Playing Golf in the Luton Community Games

Playing in our first Par-3/Pitch & Putt competition as part of the Luton Community Games weekend at Stockwood Park.

Following our introduction to the sport of Pétanque on the first day of the Luton 4 Life Community Games, Emily and I headed to Stockwood Park's BIG Mini Golf course for a Par-3/Pitch & Putt Golf tournament!

Upon registration at the gazebo next to the first tee we had to declare our Golf skill level for a handicap rating (beginner, intermediate, or advanced).

Emily was classified as a beginner as she doesn't play Pitch & Putt that often and were given handicaps of '12'. I said I would be an intermediate player as I'd never played a full-round of Golf, but do play a lot of Mini & Crazy Golf - after this raised a laugh from one of the chaps doing the registrations (quite cheeky of him, Grrr) I was given a handicap of '7'.

We then had a quick chat with Graham from Team Beds & Luton, the tournament organiser, grabbed our Putters & Pitching Wedges, had a very quick warm-up and set off for the first tee.

Emily Gottfried setting up a tee-shot under the flight path of London Luton Airport

It was great that the lovely summer weather decided to restart on the morning of the competition and there was some very nice sunshine and heat for our 9.30am tee-off time.

Emily Gottfried playing out of an old bunker, next to an old bunker at Stockwood Park

We had a very pleasant round on the very well maintained course. Thanks must go to the group playing ahead of us on hole 7 who warned us of the extra hazard that had been left in the cup of hole 2 by an overnight 'visitor' to the course!

There were some cracking recovery shots played during our round and some very nice putting too. The Greens on the Stockwood Park Par-3 course are brilliant. The course as a whole is very well maintained, and while there are some quite deep areas of rough that can be troublesome to play out of, when you are on the green it is an absolute pleasure to play.

Richard Gottfried playing hole 8 in the Luton Community Games Golf Competition at Stockwood Park Golf course

At the end of the round we signed our scorecard, posed for some photos and had another chat with Graham who gave us some further information about the new Get Back Into sports activities that are coming up soon - Golf is one of them and you get more info on the Get Back Into website. It was through Get Back Into that I got back into playing Dodgeball!

The results of the event came through via email following the event as there were tournament rounds being played from 8.30am until midday. After playing Golf we went for a wander to the Athletics Centre to see the other Luton 4 Life Community Games activities.

The overall winner in the 27 player competition was Shane Timoney with a round of 30 for a Net score of 18! The joint runners-up were James Brennan and Michael Scanlon who both scored a Net 21(-6).

I finished in a tie for 12th place and Emily in 23rd.

The competition was a nice way to spend a few hours and  I'd definitely play in some more Pitch & Putt/Par-3 competitions at the course in the future. The Stockwood Park Mini/Par-3 Golf course is well worth a play if you're in the area. There is a good Driving Range facility at the club too, along with a bar and if you're so inclined a full 18-hole BIG Golf course.

Many thanks to Graham at Team Beds & Luton for organising the competition.

Links:

- Team Beds & Luton
- Active Luton
- Stockwood Park Golf Centre

- Community Games
- London Luton Airport - event sponsor

Related Blog Posts:

- Playing Pétanque in the Luton Community Games

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Course Played #30 Luton (Stockwood Park) - Mini Golf/Pitch & Putt
- Dodgeball - then and now

Playing Pétanque in the Luton Community Games

An introduction to the sport of Pétanque at the Luton Community Games at Luton Regional Sports Centre.

As part of the Luton 4 Life Community Games weekend Emily and I headed to Luton Regional Sports Centre in Stopsley to take part in the Pétanque sessions. 

Richard throwing a boule in a game of Pétanque at Luton Regional Sports Centre

We were welcomed by a chap called Alan from the Chiltern Region of the English Pétanque Association; his Polo shirt also denoted that he was the 'Team Manager'. After being introduced to some different sizes and weights of boules we got straight to having a few practice throws and were given an introduction to the rules of the game.

Emily playing Pétanque in the Luton Community Games

We’ve both previously played Boules, but never received instruction in the game so it was nice to be given the ‘pro’ rules and told about the different game formats and how to score properly by the experts.

Richard throwing a boule in a game of Pétanque

We then paired up with a club member, with Emily and Alan taking on me and a fellow called Ian. With each player given three boules and the aim to reach 13 points to win, we began playing up and down the terrain/piste (the pitch) and each time a team scored points the playing area changed. This was because the cosh (or jack) was thrown into place between 6-10 metres from the last position of it. Therefore one of the tactics is to work out where the ‘break’ on the terrain is and how much pace and/or spin is required for each shot – no two games will be played on the exact same playing surface or area! In our first game Emily and Ian picked up the win 13-9.

The Result of Game 1 of the Pétanque in the Luton Community Games

Emily sat out the next game as Ian and I once again teamed-up, this time facing Alan and a chap called Kier (I think). This match was shorter and after scoring a four Alan’s team had a good lead. After our lack of scoring since the middle of the previous match we managed to win back the throw of the cosh and score a few points, but unfortunately Ian and I continued our 100% losing streak with a 13-4 loss.

The Result of Game 2 of the Pétanque in the Luton Community Games

A great fun way to spend a late morning and early afternoon in Luton. We were told that there are 28 clubs in the Chiltern Region. There are also some novice competitions played during the season and the club also has teams in a couple of leagues, with some players also in the England and Great Britain teams. The team have club nights on Friday’s at Luton Regional Sports Centre and will be moving to the new Inspire sports centre in Luton when their current season on the existing terrain finishes.

"Spot the Boule" contest - click here for a hi-res image - and scroll down for the 'answer'

Pétanque is a great fun sport that is easy to pick up and play, but like so many sports and games, difficult to master. The team running the Luton Community Games Pétanque sessions were nice and friendly and I could have easily spent the entire day playing the game. I’d definitely play again and hopefully next time I'll pick up a win!

Links:

- English Pétanque Association

o Information about the sport of Pétanque

o The Official Rules of the Game of Pétanque

- Chiltern Region Pétanque

- Active Luton

- Community Games
- London Luton Airport - event sponsor

Related Blog Posts:

- Boules Invitational Tournament at The Mumbles

"Spot the Boule" - it was on me 'ead!?

Emily captured the boule mid-flight and in perfect line with my bonce!

A Sport and Arts Exhibition - Peg Dollies 2012 at Qube Oswestry

Creating a Crazy Minigolfer for the Qube Oswestry Sports & Arts Exhibition.

At the 2012 Oswestry Games Fun Day on Sunday 15th July the British Minigolf Association (BMGA) & Putterfingers Minigolf course was set-up at Oswestry Leisure Centre. One of the stalls next to the course was a display and 'have-a-go' activity from Qube – a charity based in Oswestry that serves the local community through a number of services including Community Transport, Arts and health, Volunteering Care and Community Facilities.

The "Peg Dollies 2012" Stand at the Oswestry Games Fun Day

The latest exhibition at the Qube Gallery is entitled ‘Peg Dollies 2012’ and will see thousands of Peg Dollies created with a sporting theme to ‘gather’ and ‘perform’ in an Opening Ceremony at Qube. I was told that a previous exhibition of Peg Dollies was made when the Qube centre opened ten years ago and that these creations will be returning as spectators in August! There will be a full crowd of Pegs Dollies created and displayed in the Qube Art Gallery in Oswestry, Shropshire between the 2nd of August and the 8th of September 2012.

Our Peg Dolly Kit

While we were at the Oslympic Fun Day our group of Minigolfers didn’t have time to create a Minigolfer on a Crazy Golf course for the exhibit, we did however get given a sporting Peg Dolly Kit to work with. And so Emily and I tried our hand at creating a Great Britain International Minigolfer.

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The completed sporting Peg Dolly GB Minigolfer on his Crazy Golf course (with Oswestry Games Gold Medal) - hi-res photo

Another view of the Great Britain Peg Dolly Minigolfer - hi-res photo

I’m looking forward to seeing photos from the exhibition at Qube Oswestry. The Peg Dolly athletes we saw at the Oswestry Games looked brilliant – there were loads of different sporting activities depicted, with a great fencing duel taking place, athletics, a boxing match and a group of synchronised swimmers!

Last October I also did a bit of Art & Craft for the Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt when I created a Putter King Wobblehead Mascot!

Links:

- Qube
- Peg Dollies 2012 2 August to 8 September & Peg Dollies 2012

- Oswestry Games 2012

- British Minigolf Association (BMGA)

The Oswestry Games

While on twitter recently I came across a tweet from John Waine of The Best of Oswestry (twitter @bestofoswestry) about the 2012 Oswestry Games.

As a fan of all sports and games, large and small, mainstream and obscure, I clicked through to find out more.

Looking at http://twitter.com/OswestryGames and the Oswestry Games website I found that in July 2012 the town of Oswestry, Shropshire, will be hosting a community games event in celebration of the 2012 Olympic Games, and the 'spirit of sport' that is alive and kicking in and around Oswestry. Looking at the Oswestry Games Information Pack you can see that the area has a long link to the Olympics, stemming from their own Wenlock Olympian Games dating back to the 19th century.

I wish the organisers of the Oswestry Games event all the best with their efforts, in what looks to be a great sporting and community event.

Back in August 2009 Emily and I embarked on a nine-day Seaside & Minigolf Roadtrip that took us from Luton, to Oxford, around the Welsh coast, and back into England at Oswestry. The 32nd Minigolf course we played on this element of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour was at the very nice Cae Glas Park in Oswestry, where we found an 18-hole Eternit Miniaturegolf course. I also won the "Tour of Wales Trophy" and was presented it in Oswestry. We found the town to be very pleasant and well worth a visit.