Adventure Golf course at the Greensward Cafe in Clacton on Sea

The new Adventure Golf course at the Greensward Cafe in Clacton on Sea is now open and we've heard it's proving to be incredibly popular.

Mark at the Greensward Cafe sent along some nice photos showing the new minigolf course.

The new Greensward Adventure Golf course is on the site of an old Miniature Golf layout that we played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in May 2009.

We're really looking forward to a game on the new minigolf course. It looks excellent. Clacton on Sea is a great seaside town too and well worth a visit.

Greensward Adventure Golf is open from 9am 7-days a week. Check out the Greensward Cafe website and Facebook page for more details.

Related blog posts:
- Clacton on Sea
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Minigolf and Crazy Golf in Essex

Links:
- Greensward Cafe website
- Greensward Cafe Facebook

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Gottfried’s compete in the first Cambridgeshire and Essex Open Championship

Report from the first CEMGC Open minigolf competition.

Leagrave minigolfers Richard and Emily Gottfried competed in the inaugural Cambridgeshire and Essex Open Minigolf Championship held on the 18-hole Miniature Golf course at Dunton Hills Family Golf Centre in West Horndon, near Brentwood on Saturday 10th October.



Richard finished in 9th place in the 28-player field after scoring rounds of 48, 49 and 47 for a total of 144(+36).

Emily recorded rounds of 54, 55 and 55 for a 164(+56) total and 27th place overall. Emily finished the CEMGC Club Championship in 6th place, with that contest won by Mark Wood.



Richard said “The Miniature Golf course at Dunton Hills is a really tough layout and I’m pleased with my consistent rounds to finish in the top-ten of a very competitive field of players. The CEMGC’s first Open event was a great success and brilliant fun.”



Emily said “My overall performance was not particularly good, but I did score a hole-in-one on a really tricky hole, which was a silver lining for me. The Dunton Hills course is unique and I really enjoy the random element of the rough-brick borders, as well as long, wide greens, which are very different to other courses we play regularly. My CEMGC team mates are a great bunch and did a fantastic job organising and hosting the event.”



The tournament was won by Oxford’s Michael Smith with a total of 123(+15). Sussex’s Steve Lovell was runner-up with 129(+21), with Portugal’s Nuno Cunha finished in third-place on 132(+24) after defeating Essex’s Mark Wood at the fifth hole of a sudden-death play-off.

In addition to the Miniature Golf layout, Dunton Hills Family Golf Centre is home to a full Golf course and an 18-hole par-3 course. The venue has hosted three Invitational minigolf contests in the lead-up to the CEMGC's first Open.

CEMCGC / Dunton Hills Hall of Fame
• CEMGC Invitational Tournament, Dec 2014 - Emily Gottfried won a two-round event with 99
• Dunton Hills Invitational, Feb 2015 - Richard Gottfried won a three-round event with 140
• Dunton Hills Invitational II, Aug 2015 - Steve Lovell won a three-round event with 140
• Cambridgeshire and Essex Open, Oct 2015 - Michael Smith won a three-round event with 123
• Cambridgeshire & Essex Mini Golf Club Championship, Oct 2015 – Mark Wood won a two-round event with 85

Next up for the Richard and Emily is a trip to Hastings, East Sussex for the 13th annual World Crazy Golf Championships held on the Arnold Palmer Putting Course at Hastings Adventure Golf.

Report from the first Cambridgeshire and Essex Open Minigolf Championship

11th October 2015
News release
For immediate use

Report from the first Cambridgeshire and Essex Open Minigolf Championship

Open minigolf tournament held in West Horndon.

Twenty-eight minigolfers from the British Minigolf Association tour competed in the inaugural Cambridgeshire and Essex Open Minigolf Championship held on the 18-hole Miniature Golf course at Dunton Hills Family Golf Centre in West Horndon, near Brentwood on Saturday 10th October.

The competitors in the CEMGC Open minigolf tournament

The tournament was won by Oxford’s Michael Smith with a total of 123(+15). Sussex’s Steve Lovell was runner-up with 129(+21), with Portugal’s Nuno Cunha finishing in third-place on 132(+24) after defeating Essex’s Mark Wood at the fifth hole of a sudden-death play-off.

