Report from the Second Knowley Grail Minigolf Tournament

Results and report from the second Knowley Grail Minigolf Competition.

 

The second edition of the Knowley Grail was contested between thirteen BMGA Tour Pro players following the first day's play of the BMGA British Open at Strokes Adventure Golf in Margate, Kent.

 

The rules of the Knowley Grail dictate that all players use the same Minigolf ball - a 'Pinky Diver' - and any player scoring a seven is automatically eliminated from the rest of the one-round competition.

 

With two balls available the group of thirteen split into two groups and commenced play. Defending champion Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd was in group one and along with players including Seth Thomas and Will Donnelly set an early pace rattling in the holes-in-one.



'Squire' Richard Gottfried plays hole three at Strokes Adventure Golf course in Margate, Kent during the second The Knowley Grail minigolf tournament



The first player to be eliminated was 'Oh' Chris Jones who was unable to get the super bouncy ball to stay at the top of the ramp at hole three and so was relegated to a 'plastic garden chair of shame' for the rest of the round.

 

'Oh' Chris Jones has a rest after being eliminated from the Knowley Grail at hole 3

 

No other players were eliminated from the tournament until Paul 'Johnson Paul Johnson Don't Call Me Sue Thompson' Johnson scored a seven at the 11th hole - the aptly named "Heartbreak Ridge". The hole would also claim Scott 'Donkey Gringo' Lancley as another victim and both would join 'Oh' Chris Jones on the lawnchairs of shame.

 

A less than happy Paul 'Johnson etc.' Johnson having been eliminated from the Knowley Grail at hole 11

 

Scott 'Donkey Gringo' Lancley takes a seat after being knocked out of the Knowley Grail tourney at hole 11

 

At the end of the 18-hole round there was a tie for first place, with James 'The Rocket' Rutherford and Adam 'AK47' Kelly both scoring rounds of 38(+2). A sudden-death play-off commenced and The Rocket scored a hole-in-one, while AK47 was unable to respond with an Ace, meaning that the new Knowley Grail champion was James Rutherford.

 

James 'The Rocket' Rutherford looks for an Ace at hole 11 to take the outright win

 

A reluctant and defeated Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd hands over the Knowley Grail trophy to James 'The Rocket' Rutherford

 

Results of the second Knowley Grail competition:

1. James Rutherford - 38 - won play-off

2. Adam Kelly - 38

3. Ted McIver - 41

4. Michael Smith - 42

5. Brad Shepherd - 43

5. Will Donnelly - 43

7. Richard Gottfried - 47

8. Seth Thomas - 48

8. Alan Norman - 48

10. Gareth Holmes - 51

DNF Scott Lancley - scored a 7 at hole 11

DNF Paul Johnson - scored a 7 at hole 11

DNF Chris Jones - scored a 7 at hole 3

 

The Knowley Grail minigolf competition was created by members of the London Minigolf Club following the Midlands Open tournament held at the 12-hole Minigolf course at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull. The LMGC members had spent the Friday perusing the charity shops of nearby Knowle and found a silver chalice on sale for £2.50. This became the trophy for the Knowley Grail tournaments.

 

Related Blog Post:

- The Knowley Grail of Minigolf

The Knowley Grail of Minigolf

Competing for a new Minigolf trophy.

Following the 2012 Midlands Open Minigolf Tournament at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge twelve BMGA Tour Professionals competed for a brand new Miniature Golf title and trophy in The Knowley Grail!

With the London Minigolf Club members having spent the Friday perusing the charity shops of nearby Knowle they had happened across a silver chalice on sale for £2.50. With players always eager to compete in side-competitions the trophy and a prize pot of £9.50 was up for grabs in a one-round shootout between the competitors.

There were a few specials rules in The Knowley Grail contest. Firstly, all players would use one type of ball – a “Pinky Diver” – and secondly, any player scoring a maximum of seven shots on any hole would be eliminated from the contest. With the Pinky Diver having an unprecedented amount of bounce on it the casualty rate was expected to be high!

