Blogiversary of the Ham and Egger Files

I've been blogging for 17 years today.

I'm often asked how is it that a blog about minigolf has the name the 'Ham and Egger Files'? The answer is that it didn't initially start out life as a minigolf blog.

The first post

I published my first post about how I planned to participate in as many obscure and minority sports as I could and see what would happen with the (limited amount of) sporting ability I had!

What is a Ham & Egger?

The term 'ham and egger' has connotations ranging from that of 'ordinary person' to that of 'loser'. The origin of the term comes from prize fighters whose modest skills wouldn’t let them win large purses. Therefore, the fighter or their manager - who received a percentage of any purses won - were never able to afford to eat better than ham and eggs.

Lots of blogs

Since that first post 17 years ago I have published more than 5,400 posts and received more than 3 million pageviews!

Admittedly, a large number of the blog posts have been about minigolf.

The Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Our interest in minigolf and what would soon become our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour had actually begun on the 30th September 2006, but I didn't publish a post about the sport until the 29th January 2007 when I announced that I had joined the British Minigolf Association - a competition circuit I made my actual debut on in Southend-on-Sea on the 28th April 2007.

Since then we've visited 1,043 miniature golf courses. 996 of those have been in the British Isles, while 47 have been in overseas countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Spain (& Lanzarote, Canary Islands), Sweden and the USA.

When we began our travels there were around 600 courses in the UK. There are now more than 1,000, with new courses opening all the time.

Other sports & games are available

If you're wondering what happened to the quest to play lots of different sports, that has continued and I've participated in some very interesting events over the years!

A massive thank you goes out to everyone who has ever read one of my posts, commented, shared, or guest blogged on the site, it really is very much appreciated.

2013 Luton Invitational Minigolf Tournament - New Year's Day Crazy Golf at Woodside Animal Farm

Results and photos from the 2013 Luton Invitational New Year's Day Minigolf Competition at Woodside Animal Farm, Slip End Village near Luton.

A double thumbs (and putters!) up from the 2013 champ

On New Year's Day Emily and I headed to Woodside Animal Farm near Luton for a round of Crazy Golf on the 18-hole course and a look at the animals. In our Crazy Golf match Emily was looking to make it three wins in a row in the 'Luton Invitational Tournament', but was unable to achieve the feat, losing to me by two shots in a match that saw us score 48(+12) and 50(+14) on the stony course!

Some rock steady play led Richard to victory

Since 2010 the Luton Invitational Minigolf Tournament has been the traditional opening Miniature Golf event of the year on the 'Irregular Mini Golf Tour'. In 2010 the players faced-off in arctic cold weather conditions, while 2011 was played in heavy drizzle and last year's weather was mild, but drizzly.

Emily 'Lemony Lemster' Gottfried tired towards the end of the round and was unable to retain her title for a threepeat

New Luton Invitational Tournament minigolf champion 'Squire' Richard Gottfried with the 2012 LIT prize of a Fudge bar

The fifth staging of the event saw only two players compete as Simon 'Practice' Hall was otherwise engaged.

The animals at Woodside were in high spirits once again this year, with a couple of goats squaring off in a head-butt fight!

Two of the fighty goats fighting, while another one looks on

Luton Invitational Tournament Honours Board:

2013 - Richard Gottfried

2012 - Emily Gottfried

2011 - Emily Gottfried

2010 - Richard Gottfried

2006 - Joanne Tubby

On the 1st of January each year Woodside Animal Farm opens for a New Year's Day Party to raise money for the Keech Cottage Children's Hospice.

