Report from the 2015 Worlds £2 Tat Challenge in Hastings

Results from the off-course shenanigans at the amusements in Hastings.

What the sport is all about

Since 2010 Crazy Mini Golfers from around the world have descended on the amusement arcades of Hastings to compete in 'Tat Challenge' tournaments.

One of the machines not in use this year

2015 would be no different at 23 competitors lined-up to fight for the honour and prizes that come with being the World Tat Challenge Champion.

The competitors receive some last minute instructions from The Buttons Committee

Following the first day's play of the World Crazy Golf Championships the group headed over the road to the Old Town Amusement Arcade for 20-minutes of non-stop tu-penny pushers gaming to see who could land the largest haul of prizes. There had been some doubt as to whether the event would take place, as in the lead-up to the contest on Saturday there had been reports that the Old Town Buttons had closed down and the site was up for sale!

Afternoon of the Living Dead - a shocking sight indeed

Fortunately the Old Town ones were open and buzzing on the big day itself. Rendering the recce to the buttons next to The Deluxe pointless. Speculation that an alternative venue would be 'Keith's' buttons down by The Stade were also dismissed as hogwash. Especially when the rumour included something about the use of ten pence pieces. A ridiculous notion.

Tatters Buttonsing

The 2015 champion was Helen Dodd with a total of seven bits of tat, leaving her closest rivals trailing in her wake with a mere four bits. The defending champion Kate 'Mrs' Kelly was unable to hold onto the crown as she slipped to a disappointing last place after drawing a blank.

The Champ Helen Dodd shows off her winnings as a character looks on

The modern era of the sport has quite possibly seen advances in technology that favour 'the house' as the days of one person winning an event with 40 pieces of tat (as veteran James Rutherford rocketed into his pocket during the great summer of sport in 2012).

Sussex's finest

With a total prize bag of 51 tats Helen declared that the toys and stuff would be put to good use as the 'second best Crazy Golfer in the Dodd household' (Emily Dodd) would be given them when Helen and Matt arrived back home.

Results of the 2015 Worlds £2 Tat Challenge (all competitors GB & NI except where stated)
1 - Helen 'Lucky 7' Dodd = 7
2 - John 'Forgot his Waffles' Moore = 4
2 - Richard 'Seen Better Days' Gottfried = 4
2 - Steve 'Stay Puft' Le Velle = 4
5 - 'Peter Peter Ice Cream Eater' Jones = 3
5 - Martin 'Alien' Greenhead = 3
5 - Ollie 'Little Alient' Greenhead = 3
5 - Steve 'The Treasure Hunter' Sturdy = 3
9 - Will 'Donnelaney' Donnelly = 2
9 - Tony 'Better than Kate this year' Kelly = 2
9 - 'The Portuguese Man o' War' Nuno Cunha (POR) = 2
9 - 'Big' Stevie Gow = 2
9 - Ed 'Dressed for the weather conditions for a change' Haynes = 2
9 - Chris 'Tusk' Wood = 2
9 - Adam 'On Par with Pa' Kelly = 2
9 - David 'Local Competitor' Hartley = 2
17 - Marion 'Local Athlete' Hartley = 1
17 - Mark 'Character' Wood = 1
17 - Matt 'Not top' Dodd = 1
17 - Steven 'Bonnie' Langford = 1
21 - Kathryn 'Debutee' Haynes = 0
21 - Ed 'Friend of Le Velle' Pope = 0
21 - Kate 'Oh dear what happened this year' Kelly = 0

To date ten official Tat Challenge competitions have been played with 800 bits of tat won for a total of £382.

Hands like lightning! Peter Jones in action

Local competitor Marion Hartley made her debut this year

The former People's Champion 'Big' Stevie Gow in action, with Johnny Waffles eyeing up some 'rattin' opportunities

Not winning this year

Keith Kellard stalks the floors for some loose change while David Hartley is in the zone. Kellard would eventually find over £2 in dropped money while everyone else competed

An Essex-based character playing the Buttons

Ed Haynes uncharacteristically wearing a jacket

£2 Tat Challenge Hall of Fame:

#1 - Paul Johnson - 9 pieces of Tat (World Title)

#2 - Richard Gottfried - 10 pieces of Tat

#3 - Alan Norman - 6 pieces of Tat +1

#4 - Polly - 11 pieces of Tat (World Title)

#5 - James Rutherford - 40 pieces of Tat

#6 - Richard Gottfried - 23 pieces of Tat (World Title)

#7 - Richard Gottfried and Mike Small - a tie with 32 pieces of Tat each

#8 - William Edwards - 8 pieces of Tat (World Title)
#9 - Kate Kelly - 10 pieces of Tat (World Title)
#10 - Helen Dodd - 7 pieces of Tat (World Title)

Related Blog Posts:

- Report from the 2013 World £2 Tat Challenge in Hastings
- Report from the 2013 World £2 Tat Challenge in Hastings

- Tat Challenge blog posts

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter. You can also sign-up to receive our newsletter.

