Crazy World of Minigolf Tour trip to Colchester, Essex

On the 14th December 2009 we made course visits 201 and 202 on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour when we visited the Castle Park & Gardens in Colchester, Essex.

However, neither of the two courses found in the town were open.



Photos of the Putting Course.



Photos of the Eternit Miniature Golf Course.



Video showing the Eternit Miniature Golf Course.


Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - List and links for all Miniature Golf courses visited to date
- Minigolf and Crazy Golf in Essex

A new 'Superhero'? Mattressman

Mattressman!?

What's on at The Victoria Pub in Ipswich?

Another non-course on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Pub Quiz Crazy Golf in Ipswich

Another non-course on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - a Pub Quiz Crazy Golf game in the new Wetherspoons Pub in Ipswich, Suffolk.

I scored a 48(+12) over 9-holes and failed to qualify for the cash prize game.






Not a lot of fun.

Golf FX at Mannings Amusements now Magical Golf!

While we were in Suffolk at the weekend we made a traditional Christmas-time visit to the seaside resort of Felixstowe.

We've had many great contests on the Irregular Mini Golf Tour at the Felixtowe Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf courses over the years.

During the summer all four of the minigolf courses are usually open, but in the 'off-season' (which doesn't exist on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour) only one course can be guaranteed to be open - the Golf FX at Mannings Family Fun Centre and Amusement Arcade.

However, on our most recent (re)visit on the 13th December 2009* we noticed that the 13-hole Golf FX has been renamed Magical Golf FX!

When we played the refurbished, but not too modified, Magical Golf FX course I scored a 39(+13) to beat Emily, who scored a 47(+21), in the Irregular Mini Golf Tour Magical Golf Open.





Looking at my records from 2008 we also visited the Golf FX Adventure Golf course on the 13th December 2008! On that occasion I beat Emily 35(+9) to 38(+12) in the Felixstowe Classic event on the Irregular Mini Golf Tour.

In the photo below (from June 2007) you can see the change of sign, as the 'Golf FX Character' is no longer used.

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Course Visit Number 200 - Melbourn, Cambs

On Saturday 12th December 2009 me and Emily made the 200th Course Visit on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour!

The location - the 9-hole Crazy Golf Course at the Kingsway Golf Centre in Melbourn, Cambridgeshire.

The course was the 200th I've visited since the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour began in September 2006, and was the 156th course played on the Tour as 44 of the 200 courses visited have been closed/derelict/flooded or unplayable!

Video - A round of Crazy Golf in Melbourn, Cambridgeshire.

The Kingsway Golf Centre was a very good looking BIG Golf Centre with friendly staff. The Crazy Golf is £2.00 to play as much as you like.

Back in May of this year I made the 100th visit overall on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour when I stumbled upon the 9-hole Arnold Palmer course at Pops Meadow Putting Green in Gorleston-on-Sea, and in June I played my 100th course at Smuggler's Cove Adventure Golf in South Shields.

Snow Day in Luton...

...means Sledging!

Richard 'The Snowman' Gottfried.

The sledge-run at Farley Hill, Luton.

A view across Luton towards Popes Meadow.

The sledge-run at Popes Meadow.

Other Ham & Egger Files Blog Posts about Snow and Sledges in Luton:
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/02/new-sledge.html

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

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/02/snow-halts-play.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/02/groundhog-day-2009.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2008/03/snow-day-crazy-golf-course.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2008/03/car-park-snow-golf.html

Videos from the 'Safe Route Challenge' Minigolf Competition

Footage from the Minigolf Doubles Matchplay match played on the Lost Hut Trail course at Adventure Island Mini Golf at Star City, Birmingham.

Richard Gottfried and Paul Johnson teamed up (as 'The Pineapple Bits') to take on Owen Johnson and former World Crazy Golf Champion Chris Harding (as 'The Grapefruit Chunks') in the first-ever 'Safe Route Challenge' Minigolf Competition.











The match was played during our visit to Adventure Island Mini Golf in Birmingham for Unlimited Minigolf on Monday 7th December 2009.

New Felixstowe Crazy Golf Course - an update

On our visit to Felixstowe, Suffolk I took the opportunity to have a look and see how the new 9-hole Sea Front Crazy Golf course was coming along.

However, it looks like the course won't be completed soon as they frames for the holes have been removed. Hopefully they have just been put into storage over the winter and the course will be completed in 2010.


A photo of the partly built course back in May of this year can be seen at http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/05/minigolf-course-re-visits-5-6-7-33-and.html

Below is a photo of the course layout back in May 2008.

The 18-hole Putting Course and Sea Front Crazy Golf are still there though.

Minigolf Report in the Luton News - "Brief respite for Gottfrieds"

This week's Luton News & Dunstable Gazette (page 78) had a report - "Brief respite for Gottfrieds" - about our latest Crazy Golf tournaments in London and Birmingham.

Minigolf course visits 200, 201, 202 and 203...

...on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour were made over the weekend!

Details, photos, videos and results from Irregular Mini Golf Tour events will follow soon.

Talking Crazy Golf on Danny Baker's 5 Live Radio Show

On Saturday 12th December I was on Danny Baker's show on Radio 5 Live as he was talking about Crazy Golf.

You can download the show's Podcast here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/dannybaker/

I'm on from 26 and a half minutes in.

Minigolf Report – Gottfried’s Pre-Season Results

11th December 2009
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report – Gottfried’s Pre-Season Results

During the close-season break in British Minigolf Association (BMGA) tournaments Luton Minigolfers Richard & Emily Gottfried have been preparing for the start of the 2010 Season with friendly matches in Birmingham and an independent competition in London.

On Monday 7th December Richard travelled to the Adventure Island Mini Golf Course at Star City, Birmingham for pre-season matches versus fellow Midlands Minigolf Club Members.

In a friendly match versus Chris Harding, Paul Johnson and Owen Johnson on the Hidden Cove Challenge course Richard scored 37(+1) to finish 3rd.

In the evening’s second competition, held on the Lost Hut Trail course Richard hit a 42(+6) to again finish 3rd.

In the third friendly round of the evening Richard scored a 37(+1) to former World Crazy Golf Champion Chris Harding's 32(-4) to lose by five shots on the Lost Hut Trail.

In an 18-hole Doubles Matchplay match on the Lost Hut Trail course Richard teamed with Paul Johnson to take on Owen Johnson and Chris Harding, losing 3&2.

On Thursday 10th December 2009 Richard and Emily were among twelve BMGA Minigolfers that competed in the 2009 Christmas Crazy Golf Challenge played on the temporarily Christmas-themed Minigolf course at Devonshire Square in London.

The 2009 Christmas Crazy Golf Challenge competition took place over 17-holes and the event was won by Brad ‘The Fist’ Shepherd of the London Minigolf Club, with a score of 41 (+7). Richard finished in fifth place seven shots off the lead with 48 (+14). Emily finished in tied ninth place with Martin Robertson after both finished on 54 (+20).

During the three month close-season Richard and Emily will be touring a number of other courses around the country, as well as practicing at the Crazy Golf course at Tea Green Golf at Wandon End, Luton. In 2010 they will be back in action, first of all competing in the BMGA National Open at Star City in Birmingham, and there are around 20 further events scheduled for the BMGA Tour.

Ends

Minigolf Course Visit No. 199(b) & 155.5 course played!

By visiting the Christmas-themed Minigolf course at Devonshire Square in London for the 2009 Christmas Crazy Golf Challenge competition I also hit somewhat of a 'milestone' on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour as it was Minigolf Course Visit 199(b) and the 155th (and a bit) course I've played since September 2006!



Back in May of this year I hit the '100 courses visited mark' at Pops Meadow Putting Green in Gorleston-on-Sea, and the next minigolf course we visit on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour will be number 200!

View other courses visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Link to a blog post about other Mini Golf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf courses in and around London.

