Minigolf Course Visit No. 81 - Sir Joseph Hood Park, Motspur Park

On Saturday 21st March 2009 I visited and played at my 81st Minigolf course. The excellent 18-Hole course at Sir Joseph Hood Park, Motspur Park.

Results of the Motspur Park Classic

Motspur Park Classic
21/03/09

Played at the 18-Hole Minigolf course at Sir Joseph Hood Park, London.

Rank Player Score
1 Brad Shepherd 39
2 Lionel Bender 43
3 Marc Chapman 45
4 Gareth Holmes 47
5 Richard Gottfried 48
6 Emily Gottfried 53
7 Alan Norman 54
8 Kelly Maaka 60

Results of the New Malden Invitational

New Malden Invitational
21/03/09

Played at the Jurassic Encounter 18-Hole Adventure Golf course in New Malden.

Rank Player Score
1 Brad Shepherd 37
2 Lionel Bender* 38
3 Gareth Holmes 38
4 Marc Chapman 39
5 Emily Gottfried 40
6 Richard Gottfried 44
7 Kelly Maaka 49

* Won a play-off at the second extra hole

Miniature Golfer Awards 2008

www.miniaturegolfer.com has unveiled the winners of the Miniature Golfer Awards 2008 and 'Squire' Richard Gottfried picked up the 'Most improved player on the BMGA tour' Award.

An excellent season in 2008 saw Richard win the BMGA British Club Championships as a member of the Midlands Minigolf Club, represent Great Britain in the Nations Cup in Finland, and win the inaugural Weymouth Open. At the end of the 2008 BMGA Tour Richard was ranked 14th of 68 players in the BMGA Order of Merit and 8th of 129 players in the BMGA Season Only Rankings List.

You can view all of the award categories and winners here: http://www.miniaturegolfer.com/miniaturegolfer_forum_awards.html

Minigolf Course Visit No. 80 - Bluewater Shopping Centre, Kent

On Sunday 1st March we visited the 80th course on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, the 9-Hole Putting course at Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent.








Irregular Mini Golf Tour Results - 01/03/09
The Bluewater Classic
Richard Gottfried - 22(+4) & 22(+4) = 44(+8)
Emily Gottfried - 24(+6) & 25(+7) = 49(+13)
Richard wins

Bluewater Matchplay Championships
Match 1 - Richard wins 2&1
Match 2 - Richard wins 1 up

Latest Irregular Mini Golf Tour Results - Gravesend

28th February 2009

Woodlands Park BYO Open
Richard Gottfried - 43(+7)
Emily Gottfried - 43(+7)

Play-off:
5th Hole - EG 2 & RG 2
5th Hole - EG 2 & RG 2
14the Hole - EG 4 & RG 1

Richard wins at the third extra hole with an Ace.

Gravesend Classic
Emily Gottfried beats Richard Gottfried 3 & 2.

Hole...in...one

An Ace on the 5th hole at Woodlands Park in Gravesend, Kent.




Related blog posts:
- Minigolf Course Visit No. 79 - Woodlands Park, Gravesend
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Minigolf Course Visit No. 79 - Woodlands Park, Gravesend

On Saturday 28th February 2009 we visited Woodlands Park in Gravesend, Kent to play the 79th course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


No 'Big' Golf allowed!

The course itself was in the park right next to the hotel we were staying in. Unfortunately the course was no longer actually open and in a bit of a derelict state.

We had brought our own putters and some golf balls on our trip so we were able to have a round. The course was actually OK (and good enough to score a hole-in-one on), so it was odd the course had been shut down.

In our minigolf match-up on the course - the Woodlands Park BYO Open - we drew:
- Richard - 43(+7)
- Emily - 43(+7)

Play-off:
- 5th Hole - EG 2 & RG 2
- 5th Hole - EG 2 & RG 2
- 14the Hole - EG 4 & RG 1

Richard won at the third extra-hole with an Ace.

Gravesend Classic matchplay contest:
- Emily beat Richard 3 & 2.

Related blog posts:
- Hole...in...one
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

A new sledge!

My hunt for a sledge* is now over after I found the 'Omega J.P.R. B90 3RF' today!


*http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/02/sledges-slegdes-sic-snowboards.html

Despite the fact that it is now highly unlikely to snow again anytime soon I have made the wise investment today, for the fun I can have in the future!


A challenge has already been declared to see which will go faster - the new sledge, or the old snowboard? The smart money is on the sledge, it is red after all.

Video of the 2008 BMGA British Matchplay Championships

Sledges (Slegdes - sic) & Snowboards

With the snowy weather continuing, my hunt for a sledge continues. And by the looks of this sign (found in Halfords) the hunt will go on for even longer.



However, my trusty old snowboard is still good fun.

Snow halts play

The past few days of snowy weather made it far too treacherous to make the journey to the Adventure Island Monday Night Minigolf League at Star City, Birmingham.

Instead a walk around Luton took me past the Minigolf Course at Wardown Park which was completely snowed under!





My record in the AIMG Winter League remains as follows:
Played - 10
Won - 8
Drawn - 1
Lost - 1
Points - 25

Groundhog Day 2009

According to legend, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If he does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring.

This year (the 123rd Trek to Gobbler's Knob) the 'Seer of Seers', 'Prognosticator of Prognosticators' Punxsutawney Phil predicts...SIX MORE WEEKS OF WINTER!

To see the 2009 video of the prediction see:
http://visitpa.com/things-to-do/see-more-pa/groundhog-day/index.aspx

For more information on Groundhog Day see: www.groundhog.org

While in Luton Punxsutawney Richard predicts...two more days of snow!

Macmillan Annual Bowling Challenge 2009

For the third year running the Ham & Eggers Bowling Team will be entering the Macmillan Annual Bowling Challenge at Luton's Namco Station in an attempt to win the prestigious Macmillan Shield.

The event is now in its fourth year and the Ham & Eggers are looking to improve on last years Bronze medal position to lift the trophy this year.

Previous Champions:
2008 - The Flecney Four
2007 - Plumbs DIY
2006 - Plumbs DIY

Previous Ham & Eggers Team Rankings:
2008 - 3rd
2007 - 6th
2006 - DNP

The 2008 Report can be seen here.

In the first of many pre-Macmillan Annual Bowling Challenge warm-up events, three of last years team took part in the inaugural Luton Bowling Classic on the 29th January, with Richard scoring 225, Mike 193 and Emily 182.

2009 BMGA British Matchplay Championships

The First Round draw of the 2009 BMGA British Matchplay Championships took place at the BMGA’s HQ in Kent this evening and I was drawn to play against Phil Exall of Tunbridge Wells.

In last years contest I was defeated by Phil's brother Andy Exall in a first round match played at Southend's Adventure Island Course on the 29th March 2008. I finished the inaugural BMGA British Matchplay Championships in 26th place of 29 players.

The 2008 champion was Tim ‘Ace Man’ Davies who defeated Andy ‘Number 2’ Exall 5&4 on the Hastings Seafront Crazy Golf course to lift the title. In the 2008 third/fourth place play-off match Trevor ‘Pumbah’ Exall defeated Kevin ‘Legendus Maximus’ Botto 1up to take the final podium place.

This year the tournament contains 32 players and I'll be looking to do a lot better than in 2008!

The full first round draw is as follows:
1. Cindy Kukielka vs Matthew Harding
2. Chris Jones vs Kevin Botto
3. James Trubridge vs Peter Emmerson
4. Elliott Ward vs Andy Exall
5. Anthony Pope vs Matt Wood
6. Seve Kukielka vs Jas Kukielka
7. Marc Chapman vs Rocky Bullin
8. Keith Kellard vs Terry Exall
9. Gareth Holmes vs Ruth Bullin
10. Chris Harding vs Alan Norman
11. Sean Homer vs Tim Davis
12. Trevor Robertson vs Martin Robertson
13. John Moore vs Den Exall
14. Brad Shepherd vs Marion Homer
15. Phil Exall vs Richard Gottfried
16. Ted McIver vs Leo Kukielka
All first round matches to be played before the 31st May 2009

Minigolf Report – Gottfried tees-off in BMGA Star City Open

18th January 2009
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report – Gottfried tees-off in BMGA Star City Open

Luton Minigolfer Richard Gottfried played in the first tournament of the British Minigolf Association’s 2009 Season at the BMGA Star City Open at Birmingham’s 36-hole Adventure Island Mini Golf course on Sunday 18th January.

Playing one round on the Hidden Cove course and two rounds on the Lost Hut Trail course Richard finished in 24th place in a field of 33 players with a three round total of 111 (+3), after rounds of 36 (par), 37 (+1) and 38 (+2). An average of 2.06 shots per hole

Richard’s round of 36 included five holes-in-one but these were negated by a run of threes to level out the score.

Richard said “I was a bit disappointed with my finish as in practice I had been scoring in the low thirties, but in the competition I just seemed to be hitting too many threes and fours which were cancelling out any aces I hit. The field was pretty close outside of the top five with only a few shots separating the players. I had nine holes in one in total and was playing well but just missed a few of my second shots and had an unlucky four and that did for me.”

The BMGA Star City Open was won by Birmingham’s Chris Harding with a three round total of 89 (-19) which included a new course record of 25 (-11) which is also the lowest ever score on a UK 18-hole minigolf course by a British player.

Second was Jam Trubridge on 98 (-10), and following a play-off win against Kevin Moseley Peter Emmerson took third place with a score of 100 (-8).

Richard is currently ranked 14th in the 2008-09 BMGA Order of Merit, and is in 24th spot in the 2009 BMGA Season Only Rankings.

Richard has signed up to play in a further 15 competitions in 2009 including the BMGA British Matchplay Championships and will next be in action in the ninth annual Planet Hastings Crazy Golf Club Open in late March. He will also be defending both the Weymouth Open title and the BMGA British Club Championship in October.

Ends

Star City Weekend - 17th & 18th January 2009

The BMGA Tour rolled into Birmingham's Star City at the weekend to tee-off the new 2009 Minigolf Season and to hold the first ever BMGA Indoor Open Minigolf Tournament.

In the run up to the main event - the BMGA Star City Open - there were a number of warm-up competitons that I was competing in, including the EqPD Invitational and the Nayland Classic.

EqPD Invitational, 17/01/09
Rank Player R1 R2 Total
1 John "Thighs" Moore 38 34 72
2 "Squire" Richard Gottfried 38 36 74
3 Mark "The Horse Whisperer" Swain 38 41 79
4 Craig McCallister 40 43 83



Nayland Classic, 18/01/09
Rank Player R1 R2 Total
1 Jam Trubridge 32 34 66
2 Brad "The Fist" Shepherd 35 33 68
3 Chris "Stretch" Jones 31 38 69
4 John "Big Top Ted" McIver 34 36 70
4 Rob Dodd 33 37 70
6 Alan "Storming" Norman 33 39 72
6 Mark "The Horse Whisperer" Swain 30 42 72
8 "Squire" Richard Gottfried 36 37 73
9 Gareth Holmes 36 38 74

Results of the Third Annual Watford Classic

Emily Gottfried today won the third annual Irregular Mini Golf Tour Watford Classic, played at the Adventure Golf course at TopGolf Watford.

In the three player strokeplay tournament Emily finished with a 36-hole total of 91 (+19) to lift the trophy for the second time in three years. Second was the defending champion Richard Gottfried with 92 (+20) and the mystery player was third with 96 (+24).

Results of previous Watford Classic tournaments:
2007 - R. Gottfried*
2006 - E. Gottfried
* After play-off

Minigolf Doubles Strokeplay Match - Result

Result from 15th December 2008:
Chris Harding (Midlands) & Rocky Bullin (London) beat Richard Gottfried (Midlands) & Owen Johnson (Midlands), and Ruth Bullin (London) & Matt Smith (Midlands) in an 18-Hole Doubles Strokeplay Match on the Hidden Cove Challenge course at Star City, Birmingham.

1st Chris Harding & Rocky Bullin = 35 (-1)
2nd* Richard Gottfried & Owen Johnson = 37 (+1)
3rd Ruth Bullin & Matt Smith = 37 (+1)

* Won an Aces Play-Off on the 17th Hole

Winter Minigolf League Match Results - 15/12/08

Results from my matches in the Star City Monday Night Winter League on the 15th December 2008.

beat Chris Harding 34 - 37 on the Hidden Cove Course
lost to Matt Smith 36 - 35 on the Hidden Cove Course
beat Matt Smith 38 - 43 on the Lost Hut Course
beat Chris Harding 36 - 38 on the Lost Hut Course

My Adventure Island Mini Golf Winter League win/loss record:
Played - 10
Won - 8
Drawn - 1
Lost - 1
Points - 25

Gottfried's Crazy World of Minigolf - the Tour So Far

'Crazy World of Minigolf' - the Tour So Far

All courses played 30th September 2006 – 7th December 2008
1 Abingdon (Abbey Meadow) – Crazy Golf
2 Abingdon (Abbey Meadow) – Pitch & Putt
3 Bedford – Putting Green
4 Birmingham (Star City) – Adventure Golf (Hidden Cove Challenge)
5 Birmingham (Star City) – Adventure Golf (Lost Hut Trail)
6 Blackpool (Pleasure Beach) – Adventure Golf (New)
7 Blackpool (Pleasure Beach) – Adventure Golf (Old)
8 Blackpool (Stanley Park) – Crazy Golf
9 Blackpool (Starr Gate) – Minigolf (Arnold Palmer)
10 Brighton (East of Palace Pier) – Crazy Golf
11 Brighton (Peter Pan's) – Adventure Golf
12 Broadstairs (Lillyputt Minigolf) – Lillyputt Minigolf (Arnold Palmer)
13 Broxbourne (Paradise Wildlife Park) – Adventure Golf
14 Coalville – Adventure Golf
15 Eastbourne (Treasure Island) – Adventure Golf
16 Felixstowe (Fantasia) – Adventure Golf
17 Felixstowe (Mannings) – Golf FX
18 Felixstowe (Sea Front) – Crazy Golf
19 Felixstowe (Sea Front) – Putting Green
20 Filey – Crazy Golf
21 Great Yarmouth (Arnold Palmer) – Minigolf 18 Hole
22 Great Yarmouth (Arnold Palmer) – Minigolf 9 Hole
23 Great Yarmouth (Hollywood Adventure Golf, Windmill Theatre) – Indoor Adventure Golf
24 Great Yarmouth (Jungle Golf at the Gardens) – Crazy Golf
25 Great Yarmouth (Pirates Cove) – Adventure Golf
26 Great Yarmouth (Pleasure Beach) – Adventure Golf
27 Hastings (Planet Hastings) – Minigolf
28 Hastings (Seafront) – Adventure Golf
29 Hastings (Seafront) – Crazy Golf
30 Hastings (Seafront) – Minigolf
31 Hayling Island – Adventure Golf
32 Letchworth Garden City – Par 3 Mini Golf/Pitch & Putt
33 Letchworth Garden City – Putting Course on Grass
34 Lowestoft – Adventure Golf
35 Luton (Stockwood Park) – Mini Golf/Pitch & Putt
36 Luton (Wardown Park) – Crazy Golf
37 Luton (Wardown Park) – Mini Golf/Pitch & Putt
38 Luton (Woodside Animal Farm) – Adventure Golf
39 Lytham St Anne’s – Crazy Golf
40 Margate (Little Oasis Crazy Golf) Cliftonville – Minigolf (Arnold Palmer) 1 of the 2 18-hole courses
41 Margate (Palm Bay Café) Cliftonville – Crazy Golf on Grass
42 Margate (Strokes) – Adventure Golf
43 Milton Keynes (Willen Lake) – Adventure Golf
44 Northwick Park – ‘Mini Majors’ Adventure Golf
45 Portsmouth/Southsea (Treasure Island) – Adventure Golf (Victory & Warrior Trails)
46 Ryde (Isle of Wight) – Adventure Golf
47 Rylstone Gardens (Isle of Wight) – Crazy Golf
48 Sandown (Isle of Wight) – Beton Crazy Golf
49 Sandown (Isle of Wight) – Indoor Adventure Golf
50 Scarborough – Adventure Golf
51 Shanklin (Isle of Wight) – Adventure Golf
52 Shanklin (Isle of Wight) – Beton Crazy Golf
53 Shefford, Bedfordshire (The Green Man Pub) – Crazy Golf
54 Southend-on-Sea (Adventure Island) – Adventure Golf (Aztec & Inca courses)
55 Southend-on-Sea (Arnold Palmer Minigolf) – Minigolf
56 Southsea – Crazy Golf
57 Southsea – Putting Green
58 Southsea (Golf Links) – 9 Hole Par 3/Pitch & Putt
59 St Albans, Hertfordshire (Verulamium Park) – Crazy Golf
60 Stonham, Suffolk (Stonham Barns) – Crazy Golf
61 Stratford-upon-Avon – Minigolf
62 Tampere, Finland – Beton
63 Tampere, Finland – Eternit
64 Tampere, Finland – Swedish Felt
65 Warwick (St Nicholas Park) – Adventure Golf
66 Warwick (St Nicholas Park) – Derelict Crazy Golf
67 Watford (Top Golf) – 9 Hole Putting Green
68 Watford (Top Golf) – Adventure Golf
69 West Hagbourne, Oxon (Horse & Harrow Pub) – Crazy Golf
70 Wroxham Barns – Adventure Golf
71 Bury St Edmunds (Abbey Gardens) – Crazy Golf
72 Dorridge (Four Ashes Golf Centre) – Minigolf
73 Coventry (Allesley Park) – Crazy Golf
74 New Malden – Jurassic Golf
75 Guildford (Stoke Park) – Swedish Felt
76 Weymouth (Sea Life Centre) – Adventure Golf
77 Weymouth (Bowleaze Cove) – Crazy Golf
78 Herne Bay – Adventure Golf

Courses visited but not played* 30th September 2006 – 7th December 2008
A Southend-on-Sea (Arnold Palmer Minigolf) – Derelict Minigolf
B Alton Towers – Extraordinary Golf
C Lowestoft – Putting Green
D Lytham St Anne’s – Crazy Golf #2
E Weymouth – Putting Green
F Guildford Lido – Minigolf
G Margate (Little Oasis Crazy Golf) Cliftonville – Minigolf (Arnold Palmer) the 2nd 18-hole course
H Canvey Island – Crazy Golf
I Oxford (Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park) – Swedish Felt
J Oxford (Bury Knowle Park) – Swedish Felt
K Oxford (Florence Park) – Swedish Felt

* Due to closure, flooding or dereliction

Related Blog Post:

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Minigolf in Oxford, in December

On an icy cold and foggy Sunday in December what better way to spend your time than searching the historic City of Oxford for it's hidden Minigolf treasures.

Three of Oxford's parks are home to Minigolf courses, and all three are Swedish Felt courses!

The first park we visited was Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park, in the north of the city, where we found the first of the three 9-hole courses.





Stop two of the day was at Headington's Bury Knowle Park.





Our last stop of the afternoon, and with the fog creeping in, was at Florence Park where I managed to get these photos just before the park gates closed.





We're now looking forward to returning to Oxford in the summer to improve our scores on these very testing Swedish Felt courses.

Link:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour