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 16 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 1,045 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, Finland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Spain (Lanzarote and Majorca), Sweden and the USA.

7 days to go until National Miniature Golf Day

There are 7 days to go until National Miniature Golf Day.

Check out this post from the World Minigolf Sport Federation about National Miniature Golf Day 2022.

British Minigolf Association tournaments - 2020

Play is set to resume on the British Minigolf Association tour.

The British Minigolf Association (BMGA) will resume the 2020 season with a double-header weekend of events at Dunton Hills in Essex in August.

The Cambridgeshire & Essex Minigolf Club Open is on Saturday 15th August, with the BMGA British Doubles Championship taking place the following day.

The last minigolf tournament held in the UK before lockdown was the 19th edition of the Planet Hastings Crazy Golf Open held on the 1st March. The season-opening Thanet Open had been held in Margate, Kent on 9th February.

Details of BMGA minigolf tournaments in the UK can be found on the British Minigolf Association website.

The UK's next competition in 2020

The first mid-pandemic socially distanced minigolf tournament in the UK is taking place on Sunday 26th July. Organised by the Welsh Minigolf Club the 2020 Dragon Classic will be held on the Dragon's Quest Mini Golf course at Fontygary Leisure Park in Rhoose, Barry.

Competitions around the world this year

In April the World Minigolf Sport Federation made the decision to cancel all 2020 international (world and continental) tournaments.

During the coronavirus pandemic a number of minigolf events and competitions have been held in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, the USA, Czech Republic, Portugal, Turkey and Poland.

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Richard Gottfried - Minigolf Player Profile

Richard Gottfried is a minigolf enthusiast and has played the game since he was a child.

A seven-time winner on the UK national minigolf circuit, including two BMGA British Club Championships, he has been a four-time finalist in the World Crazy Golf Championships, and has represented Great Britain in Nations Cup international tournaments in Finland and Sweden.

He was runner-up in American Golf's Adventure Golf Pairs Championship National Final, televised on Sky Sports, and is a winner of several independent Open and Masters titles.

As a global miniature golfer, Richard is currently a member of the American Mini Golf Alliance (AMA) and Putt18 World Pro League. A winner of  The Putt Park Annual Mini-Golf Tournament in Las Vegas, he has also been a member of domestic minigolf clubs including the Midlands Mini Golf Club (MMGC), the Green Mini Golf Club (GMGC), and the Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club.

Richard is featured in the 2024 Guinness World Records as the record holder for "Most miniature golf courses visited" (902 at the time of going to press).

His minigolfing exploits have received coverage in online, broadcast and print media including the BBC, ITV, Sky Sports, Channel 5, The Guardian, The Independent, The Daily Telegraph, Metro, The Mirror, The Sun, The Star, The Daily Mail, the Manchester Evening News, Eastern Daily Press, Today's Golfer, GolfPunk Magazine, InterGame, InterFun, In A Pub Magazine, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC local and regional radio, Heart Radio, talkSPORT, and more.

Richard's involvement in the world of minigolf extends beyond competitions, and includes blogging, media relations, sponsorship, course design, advice and consultancy, content generation, digital marketing and new technology, event organisation and promotion.

Miniature Golf Player Profile - Richard Gottfried

Nickname
Squire

Putter
Fun-Sports

Laterality
Right-handed

Favourite Minigolf Balls
Finnish Heavy Gentlemen 100-Year Anniversary (3D)
NIFO 2
Tim 'Ace Man' Davies Legends Ball (M&G)

Tour Memberships
American Mini Golf Alliance (AMA) 2022-present

Putt18 World Pro League 2020-present

British Minigolf Association (BMGA) 2007-2018
American Golf Championship Tour 2017

British Minigolf Association (BMGA) Membership

Member 2016-2018
BMGA Tour Pro 2011-2015
Full member 2007-2010

BMGA Tour Debut
2007 - BMGA British Masters

Minigolf Club Membership

2020-2024 - Filwood Fantastic Mini Golf Club
2007-2020 - Midlands Minigolf Club (MMGC)
2010-2011 - Green Mini Golf Club (GMGC)