Luton Invitational Tournament Minigolf Results 2006-2013:

2013 Luton Invitational Tournament Results:

1. Richard Gottfried - 48 (+12)

2. Emily Gottfried - 50 (+14)

2012 Luton Invitational Tournament Results:

1. Emily Gottfried - 47 (+11)

2. Richard Gottfried - 49 (+13)

2011 Luton Invitational Tournament Results:

1. Emily Gottfried - 43 (+7)

2. Richard Gottfried - 51 (+15)

3. Simon Hall - 54 (+18)

4. Mystery Player - 57 (+21)

2010 Luton Invitational Tournament Results:

1. Richard Gottfried - 46 (+10)

2T. Emily Gottfried - 54 (+18)

2T. Mystery Player - 54 (+18)

4. Simon Hall - 57 (+21)

2007-2009 - Luton Invitational Tournament:

Not Played

2006 Luton Invitational Tournament Results*:

1. Jo Tubby - 54 (par)

2. Emily Gottfried - 56 (+2)

3. Richard Gottfried - 62 (+8)

* Note: Par used was 'Course Par' of 3 shots per hole, rather than 'BMGA Par' of 2 shots per hole.

The Crazy Golf course at Woodside Animal Farm course was the fourth course ever to be played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back on the 27th October 2006. As of January 1st 2013 we have visited 523 Miniature Golf courses on the Tour.

A Minigolf Visit to Wonderland in Telford!

Minigolf Course #500 visited / #300 Played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

On our journey to the 2012 Oswestry Games we had the chance to visit the 500th course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour! Prior to our trip we had seen on the excellent Minigolf resource of MiniatureGolfer.com that the Wonderland Theme Park in Telford, Shropshire was home to a Pirate Crazy Golf course.

If it was open it would the 300th course played too!

The weather was rather ominous on the drive to Telford on Friday the 13th of July and the date did not help the feeling of dread that the course would not be there, or worse – be there, but not in a playable condition. This is the sort of thing that runs through your mind when you’ve visited and not played so many courses over the years!

When we arrived at Wonderland the weather was less than summery and it was tipping down with rain. We parked up, grabbed our umbrella and headed into the Theme Park to see if we could find the course. We started our search at the opposite side of the park and so took a wander through, passing a very big Giant on our way.

A Giant and Richard at the Wonderland Theme Park in Telford

When we arrived at the Crazy Golf kiosk we asked to play the course, but were advised not to as the rainy weather had made the course very slippery. After explaining that we had played in far worse weather conditions and that we would be incredibly careful navigating the course we were handed our putters, minigolf balls and a very nice scorecard for the Treasure Island 9-hole Crazy Golf course!

The Pirate-themed layout is intriguing as it has a mixture of hole types and designs, with some of the holes made of wooden planks, others are concrete with metal rails and others are a more ‘traditional’ felt.

Hole 2 - made of wooden decking!

Even in the wet conditions the course was fun to play and very tricky in places. While neither Emily or I scored a hole-in-one (this time) we were close on a few attempts. The killer hole for me was the 4th (Smugglers Cove) which saw me score a dreaded 7!

Playing a shot on hole 9 at Wonderland Telford

In the end the result of our Irregular Mini Golf Tour match-up saw only one shot separate the two of us – with Emily the eventual winner with a score of 29, to my 30!

Emily playing a shot on the Wonderland Treasure Island Crazy Golf

Richard playing a shot up a ramp and over a boat on the Wonderland Crazy Golf course

Richard playing the Wonderland Treasure Island Crazy Golf

If you’re a fan of Crazy Golf and/or Fairytales then the Wonderland Theme Park is the place for you to visit. The Crazy Golf is great fun, the park and its attractions look great and are very well maintained and the staff working there are incredibly nice and friendly.

Richard getting scared off of a Dinosaur at Wonderland Telford

What has become our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour began on the 30th September 2006 when we visited another Treasure Island Adventure Golf course in Southsea. We also made a re-visit on the 30th September 2011!

On our many roadtrips and travels around the UK to play Minigolf we’ve been to a couple of other “Treasure Island’s” and quite a few Pirate-themed courses.

Links:

- Wonderland Telford website
- Wonderland on Facebook
- Wonderland on Twitter

Related Blog Post:

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Visiting a further 49 Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses in England and Scotland

Exploring the north west of England, some of Scotland and the north east coast.

The latest leg on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour has seen us visit a further 49 miniature golf courses in England and Scotland bringing the total course location visits to date since September 2006 to 495!

Of the 49 courses we stopped at on our roadtrip we managed to play thirteen of them. Some of the courses were not yet open for the season, while others were either in a derelict state or had been demolished. A few of the courses we didn’t play were open, but unfortunately we didn’t have enough time to play them all.

The 1,178 mile roadtrip took us to Miniature Golf, Crazy Golf, Putting and Adventure Golf courses in Forton, Garstang, Bispham, Morecambe, Bowness-on-Windermere, Brockhole, Ambleside, Keswick, Maryport, Silloth-on-Solway, Carlisle, Helensburgh, Bannockburn, Perth, Broughty Ferry, St Andrews, Kirkaldy, Dunfermline, North Berwick, Gullane, Dunbar, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Spittal, Seahouses and Sunderland.

North West England, Scotland & North East England Tour Challenge - List of courses played (click to enlarge)

On the trip Emily and I contested an Irregular Mini Golf Tour tournament played over 13 rounds and 201 different minigolf holes – the North West England, Scotland & North East England Tour Challenge. The competition was won by me with a total of 518 to Emily’s 554.

Our visit to St Andrews in Scotland also saw us visit and play the World’s First Miniature Golf course at The Himalayas Putting Course – a terrific minigolf location where there is a pair of testing courses – an 18 and a 9-hole Grass Putting layout.

With the 49 Minigolf/Crazy Golf/Adventure Golf/Putting courses taken in on our journey we have now made 495 course location visits since 2006 and played 297 courses!

Richard at the Zumo Cafe Crazy Golf course in Forton

Emily playing the very crazy Crazy Golf course at Brockhole in the Lake District

Richard playing the Crazy Golf in Ambleside

Richard lining up a Putt in Keswick

Richard and Humpty on the Crazy Golf course in Carlisle

Richard on the outdoor section of the Adventure Golf Putting at Noahs Ark Golf Centre in Perth

Richard plays a shot on the Broughty Ferry Crazy Golf course

Richard plays a shot on the 9-hole Himalayas Putting Course in St Andrews

Emily on Hole 17 at Adventure Golf Island in Dunfermline

Richard on the East Links Putting course in North Berwick

Richard on the Crazy Golf course in a very wet and cold Seahouses

According to the excellent Miniature Golf resource – MiniatureGolfer.com – there are 57 miniature golf courses in Scotland (and 618 in the UK) and in the few days we had available we managed to visit 20 courses there. We also spotted a few new unlisted courses in England and Scotland that can be added for future visits and visitors.

Related blog posts:

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Unplayed Minigolf Courses on our Roadtrip to Scotland & Back

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

2012 Luton Invitational Minigolf Tournament - New Year's Day Crazy Golf at Woodside Animal Farm

Results and photos from the 2012 Luton Invitational Minigolf Tournament at Woodside Animal Farm, Slip End Village near Luton.

Luton's Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried became the first player to retain the Luton Invitational Tournament title as she defeated 'Squire' Richard Gottfried in the 2012 edition of the competition.

Reigning Luton Invitational Tournament minigolf champion Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried with the 2012 LIT prize of a magnetic Rat 

Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried tees-off on hole one to begin what would be her successful defence of the LIT title

The fourth staging of the event saw only two players compete as Simon 'Practice' Hall failed to make the 2pm tee-off time as he was in no condition to perform.

Emily won the tournament with a score of 47(+11) to Richard's 49(+13), with Emily hitting two Aces on the 18-hole course. Richard scored zero holes-in-one.

Two-time Luton I.T. Minigolf Champion Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried said "I am very pleased to be the first LIT Champion to retain my title, and I am obviously also very happy with my successful start to 2012."

'Squire' Richard Gottfried said "Well played to Lemony for a big minigolf win to start the new year. I always enjoyed starting the year by visiting Woodside Animal Farm. I was disappointed not to win the competition though and doubly annoyed to have fallen over and hurt my knee on the hill on the 15th hole. This year the animals were in high spirits too and we saw two Pigs attempting what looked to be a Piggyback! I think they failed though!"

Simon 'Practice' Hall said "I'm planning to be back in action at the 2013 edition of the event and hopefully it'll be taking place in the French Riviera."

Since 2010 the Luton Invitational Minigolf Tournament has been the traditional opening Miniature Golf event of the year on the Irregular Mini Golf Tour. In 2010 the players faced-off in arctic cold weather conditions, while 2011 was played in heavy drizzle. 2012's weather was mild, but drizzly.

Luton Invitational Tournament Honours Board:
2012 - Emily Gottfried
2011 - Emily Gottfried
2010 - Richard Gottfried
2006 - Joanne Tubby

On the 1st of January each year Woodside Animal Farm opens for a New Year's Day Party to raise money for the Keech Cottage Children's Hospice and Grove House charities.

Video: 'Squire' Richard Gottfried introduces the LIT from Hole 15 of the Woodside Crazy Golf course


Photos of the Luton Invitational Tournament on the Woodside Crazy Golf course:

Emily on Hole 2 - Chicken Run

Emily on her way to scoring a 7 on Hole 7. This would not dent her chances of the win though 

Emily on the Pond Drop hole

Richard on Hole 2 - Chicken Run

Richard on a downhill hole

A tricky second Putt for Richard

Richard on the 'Bags of Fun' hole

Richard 'drives' the Tractor on Hole 18

Photos of our wander around Woodside Animal Farm:

Richard feeds a Miniature Pony

An Alpaca eats some Carrot

The Minature (sic) Ponies!

One of the Pigs

Some Flamingoes

A couple of Lemurs

Archive of LIT Minigolf Results 2006-2012:

2012 Luton Invitational Tournament Results:
1. Emily Gottfried - 47 (+11)
2. Richard Gottfried - 49 (+13)

2011 Luton Invitational Tournament Results:
1. Emily Gottfried - 43 (+7)
2. Richard Gottfried - 51 (+15)
3. Simon Hall - 54 (+18)
4. Mystery Player - 57 (+21)

2010 Luton Invitational Tournament Results:
1. Richard Gottfried - 46 (+10)
2T. Emily Gottfried - 54 (+18)
2T. Mystery Player - 54 (+18)
4. Simon Hall - 57 (+21)

2007-2009 - Luton Invitational Tournament:
Not Played

2006 Luton Invitational Tournament Results*:
1. Jo Tubby - 54 (par)
2. Emily Gottfried - 56 (+2)
3. Richard Gottfried - 62 (+8)
* Note: Par used was 'Course Par' of 3 shots per hole, rather than 'BMGA Par' of 2 shots per hole.


The Woodside Animal Farm Crazy Golf course was the 4th course ever to be played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back on the 27th October 2006. As of January 1st 2012 Emily and Richard have visited 444 Miniature Golf courses on the Tour.

Crazy Golf at Alexandra Palace in London - Course played #282

On Monday 19th December 2011 Brad Shepherd and I made a visit to Alexandra Palace to have a play of the Crazy Golf course set up there.

The 18-hole course became the 282nd played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Playing hole 10

Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd playing hole 3 at Ally Pally

Brad and I faced-off in an 18-hole one-round contest on the course. Over the front-9 holes I scored 15, with Brad hitting a 23. Brad struck back on the back-9 and scored a 22 to my 26. However, I managed to defeat him 41-45.

The course is owned by Moneypenny Events and features some of the holes/frames as the Minigolf courses we previously played at Devonshire Square in London (#155 & #155.5/visit 199b). The company also own the course that has appeared at the o2 (#210).

Photos of the course:

Alexandra Palace is also home to an interesting looking Pitch & Put Miniature Golf Course. Some of the holes are played up/down hill! There is also a Putting Course there. They are both on the 'to play' list, hopefully sometime in 2012...

Links:
- Minigolf & Crazy Golf in London
- Alexandra Palace
- Crazy Golf at Alexandra Palace
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour