Showing posts with label Will Donnelly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Will Donnelly. Show all posts

Monday, March 23, 2015

Minigolf report from the Midlands Open 2015

Richard Gottfried third at the Midlands Open minigolf tournament

Minigolfer Richard Gottfried with the bronze medal from the 2015 Midlands Open
Minigolfer Richard Gottfried with the bronze medal from the 2015 Midlands Open

Leagrave minigolfer Richard Gottfried continued his good form with a podium finish in the Midlands Open competition held at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull on Sunday 22 March.

Competing in a 24-player field on the 12-hole miniature golf course Richard shot rounds of 20, 22, 21 and 28 for a 48-hole score of 91.

Richard Gottfried playing hole 2 during the Hole in One Charity Challenge
Richard Gottfried playing hole 2 during the Hole in One Charity Challenge

Emily Gottfried was also in action and finished in 15th place after rounds of 26, 20, 27 and 30 for a total of 103.

Emily Gottfried playing hole 12 at Four Ashes Golf Centre
Emily Gottfried playing hole 12 at Four Ashes Golf Centre

The tournament was won by Oxford’s Michael Smith with a score of 76, with London’s Will Donnelly runner-up with a score of 89.

The Midlands Open podium, from l-r Will Donnelly, Michael Smith, Richard Gottfried
The Midlands Open podium, from l-r Will Donnelly, Michael Smith, Richard Gottfried

Richard said “It’s great to get another medal and I’m pleased with my performance. Dorridge is a great course and a pleasure to play. I didn’t drop a shot for 42-holes which was nice. But then I had three bad holes in the final round to knock me from second place. Well played to Michael Smith on his win and to Will Donnelly for beating me to the silver medal.”

The third-place result was Richard’s best ever in the Midlands Open tournament, with his previous highest finish of fourth-place coming at the 2010 event.

The Midlands Minigolf Club are the reigning BMGA British Club Champions, winning the title in Hastings earlier this month. For more information check out the MMGC Facebook page.

Next up for Richard is a trip to Hastings for the BMGA British Minigolf Championships in May.

Links:
- Midlands Minigolf Club on Facebook
- Four Ashes Golf Centre
- British Minigolf Association

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Dorridge Invitational Minigolf Tournament

Report from the Dorridge Invitational Tournament.

As a warm-up to the MMGC Midlands Open competition held at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge the seven players still practicing on Saturday evening competed in the second ever Dorridge Invitational Tournament.

The Dorridge Invitational Tournament competitors at the Four Ashes Golf Centre, from l-r Adrian Amey, Emily Gottfried, Will Donnelly, Richard Gottfried, Steve Sturdy, Ruth Burke, Dave Donnelly
The Dorridge Invitational Tournament competitors, from l-r Adrian Amey, Emily Gottfried, Will Donnelly, Richard Gottfried, Steve Sturdy, Ruth Burke, Dave Donnelly

In the one-round Pro Player shootout local competitor Ruth Burke won with a score of 20(-4), two shots clear of runner-up Dave Donnelly.

Dorridge Invitational Minigolf Tournament champion Ruth Burke putting on the final hole and sealing victory
D.I.T. minigolf champion Ruth Burke putting on the final hole and sealing victory

Emily Gottfried and Will Donnelly tied for third place having scored 23(-1).

Minigolfer Emily Gottfried playing on hole 11 at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge
Emily Gottfried playing on hole 11 at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge

Richard Gottfried was fifth on 26(+2), with Steve Sturdy in sixth place on 28(+4) and Adrian Amey in seventh spot after scoring 30(+6).

The only previous edition of the Dorridge Invitational Tournament was held in 2011 and won by Seth Thomas in an eight-player field.

Dorridge Invitational Tournament (D.I.T.) Hall of Fame
2015 - Ruth Burke
2011 - Seth Thomas

Related blog posts:
- Dorridge
- The Dorridge Invitational Minigolf Competition 2011

Links:
Midlands Minigolf Club on Facebook
Four Ashes Golf Centre
British Minigolf Association

Friday, April 05, 2013

Dragon Quest Adventure Golf at World of Golf in Croydon

A visit to the Dragon Quest Adventure Golf course at World of Golf in Croydon.


The second part of the inaugural Will Donnelly Invitational Minigolf Tournament saw us all head from Kelsey Park's Minigolf course in Beckenham to the nearby World of Golf Centre in Croydon which is home to an 18-hole Dragon Quest Adventure Golf course! 



A view of the 18-hole tropical Dragon Quest Adventure Golf. In Croydon!

Emily looks distracted as tournament organiser Will Donnelly plays a tricky second shot

Taking a shot at the Dragon Quest Adventure Golf

The visit to the Dragon Quest Adventure Golf course was number 526 overall on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and the 316th course played since September 2006!

A view of the course. Note the GIANT catapult to the right of the photo!

After the day of Minigolf we set off on our way to Guildford for an evening of Archery Tag, but before we arrived there we found another Minigolf course, in Carshalton, that we hadn't previously visited or played!

Emily and I have also played the Adventure Golf courses at the World of Golf centres in New Malden and Sidcup. We're yet to visit the World of Golf in Glasgow, but it's on our 'to play' list!

Related Blog Posts:

Links:

Kelsey Park Minigolf in Beckenham

A visit to the Minigolf course in Kelsey Park, Beckenham.

On Saturday 30th March Emily and I headed to Kelsey Park in Beckenham, Kent for the first-ever Will Donnelly Invitational Minigolf Tournament organised by the player himself - Will Donnelly!

Hole 18 - the Labyrinth - sometimes it can be tough, other times a good ace opportunity 

With Will having recently found that the course was near to his house he visited and played there and decided to organise an 'open invite' competition there for him and his fellow 'pro' players. The format of the event saw us all play two rounds on the 18-hole Minigolf course in Kelsey park, followed by one 18-hole round at the Dragon Quest Adventure Golf at World of Golf in Croydon.

En route to the park we'd heard the midday tee-off time was being pushed back a little to accommodate for an Easter Egg Hunt that was taking place in the park and on the course! That's certainly a first that we've come across in the 200+ Miniature Golf events we've competed in over the years!

Emily playing hole 2 - the Volcano - as Brad and Seth look on

We had a wander through the park and found it to be a very pleasant venue for both a Minigolf course and the tournament. The staff at the course were very welcoming and have a very well maintained course and surroundings.

A lovely lot of Minigolf-related signs made for a very happy Squire

The Minigolf course itself was originally of the 'Eternit' Minigolf variety, most often found in Europe, and over the last ten years the course has had various modifications made to it. It was certainly unique!

There are plenty of hole-in-one opportunities on the 18-hole layout, but as with many Eternit courses there were some killer holes there too!

On the day Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd set the best score with an opening round of 34(-2). Brad would go on to win the tournament outright following the final 18-holes in Croydon. The all-time best score was set in August 2003 when a Swedish player called Michael George scored a 28(-8)!

Top Putting from Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd

Kelsey Park and the Minigolf course there are well worth a visit. We'll definitely be back.

A rare photo of the pair of us together! Thanks for taking the snap Sethers

The visit to the Kelsey Park Minigolf course was number 525 overall on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and the 315th course played since September 2006!

Related Blog Posts:

Links:

Friday, September 28, 2012

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.

The Knowley Grail of Minigolf
'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.
 
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