However, despite Brad ‘The Fist’ Shepherd’s best efforts to jinx players it wasn’t until the 11th hole that play crumbled. In fact up until that point many of the competitors had actually scored better than they had in the Midlands Open!

Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd hoping for a 7 from Sethers

With the lead group of Brad, me, Seth and Chris Jones completing the round unscathed and with Brad holding the clubhouse lead with a score of 22(-2), and a new personal best for him at Dorridge, we were able to settle down to watch the remaining eight players take on the last two holes.

Alan 'Stormin' Norman lining-up a shot

The first player to crumble was Alan ‘Stormin’ Norman. The Brewmaster’s Open Champion managed to get the ball through the pipe but was unable to sink the putt when on the green and so was sent/dragged to a chair of shame.

Alan 'Stormin' Norman being dragged off the course by Brad

Alan 'Stormin' Norman sitting in a chair of shame

With ‘Stormin’ able to relax the wait was on to see if anyone else would hit a dreaded seven. We didn’t have to wait long as Ruth Burke was also unable to complete the hole and was therefore out of the chase for The Knowley Grail.

Alan 'Stormin' Norman watching Ruth Burke getting her 7 on the 11th

The other players were able to hole out on the eleventh, but no one was able to score as low as Brad’s 22(-2). The runner-up was Scott ‘Donkey Gringo’ Lancley with a 26(+2) followed by five players who couldn’t be bothered to have a sudden-death play-off tied for third-place!

Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd receives his winnings and The Knowley Grail from teammate 'Oh' Chris Jones

The Knowley Grail Champion - Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd

The final results of the inaugural Knowley Grail competition were:

1. Brad Shepherd – 22

2. Scott Lancley – 26

3. Seth Thomas – 27

3. Richard Gottfried – 27

3. Chris Jones – 27

3. Owen Johnson – 27

3. Sean Homer – 27

8. Paul Johnson – 29

9. Steve Sturdy – 32

9. Gareth Holmes – 32

DNF – Alan Norman

DNF – Ruth Burke

There is talk of The Knowley Grail being a regularly contested title. It’ll probably go the way of the League of Mediocrity and the Scrap Iron Cup and become an irregularly contested event.

Results of the Scrap Iron Cup Minigolf Tournament in Newport, Wales

Luton’s Richard Gottfried defeats Cwmbran’s Cindy Kukielka to win fifth Scrap Iron Cup title at competition played at Newport’s Tredegar Park Crazy Golf course.



A nice sign to see - the Crazy Golf course at Newport's Tredegar Park has re-opened for 2012



On Saturday 26th August the Scrap Iron Cup Minigolf Trophy and Title was contested between members of the Midlands Minigolf Club and a lone guest member from the Splash Point Mini Golf Club at the newly re-opened 9-hole Crazy Golf course at Tredegar Park in Newport, Wales.



'Squire' Richard Gottfried plays the first hole of the Tredegar Park Crazy Golf course in Newport, Wales



Seven players lined-up in the contest that for 2012 replaced the annual Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament). Reigning and defending two-time Scrap Iron Cup champion Owen ‘Jackpot’ Johnson decided that the competition would be played in a one-round shootout format to decide the winner.



Jas Kukielka takes on the refurbished 3rd hole at the Tredegar Park Crazy Golf course



The three players who had held the Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg title teed-off in group one, with Cindy and Emily, and Owen and Paul in the other groups. Jas took an early lead, but was pegged back by Owen and all was looking good for a decisive winner of the contest. That was until hole 9!



The agonising wait to see if the ball will drop in the hole on the 9th at Tredegar Park



At the end of the round there was a six-way tie for the lead after the majority of the field scored a round of 23(+5). The 9th hole at Tredegar Park is a killer hole and it certainly proved a round and contest killer for Leo ‘Leonard’ Kukielka who was unable to hole out and therefore was unable to qualify for the play-off.



The players putt away on the 9-hole Tredegar Park Crazy Golf course in Newport, Wales



The sudden-death play-off commenced and saw the players play holes chosen by the course manager, with hole 1, hole 6, hole 7 and finally hole 3 played to decide the winner. At the final hole Welsh Ladies Number One Cindy Kukielka scored a three and Richard Gottfried scored a hole-in-one to take the win in a rematch of the final of the fourth Scrap Iron Cup.

