The Minigolf Nations Cup 2008 in Tampere, Finland

We made our Great Britain minigolf team debuts at the 2008 Nations Cup of Minigolf in Tampere, Finland 18 years ago today!

Our Great Britain Minigolf team, sponsored by UrbanCrazy, finished the tournament in 13th place. In the individual rankings I finished in 51st place and Emily was 53rd.

In action at the Minigolf Nations Cup in Tampere, Finland

The 2008 Great Britain squad - Jouni Valkjarvi (coach), John 'Big Top Ted' McIver, Marion 'Mation' Homer, Sean 'Freebird' Homer, Tim 'Ace Man' Davies, Steve 'F1' Gow, Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried, Andy 'Sarge' Booth, 'Squire' Richard Gottfried

We've also played for the Great Britain national team in World Minigolf Sport Federation and European Minigolf Sport Federation tournaments in Stockholm, Sweden and Hastings, England.

The Beton Concrete Mini Golf course at the Manse RG Club in Tampere was the 50th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. The Eternit Miniature Golf course was the 51st and the Swedish Felt Minigolf course there was the 52nd played. We've now been to 1,117 courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since 2006.

The Mini Masters miniature golf competition in Manchester

Looking back at the 'Mini Masters' miniature golf tournament in Manchester.

I won the 'Mini Masters' miniature golf tournament in Manchester back on the 11th April 2009. Time certainly flies!

Mini Master

The Mini Masters was the first of two tournaments I won on the 9-hole Championship Miniature Golf course at what was then Playgolf Manchester. The second event being the Miniature Open in July 2009.

Lining up a big minigolf win

My Mini Masters scores.

I won the Mini Masters with a three round total of 81 (-24) after scoring 26, 27, and 28.

Playing a very long tee-shot over and past several obstacles!

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The course was the 84th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Back then the course wasn't one of our local layouts as we still lived in Luton, Bedfordshire and travelled up for the events.

We've now been to 1,116 courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since 2006.

Emily putting on the big miniature golf course

Championship Miniature Golf in New Brighton.

The Championship Miniature Golf course is no longer at the centre, but you can find an expanded Championship Miniature Golf layout with two 18-hole courses in New Brighton. We've played both layouts there.

The Trafford Golf Centre.

The location is no longer a Playgolf venue either. It's now known as the Trafford Golf Centre and is home to two 18-hole dinosaur adventure golf courses. I won the Dino Falls Masters Adventure Golf competition there in 2018 too! Visit the Trafford Golf Centre website for more information on the courses.

The Chrizy Golf Masters minigolf competition in Manchester

I won the Chrizy Golf Masters minigolf tournament in Manchester 13 years ago today!

The first - and to date only - Chrizy Golf Masters minigolf tournament was held on a festive-themed pop-up crazy golf course at Piccadilly Place in Manchester on the 30th November 2012.

The Chrizy Golf course was gone once the 2012 festive season was over and the building remained empty, or used for other pop-ups, until the team at Junkyard Golf made it their home for another minigolf course. That layout was there for a couple of years. They have since moved on and can be found at a permanent venue at First Street in the city.

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The Chrizy Golf course was the 313th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We've now been to 1,111 courses since September 2006.

2026 British Minigolf Association Calendar of Events

Details of the British Minigolf Association Tour Calendar of Events for the 2026 Season.

The British Minigolf Association - the National Governing Body for the sport of minigolf in the UK - has released details of its 2026 Tour Calendar of Events.

18 events have been announced, with the Thanet Open at Lost Island in Margate, Kent teeing-off the season on the 1st February 2026. The 2026 BMGA Tour season is capped off with the British Indoor Minigolf Open at Volcano Falls in Castleford, West Yorkshire on the 29th November 2026.

Find out more

Check out the BMGA website for information about the British Minigolf Association, minigolf competitions, minigolf clubs and more.

The 2025 BMGA Tour Season.

The current BMGA Tour Season draws to a close on the 7th December with this years British Indoor Minigolf Open at Volcano Falls in Castleford.

Playing on the BMGA Tour.

Emily and I were full members of the BMGA from 2007 to 2015 and played in hundreds of minigolf, crazy golf and adventure golf tournaments around the UK during that time.

I'm a seven-time winner on the UK national minigolf circuit, including two BMGA British Club Championships in 2008 and 2015, and a four-time finalist in the World Crazy Golf Championships. Through the BMGA I represented Great Britain in Nations Cup international tournaments in Finland and Sweden in 2008 and 2011.

Emily made her debut in the 2007 Virgin Money World Crazy Golf Championships and won 'The Gommery' Aces Title at the World Crazy Golf Championships in 2014 & 2015. A two-time WMF World Adventure Golf Masters Women's Champion, Emily is also the British Women's Record Holder on the Eternit system of Miniature Golf with an 18-hole round of 24 (-12) at the Nations Cup in Stockholm in 2011.

Links:

• British Minigolf Association
• European Minigolf Sport Federation
• World Minigolf Sport Federation

Related blog posts:

• BMGA
• BMGA Tour
• British Minigolf Association
• Richard Gottfried's Minigolf Player Profile
• Emily Gottfried's Minigolf Player Profile
• In the Crazy Golf Museum - minigolf membership cards

Halloween Pumpkin minigolf balls from Putterfingers Crazy Golf

Winning a Putterfingers competition.

I was very pleased to hear that I was a winner in the recent Putterfingers Crazy Golf online competition. The prize was a set of Halloween Pumpkin minigolf balls!

Related blog posts:

• Putterfingers Crazy Golf

Link:

• Putterfingers Crazy Golf

Winning the Weymouth Mini Golf Open

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

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

Weymouth Open results.

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.

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The Pirate Adventure Mini Golf course was the 77th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We've now been to 1,099 courses since September 2006.

Find out more about the course at Weymouth Sea Life Centre.

Visit the Weymouth Sea Life Centre website for more information on the Pirate Adventure Mini Golf course at Lodmoor Country Park.

Find out more about minigolf tournaments in the UK.

The British Minigolf Association organises several minigolf competitions each year. Visit the British Minigolf Association (BMGA) website for more information.

Find out more about minigolf tournaments around the world.

The World Minigolf Sport Federation is the world governing body for the sport of minigolf. Its national and continental member associations organise competitions around the world. Visit the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) website for more information.

Related blog posts:

• Weymouth
• Competition
• Tournament
• British Minigolf Association
• Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
• Minigolf Player Profile - Richard Gottfried

Links:

• Weymouth Sea Life Centre
• British Minigolf Association

The Putt Park Annual Mini-Golf Tournament in Las Vegas, USA

A look back at The Putt Park Annual Mini-Golf Tournament in Las Vegas.

I won The Putt Park's Annual Mini-Golf Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA back in September 2011.

Playing at the Putt Park Miniature Golf in Las Vegas.

We had first played miniature golf at The Putt Park on our holiday to Las Vegas in 2010. It was the 178th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Playing at The Putt Park Miniature Golf course in Las Vegas

Sadly The Putt Park is no longer there. It was a brilliant 18-hole course and, at the time, the only outdoor minigolf course in Las Vegas.

Related blog posts:

• Las Vegas
• Competitions
• Tournaments
• Richard Gottfried's Minigolf Player Profile

The 2009 Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open minigolf tournament

Looking back at the 2009 Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open minigolf tournament.

I won the Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open minigolf competition 16 years ago today.

We played in the Pleasure Beach Open minigolf tournament at the Adventure Golf course in Blackpool 16 years ago today. The event was held as part of the Illuminations celebrations.

We had a cracking time in the seaside resort and to top things off I won!

The trophy for the tournament is still one of the best I've seen in the world of minigolf!

The 2009 Pleasure Beach Open minigolf tournament in Blackpool.

The second Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open minigolf tournament was played on the 12-hole Adventure Golf course. After three rounds and 36-holes I won the tournament with a score of 81, eight shots ahead of runner-up John Moore, and 17 shots ahead of third-placed Steve Gow.

My first round score of 24 also smashed the previous course record. And it's still the official course record on the layout.

I shot the course record - a 24 in the first round of the 2009 Pleasure Beach Open. However, Peter McGillivray's name and round of 25 shots has been up on the board since 2016! But I'm not bitter about it lol

Find out more about the Pleasure Beach Adventure Golf course

Visit the Pleasure Beach website for more information about the Adventure Golf course.

The Pleasure Beach Adventure Golf course in Blackpool in June 2024

Learn more about minigolf tournaments.

Check out the British Minigolf Association (BMGA) and World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) websites for further details about how to get started playing competitive minigolf, and information about minigolf tournaments around the world.

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The Pleasure Beach Adventure Golf course was the 44th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour when we first visited for the inaugural Pleasure Beach Open contest in 2008.

Related blog posts:

• Blackpool
• Blackpool Pleasure Beach
• Gottfried wins the 2009 Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open

Minigolf on ESPN8: The Ocho!

Minigolf will be featured on ESPN8: The Ocho this month.

The National Putting Tour American Dream’s Super Roll of Putting tournament will feature as part of the upcoming programming for ESPN8: The Ocho.

Our friends at The Putting Penguin were a part of the event and it'll be interesting to see the show.

ESPN8: The Ocho is ESPN's annual showcase of some of the world's lesser-seen sports. In this, the ninth edition of the channel, ESPN's platforms will air more than 65 hours of sporting action between Thursday 31st July and Sunday 3rd August.

The National Putting Tour American Dream’s Super Roll of Putting competition will be shown on ESPN8: The Ocho at 10pm on Thursday 31st July.

It's brilliant to see miniature golf feature in the line-up, and there are some other amazing sports, games and pursuits in the schedule too - including Dodgeball.

We're big fans of Dodgeball - and inspired by the film Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story we used to run dodgeball leagues back in the noughties. 

Find out more.

You can see more information, find out all the sports covered, and the full schedule on the ESPN8: The Ocho website.

The PIAG Open Championship 2025 tees-off today

Information about the PIAG Open Championship 2025.

The Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Championship has returned.

Your chance to win six months of unlimited adventure golf and the PIAG Open trophy.

The PIAG Open tees-off today, Thursday 17th July, with Paradise Island Adventure Golf courses around the UK offering players the chance to enter the event when they play a round at a PIAG course.

The Tiki Hut Trail course at Paradise Island Adventure Golf at the Trafford Centre in Manchester

About the PIAG Open adventure golf championship.

The PIAG Open Championship is taking place across Paradise Island Adventure Golf courses between Thursday 17th and Sunday 20th July.

Paradise Island Adventure Golf have eight venues in England and Scotland.

Find out more on the Paradise Island Adventure Golf website.

Winning the PIAG Open Championship.

I won the PIAG Open Championship at the Manchester Trafford Centre venue in 2018, with Emily winning the competition in 2019.

PIAG Open Champion in 2019

PIAG Open Champion in 2018

Find your nearest Paradise Island Adventure Golf course.

Visit the Paradise Island Adventure Golf website for more information on the PIAG courses in Glasgow, Livingston, Cheshire Oaks, Manchester, Sheffield, Derby, Rushden Lakes and Plymouth.

Enter the 2026 World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings

Entries open for the 2026 World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings.

Entries are now open for the 2026 World Crazy Golf Championships to be played at Hastings Adventure Golf in Hastings, East Sussex.

Today, Monday 7th July, marks the opening of entries for the 2026 World Crazy Golf Championships at Hastings Adventure Golf.

Richard Gottfried playing in the World Crazy Golf Championships

The major miniature golf tournament returns for its 23rd edition from the 5th to 7th June 2026.

The World Crazy Golf Championships began in 2003 and has been held at Hastings Adventure Golf every year, except 2020 when the event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic). The current champion is Marc 'The Force' Chapman who is enjoying his fifth reign as world champion.

Emily Gottfried playing in the World Crazy Golf Championships

Find out more.

Visit the Hastings Adventure Golf website to find out more about the 2026 World Crazy Golf Championships.

PIAG Open Championship 2025

Information about the PIAG Open Championship 2025.

The Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Championship returns this month.

Your chance to win six months of unlimited adventure golf and the PIAG Open trophy.

The PIAG Open tees-off on Thursday 17th July, with Paradise Island Adventure Golf courses around the UK offering players the chance to enter the event when they play a round at a PIAG course.

The Tiki Hut Trail course at Paradise Island Adventure Golf at the Trafford Centre in Manchester

About the PIAG Open adventure golf championship.

The PIAG Open Championship is taking place across Paradise Island Adventure Golf courses between Thursday 17th and Sunday 20th July.

Paradise Island Adventure Golf have eight venues in England and Scotland.

Find out more on the Paradise Island Adventure Golf website.

Winning the PIAG Open Championship.

I won the PIAG Open Championship at the Manchester Trafford Centre venue in 2018, with Emily winning the competition in 2019.

PIAG Open Champion in 2019

PIAG Open Champion in 2018

Find your nearest Paradise Island Adventure Golf course.

Visit the Paradise Island Adventure Golf website for more information on the PIAG courses in Glasgow, Livingston, Cheshire Oaks, Manchester, Sheffield, Derby, Rushden Lakes and Plymouth.

Are you the UK's Worst Crazy Golf Player?

Wicksteed Park is looking for the UK's Worst Crazy Golf Player!

Wicksteed Park in Kettering, Northamptonshire is searching for the UK's Worst Crazy Golf Player - and they'll be rewarded with a lifetime pass to play the Pig n' Putt minigolf course at Wicksteed Park!

Check out the Wicksteed Park website and Facebook Page for more information and to find out how to enter the competition to find the UK's Worst Crazy Golf Player.

The Pig n' Putt minigolf course at Wicksteed Park is a course we're yet to get to on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. I have however played crazy golf there before. Looking through my family photo albums we've got photos of me and my brother Jon playing a round at Wicksteed Park in the 1980s!

Charity Adventure Golf Championship at Folkestone Harbour Adventure Golf

A Charity Adventure Golf Championship is taking place at Folkestone Harbour Adventure Golf.

The Channel Rotary group in Folkestone, Kent is organising a Charity Adventure Golf Championship hosted at the 12-hole Folkestone Harbour Adventure Golf course behind the Harbour Arm in the seaside town.