2009 Christmas Crazy Golf Challenge at Devonshire Square

Officially Unofficial Minigolf Report & Results of the 2009 Christmas Crazy Golf Challenge at Devonshire Square

On Thursday 10th December 2009 eleven of Great Britain’s finest minigolfers, along with a New Zealand Crazy Golfer, descended on the temporarily Christmas-themed Minigolf course at Devonshire Square in London to compete in the 2009 Christmas Crazy Golf Challenge.


The 2009 Christmas Crazy Golf Challenge competition took place over 17-holes and the event was won by Brad ‘The Fist’ Shepherd of the London Minigolf Club. Brad’s score of 41 (+7) was four shots clear of his nearest rivals, the duo of Nick 'Top Hole' Chitty and 'Stormin' Alan Norman who tied on 45 (+11) after the 17-holes of regulation play.

The tie could not be decided on holes-in-one either as both Alan and Nick had scored two Aces apiece. A sudden-death play-off would decide the winner, and it was reigning Kent Open Champion and Planet Hastings Crazy Golf Club member Nick Chitty who claimed the runner-up spot at the second extra hole (The Ferris Wheel).

Photos below: Winner Brad Shepherd, Nick Chitty and Alan Norman receive their rosettes from 'Squire' Richard Gottfried.



4th place was also decided with a play-off, as Jon ‘The Stance’ Angel defeated Lionel ‘The Spoon’ Bender after both had tied on 47 (+13).

In 6th place was Luton’s ‘Squire’ Richard Gottfried with a score of 48 (+14). London’s David ‘Man of Question’ Corkett was seventh on 52 (+18), Surrey’s Trevor ‘Trevino/Lord of Smeeth’ Robertson picked up another minigolf competition top-ten finish this year (following his 6th place in the MiniatureGolfer.com '9 Best' Crazy Golf Championships in October) with 8th spot.

Tied in 9th place and deciding against a play-off were Martin ‘Smashing’ Robertson and Emily ‘Coach’ Gottfried, who both scored 54 (+20). Reigning BMGA British Master Chris ‘Stretch’ Jones was 11th after hitting a 55 (+21).

Picking up the wooden spoon with a score of 58 (+24) was New Zealand’s Kelly Maaka, who was playing in only her fourth minigolf competition, following the New Malden Invitational, Motspur Park Classic and a Minigolf Doubles Match at the Jurassic Encounter back in March 2009.





View other courses visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Link to a blog post about other Mini Golf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf courses in and around London.

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Course visit number 199b (Coming Soon)

Watch this space!

Top Putt, or Not

After playing Minigolf at Adventure Island Mini Golf at Star City, Birmingham on Monday we had a wander around the centre and found a Top Putt Putting Machine, sadly it was (as is a running-theme of this blog) 'Out of Order'!

'Unlimited' Minigolf at Star City, Birmingham

On Monday night we made a trip to Adventure Island Mini Golf at Star City, Birmingham to take advantage of the great Monday night deal of 'Unlimited Minigolf' between 6pm and 11pm.


I hadn't played there since the Star City Open last January.


During the evening I managed three friendly rounds.

In a friendly versus Chris Harding, Paul Johnson and Owen Johnson on the Hidden Cove Challenge course I scored 37(+1) to finish 3rd. This was way off my personal best of 32(-4).

On the Lost Hut Trail course I hit a 42(+6) to again finish 3rd, and eight shots off my personal best of 34(-2).

In the third friendly round of the evening I scored a 37(+1) to Chris Harding's 32(-4) on the Lost Hut Trail.

In total I scored seven holes-in-one over the 54-holes.

There was also time for a Doubles Matchplay match on the Lost Hut Trail course with me and Paul Johnson teaming up (as 'The Pineapple Bits') versus Owen Johnson and Chris Harding (as 'The Grapefruit Chunks') in the first-ever 'Safe Route Challenge Competition'.

Paul and I lost to Owen and Chris 3&2 to extend my 'Enhancement Talent' losing-streak in Minigolf Doubles matches to three.




Last year I also took part in the Adventure Island Mini Golf League at the course, where I finished in 2nd place, just behind former World Crazy Golf Champion Chris Harding. And in June 2008 I won the Adventure Island/Heart FM Open at the course.

Review of Tea Green Golf's Crazy Golf course at www.miniaturegolfer.com

My Tea Green Golf, Luton, Minigolf Review is now up at www.miniaturegolfer.com.

You can read the review at - http://www.miniaturegolfer.com/luton_tea_green_golf_review.html

Tiger Woods Crazy Golf Challenge?

I wonder if Tiger Woods would be interested in taking up fellow British Minigolf Association Tour Player (and minigolf legend) Tim 'Ace Man' Davies’ challenge for a head-to-head Crazy Golf battle.

The challenge, put out through the story "Should Tiger go 'crazy' to return to form?" at CNN Living Golf during the summer, continues to go unanswered!

The Luton Bun

Ever heard of the Luton Bun? Neither had I until I read the Simply Sims column (page 6) in the Luton News on Wednesday (2nd December)!


It's on sale in Don Millers bakers in Luton Town Centre and is priced at 65p for one, or two for £1.20, and is described as "A soft, fluffy and light cinnamon bun with currants and a delicious apple filling."


While in town today we popped into Don Millers to sample the Luton Bun, which the owner of the shop has named in honour of the town and to his customers who have supported his business over the last 22 years. His inspiration was taken after seeing many types of food named after their place of origin such as Eccles Cakes and Melton Mowbrey Pies.


Unfortunately as a Coeliac I couldn't partake in the eating of the cake (though I support its introduction as it's a great example of a business creating something new that is linked to the great town of Luton), so it was left to Emily to try it out. And her verdict? Emily says "The Luton Bun was nice, if a little dry. But when you got a bite with the fruit it was really tasty."


My World of Bun Throwing blog also cropped up in Simply Sims search into the Luton Bun and gets a mention in the story!

I'll have to have a go at making a Gluten Free version of the Luton Bun, either that or see if Don Millers would be able to make one using their 'secret recipe'!

Another great Bedfordshire dish is the Bedfordshire Clanger - a suet pastry which is both a savoury and sweet dish in one.

End of Season Minigolf Rankings and BMGA Roll of Honour

In the British Minigolf Association (BMGA) End of Season Minigolf Rankings and BMGA Roll of Honour news story at www.minigolf.org.uk I get a mention for the three wins I achieved on the BMGA Tour this season (along with my fellow 'three-peaters' Andy Exall and Nick Chitty).

Links to my wins:
Manchester Mini Masters minigolf tournament.

Manchester Miniature Open minigolf tournament.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open minigolf tournament.

London Open & Weymouth Open - BMGA Minigolf News Stories

News stories about my weekend of runner-up spots in the London Open and Weymouth Open minigolf tournaments can be found on the British Minigolf Association's website news section at www.minigolf.org.uk.

Links:
The London Open minigolf tournament.

The Weymouth Open minigolf tournament.

Ham & Egger Files Report about the London Open and Weymouth Open.

Canvey Island and its Crazy Golf

The Diamond Geezer Blog has published an interesting post about Canvey Island which gave a mention to the 'lacklustre' Crazy Golf course with a link to my post about the 10 minutes we spent in Canvey Island last November.

Link: Diamond Geezer's Canvey Island Blog Post

My Boondocks Miniature Golf Review on www.theputtingpenguin.com

A review of my visit to the Miniature Golf Courses at Boondocks Fun Center in Northglenn, Colorado, has been published online at www.theputtingpenguin.com.

You can read my review of the Caverns Mill and Hillbilly Hallow Miniature Golf courses at the Putting Penguin website here.

The Putting Penguin website was set up to showcase reviews of Miniature Golf courses around the USA and the world. My visitor review has helped the Putting Penguin website hold reviews of Minigolf courses in 29 states, with my review the first course reviewed in Denver.

A review of Emily's visit to the Minigolf at Circus Circus in Las Vegas will be sent to the Putting Penguin site soon.

Check out www.theputtingpenguin.com for more reviews, and the Putting Penguin's tweets on Twitter at http://twitter.com/PuttingPenguin.