Final Rankings:

1st Richard Gottfried

2nd Cindy Kukielka

3rd Johnson Paul Johnson Paul Johnson

4th Owen Johnson

4th Jas Kukielka

4th Emily Gottfried

7th Leo Kukielka

Scrap Iron Cup - Hall of Fame

2012 - #11 - Richard Gottfried beat Cindy Kukielka - Newport

2011 - #10 - Owen Johnson beat Seth Thomas - Wroxham Barns

2011 - #9 - Paul Johnson beat Seth Thomas - Margate

2011 - #8 - Richard Gottfried beat Peter Jones - Liverpool

2011 - #7 - Seth Thomas beat Paul Johnson - Liverpool

2011 - #6 - Seth Thomas beat Owen Johnson - Hither Green

2011 - #5 - Seth Thomas beat Richard Gottfried - Bristol

2011 - #4 - Richard Gottfried beat Cindy Kukielka - Birmingham

2010 - #3 - Owen Johnson beat Richard Gottfried - Birmingham

2010 - #2 - Richard Gottfried beat Paul Johnson - Weymouth

2010 - #1 - Richard Gottfried beat Paul Johnson - Sandbanks

Rules of the Scrap Iron Cup (Subject to change)

• Played between members of the Midlands Minigolf Club

• Played in either groups of two, or one group, in round one

• Groups are drawn at random (often using the 'balls in a hat' technique)

• Round one is a strokeplay match played over 7, 9, 11, 12 or 18 holes

• The two players with the top scores after round one qualify for the second round/final

• Round two is a matchplay match played over 7, 9, 12 or 18 holes

• The winner of the matchplay match becomes the Scrap Iron Cup* Champion**

* The Johnson's Scrap Iron Cup (aka the 'NABBA ENGLAND 95 CLASS TWO WINNER' Trophy) remains the property of Owen and Paul Johnson

** The Reigning Scrap Iron Champion retains the cup until the next defence whereupon it is given up until the next Scrap Iron Cup tournament has been completed

Related blog posts:

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list of courses visited and played

- Wales

- Minigolf etc. - English to Welsh translations

Gottfried and Paul in London

While in London yesterday we spotted this (to let) shop on Great Portland Street.

Gottfried and Paul Shop on Great Portland Street in London

If me and my Minigolf rival (and new captain of the Midlands Minigolf Club) Paul 'Johnson Paul Johnson' Johnson ever decided to team up again it could be our team name...

Gottfried and Paul used to be Knitwear Manufacturers & Wholesalers.

Minigolfer's Bar Billiards side-tournament in Worthing

Bar Billiards at The Swan pub in Worthing

Following the conclusion of the practice session for the BMGA British Masters minigolf tournament at Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing, attention turned to the evening’s side-game entertainment.

‘Traditional’ events for us to play while away on tour include Air Hockey & Tat Challenges, but in Worthing a group of us decided to hunt out a Bar Billiards table for a mini-competition.

I had used the excellent Bar Billiards table map resource at AEBBA to locate a number of pubs and tables in the area and we decided to pay The Swan Inn on the High Street a visit.

Bar Billiards at The Swan in Worthing - The well lit and nicely positioned table

We arrived and immediately saw the table in a good location to the left of the entrance. We ordered our drinks and decided on a format for the matches. The pub is a competition table and according to the notice board next to the table it's a location for matches in the Worthing & District Bar Billiards League.

Bar Billiards at The Swan in Worthing - the rules & league information

In the first match-up Chris ‘Who’ Harding of the Midlands Minigolf Club took on Scott ‘Donkey Gringo’ Lancley of the Kent Minigolf Club. Both players had played the game before, but neither had picked up a Bar Billiards cue in a number of years. After a quick rules reminder the game was underway and Chris built-up an early lead against Scott. The final result of the match was a 1,550 to 460 win to Chris, cleaning up the last two balls so no sudden-death shot was required.

Chris lines-up a shot in his match against Scott

My opponent was Paul ‘Johnson Paul Johnson’ Johnson who would be playing his first-ever game of Bar Billiards. In a very closely fought match-up there were quite a few white pegs knocked over by me before the final shoot-out. The final ball available was the red, but unfortunately for Paul the scores stood at 870 to 460 at the shoot-out stage and even if he had sunk the red he’d have only managed to reach 860.

Scott in action as Paul looks on

The third/fourth place play-off match saw Donkey Gringo take on The Johnson. Paul did manage to score 200 with his last shot, but it wasn’t enough to win and the game ended with a score-line of 710 to 520 in Scott’s favour.

Chris takes on a sudden-death shoot-out shot

Paul 'Johnson Paul Johnson' Johnson takes on a sudden-death shoot-out shot

The final match was a battle between me and Chris and saw me receive a new Bar Billiards nickname – The Black Peg – due to my innate ability to wipe out a half-decent break by knocking over the dreaded black peg. The final was won by Chris 840 to 700 to make him the side-tourney champion of Worthing.

The evening also saw the official handing over of the Midlands Minigolf ClubCaptain’s armband to Paul ‘The Overtaker’ Johnson who takes charge of the MMGC from departing Captain Chris ‘Who’ Harding, who has led the team for a number of years and captained the MMGC to national tournament victory in the 2008 BMGA British Club Championships in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The Captaincy Handover for the Midlands Minigolf Club

A shell-shocked Paul 'The Capitan' Johnson with his new MMGC Captain's armband

Following the Singles contest a Doubles match saw me and Scott reprise our team from last year's BMGA British Doubles Championships as ‘Team Sqonkey’ to face-off against Paul and Chris, who were known as ‘The Capitans’.

With Scott carrying our team we picked up the win 560 to nil after The Capitans had wiped-out a score of 350 in the sudden-death shoot-out at the 200-hole. In this match we had decided that each team had to go for the 200-hole on the final shot.

I play a shot

The Swan Inn was a nice spot to spend a Saturday night and there was a DJ and Disco going on, which provided a nice soundtrack to the competition. It’s also the first time I’ve played a game (of Bar Billiards, or anything) to the song “Nellie the Elephant”!!!

Links:

- All Bar Billiards-related Blog Posts on the Ham & Egger Files

- The All England Bar Billiards' Association (AEBBA)

- Worthing & District Bar Billiards League

- The Swan Inn

Scrap Iron Cup #9 - Paul Johnson claims his first-ever Scrap Iron Cup Victory

Ninth Scrap Iron Cup Minigolf Competition - Results and Report
Paul Johnson claims his first-ever Scrap Iron Cup Victory

Paul ‘The Overtaker’ Johnson was in the pink on Saturday 9th April 2011 as he landed his first-ever minigolf Scrap Iron Cup win, with a 2&1 victory over Seth ‘Clockwork Orange’ Thomas at the 18-hole Strokes Adventure Golf course in Margate, Kent.

'Squire' Richard Gottfried was unable to retain the Scrap Iron Cup, and was defeated by Johnson at the first hole of the sudden-death play-off, after both players had scored 29(+5) in the 12-hole Strokeplay first-round. Seth ‘Clockwork Orange’ Thomas qualified for the final with a round of 28(+4).

New Scrap Iron Cup Champion Paul Johnson was understandably tickled pink by his victory, which comes at the ninth attempt, and after three previous appearances in the final.

Former Scrap Iron Cup champion Owen 'Jackpot' Johnson, Leo ‘Bosman’ Kukielka and previous Scrap Iron Cup finalists Cindy Kukielka and Peter ‘TCAA’ Jones were the other competitors at the tournament.

Scrap Iron Cup
09/04/2011
Venue: Strokes Adventure Golf, Margate

Round One – Strokeplay
Rank Player
1. Seth Thomas – 28
2. Paul Johnson – 29 (won a play-off to qualify for the final)
3. Richard Gottfried – 29
4. Owen Johnson – 36
5. Leo Kukielka – 34
6. Cindy Kukielka – 37

A play-off was required between Paul Johnson & Richard Gottfried to decide the second finalist. This was played on the 13th hole of the Strokes Adventure Golf layout, and was decided on the first extra-hole as Gottfried hit a three while Johnson scored a two.

Round Two – Matchplay

Seth Thomas vs. Paul Johnson

Result – Paul Johnson wins 2&1

Scrap Iron Cup - Hall of Fame
2011 - #9 - Paul Johnson beat Seth Thomas - Margate
2011 - #8 - Richard Gottfried beat Peter Jones - Liverpool
2011 - #7 - Seth Thomas beat Paul Johnson - Liverpool
2011 - #6 - Seth Thomas beat Owen Johnson - Hither Green
2011 - #5 - Seth Thomas beat Richard Gottfried - Bristol
2011 - #4 - Richard Gottfried beat Cindy Kukielka - Birmingham
2010 - #3 - Owen Johnson beat Richard Gottfried - Birmingham
2010 - #2 - Richard Gottfried beat Paul Johnson - Weymouth
2010 - #1 - Richard Gottfried beat Paul Johnson - Sandbanks

Rules of the Scrap Iron Cup
• Played between members of the Midlands Minigolf Club
• Played in either groups of two, or one group, in round one
• Groups are drawn at random (often using the 'balls in a hat' technique)
• Round one is a strokeplay match played over 7, 9, 11, 12 or 18 holes
• The two players with the top scores after round one qualify for the second round/final
• Round two is a matchplay match played over 7, 9, 12 or 18 holes
• The winner of the matchplay match becomes the Scrap Iron Cup* Champion**

* The Johnson's Scrap Iron Cup (aka the 'NABBA ENGLAND 95 CLASS TWO WINNER' Trophy) remains the property of Owen and Paul Johnson

** The Reigning Scrap Iron Champion retains the cup until the next defence whereupon it is given up until the next Scrap Iron Cup tournament has been completed

Scrap Iron Cup #8 - Richard Gottfried Regains Title in Liverpool

Eighth Scrap Iron Cup Minigolf Competition - Results and Report

'Squire' Richard Gottfried defeated Peter 'The Crazy Aced Assassin' Jones to regain the Scrap Iron Cup title. A five-player field competed in the Eighth Scrap Iron Cup minigolf competition, with defending champion Seth ‘Clockwork Orange’ Thomas, having retained the title on the Saturday, putting the title up for grabs again on Sunday 20th March.


Paul 'The Overtaker' Johnson and former Scrap Iron Cup champion Owen 'Jackpot' Johnson were the other competitors at the tournament played on the Volcano course at the Jungle Rumble Indoor Adventure Golf course in Liverpool.

Scrap Iron Cup
20/03/2011
Venue: Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf, Liverpool

Round One - Strokeplay
Rank Player
1. Richard Gottfried - 16
2. Peter Jones - 17
2. Paul Johnson - 17
4. Owen Johnson - 19
5. Seth Thomas - 20

A play-off was required between Peter Jones & Paul Johnson to decide the second finalist. This was played on the Swamp Course and was decided at the second-hole (the 17th!) as Peter Jones hit a two, to Paul's three, to qualify for his first-ever Scrap Iron Cup Final. Both players had scored twos on the opening hole of the sudden-death head-to-head (the 18th!).

Round Two – Matchplay

Richard Gottfried vs. Peter Jones

Result - Richard Gottfried wins 1up

Scrap Iron Cup - Hall of Fame
2011 - #8 - Richard Gottfried beat Peter Jones - Liverpool
2011 - #7 - Seth Thomas beat Paul Johnson - Liverpool
2011 - #6 - Seth Thomas beat Owen Johnson - Hither Green
2011 - #5 - Seth Thomas beat Richard Gottfried - Bristol
2011 - #4 - Richard Gottfried beat Cindy Kukielka - Birmingham
2010 - #3 - Owen Johnson beat Richard Gottfried - Birmingham
2010 - #2 - Richard Gottfried beat Paul Johnson - Weymouth
2010 - #1 - Richard Gottfried beat Paul Johnson - Sandbanks