BMGA Tour Competition Victories
BMGA British Club Championships (w/ Midlands MGC) 2015
BMGA & Putterfingers Oswestry Games Minigolf Championship 2012
Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open 2009
Manchester Miniature Open 2009
Manchester Mini Masters 2009

Weymouth Open 2008
BMGA British Club Championships (w/ Midlands MGC) 2008

Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Champion 2018

Other Notable Wins
Winner - Putt18 Battle of the Brits 2021

Winner - Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Championships 2018
Winner - Low Score of the Week (qualifying for the end of season tournament) at Southwold Putting & Cafe on the Green 2018
Winner - The DinoFalls Masters 2018
Winner - MMGC DinoFalls Invitational Tournament 2018
Winner - The Butler Cup 2017
Winner (w/ P. Jones) - American Golf's Adventure Golf Pairs Championship Regional Qualifier (Wales) at Clays Golf Centre 2017
Winner - Southend Arnold Palmer Classic 2016
Winner - Southend Pier Invitational Tournament 2016
Winner - Hole-In-One Charity Challenge at the BMGA British Championships 2015
Winner - Dunton Hills Invitational 2015
Winner - Hole-In-One Charity Challenge at the BMGA British Championships 2014
Aces Champion - BMGA British Masters 2014
Winner - Chrizy Golf Masters - 2012
Winner - Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Championship August Playoff - Final - 2012
Winner - Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Championship June Playoff - 2012
Winner - The Putt Park Annual Mini-Golf Tournament (Las Vegas) - 2011
Winner - Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament) 2011
Winner (w/ C. Harding) - Weymouth Open Team Tournament - 2011
Winner - First edition of the Green Mini Golf Club (GMGC) Club Tournament 2010

Winner (w/ M. Smith & J. Davies) - Kent Open Team Tournament 2010

Aces Champion - Midland Open 2010
Five-time Scrap Iron Cup Champion

Other Notable Results

Runner-up (w/ S. Kukielka) - Welsh Mini Golf Club Doubles Championship 2019
Runner-up (w/ P. Jones) - American Golf's Adventure Golf Pairs Championship National Final 2017
Runner-up - Great Northern Minigolf Open - 2017
Runner-up - National Miniature Golf Day Tournament 2016 & 2019
Runner-up - Surrey Invitational Tournament 2014 & 2016
Runner-up (w/ Midlands Minigolf Club 1st team - M.Smith, C.Harding, R.Gottfried & C.Smith) - BMGA British Open Team Championship 2014
Runner-up - Category 2 BMGA British Minigolf Championships 2012
Runner-up - The Brewmaster's Open 2012
Runner-up - Birdies Pop Up Golf Official Launch Night Competition 2011
Runner-up - Putterfingers Micro Putt Mini Golf Competition 2011
Runner-up - 1st Annual Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt 2011
Runner-up (w/ W. Collins) - Lost World Adventure Golf Pro-Am Classic 2011
Runner-up - London Invitational Tournament 2011
Runner-up - BMGA British Matchplay Championships 2010

Runner-up - Midlands Invitational Tournament 2010

Runner-up (w/ Leo Kukielka) - Codonas Classic 2010

Runner-up - Spring Classic 2010

Runner-up - Weymouth Open 2009
Runner-up - London Open 2009
Runner-up - Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament) 2009
Runner-up - Adventure Island Mini Golf League 2008
3rd - Paradise Island Adventure Golf Open Championships 2019
3rd - Surrey Invitational Tournament 2019
3rd - The Butler Cup 2018
3rd - Midlands Invitational Tournament 2015
3rd - Midlands Open 2015
3rd (w/ Midlands Minigolf Club) - BMGA British Club Championships 2011, 2012 & 2013

3rd (w/ John Moore & Ed Odametey) BMGA Oswestry Games Pro-Am Minigolf Classic 2012

