Minigolf Report from the Surrey Invitational Tournament

Woking’s Matt Dodd wins the inaugural Surrey Invitational Minigolf Tournament.

Surrey Invitational Tournament Minigolf Champion Matt 'The Don' Dodd with the S.I.T. trophy in Epsom

On Sunday 16 November 2014 five semi-pro minigolfers competed in the first-ever Surrey Invitational Tournament in a two-round, two-course, 36-hole contest.

The Surrey Invitational Tournament competitors at the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course in Woking, from l-r Richard Gottfried, Emily Gottfried, Oliver Florence, Matt Dodd, Helen Dodd

The competition was played at two 18-hole Adventure Golf courses, with Pirate Island Adventure Golf at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking first up to test the players, followed by a visit to the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom.

Matt 'The Don' Dodd in action on one of the two Pirate Ship holes at the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course in Woking 

The champion after 36-holes of play was Matt ‘The Don’ Dodd, the current British number 30, who triumphed with a score of 94(+22), having shot rounds of 48 and 46.

Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried holing-out a long second putt at the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom

Speaking after his maiden victory, new Surrey Invitational Tournament champion Dodd said “Thanks to everyone who took part. The competition was strong and it went to the final hole. I look forward to defending my title next year.”

Helen 'Hells Bells' Dodd easily handling a water hazard hole at the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course in Epsom

The first stage of the S.I.T. was won by Burpham’s Oliver ‘The Machine’ Florence with a score of 45. However, the British International and veteran of tournaments including the 2010 AMF Asian Open Championships, was unable to compete in the second round due to prior commitments.

S.I.T. first round winner Oliver 'The Machine' Florence in action on the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking

The scores and first-round rankings from the Pirate Island Adventure Golf at Hoebridge Golf Centre were:
1. Oliver Florence – 45 (+9)
2. Matt Dodd – 48 (+12)
3. Richard Gottfried – 50 (+14)
4. Emily Gottfried – 52 (+16)
5. Helen Dodd – 58 (+22)

Each round winner of the Surrey Invitational Tournament gets to lift the trophy, but only the overall winner gets to keep it for the year. First-round winner Oliver 'The Machine' Florence holds the S.I.T. cup at Hoebridge Golf Centre

Play moved to the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course where Luton’s ‘Squire’ Richard Gottfried collected the round victory with a score of 45.

'Squire' Richard Gottfried putts through the remnants of a dinosaur at the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course in Epsom

The scores and second-round rankings from Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club were:
1. Richard Gottfried – 45 (+9)
2. Matt Dodd – 46 (+10)
3. Emily Gottfried – 47 (+11)
4. Helen Dodd – 50 (+14)
5. Oliver Florence – DNS / DNQ

Second-round winner of the Surrey Invitational Tournament 'Squire' Richard Gottfried holds the S.I.T. cup at Horton Park Golf Club

However, this wasn’t enough to take the overall title as Matt Dodd’s score of 46 saw him take a one-shot victory and claim the Surrey Invitational Tournament title and trophy for 2014.

Overall S.I.T. champion Matt 'The Don' Dodd in action on the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom

The final rankings and two-round totals from the Surrey Invitational Tournament (S.I.T.) 2014 were:
1. Matt Dodd – 94 (+22)
2. Richard Gottfried – 95 (+23)
3. Emily Gottfried – 99 (+27)
4. Helen Dodd – 108 (+36)
5. Oliver Florence – DNF

The Surrey Invitational Tournament 2015 will be played in Guildford.

Woking Park Crazy Golf and Putting Green

Ticking off two more course visits on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Prior to my visit to Guildford on Wednesday 18th April, and due to a wrong turn when exiting the M25, I ended up near Woking (Shepperton to be precise). As I'd never been to the town and knowing there was a Crazy Golf course there I headed to Woking Park to have a look.

A view of the Woking Park Crazy Golf course

I found the 9-hole Eternit type of Miniature Golf course, which looked to be in decent enough condition. Unfortunately the weather was fairly grim so I gave it a miss. According to the Leisure Centre website the course is open from May to September, but a sign next to the course said that the course is open to play year round (Putters & Balls need to be hired from the Leisure Centre Reception).

The second hole has a snake painted on it - I haven't seen that on an eternit style of minigolf course before

Another view of the snakey hole

Next to the Crazy Golf course is a Putting Green. This wasn't yet open for the summer season, but you could see where the holes have been marked out ready for play.

One of the holes marked out on the Putting Green

Related Blog Posts:

- Eternit Sports and Social Club - No Miniature Golf

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Woking

Report from the Sportingbet UK Rock Paper Scissors Championships 2011

Sportingbet UK Rock Paper Scissors Championships 2011

On Saturday 22nd October the 2011 Sportingbet UK Rock Paper Scissors Championships took place at The Knights Templar Pub on Chancery Lane, London. Over 200 people took part in the Individual and Team Competitions at the event organised by the team at Wacky Nation, with 128 players battling to become the 2011 UK RPS Champion. For the third year running the winner came from Woking! With the 2011 honours going to Max Deeley.

Photo: From l-r Oliver 'The Machine' Florence, Paul 'The Terminator' Jones, 'Squire' Richard Gottfried, Marc 'The Roller' Bazeley - note Richard & Marc throwing the illegal RPS move of 'Sausage'

Our group of six players had a mixed bag of results in the individual competition, with Oliver 'The Machine' Florence doing the best of the bunch and reaching the Semi-Finals, having had to face-off against, and defeat, team-mate Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried in the third round. The third round loss for Emily was the same stage she exited the 2010 UK RPS Championships. Of note was the fact that both Ollie and Emily received 'Byes' in the first round of the contest as their opponents were in no condition to perform!

Photo: 2011 UK RPS Contender Oliver 'The Machine' Florence shows off his t-shirt prize for reaching the Semi-Finals

The 2011 tournament used a knockout format rather than the round-robin system employed last year, this meant that players were only guaranteed one match and Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd was the first of our group to fall, losing in the first round. I followed soon after with a straight 2-nil defeat. Brad and I were in good company in our losing efforts, as the 2010 UK RPS Champion - Paul Lewis - also fell at the first hurdle.

Photo: Richard shows that three hands are not better than two

Photo: Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd (bottom right) cuts a lonely figure having crashed out in the first round

Marc 'The Roller' Bazeley was the only member of our troupe to be drawn on the rowdier Table One, but despite nerves on his debut won through round one. However, in round two he was drawn to face a giant of a man who almost dislocated 'The Roller's' shoulder in the opening handshake! This obviously impaired Bazeley who unfortunately lost the match and decided to make the long journey back to Wellingborough, but not before he gave a post-match interview.

In the Team contest 16 teams of four players lined-up to be crowned Champions. Our team - The Guild of Rock Paper Scissors - finished in tied 5th/6th place, alongside longtime Dodgeball rivals the WDW, following a win in the first round, but a loss in the Quarter Finals. The team consisted of myself, Emily, Ollie and Paul 'The Terminator' Jones, who didn't enter the individual event but instead spent his time sharking people in Challenge RPS matches.

Photo: The Guild of Rock Paper Scissors (GoRPS) in their lair before the team tournament. From l-r 'Squire' Richard Gottfried, Paul 'The Terminator' Jones, Oliver 'The Machine' Florence, Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried - once again note the players throwing the illegal RPS manouvre of 'Sausage'!

Ahead of the tournament the competition sponsor Sportingbet had a betting special running with a number of different markets priced up. Emily and I managed to recoup some of our spending with a win on the winning hand combination.

Photo: The Guild of Rock Paper Scissors (GoRPS) team. From l-r Paul 'The Terminator' Jones, 'Squire' Richard Gottfried, Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried, Oliver 'The Machine' Florence

You can view a number of videos from the 2011 (and 2010) UK Rock Paper Scissors Championships on my YouTube Channel.

You can also register your interest to compete in the 2012 UK Rock Paper Scissors Championships on the UK RPS website.

Links:
- Wacky Nation Website
- UK RPS Official Website
- The Rules of Rock Paper Scissors
- GoRPS Rock Paper Scissors Championships in Birmingham
- Rock Paper Scissors Tournament at The Crown in Bristol
- The Weymouth Preliminaries Rock Paper Scissors Contest
- RPS-101
- Sportingbet
- UK Rock Paper Scissors Championships 2010 - Report, Photos and Videos from the Event!