Video of the Final Hole of Round One - Strokeplay


Photos from the Competition






Rules of the Scrap Iron Cup
• Played between members of the Midlands Minigolf Club
• Played in either groups of two, or one group, in round one
• Groups are drawn at random (often using the 'balls in a hat' technique)
• Round one is a strokeplay match played over 7, 9, 11, 12 or 18 holes
• The two players with the top scores after round one qualify for the second round/final
• Round two is a matchplay match played over 7, 9, 12 or 18 holes
• The winner of the matchplay match becomes the Scrap Iron Cup* Champion**

* The Johnson's Scrap Iron Cup (aka the 'NABBA ENGLAND 95 CLASS TWO WINNER' Trophy) remains the property of Owen and Paul Johnson
** The Reigning Scrap Iron Champion retains the cup until the next defence whereupon it is given up until the next Scrap Iron Cup tournament has been completed

Minigolf Report - Scrap Iron Cup 6 - Hither Green

Sixth Scrap Iron Cup Minigolf Competition - Results and Report

Seth ‘Clockwork Orange’ Thomas became a two-time Scrap Iron Cup Minigolf Champion as he defeated Dudley’s Owen ‘Jackpot’ Johnson, himself a former Scrap Iron Cup Champion, in the final of the sixth Scrap Iron Cup minigolf tournament in Hither Green, Lewisham on Saturday 26th February.


In the three-player field Paul ‘Rango’ Johnson was the bronze medallist.

Scrap Iron Cup
26/02/2011
Venue: The Green Indoor Mini Golf, Hither Green

Round One - Strokeplay
Rank Player Score
1. Seth Thomas - 42
2. Owen Johnson - 54
3. Paul Johnson - 58

Round Two – Matchplay

Seth Thomas vs. Owen Johnson


Result - Seth Thomas wins

Scrap Iron Cup - Hall of Fame
2011 - #6 - Seth Thomas beat Owen Johnson - Hither Green
2011 - #5 - Seth Thomas beat Richard Gottfried - Bristol
2011 - #4 - Richard Gottfried beat Cindy Kukielka - Birmingham
2010 - #3 - Owen Johnson beat Richard Gottfried - Birmingham
2010 - #2 - Richard Gottfried beat Paul Johnson - Weymouth
2010 - #1 - Richard Gottfried beat Paul Johnson - Sandbanks

Rules of the Scrap Iron Cup
• Played between members of the Midlands Minigolf Club
• Played in either groups of two, or one group, in round one
• Groups are drawn at random (often using the 'balls in a hat' technique)
• Round one is a strokeplay match played over 7, 9, 11, 12 or 18 holes
• The two players with the top scores after round one qualify for the second round/final
• Round two is a matchplay match played over 7, 9, 12 or 18 holes
• The winner of the matchplay match becomes the Scrap Iron Cup* Champion**

* The Scrap Iron Cup (aka the 'NABBA ENGLAND 95 CLASS TWO WINNER' Trophy) remains the property of Owen and Paul Johnson
** The Reigning Scrap Iron Champion retains the cup until the next defence whereupon it is given up until the next Scrap Iron Cup tournament has been completed

Adventure Golf at St Nicholas Park in Warwick

Our first minigolfing visit to Warwick was over the 13th, 14th and 15th July 2007 for the BMGA English Open tournament (we have since played there at the Midlands Invitational 2007, Midlands Open 2007 and the BMGA British Doubles Tournament in 2008).

The 18-hole UrbanCrazy designed Adventure Golf course is a very testing one, and is good fun to play. Fellow Minigolf Tourists Paul & Owen Johnson also told me recently that the course has had its borders/edging repaired, which makes it even better to play.





















Photos from the Midlands Open competition weekend in October 2007.





There was also some World Class Conker Action after the Midlands Open event, as (then) World Conker Champion Chris 'Stretch' Jones (left) was challenged by Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd!


More course visits on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.