World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings

The 2015 World Crazy Golf Championships are fast approaching.



Emily playing the classic windmill obstacle in last year's event

The 13th annual World Crazy Golf Championships will be taking place on the 24th and 25th October in Hastings, East Sussex. The town has hosted the event since its first staging in 2003.



A crowd gathers to watch the Hole-in-One Shootout

Emily and I have competed in the tournament since 2007 - back when it was played out over two courses - and we'll be back for another crack at the world title again this year.



Playing in the final of the 2009 World Crazy Golf Championships

The Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Hastings was the 39th we played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and we've played countless rounds on the links course since 2007.



Playing hole 4 in the 2014 event

If you fancy having a crack at being the next World Crazy Golf Champion you can still sign-up to enter.

Simon Tompkins of Hastings Adventure Golf, said “We always look forward to this competition. There are players of all abilities, from top flight to complete novices, some crazy outfits and always a great spirit of fun over the whole weekend.”

Hastings Adventure Golf has been dubbed the ‘spiritual home of crazy golf’and the competition will see last year’s winner and three-time World Crazy Golf Champion, Chris Harding from Birmingham defending his title against a competitive field of players. You can follow the results live online and if you'd like to enter contact the BMGA.

There's a top prize of £1,000, with runner-up prizes of £750, £500, £200 and £100. For a shot at the title competitors must beat the windmill and water mill as well as negotiate the bends, twists and ramps on the traditional seaside course. Not to mention the British seaside weather in late October!

All entrants benefit from a free practice session on Friday 23rd October.

Links:
- Hastings Adventure Golf
- British Minigolf Association
- World Crazy Golf Championship blog posts

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter. You can also sign-up to receive our newsletter.

Crazy Golf in Hastings

A revisit to the Crazy Golf course in Hastings.

On the 21 March 2015 the minigolf course complex in Hastings, East Sussex celebrates its 40th birthday!

The first few holes of the Crazy Golf course in Hastings

On the 28 February we were back in Hastings ahead of the BMGA British Club Championships - held on the Pirate Golf course - and so took a look at the Adventure Golf course and the classic Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course.

Each October the course is home to the World Crazy Golf Championships, an event Emily and I have competed in since 2007

The lucky last hole on the left and the infamous 18th hole - the site of triumph, defeat and incredible moments in Crazy Golf over the years

  

A plateau hole on the Crazy Golf course

The classic windmill standing in the background

A view of the Crazy Golf course in Hastings. It was the 39th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

As well as the Crazy Golf course Hastings is home to an 18-hole Adventure Golf course and an 18-hole Pirate Golf course.

We've visited the town many times since 2007 and spent a lot of time putting around on the courses.

Minigolf adventurers in Hastings

Two of the courses we've played are no longer there. The Miniature Golf course on the seafront was removed and turned into the Pirate Golf course in 2011, while the Adventure Golf course at White Rock Gardens also closed in 2011 and was changed into an outdoor laser tag arena!

For more information, prices and opening times of the seafront miniature golf courses check out the Hastings Adventure Golf website.

Links:
- Hastings Adventure Golf website
- Hastings Adventure Golf on Facebook
- Hastings Adventure Golf on Twitter

Related blog posts:
- Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf in Hastings

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

- Hastings

Video:
- A walkround the 18-hole Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf in Hastings

Adventure Golf in Hastings

A re-visit to the Adventure Golf course in Hastings.

We've been visiting Hastings, East Sussex since October 2007 and have spent many hours putting around the three seafront miniature golf courses.

The 41st course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour was the seafront Adventure Golf course.

In November 2014 I photographed the 18-hole Adventure Golf course. Two of the holes were undergoing renovation, so on our most recent visit to the town for the BMGA British Club Championships I took some snaps of the refurbished holes.

In addition to the Adventure Golf course, the seafront minigolf complex in Hastings has an 18-hole Crazy Golf course and a new 18-hole Pirate Golf course.

For more information, prices and opening times check out the Hastings Adventure Golf website.

Links:
- Hastings Adventure Golf website
- Hastings Adventure Golf on Facebook
- Hastings Adventure Golf on Twitter

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Course visit 41, Hastings Adventure Golf
- Hastings