Portugal's Nuno Cunha in action at the CEMGC Open

The three-round competition was organised by the Cambridgeshire & Essex Mini Golf Club, and co-tournament organiser Emily Gottfried said “The Dunton Hills course is unique and a real test for the pro players as it’s so different to other courses we play on the tour. We received a wonderful welcome from the team at Dunton Hills Family Golf Centre and the CEMGC really enjoyed organising and taking part in the event. We hope to come back soon.”

CEMGC Open Champion Michael Smith sinking the final putt of the tournament

Players from four other club teams, including Planet Hastings, The Midlands, Sussex Wasps and Kent made the journey to take part CEMGC Open and compete for the variety of cash and spot prizes on offer.

Full results of the Cambridgeshire and Essex Open Minigolf Championship can be found here.

For more information on the Cambridgeshire and Essex Mini Golf Club (CEMGC) please visit the club's Facebook page.

Further information on the Dunton Hills Family Golf Centre can be found on the course website.

Many of the competitors will be in action at the 13th annual World Crazy Golf Championships that will be held on the Arnold Palmer Putting Course at Hastings Adventure Golf on the 24th and 25th October.

CEMCGC / Dunton Hills Hall of Fame:
• CEMGC Invitational Tournament, Dec 2014 - Emily Gottfried won a two-round event with 99
• Dunton Hills Invitational, Feb 2015 - Richard Gottfried won a three-round event with 140
• Dunton Hills Invitational II, Aug 2015 - Steve Lovell won a three-round event with 140
• Cambridgeshire and Essex Open, Oct 2015 - Michael Smith won a three-round event with 123
• Cambridgeshire & Essex Mini Golf Club Championship, Oct 2015 – Mark Wood won a two-round event with 85

Cambridgeshire and Essex Open minigolf championship

Cambridgeshire and Essex Open championship to be held at Dunton Hills, Essex.

The Cambridgeshire & Essex Mini Golf Club are hosting their first-ever Open Tournament on the 10th October.

The Cambridgeshire and Essex Open championship will be a three-round tournament played on the 18-hole Miniature Golf course at the Dunton Hills Family Golf Centre in West Horndon, Essex. Play will tee-off at 1pm, with the course open for practice in the morning.

CEMGC member Emily in action on the Dunton Hills course

For more information on the tournament and the Cambridgeshire & Essex Mini Golf Club (CEMGC) check out the club's Facebook page.

Emily putting at Dunton Hills

The CEMGC have organised three Invitational events at the course, with Emily winning the first contest in December 2014, while I won the next event in February of this year. The Sussex Wasps Minigolf Club Captain Steve Lovell won the most recent competition at the venue in August.

Richard playing the 46 foot long 16th hole at Dunton Hills 

The Dunton Hills Minigolf course was the 299th played and 499th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in July 2012.

Links:
- Cambridgeshire & Essex Mini Golf Club on Facebook
- Dunton Hills Family Golf Centre website
- Cambridgeshire and Essex Open competition event page on Facebook

Related blog posts:
- Playing the Dunton Hills Miniature Golf Course in West Horndon, Essex
- Minigolf at Dunton Hills Family Golf Centre in Essex
- CEMGC Invitational Minigolf Tournament
- Dunton Hills Invitational Minigolf Tournament

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

Clacton Pier

A revisit to Clacton Pier in Essex.

On the pier

Back in May 2011 we headed to Clacton-on-Sea, Essex to give the Adventure Golf course on the pier a play.

Playing minigolf on the pier in 2011. The helter skelter isn't there anymore. The rollercoaster is though

The course is no longer there, but on our recent revisit to the great seaside we spotted a banner on the pub at the dry land-end of the pier about the Pirate Bay Adventure Golf course

The banner appears to be the same one that used to adorn the course on the pier

We had a good look around on our stroll along the pier but there's no sign of any miniature golf courses. There's still a lot of fun to be had there though.

If you win 100,000 tickets you can get one of these MASSIVE Minions in the Amusement Arcade

You can also go tenpin bowling there

Check out the Clacton Pier website for more information on the rides, attractions and entertainment on offer. On this trip we spotted that the old metal tokens used for rides and games on Clacton Pier have been replaced by a new Fun Card. More info and prices are available on the pier website.

One of the old Clacton Pier tokens from my collection. I love the address of the pier - No. 1 North Sea!

We're looking forward to returning to Clacton for more seaside fun in the future.

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Minigolf on Clacton Pier - Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Course Played #217
- Clacton-on-Sea
- Mini, Crazy and Adventure Golf courses in Essex
- Piers

Link:
- Clacton Pier website

Adventure Golf at The Pavilion Fun Park in Clacton-on-Sea

A revisit to the Augusta Masters National Adventure Golf course in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.

The Skull obstacle at the Augusta National Adventure Golf course in Clacton

On our recent day out in the great seaside resort of Clacton-on-Sea we visited The Pavilion Fun Park near the pier on Marine Parade West. The fun park is home to an 11-hole Adventure Golf course.

You can find the Adventure Golf course at The Pavilion Fun Park

There's some nice theming on the course

Since our last visit in May 2011 the fun park has undergone an upgrade and rebranding. It looks nice and fresh. We had a look around the amusement arcade and bowling alley and must say it looks really smart.

A view of the Augusta National Adventure Golf course

The Augusta Masters Adventure Golf course was the 94th visited and played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in May 2009.

Playing hole 6 - The Skull - in Clacton

Emily Putting at 'Augusta'

Check out The Pavilion Fun Park website for more information, prices and other attractions.

The Panning for Gold and Gold Crusher machine at the fun park looked brilliant

On our visit to the fun park I also managed to buy some tokens for my collection of seaside ephemera, artifacts and exonumia.

The rides and games at The Pavilion Fun Park operate on a token system - 50p per token

A scorecard from the Augusta Adventure Golf course in Clacton

Clacton-on-Sea is well worth a visit for traditional seaside fun, games and amusements. It's got a very good stretch of beach and some lovely seafront gardens too. I'm looking forward to visiting again.

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Minigolf Course Visit No. 94 - Clacton-on-Sea (Augusta Masters)
- Clacton-on-Sea - Revisit - Augusta Masters Adventure Golf
- Clacton-on-Sea
- Mini, Crazy and Adventure Golf courses in Essex

Link:
- The Pavilion Fun Park website

Mini Golf at the Greensward Cafe in Clacton

A revisit to the Miniature Carpeted 9-hole Crazy Golf course on Clacton's Marine Parade West.

Miniature Golf at the Greensward Cafe in Clacton-on-Sea

As a minigolf historian I enjoy seeing how courses change and develop over time. A recent daytrip to Clacton-on-Sea allowed me to do just that.

You can still see the outline of the prefabricated holes on the site

The 'Eternit' Miniature Golf course next to the Greensward Cafe on Marine Parade West was the 93rd course we played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in May 2009. We revisited Clacton and the course in May 2011.

How the course looked in 2009

We'd heard that plans were afoot to create a new Mini Golf course on the site and on our most recent visit we saw that the old Crazy Golf course had been removed, with the perimeter fence given a spruce-up too.

The helter skelter lighthouse didn't used to be next to the course

I enjoyed playing the old course - as the sign promised, it was a different 9-hole layout.

Playing a loop-di-loop obstacle on the old Crazy Golf course

I look forward to heading back to Clacton again in the future to see what the new course is like.

This was the third visit to Clacton on our tour

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Minigolf Course Visit No. 93 - Clacton-on-Sea (Eternit)
- Clacton-on-Sea - Revisit - 9-hole Carpeted Miniature Golf
- Clacton-on-Sea
- Mini, Crazy and Adventure Golf courses in Essex

Link:
- Greensward Cafe website

No Mini Golf in Colchester anymore

A Crazy World of Minigolf Tour revisit to Colchester, Essex.

The Miniature Golf course in Colchester's Castle Park in 2009

We first visited Colchester and the town's Castle Park in December 2009 when we found a Mini Golf Putting course and an Eternit Miniature Golf course. As it was out of season neither course was open.

The grass Mini Golf course in 2009

Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour took us back to Colchester in May 2011 and on that visit we found the Putting course had been dug up and replaced with a play area. The Crazy Golf course was still there and had received a refurbishment.

The Crazy Golf course in its new colour scheme in 2011

On our way to a day out at the seaside in Clacton on Saturday 27 June we swung by Colchester to see if we could have a game on the Miniature Golf course. However, we found that this has now been replaced by another play area.

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Minigolf and Crazy Golf in Essex
- Colchester - Changes to the Minigolf, and a Dug-up Putting Course!
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour trip to Colchester, Essex

Videos:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour trip to Colchester
- Video showing the Eternit Miniature Golf Course

Jurassic Falls Adventure Golf in Chingford

There's a new Adventure Golf course opening in Chingford, London - Jurassic Falls Adventure Golf!

The 18-hole course is scheduled to open at the end of July 2015.

You can find out more about the course, opening times and prices on the Jurassic Falls Adventure Golf website. You can subscribe to the Jurassic Falls Adventure Golf newsletter on the site too.

You'll be able to find the prehistoric adventure golf course on the Southend Road (A406), Chingford, Waltham Forest, London, E4 8TA.

The team behind the course also created the Moby Adventure Golf course in Chadwell Heath, Romford. We played that layout on out tour last June.

The theming in Chingford will be different to that in Romford

Links:
- Jurassic Falls Adventure Golf website
- Jurassic Falls Adventure Golf on Twitter
- Jurassic Falls Adventure Golf on Facebook

Related blog posts:
- Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses in and around London
- Minigolf and Crazy Golf in Essex

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

Subscribe to our mailing list

Gluten free mixes from Spice Queen

On a trip to Ipswich we stopped off in Chelmsford and enjoyed a walkround the town centre and market. we've always got our eyes peeled for gluten free things and so were pleased to see the Spice Queen stall selling a range of mixes that were gluten free.

The chap on the stall was very knowledgeable about gluten free needs and offered some samples which Emily tried and liked. We bought the Chicken Tikka, Chicken Curry and Any Bean Curry mixes.

The pots of flavour come with a recipe sheet and Emily made some great dishes with the mixes. Some photos of the prep and results of the delicious Chicken Tikka and Chicken Curry are below.

Ingredients and recipe sheet for the Chicken Tikka

Getting messy marinating the chicken

Sealing in the flavour

We like to cook chicken using the 'beer' can method. As I'm gluten free we opt for cider cans instead

The curry mix ingredients

A fine gluten free curry. A nice treat. Especially with an obligatory gluten free beer

You can find the Spice Queen team at farmer's markets across Essex. For more information visit the Spice Queen website.

Links:
- Spice Queen website
- Spice Queen on Twitter
- Spice Queen on Facebook

Related blog posts:
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac
- Emily's cooking
- Gluten free beer

Dunton Hills Invitational Minigolf Tournament

Richard Gottfried wins the Dunton Hills Invitational minigolf tournament

Leagrave minigolfer Richard Gottfried got his 2015 minigolf season underway with victory in the Dunton Hills Invitational tournament played at the Dunton Hills Family Golf Centre in West Horndon, Essex on Sunday 15 February.

Luton Minigolfer Richard Gottfried in action at the Dunton Hills Invitational competition in West Horndon, Essex

Organised by the Cambridgeshire & Essex Mini Golf Club, the Dunton Hills Invitational saw seven British Minigolf Association Tour Pro players compete over three rounds on the 18-hole miniature golf course.

Richard recorded a 54-hole score of 140 with rounds of 48, 45 and 47. Mark Wood of the CEMGC was runner-up with a score of 143, with Andy Wilde of the Sussex Wasps Mini Golf Club in third place.

Richard said “It’s marvellous to win the Dunton Hills Invitational tournament. The course is incredibly tricky and the competition was tough. It was a real battle for the title with Mark and it went all the way to the wire. Thanks to the CEMGC for organising the event, it was good fun and a great way to start the season.”

Full results of the Dunton Hills Invitational Minigolf Tournament:
1. Richard Gottfried (48-45-47) = 140
2. Mark Wood (46-44-53) = 143
3. Andy Wilde (50-49-46) = 145
4. Chris Wood (50-51-49) = 150
4. Brian Smith (48-54-48) = 150
6. Steve Lovell (46-51-55) = 152
7. Martin Greenhead (56-53-44) = 153

Next up for Richard and Emily is a trip to Hastings for the BMGA British Club Championships in March. Richard will be playing for the Midlands Minigolf Club, the 2008 national champions, while Emily will be competing as part of the Cambridgeshire & Essex Mini Golf Club.

Links:
- Dunton Hills Family Golf Centre website
- Cambridgeshire & Essex Mini Golf Club on Facebook
- CMGC website

Related blog posts:
- CEMGC Invitational Minigolf Tournament 2014
- Minigolf at Dunton Hills Golf Course in Essex
- Playing the Dunton Hills Miniature Golf Course in West Horndon, Essex
- Minigolf and Crazy Golf in Essex
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - List and links for all Miniature Golf courses visited to date

CEMGC Invitational Minigolf Tournament

Results of the CEMGC Invitational Minigolf Tournament at the Dunton Hills Family Golf Centre in Essex.

CEMGC Invitational Tournament winner Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried receives her prize from Mark 'The Natural' Wood

On Saturday 6 December 2014 Emily Gottfried won the first-ever CEMGC Invitational Minigolf Tournament in a five-player Pro contest.

The Cambridgeshire & Essex Mini Golf Club members line-up at Dunton Hills Family Golf Centre. From l-r Adrian Amey, Chris Wood, Mark Wood, Emily Gottfried

The contest was held over two 18-hole rounds on the tough layout at the Dunton Hills Family Golf Centre in West Horndon, Brentwood, Essex with players from the Cambridgeshire & Essex Mini Golf Club taking part along with Richard Gottfried of the Midlands Minigolf Club. Each competitor used a Golf ball in the event, with Emily winning using a Putter King ball.

Emily Gottfried playing in the CEMGC Invitational Tournament

Emily scored rounds of 50 and 49 for a total of 99, with Chris Wood also scoring a 99 to join the sub-100 club after rounds of 51 and 48. Wood's second round also included the tournament's only hole-in-one.

Chris Wood playing in the CEMGC Invitational Tournament

The title was decided by a four-hole cumulative score play-off, with holes 1, 2, 8 and 9 used to decide the winner. Emily shot a total of 9, with Chris scoring 13.

Emily Gottfried and Chris Wood on the 8th hole in the play-off at the CEMGC Invitational Tournament

After her victory Emily said "I am, of course, ecstatic to win the first CEMGC Invitational Tournament. Its a really enjoyable course, and playing on a bright, if chilly day, with a great group of my club-mates and the guest competitor, was brilliant. Although the holes are long and there are some very tricky greens, I liked it. Playing somewhere new and individual was fun. Congrats to Chris 'Bunker' Wood on coming in with a 99, but commiserations for losing the play-off."

Richard said "I enjoyed competing in the CEMGC Invitational Tournament and while the Dunton Hills miniature golf course is incredibly tough, it was still great fun. Well done to Emily on her well deserved win and thanks to the Cambridgeshire & Essex Mini Golf Club for organising the event."

With a total length of 734 feet, including a 62ft long 17th hole the Dunton Hills Miniature Golf course saw players battling for twos in the frosty conditions.

Mark Wood launches a shot at the CEMGC Invitational

Adrian Amey playing the 9th hole during round two of the CEMGC Invitational

The course record was set at 48 by Richard Gottfried during round one, with Chris Wood equaling the score in round two.

Guest player Richard Gottfried of the MMGC plays at the CEMGC Invitational

Round one leaderboard:
- Richard Gottfried - 48
- Chris Wood - 49
- Emily Gottfried - 50
- Chris Wood - 51
- Adrian Amey - 61

The 2014 CEMGC Invitational Champion Emily Gottfried

Final results:
1. Emily Gottfried - 50 & 49 = 99* won four-hole play-off
2. Chris Wood - 51 & 48 = 99
3. Mark Wood - 49 & 56 = 105
4. Richard Gottfried - 48 & 59 = 107
5. Adrian Amey - 61 & 58 = 119

Links:
- Dunton Hills Family Golf Centre website
- Cambridgeshire & Essex Mini Golf Club on Facebook
- CEMGC Invitational event result, report, photos and update on the CEMGC Facebook page
- CMGC website

Related blog posts:
- Minigolf at Dunton Hills Golf Course in Essex
- Playing the Dunton Hills Miniature Golf Course in West Horndon, Essex
- Minigolf and Crazy Golf in Essex
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - List and links for all Miniature Golf courses visited to date