All proceeds from the event go to local Rotary charities.

The Charity Adventure Golf Championship at Folkestone Harbour Adventure Golf will see entrants compete during dedicated qualifying times between Monday 14th and Friday 18th July.

You can find out the rules and qualifying criteria on the Channel Rotary website.

World Crazy Golf Championships 2025 in Hastings

The 2025 World Crazy Golf Championships will be held in Hastings, East Sussex from the 6th to the 8th June.

The major miniature golf tournament returns for its 22nd edition this weekend.

You can find out all the details on the Hastings Adventure Golf website.

Richard Gottfried playing in the World Crazy Golf Championships

We both made our debuts in the 2007 edition of the event back when it was known as the Virgin Money World Crazy Golf Championships. It was Emily's first ever miniature golf tournament.

Emily Gottfried playing in the World Crazy Golf Championships

The World Crazy Golf Championships began in 2003 and has been held at Hastings Adventure Golf every year, except 2020 when the event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic). The current champion is Marc 'The Force' Chapman who is enjoying his fourth reign as world champion.

The competition is played on the 18-hole Crazy Golf course at Hastings Seafront. The layout is of the Arnold Palmer Putting Course variety. The course was the 39th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in October 2007.

The Minigolf Nations Cup 2008 in Tampere, Finland

We made our Great Britain team debuts at the 2008 Nations Cup of Minigolf in Tampere, Finland 17 years ago today!

Our Great Britain Minigolf team, sponsored by UrbanCrazy, finished the tournament in 13th place. In the individual rankings I finished in 51st place and Emily was 53rd.

In action at the Minigolf Nations Cup in Tampere, Finland

The 2008 Great Britain squad - Jouni Valkjarvi (coach), John 'Big Top Ted' McIver, Marion 'Mation' Homer, Sean 'Freebird' Homer, Tim 'Ace Man' Davies, Steve 'F1' Gow, Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried, Andy 'Sarge' Booth, 'Squire' Richard Gottfried

We've also played for the Great Britain national team in World Minigolf Sport Federation and European Minigolf Sport Federation tournaments in Stockholm, Sweden and Hastings, England.

The Beton Concrete Mini Golf course at the Manse RG Club in Tampere was the 50th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. The Eternit Miniature Golf course was the 51st and the Swedish Felt Minigolf course there was the 52nd played. We've now been to 1,082 courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since 2006.

The 2008 Minigolf Nations Cup in Tampere, Finland

A look back at the 2008 Nations Cup of Minigolf in Tampere, Finland.

We made our Great Britain team debuts at the 2008 Nations Cup of Minigolf in Tampere, Finland 17 years ago this week.

Where has that time gone!

The GB team playing the Beton Concrete Minigolf course in Tampere, Finland during a practice session

In international action on the Eternit Miniature Golf course

Our Great Britain Minigolf team, sponsored by UrbanCrazy, finished the tournament in 13th place. In the individual rankings I finished in 51st place and Emily was 53rd.

The 2008 Great Britain squad - Jouni Valkjarvi (coach), John 'Big Top Ted' McIver, Marion 'Mation' Homer, Sean 'Freebird' Homer, Tim 'Ace Man' Davies, Steve 'F1' Gow, Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried, Andy 'Sarge' Booth, 'Squire' Richard Gottfried

Since the 2008 Nations Cup we've also played for the GB national team in tournaments in Stockholm, Sweden and Hastings, England.

Receiving some tips on the Middle Hill Eternit Miniature Golf hole from Crazy Golf legend Tim 'Ace Man' Davies

The Beton Concrete Mini Golf course at the Manse RG Club in Tampere was the 50th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. The Eternit Miniature Golf course was the 51st and the Swedish Felt Minigolf course was the 52nd played.

Since 2006 Emily and I have visited 1,082 miniature golf courses around the UK and overseas on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

As well as playing minigolf in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Jersey and the Isle of Man we’ve travelled to minigolf courses in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Finland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Spain (including Lanzarote and Majorca), Sweden and the USA.

2025 British Minigolf Association Calendar of Events

Details of the British Minigolf Association Tour Calendar of Events for the 2025 Season.

The 2025 competitive minigolf season tees-off at Hastings Adventure Golf with the Hastings Open 25th Anniversary competition on the 2nd March and runs until the 16th November when Mr Mulligans Dino Golf in Sidcup hosts the English Open.

You can find out more about the British Minigolf Association on the BMGA website.

British Minigolf Association Calendar of Events 2025

The British Minigolf Association Tour Calendar of Events for the 2025 Season has been announced.

The season tees-off at Hastings Adventure Golf with the Hastings Open 25th Anniversary competition on the 2nd March and runs until the 16th November when Mr Mulligans Dino Golf in Sidcup hosts the English Open.

You can find out more about the British Minigolf Association on the BMGA website.