World Minigolf Rankings update
- BMGA minigolf rankings for 2015
- Richard Gottfried's Minigolf Player Profile
- Emily Gottfried's Minigolf Player Profile

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Minigolf report - Gottfried’s complete season at Star City

Report from the final event of the minigolf season.

Leagrave Minigolfers Richard and Emily Gottfried teed-off in the final event of the 2015 British Minigolf Association (BMGA) Tour season on Sunday 6th December at the Star City Open competition held at the Adventure Island Mini Golf centre at Star City in Birmingham.

Richard scored a three-round total of 108 (par), having shot rounds 37, 36 and 35 to finish in 16th place in the 34-player field.

Richard making a putt at Star City

Emily scored a three-round total 113 (+5) after rounds of 36, 38 and 39 to finish in 23rd place overall.

Emily in action at Adventure Island Mini Golf

The Star City Open tournament was played over three 18-hole rounds on the Lost Hut Trail course at the Adventure Island Mini Golf venue, and was won Oxford’s Michael Smith.

With the 2015 season over the pair have completed their ninth-year as BMGA Tour players. Richard finished the year in 17th place of 115 places in the BMGA Official Strokeplay Order of Merit Rankings, with Emily in 32nd position.

Link:

- Adventure Island Mini Golf website