Under the Pier Show - Southwold

The Under the Pier Show 'alternative amusement arcade' in Southwold, Suffolk.


On a recent Holiday/Roadtrip we stopped off in Southwold, Suffolk. While on the pier we found a great arcade described as "A MAD ARCADE OF HOME-MADE SLOT MACHINES & SIMULATOR RIDES".

Playing Mobility Masterclass at the Under the Pier Show in Southwold

Trying out the Break In game at the Under the Pier Show in Southwold

The Fly Drive arcade game at the Under the Pier Show in Southwold

For more information take a look at the Under the Pier Show and Southwold Pier websites.

Southwold Pier in May 2009

Ham & Eggers play in the F.U.N. Charity Tenpin Bowling Competition

On Wednesday 20th May the Ham & Eggers Tenpin Bowling Team played in the Families United Network F.U.N. Charity Tenpin Bowling Competition at Go Bowling in Dunstable.

Competing against 31 other teams, the Ham & Eggers were drawn against Carey's Team in the Matchplay rounds.

Over two games the team of Richard 'Bowlingo' Gottfried, Emily 'MVP' Gottfried, James 'The Great Sparedini' Cunliffe and Laura Woods scored 751, to beat Carey's Team by 33 points.

The overall tournament winners were the team from The Old Palace Lodge in Dunstable.

Pictured from l-r, Oxana 'Roxana' Nikandrova, Richard 'Bowlingo' Gottfried (Captain), Emily 'MVP' Gottfried, James 'The Great Sparedini' Cunliffe and Laura Woods.

For more information about Families United Network please visit - http://www.familiesunitednetwork.co.uk/home.html

Minigolf Doubles - Career Stats

Richard Gottfried's Career Minigolf Doubles Matchplay Stats:
Played – 12*
Won – 6
Drawn – 1
Lost – 5
* Seven matches at the 2008 BMGA British Doubles Championship, Warwick (with Emily Gottfried). Four matches at Star City, Birmingham (with Andy Gonsalves x 2, Matt Smith & Owen Johnson). One match at Stratford Upon Avon (with Kevin Moseley).

Richard Gottfried's Career Minigolf Doubles Strokeplay Stats:
Played – 3*
Won – 1
Lost – 2
Drawn – 0
* Includes matches with playing partners Owen Johnson (Star City), Paul Johnson (Star City) and Emily Gottfried (New Malden).

Minigolf Report - Midlands Invitational Tournament

17th May 2009
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report – Midlands Invitational Tournament (MIT)

Minigolfers Richard & Emily Gottfried travelled to Stratford Upon Avon on Sunday 17th May to compete in the Midlands Invitational Tournament (MIT). Played over 36 holes at the 18-hole Recreation Ground course, Richard finished in 5th place and Emily 7th in the 14 strong field. The MIT was won by Bath’s Kevin Moseley with a two round score of 64 (-8).

Richard had rounds of 39 (+3) and 36 (par) for a total of 75 (+3), including two holes-in-one.

Emily had rounds of 38 (+2) and 41 (+5) for a total of 79 (+7), including an impressive eight aces.

Richard said “I was pleased with fifth spot and just wish I had hit a few more holes-in-one. The Stratford course is one of the finest in the country and the difference between an ace and a two on most holes is marginal and can be a big difference maker in the competition.”

Heading into the second round Emily was in fifth spot but a few costly fours negated her excellent eight holes-in-one.

Emily said “I had quite a random day, jumping from fours to aces, and although eight aces over two rounds is an excellent total for me, it’s a shame I wasted them by missing some other easy shots.”

In June Richard & Emily will be playing in the BMGA British Doubles taking place in Boscombe. After the main MIT competition Richard and playing partner Kevin Moseley got some practice in picking up a victory in a Doubles Matchplay match, defeating the duo of Jam Trubridge and Peter Jones 4 & 2.

Ends

Bowlplex Braehead

In preparation for our next outing in a tenpin bowling tournament we got some practice in at the lanes at the Bowlplex in Braehead, Glasgow.

Glasgow Minigolf Tour & Course Visits 89, 90 & 91

This weekend our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour headed north of the border for the first time, as we visited Glasgow.

Knowing that there are two 18-hole Adventure Golf courses at Paradise Island at Xscape Braehead I had also heard that many of the city's parks are home to Putting courses.

First off at Victoria Park we found a 9-hole Putting course (#89).






Followed by a very derelict and unique 18-hole course that was very unplayable.









Paradise Island is home to Maggie McCaw's Challenge course (#90) and the Tiki Hut Trail course (#91).










After a 36-hole draw with Emily the decider was whether either of us could win at the lucky 19th Hole, and unfortunately for me, Emily did!



After buying a Glasgow postcard I noticed that on the photo of Glasgow Green there looked to be a course next to the monument to Nelson. However, on visiting the park we found no sign of a Minigolf course.




Prior to all of the Minigolf action I fuelled up on Ham & Eggs and also spotted a Eggs & Ham sign!



All in all a very fun minigolfing weekend in a great city.

Blog post about our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour course visits.

Then & Now – Southend Arnold Palmer ‘West’ Course

The 'West' Course at Southend's Arnold Palmer Minigolf is no more.


The 'East' Course still exists and is in good condition.





However, the derelict 'West' course has been in decay for a number of years, and on my last visit in April 2009 all trace of the 18-holes that had once been there were gone.

Below are some of the photos I have taken of the course since I've been competing in Minigolf tournaments in Southend.

March 2007

March 2007

March 2008

November 2008

November 2008

November 2008

Gottfried's Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - 100 Minigolf Courses visited to date!

Mini Golf blog post about the visit to the 100th course on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

While I haven’t been able to play them all, due to closure/dereliction/flooding and visits ‘out of season’, to date I have visited 100 Minigolf courses around the UK, with a few played in Finland and the USA.

Number 100 was the 9-hole Arnold Palmer course at Pops Meadow Putting Green in Gorleston-on-Sea on Sunday 10th May 2009.




Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

All courses played 30th September 2006 - 10th May 2009
1 Portsmouth/Southsea (Treasure Island) - Adventure Golf (Victory Trail)
2 Portsmouth/Southsea (Treasure Island) - Adventure Golf (Warrior Trail)
3 Southsea (Golf Links) - 9 Hole Par 3/Pitch & Putt
4 Luton (Woodside Animal Farm) - Adventure Golf
5 Felixstowe (Mannings) - Golf FX
6 Felixstowe (Sea Front) - Crazy Golf
7 Felixstowe (Fantasia) - Adventure Golf
8 Watford (Top Golf) - Adventure Golf
9 Watford (Top Golf) - 9 Hole Putting Green
10 West Hagbourne, Oxon (Horse & Harrow Pub) - Crazy Golf
11 Shefford, Bedfordshire (The Green Man Pub) - Crazy Golf
12 Brighton (East of Palace Pier) - Crazy Golf
13 Brighton (Peter Pan's) - Adventure Golf
14 Southend-on-Sea (Adventure Island) - Adventure Golf (Inca course)
15 Southend-on-Sea (Adventure Island) - Adventure Golf (Aztec course)
16 Southend-on-Sea (Arnold Palmer Minigolf, East Course) - Minigolf
17 St Albans, Hertfordshire (Verulamium Park) - Crazy Golf
18 Luton (Wardown Park) - Crazy Golf
19 Luton (Wardown Park) - Mini Golf/Pitch & Putt
20 Lowestoft - Adventure Golf
21 Great Yarmouth (Pirates Cove) - Adventure Golf
22 Great Yarmouth (Arnold Palmer) - Minigolf 18 Hole
23 Great Yarmouth (Arnold Palmer) - Minigolf 9 Hole
24 Great Yarmouth (Pleasure Beach) - Adventure Golf
25 Great Yarmouth (Jungle Golf at the Gardens) - Crazy Golf (Update: 10th May 2009 - no longer exists, a Segway Grand Prix track is in its place)
26 Great Yarmouth (Hollywood Adventure Golf, Windmill Theatre) - Indoor Adventure Golf
27 Warwick (St Nicholas Park) - Adventure Golf
28 Warwick (St Nicholas Park) - Derelict Crazy Golf
29 Milton Keynes (Willen Lake) - Adventure Golf
30 Luton (Stockwood Park) - Mini Golf/Pitch & Putt
31 Abingdon (Abbey Meadow) - Crazy Golf
32 Abingdon (Abbey Meadow) - Pitch & Putt
33 Stonham, Suffolk (Stonham Barns) - Crazy Golf
34 Margate (Strokes) - Adventure Golf
35 Broadstairs (Lillyputt Minigolf) - Lillyputt Minigolf (Arnold Palmer)
36 Margate (Palm Bay Café) Cliftonville - Crazy Golf on Grass
37 Margate (Little Oasis Crazy Golf) Cliftonville - Minigolf (Arnold Palmer) 1 of the 2 18-hole courses
38 Letchworth Garden City - Putting Course on Grass
39 Hastings (Seafront) - Crazy Golf
40 Hastings (Seafront) - Minigolf
41 Hastings (Seafront) - Adventure Golf
42 Broxbourne (Paradise Wildlife Park) - Adventure Golf
43 Hastings (Planet Hastings) - Minigolf
44 Blackpool (Pleasure Beach) - Adventure Golf (New)
45 Blackpool (Starr Gate) - Minigolf (Arnold Palmer)
46 Blackpool (Pleasure Beach) - Adventure Golf (Old 'Alpine Golf')
47 Blackpool (Stanley Park) - Crazy Golf
48 Lytham St Anne’s - Crazy Golf
49 Stratford-upon-Avon - Minigolf
50 Tampere, Finland - Beton
51 Tampere, Finland - Eternit
52 Tampere, Finland - Swedish Felt
53 Felixstowe (Sea Front) - Putting Green
54 Coalville - Adventure Golf
55 Scarborough - Adventure Golf
56 Filey - Crazy Golf
57 Birmingham (Star City) - Adventure Golf (Lost Hut Trail)
58 Birmingham (Star City) - Adventure Golf (Hidden Cove Challenge)
59 Northwick Park - ‘Mini Majors’ Adventure Golf
60 Eastbourne (Treasure Island) - Adventure Golf
61 Southsea - Crazy Golf
62 Southsea - Putting Green
63 Shanklin (Isle of Wight) - Beton Crazy Golf
64 Shanklin (Isle of Wight) - Adventure Golf
65 Rylstone Gardens (Isle of Wight) - Crazy Golf
66 Sandown (Isle of Wight) - Indoor Adventure Golf
67 Sandown (Isle of Wight) - Beton Crazy Golf
68 Ryde (Isle of Wight) - Adventure Golf
69 Hayling Island - Adventure 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
79 Gravesend, Woodlands Park - Derelict Crazy Golf
80 Bluewater - Pro Tour Putting
81 Motspur Park, Sir Joseph Hood Park - Mini Golf
82 Northglenn, Denver, Colorado, USA, Boondocks Fun Center, Caverns Mill Course - Miniature Golf
83 Northglenn, Denver, Colorado, USA, Boondocks Fun Center, Hillbilly Hallow Course - Miniature Golf
84 Manchester - Championship MiniatureGolf @ Playgolf Manchester - Miniature Golf
85 Manchester - Paradise Island Adventure Golf (Tiki Hut Trail) - Adventure Golf
86 Manchester - Paradise Island Adventure Golf (Temple Ruins Adventure) - Adventure Golf
87 Canvey Island - Fantasy Island Minigolf
88 Hemsby - Lost World Adventure Golf

Courses visited but not played* 30th September 2006 - 10th May 2009
1 Southend-on-Sea (Arnold Palmer Minigolf, West Course) - Derelict Minigolf (Update: 25th April 2009 - now demolished)
2 Alton Towers - Extraordinary Golf
3 Lowestoft - Putting Green
4 Lytham St Anne’s - Crazy Golf #2
5 Weymouth - Putting Green
6 Guildford Lido - Minigolf
7 Margate (Little Oasis Crazy Golf) Cliftonville - Minigolf (Arnold Palmer) the 2nd 18-hole course
8 Oxford (Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park) - Swedish Felt
9 Oxford (Bury Knowle Park) - Swedish Felt
10 Oxford (Florence Park) - Swedish Felt
11 Hemsby - Stonehenge BIG Mini Golf
12 Gorleston-on-Sea - Minigolf (Arnold Palmer)

* Due to closure, flooding or dereliction

100 Courses visited to date!

Related blog posts:
- List of courses visited and played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - course re-visit and played course #173 - Gorleston-on-Sea

Grazy Golf!?

The Indoor Adventure Golf Course at the Windmill Theatre in Great Yarmouth is advertising a type of Minigolf I have not seen before – Grazy Golf!?





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