3rd (w/ Kevin Moseley) - BMGA British Doubles Championships 2010

3rd - Midlands Invitational Tournament 2008
4th (w/ B. Shepherd, E. Gottfried & J. Trubridge) - Caddyshackers Open 2019
4th - BMGA British Masters 2013
4th - Midlands Open 2010

4th - London Invitational Tournament 2010

4th - BMGA English Open 2008

4th - Midlands Invitational Tournament 2007
5th - BMGA Players Championships 2007
7th - BMGA British Minigolf Championships 2012
9th - BMGA British Masters 2011

10th - BMGA British Adventure Golf Open 2013

Par-3 Miniature Golf events
T13th - MiniLinks Mini US Open 2017 (Par-3 Miniature Golf tournament debut)
15th - MiniLinks Mini Open 2017
T24th - MiniLinks PGA Championship 2017

Richard Gottfried playing hole 2 in the 2014 World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings

International Tournaments
16th - Putt18 World Pro League 2021

18th - Putt18 World Pro League 2020

4th - Putt18 4 Nations Cup 2020

20th - World Crazy Golf Championships 2015
32nd - World Crazy Golf Championships 2014
21st - Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships 2013
5th - Great Britain Team at the WMF World Adventure Golf Masters 2013
12th - WMF World Adventure Golf Masters (Male Category) 2013
20th - WMF World Adventure Golf Masters 2013
17th (Finalist) - Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships 2012
4th - Great Britain Team at the WMF World Adventure Golf Masters 2012
11th - WMF World Adventure Golf Masters (Male Category) 2012
14th - WMF World Adventure Golf Masters 2012
25th - Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships 2011
34th - Great Britain Player at the WMF Nations Cup (Male Category), Stockholm, Sweden 2011
41st - Great Britain Player at the WMF Nations Cup, Stockholm, Sweden 2011
10th - Great Britain Team at the WMF Nations Cup, Stockholm, Sweden 2011
11th - WMF World Adventure Golf Masters (Male Category) 2011
18th (Finalist) - WMF World Adventure Golf Masters 2011
17th  (Finalist) - Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships 2010

17th  (Finalist) - Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships 2009
17th  (Finalist) - Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships 2008
51st - Great Britain Player at the WMF Nations Cup, Tampere, Finland 2008
13th - Great Britain Team at the WMF Nations Cup, Tampere, Finland 2008
39th - Virgin Money World Crazy Golf Championships 2007

Personal Best Competition Rounds (18-holes)
MOS (Adventure, Crazy, Mini-Golf) = 27(-9)
Miniaturegolf (Eternit) = 28(-8)
Concrete (Beton) = 33(-3)
Feltgolf (Swedish Felt) = 34(-2)

Course Records (Current)
Blackpool Pleasure Beach Adventure Golf (12-holes) - 24(par)

Course Records (Previous)
2010 Birmingham Adventure Island Mini Golf at Star City (18-holes) - 28(-8) - Joint Record
2009 Weymouth Pirates Adventure Golf at Lodmoor Country Park (18-holes) - 41(+5) - Joint Record
2008 Wroxham Barns Minigolf (18-holes) - 34(-2)
2007 Hastings Seafront Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf (18-holes) - 32(-4) - Joint Record

Highest BMGA Rankings Position
BMGA Strokeplay Order of Merit Rankings - 5th - 14/04/2013 - 12/05/2013

BMGA Season Only Ranking - 5th - 15/07/2012 - 23/09/2012 & 14/10/2012 - 11/11/2012 (End of Season)
BMGA Order of Merit Ranking - 7th - 04/07/2010 - 19/09/2010

BMGA Matchplay Order of Merit Rankings - 9th - 25/04/2012 - 22/07/2012

Highest BMGA Rankings (as at End of Season)
BMGA Strokeplay Order of Merit - 11th - 2013
BMGA Strokeplay Order of Merit - 15th - 2012
BMGA Season Only Rankings - 5th - 2012
BMGA Order of Merit Rankings - 11th - 2009/10
BMGA Strokeplay Order of Merit Rankings - 15th - 2012
BMGA Matchplay Order of Merit Rankings - 15th - 2012

Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Rankings
October 2010 - 26th

October 2009 - 31st
June 2009 - 45th

WMF World Minigolf Men's Rankings (General Class)
March 2016 - 408th
December 2015 - 387th
March 2015 - 409th
December 2014 - 383rd
March 2014 - 397th
December 2013 - 372nd
March 2013 - 406th
November 2012 - 391st
March 2012 - 345th
November 2011 - 406th
March 2011 - Unranked
November 2010 - 413th

March 2010 - 358th

November 2009 - 418th
March 2009 - 352nd
November 2008 - 425th

Sports and Minigolf Awards
Guinness World Record Holder for "Most miniature golf courses visited" 2024

Named 'The nation's 'craziest' putting couple' w/ Emily Gottfried by Today's Golfer magazine, March 2021

Named 'UK's Biggest Adventure Golf Enthusiasts' w/ Emily Gottfried by ITV Granada Reports, 2017
Named 'Mini-golf's iron man' by the Eastern Daily Press, 2017
Named 'Britain's Barmiest Golfers' w/ Emily Gottfried by Today's Golfer magazine, November 2016
Named 'Officially Britain’s Craziest Golfer' by Today's Golfer magazine, October 2015
3rd place - Oswestry Games Oslympics Open Quiz - 2012
Genius Gluten Free Christmas Hero - 3rd Dec 2012
#Minigolf Internet Champion - 2012
Runner-up - "Best Bow Tie" Award - 2011 - ALT-LSN Awards
"Best Bow Tie" Award - 2008, 2009 & 2010 - ALT-LSN Awards
"Sports Man of the Year" - 4th (tied) - The Luton Sports Network Luton Sports Awards for 2010
"Sports Man of the Year" - Top 6 - The Luton Sports Network Luton Sports Awards for 2009
"Sports Man of the Year" - 4th - The Luton Sports Network Luton Sports Awards for 2008
"Most improved player on the BMGA Tour" - Winner - MiniatureGolfer.com Awards 2008

Other Honours

2013 Great Britain Minigolf Sport Squad Member
2012 Great Britain Minigolf Sport Squad Member
2011 Captain of the Great Britain (B) Team at the WMF Nations Cup
2011 Great Britain Minigolf Sport Squad Member
2009 & 2013 Captain of the Midlands Minigolf Club 'A Team' in the BMGA British Club Championships
2008 Great Britain Minigolf Sport Squad Member

Richard Gottfried teeing-off in the final of the 2009 'Castle Golf' World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings

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Minigolf to feature in the CSIT World Sports Games 2019

Speed minigolf to feature in the CSIT World Sports Games 2019 in Tortosa, Spain.

A new version of minigolf will feature in the CSIT World Sports Games 2019 in Tortosa, Spain this July.

The CSIT World Sports Games are organised by the International Workers & Amateurs in Sports Confederation, and are recognised by the International Olympic Committee.

The WMF International Minigolf Speed Championships 2019 will take place over three competition days, with medals awarded each day in six age categories in three different speed disciplines on a version of a miniaturegolf (eternit) course.

In action on an Eternit Miniature Golf course at the Nations Cup in Tampere, Finland

The event will be played with one official championship ball to keep the conditions equal for everybody. The draft course layout can be viewed on the WMF website. The 12 hole course has been developed with a miniaturegolf (eternit) style, but the lanes will be slightly smaller than normal to allow easier hole-in-ones reflective of the fast-paced nature of the event.

You can find out more about the WMF International Minigolf Speed Championships 2019 and the event format on the World Minigolf Sport Federation website.

The CSIT World Sports Games is an international event with thousands of participants that takes place every two years in a different city. It is based on the idea of the International Workers’ Olympiad of the 1920s/30s and celebrated in an environment of tolerance, respect and sustainability.

One of the main aims of CSIT is the idea of Sport for All and the organising of Games for amateurs & workers, competitive & non-competitive, for young & old, men & women from all over the world.

The CSIT World Sports Games 2019 will feature 19 CSIT Championships including events in Athletics, Football, Judo, Tennis, Table-Tennis, Para-Sport, Petanque, Wrestling and more.

In addition to these events there will be 15 CSIT Partner Championships including Cheerleading, Powerlifting, American Football, the intriguing Fireball(!) and more.

As well as Minigolf the CSIT World Sports Games will also feature Pitch & Putt and Golf tournaments.

The CSIT and the WMF are both members of GAISF, the Global Association of International Sports Federations.

The World Minigolf Sport Federation is the umbrella organisation of 63 Minigolf sports associations worldwide with continental associations in Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania. There are more than 38,000 competitive minigolf players registered with the WMF via the 63 member nations, with 900-plus clubs between them. Over 1,000 courses are approved for official competitions and over 1,500 minigolf tournaments are held each year.

Emily and I have competed in a number of international WMF events, including the Nations Cup in Finland and Sweden and the World Adventure Golf Masters in England.

Emily holds the British women's record score on the miniaturegolf (eternit) format of the game after scoring a round of 24 (-12) on an 18-hole course at the 2011 WMF Nations Cup in Sweden.

Emily playing hole 1 on her way to a British women's record round on the Eternit format of the sport at the WMF Nations Cup 2011 in Stockholm, Sweden

We were both in the sport's international rankings from 2008 to 2016 following our debut for the Great Britain team at the 2008 Nations Cup championships in Tampere, Finland.

Links:
- CSIT World Sports Games 2019
- World Minigolf Sport Federation
- International Workers & Amateurs in Sports Confederation
- Global Association of International Sports Federations

Related blog posts:
- WMF
- Spain
- Eternit
- World Minigolf Sport Federation

Minigolf in Armenia

Armenia to host first national minigolf tournament.

The Mini-Golf Association of Armenia is holding the country's first minigolf tournament on Sunday 30th April. The event is to be held at Ararat Valley Country Club and places in the Open competition are still available.

Entry is 3000 AMD (converting the Armenian Dram to Sterling it works out at just under £5!). For further information on the event and registration please contact the Mini-Golf Association of Armenia.

You can see photos of Ararat Valley Country Club's miniature golf course on the Mini-Golf Association of Armenia's Facebook Page. It looks like an interesting, hilly and loopy layout.

The Mini-Golf Association of Armenia is one of 62 members of the World Minigolf Sport Federation.

Visit the National Golf Association of Armenia's website to find out more about minigolf developments in the country.

Scorecards and record scores from Rainforest Adventure Golf

Record low scores shot at Rainforest Adventure Golf in Dublin.

Thanks to my friend, rival, sometimes team-mate and fellow minigolf traveller Paul 'Johnson Paul Johnson' Johnson for posting me a couple of the scorecards from Rainforest Adventure Golf in Dublin, Ireland.

Paul competed in the recent IMGA Irish Open minigolf tournament held on the Aztec Trail course at the indoor Rainforest Adventure Golf centre in Dundrum Town Centre and finished in tenth place.

During the tournament - the first held under the auspices of the Irish Mini Golf Association and the first Irish Open held in the Republic of Ireland - the world record low score for the 'Minigolf Open Standard' (MOS) classification of minigolf was broken as Pauli Kuikka of Sweden shot a round of 23(-13) during the tournament. That official score and record followed GB's Steve 'Sheila' Lovell's world record low round of 22(-14) which was shot the previous day.

The best ever score on an indoor minigolf course

The previous best score on an Adventure Golf course was 24 - at Hastings Adventure Golf - this score remains the record low for an outdoor 'MOS' course.

The World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) is the umbrella organisation of 63 Minigolf sports associations worldwide and recognises four types of minigolf - MOS, Concrete, Miniaturegolf and Feltgolf.

The aim in any round of competition minigolf is to score as many holes-in-one as possible, with Par for each hole regarded as two shots. Many courses have their own Par system, with some holes being a Par-3, 4 or 5. The world record lowest score on a course is a perfect 18 - 18 consecutive holes-in-one!

Emily has shot a 24 in competition - at the 2011 WMF Nations Cup in Sweden - which is still a national women's record score on the Miniaturegolf format of the game. On our visit to the Crazy Golf course at Bainland Country Park in Woodhall Spa I scored a 'perfect' round of 9 holes-in-one in a row. However, there were five cups to putt into on each of the holes!

The only Crazy Golf course we've played with five cups to putt into

The 2017 IMGA Irish Open tournament was the third ever Irish Open and the first held in the Republic of Ireland. The first two Irish Opens were held in 2006 and 2007 at the Pirates Adventure Golf course in Dundonald, Belfast, Northern Ireland. For more information on the IMGA and WMF check out the links below.

Links:
- World Minigolf Sport Federation
- Irish Mini Golf Association
- Rainforest Adventure Golf

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Minigolf rankings for 2016

The national tour minigolf season is over and Emily and I are still ranked in the BMGA Strokeplay Order of Merit 2015-2016.

I am ranked in 40th position with 2,825 ranking points, while Emily is in 62nd place with 1,462 points. A total of 149 players are listed in the rankings.

Minigolfers Emily and Richard Gottfried

In the World Minigolf Sport Federation international rankings Emily is ranked 102nd in the Women's ranking list, while I am 408th in the Men's list.

Emily Putting at the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Southend

This season we competed in a number of independent miniature golf competitions including the:
- Surrey Invitational Tournament - Richard = 3rd, Emily = 4th
- Southend Pier Invitational Tournament - Richard = 1st, Emily = 9th
- Southend Arnold Palmer Classic - Richard = 1st, Emily = 7th
- Stevenage Invitational Tournament - Richard = 1st, Emily = 3rd (tied)

In action on Southend Pier's Crazy Golf course

Related blog posts:
- WMF World Minigolf Rankings update
- BMGA minigolf rankings for 2015
- Richard Gottfried's Minigolf Player Profile
- Emily Gottfried's Minigolf Player Profile

Give the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a Like on Facebook, watch our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter @putting_gott and @Ems_Lems. Please do sign-up to receive our miniature golf newsletter too.

WMF World Minigolf Rankings update

The World Minigolf Sport Federation has updated the World Rankings and Emily and I are ranked in the General Class (Adult) lists for elite tournament players.

International minigolfers

Emily is ranked 102nd in the Women's ranking list, while I am 408th in the Men's list.

Emily playing hole 1 on her way to a British Women's Record Round of 24(-12) on the Eternit format of Miniature Golf at the WMF Nations Cup 2011 in Stockholm, Sweden

In the Women's World Ranking List Emily is the sole British female representative listed and is in tied 102nd place (109 players total) alongside Erika Benka (HUN), Anja Derks (NED), Asta Korpi (FIN), Ana Lopes (POR), Tänia Monteiro (POR), Amara Silva (POR) and Nathamon Tayutivuthikul (THA).

Richard in action at the Nations Cup in Tampere, Finland

In the Men's World Ranking List I am in tied 408th place (424 players total) alongside Mislav Bjazic (CRO), Joao Caravana (POR), Miguel Angel Hernandez (ESP), J. Hinojosa De Torres-Peralta (ESP), Erik Hjalmarsson (SWE), Arton Krasniqi (KOS), Pawel Larus (POL), Hugo Madera (ESP), Sabri Maloku (KOS), Santiago Paramo (ESP), Jawaharlal Purohit (IND), Jose Maria Rivera Cadierno (ESP), Juan Pablo Ruano De Fruto (ESP), Petri Saukko (FIN), Craig Small (GBR) and Lavdim Zylfiu (KOS).

Great Britain is ranked 13th of 30 countries in the Nations rankings. Fourteen GB players (13 men and one woman) contributed to the ranking.

For the full international ranking lists for General Class, Juniors and Seniors please visit the WMF website.

The World Minigolf Sport Federation is the umbrella organisation of 62 Minigolf sports associations worldwide with continental associations in Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania. There are more than 38,000 competitive minigolf players registered with the WMF via the 62 member nations, with 900-plus clubs between them. Over 1,000 courses are approved for official competitions and over 1,500 minigolf tournaments are held each year.

The WMF is gaining further recognition on the global stage all the time. As a member of SportAccord and an organisation called AIMS (the Alliance of Independent Members of SportAccord) the WMF's next goal is to achieve International Olympic Committee recognition.

Apart from the March 2011 list Emily and I have been in the sport's international rankings since November 2008 following our debut for the Great Britain team at that year's Nations Cup championships in Tampere, Finland.

The Great Britain Minigolf Sport Team is sponsored by UrbanCrazy, suppliers of permanent and portable mini and crazy golf courses.

Links:
- World Minigolf Sport Federation
- Minigolfnews

Related blog posts:
- Richard Gottfried player profile
- Emily Gottfried player profile
- World Minigolf rankings update (December 2015)

Give the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a Like on Facebook, watch our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter @putting_gott and @Ems_Lems. Please do sign-up to receive our miniature golf newsletter too.

World Minigolf rankings update

Latest minigolf rankings from the World Minigolf Sport Federation.

The World Minigolf Sport Federation, the international governing body for miniature golf, has published the latest edition of the General Class Rankings for the year ending 31st December 2015.

The GB 3 team of John Moore, Emily Gottfried, Richard Gottfried and Craig Patterson at the 2013 WMF World Adventure Golf Masters. The team finished in 5th place

In the Nations Rankings Great Britain is ranked 13th of 30 countries, up from 16th place. Fourteen GB players (13 men and 1 woman) have contributed to the nations ranking between 2013 and 2015. Germany, Sweden and the Czech Republic lead the rankings.

Once again Emily and I are both in the General Class Rankings.

On international duty

In the Women's World Ranking List Emily is the sole British female player and is in tied 98th place (105 players) alongside Erika Benka (HUN), Anja Derks (NED), Asta Korpi (FIN), Ana Lopes (POR), Tänia Monteiro (POR), Amara Silva (POR) and Nathamon Tayutivuthikul (THA).

Emily on her way to a British Women's Record Round of 24(-12) on the Eternit format of Miniature Golf at the WMF Nations Cup in 2011

In the Men's World Ranking List I am in tied 387th place (404 players) together with Mislav Bjazic (CRO), Miguel Angel Hernandez (ESP), J. Hinojosa De Torres-Peralta (ESP), Erik Hjalmarsson (SWE), Marcel Korinek (SVK), Arton Krasniqi (KOS), Pawel Larus (POL), Hugo Madera (ESP), Sabri Maloku (KOS), Santiago Paramo (ESP), Jawaharlal Purohit (IND), Jose Maria Rivera Cadierno (ESP), Juan Pablo Ruano De Fruto (ESP), Petri Saukko (FIN), Craig Small (GBR), Georgij Srebren (CRO) and Lavdim Zylfiu (KOS).

Playing hole 17 on Concrete (Beton) at the Tantogårdens Minigolf Club in Stockholm

Aside from the March 2011 list Emily and I have been in the sport's international rankings since November 2008 following our debut for the Great Britain team at that year's Nations Cup championships in Tampere, Finland.

The 2008 GB team in Finland

It's nice to be listed alongside my friend Lavdim Zylfiu. He's a great ambassador of the sport and his country of Kosovo. I had the pleasure of competing against him in his international debut at the 2011 WMF World Adventure Golf Masters in Hastings. This year Lavdim is helping to organise the 2016 edition of the tournament on his home course in Prishtina.

At the 2011 WMF World Adventure Golf Masters in Hastings with Lavdim (right), Alan 'Stormin' Norman and Arben Alija (left). Alan and I took on Kosovo's first ever international minigolfers in a doubles match on the Pirate Golf course

Check out the WMF website where you can find out more about the sport, as well as the Junior and Senior Rankings - both lists feature GB players.

The Great Britain Minigolf Sport Team is sponsored by UrbanCrazy, suppliers of permanent and portable mini and crazy golf courses.

The 2011 GB 2 team and coaching staff in Stockholm

The World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) is the umbrella organisation of Minigolf sports association's worldwide and continental associations in Asia, Europe and America.

The WMF has 55 member nations, with the sport played in Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, China, Chinese Taipai, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Kenya, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, USA and Vietnam.

There are more than 38,000 competitive minigolf players registered with the WMF via the 55 member nations, with 900-plus clubs between them. Over 1,000 courses are approved for official competitions and around 1,500 minigolf tournaments held each year.

The WMF is a member of SportAccord - the union for both Olympic and non-Olympic international sports federations, and organisers of international sporting events. The WMF is also a member of AIMS, the Alliance of Independent Members of SportAccord.

Links:
- World Minigolf Sport Federation
- European Minigolf Sport Federation
- British Minigolf Association
- UrbanCrazy
- SportAccord
- Alliance of Independent Members of SportAccord (AIMS)

Related blog posts:
- Updated WMF World Minigolf Rankings (March 2015)
- World Minigolf Sport Rankings
- Minigolf Diary - 5 Days on International Minigolf Duty - WMF Nations Cup 2011 - Stockholm, Sweden

Player profiles
- Miniature Golf Player Profile for Richard Gottfried
- Miniature Golf Player Profile for Emily Gottfried

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Minigolf in Prishtina, Kosovo - World Adventure Golf Masters

On the 25th and 26th June 2016 the World Adventure Golf Masters will be held in Prishtina, Kosovo - the first major international miniature golf tournament to take place in the country.

You can find out more about the World Minigolf Sport Federation's 2016 calendar of international championships online.

The 2016 WMF World Adventure Golf Masters in Kosovo will be the sixth edition of the tournament.

At the 2011 WMF World Adventure Golf Masters in Hastings, Alan 'Stormin' Norman and I took on Kosovo's first international players in a doubles match. From l-r Arben Alija, Richard Gottfried, Alan Norman, Lavdim Zylfiu

Emily and I played in the first staging of the event in 2011, as well as the 2012 and 2013 editions in Hastings. The event has also been held in Sweden.

Prishtina Golf previously hosted the Kosovo Open in 2012.

All the very best to the organisers and hosts of the event. The course looks brilliant. Emily and I have played a few similar layouts and enjoy the long, mostly borderless tricky 'lanes' as they're a real test of putting skill. The course in Prishtina was built by City Golf.

Links:
- World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) website
- Kosovo Minigolf Federation (FMGK) website
- Prishtina Golf on Facebook

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Minigolf Sport Club Sanremo in Arma, Italy

Photos of the minigolf course in Arma, Italy.

Our friends Karl and Sophia Moles were recently on holiday in Arma, Italy and sent through some snaps of the minigolf course they found there.


Sophia and Karl Moles at the course



Action on the Arma minigolf course

Karl told me "I came joint first with 61. There was one hole that was dead straight down the fairway and the green was a circle about three metres in diameter, depending on where your ball stopped there was a code round the outside with instructions on a sign which you had to decode which then gave you the direction to hit the ball to get it in the hole. For example when you worked it out it would say 3cm to the left of the hole! It was in Italian which made it even harder!"

The Moles family are big minigolf fans and always give a course a play if they see one. We've also had some matches against Karl while daytripping in Felixstowe.

The course is a Concrete (Beton) variety of minigolf. We've played a few Beton minigolf courses on our travels. Most notably in Finland and Sweden while playing for the Great Britain team in Nations Cup international tournaments.

You can find out more about the different types of minigolf in the World Minigolf Sport Federation's Starting Out In Minigolf guide.


The minigolf course is approved by the World Minigolf Sport Federation


Check out the Minigolf Sport Club Sanremo Facebook page for more information.


The trophies won by Minigolf Sport Club Sanremo!

Links:
- Minigolf Sport Club Sanremo Facebook
- World Minigolf Sport Federation website
- Federazione Italiana Golf su Pista / Italian Minigolf Federation website

Related blog posts:
- Italy
- Karl Moles
- Sophia Moles

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