Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Course Visit #165 - Whaddon, Cambridgeshire (Whaddon Golf Centre) - Crazy Golf

Whaddon Golf Centre in Cambridgeshire is also home to a 9-hole Crazy Golf course.

Videos from the visit.

Course introduction.


Course view.


A tricky hole.







In the Irregular Mini Golf Tour 'Whaddon Masters' tournament I beat Emily 50 to 66 over two-rounds.

The Crazy Golf course at Whaddon Golf Centre was the 165th played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

For the full list and links to other courses visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour please visit - http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/12/crazy-world-of-minigolf-tour-courses.html

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Course Visit #164 - Whaddon, Cambridgeshire (Whaddon Golf Centre) - Putting

As part of our East & West Anglia Spring Roadtrip we made a visit to Whaddon Golf Centre in Cambridgeshire on the 9th April.

The centre is home to a BIG Golf course, Putting Green and a 9-hole Crazy Golf course.

The Putting course was the 164th played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.




For the full list and links to other courses visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour please visit - http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/12/crazy-world-of-minigolf-tour-courses.html

East (and West) Anglia Spring Minigolf Roadtrip!

We went on a bit of a roadtrip around East (and West) Anglia this weekend and found some new minigolf courses.

Full details, pics and videos to follow.

The courses were at:
- Whaddon Golf Centre, Cambs (one of only 2 crazy golf courses in Cambridgeshire)
- Felixstowe - great Adventure Golf, along with all manner of changes and dereliction and hotch-potching going on there, plus Donkey Rides in place of Crazy Golf!?
- Old Joe's Driving Range, Cornard Tye, Suffolk - A Grass Putting Course
- The Maldon Grey Pub, Sudbury, Suffolk - A pub beer garden crazy golf course

Great fun!

Thursday, April 08, 2010

Gottfried's in the latest WMF World Minigolf Rankings (March 2010)

The latest World Minigolfsport Federation (WMF) World Rankings Lists have been updated and released (dated 1st March 2010).

Both Emily and I have moved up in the WMF Rankings from our previous positions.

In the last rankings Emily was ranked 130th and is now 109th in the WMF Women's World Rankings.

I was previously ranked 418th and am now 358th in the WMF Men's World Rankings.

Great Britain remains 24th of 30 countries in the WMF Nations Ranking List.

The WMF World Minigolf Rankings are those of the World Minigolfsport Federation (WMF) and are published twice annually.

Emily and I each have one Great Britain International Cap from our appearance in the 2008 Nations Cup in Tampere, Finland.

Link to the full WMF World Rankings Lists (March 2010).

Link to my updated minigolf player profile.

Monday, April 05, 2010

From the Archives - Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Course Visit #13 - Brighton - Peter Pan's


Course Visit #13 on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour was to Brighton's 12-hole Peter Pan Adventure Golf course on Madeira Drive.

I first visited the course in March 2007 and then re-visited while we were in town for the Brighton Open minigolf tournament in July 2007.



The course was also visited when we were in town for the 2008 Brighton Open competition.

Crazy Golf in Brighton

Playing the Crazy Golf course East of Palace Pier in Brighton.

Crazy Golf course in Brighton
Course Visit #12 on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour was to Brighton's very well positioned 18-hole Crazy Golf course east of the Palace Pier.

I first visited the course in March 2007 and then re-visited while we were in town for the Brighton Open minigolf tournament in July 2007 (which was played at the better 12-hole Peter Pan Adventure Gole course on Madeira Drive - course visit #13).

Crazy Golf course in Brighton
Crazy Golf course in Brighton
I have also heard there are two other Crazy Golf courses in Brighton that I am yet to visit (one at the Marina, the other outside King Alfred's Leisure Centre).

There also used to be a Crazy Golf game on the pier too - it's long gone now!

Related blog posts:
- Brighton
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- A Gottfried visits a closed minigolf course

Friday, April 02, 2010

Ham & Egger Files linked to in Hither Green Minigolf story

The Ham & Egger Files and the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour have been mentioned in a blog post by Max Calò about the Meridian South Piazza and the new Swedish Felt Minigolf course in Hither Green, Lewisham.

Click on the link to read the blog post "Will Minigolf save the Meridian South Piazza?"

Not a Crazy Golf/Minigolf hole in Austria...

...but it looked like it could have been (albeit if it wasn't in someone's front garden in Bisamberg!)


Another 'non-course', this one spotted in Southsea a few years ago.

Minigolf Course Visit #210(a!?) - Vienna, Austria (Askoe Wien Wasserpark) - pit-pat "Hindernis Billards"!

The Askoe Wien Wasserpark is home to a pit-pat "Hindernis Billards"* course!

It looks like minigolf, on legs, played with cues!

Pit-Pat at the Askoe Wien Wasserpark in Vienna, Austria
Pit-Pat at the Askoe Wien Wasserpark in Vienna, Austria
Pit-Pat at the Askoe Wien Wasserpark in Vienna, Austria
Pit-Pat at the Askoe Wien Wasserpark in Vienna, Austria
I have heard there is a course in the UK - I will seek it out.
- Update: April 2014 - the course is in Littlehampton.

* "Obstacle Billiards"

Links:
Askoe Wien website
Askoe Wien on Facebook
Austrian Minigolf Federation (Österreichischer Bahnengolf-Verband)
Minigolf Tag (Minigolf Day)
World Minigolf Federation

Related blog posts:
Austria
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
Pit-Pat
Minigolf Tag
Minigolf Course Played #163 - Vienna, Austria (Askoe Wien Wasserpark) - Swedish Felt
Minigolf Course Visit #210 - Vienna, Austria (Askoe Wien Wasserpark) - Eternit Miniature Golf

Minigolf Course Visit #210 - Vienna, Austria (Askoe Wien Wasserpark) - Eternit Miniature Golf

Unfortunately on my trip to Vienna the 18-hole Eternit Miniature Golf course at the Askoe Wien Wasserpark was not open (as the minigolf season had not yet started).

Eternit Miniature Golf course at the Askoe Wien Wasserpark in Vienna, Austria
Eternit Miniature Golf course at the Askoe Wien Wasserpark in Vienna, Austria
Eternit Miniature Golf course at the Askoe Wien Wasserpark in Vienna, Austria
Eternit Miniature Golf course at the Askoe Wien Wasserpark in Vienna, Austria
Eternit Miniature Golf course at the Askoe Wien Wasserpark in Vienna, Austria
Links:
Askoe Wien website
Askoe Wien on Facebook
Austrian Minigolf Federation (Österreichischer Bahnengolf-Verband)
Minigolf Tag (Minigolf Day)
World Minigolf Federation

Related blog posts:
Austria
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
Pit-Pat
Minigolf Tag
Minigolf Course Played #163 - Vienna, Austria (Askoe Wien Wasserpark) - Swedish Felt
Minigolf Course Visit #210(a!?) - Vienna, Austria (Askoe Wien Wasserpark) - pit-pat "Hindernis Billards"!

Minigolf Course Played #163 - Vienna, Austria (Askoe Wien Wasserpark) - Swedish Felt

While in Vienna, Austria recently I had the chance to play the 18-hole Swedish Felt Minigolf course at the Askoe Wien Wasserpark.

Askoe Wien Wasserpark in Vienna, Austria
Swedish Felt minigolf course at the Askoe Wien Wasserpark in Vienna, Austria
An incredibly tough course, and the longest Swedish Felt course in Europe.

Swedish Felt minigolf course at the Askoe Wien Wasserpark in Vienna, Austria
Swedish Felt minigolf course at the Askoe Wien Wasserpark in Vienna, Austria
Swedish Felt minigolf course at the Askoe Wien Wasserpark in Vienna, Austria
Swedish Felt minigolf course at the Askoe Wien Wasserpark in Vienna, Austria
Swedish Felt minigolf course at the Askoe Wien Wasserpark in Vienna, Austria
Links:
Askoe Wien website
Askoe Wien on Facebook
Austrian Minigolf Federation (Österreichischer Bahnengolf-Verband)
Minigolf Tag (Minigolf Day)
World Minigolf Federation

Related blog posts:
Austria
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
Pit-Pat
Minigolf Tag
Minigolf Course Visit #210 - Vienna, Austria (Askoe Wien Wasserpark) - Eternit Miniature Golf
Minigolf Course Visit #210(a!?) - Vienna, Austria (Askoe Wien Wasserpark) - pit-pat "Hindernis Billards"!

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

"Richard Gottfried pipped to the post in Lewisham" - Luton News minigolf report

The Sports News Report - "Richard Gottfried pipped to the post in Lewisham" - about my second place in the Spring Classic minigolf competition at Hither Green is in today's Luton News & Dunstable Gazette newspapers, page 119 .

There is also a report on the event, in which I get a mention, in the Lewisham & Catford News Shopper.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Irregular Mini Golf Tour TTT Classic & Rankings Update

The Irregular Mini Golf Tour welcomed its newest member yesterday, as Guildford's Oliver Florence competed against 'Squire' Richard Gottfried and Owen 'Jackpot' Johnson in the Irregular Mini Golf Tour TTT Classic.

Rank Player Score
1 Richard Gottfried 44(+8)
2 Oliver Florence 51(+15)
3 Owen Johnson 53(+17)

Irregular Mini Golf Tour Rankings Update



Key:
NM Non-Mover
NE New Entry
NL Not Listed yet this Season

Irregular Mini Golf Tour Ranking Points Calculations 2009/2010:
1st place = 100 points
2nd place = 75 points
3rd place = 50 points
Other place = 10 points

Minigolf Result - Doubles Matchplay - Team Squire vs. The Kellys

Following the Spring Classic minigolf tournament at Hither Green yesterday, Emily and I (as Team Squire) took on Tony & Adam Kelly in a Doubles Matchplay match.


In a very close match that went to the full 18-holes, it was Tony & Adam that picked up the win 2up.

Updated Minigolf Doubles Record:


Minigolf Report – Richard Gottfried runner-up in the Spring Classic competition at Hither Green

28th March 2010
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report – Richard Gottfried runner-up in the Spring Classic competition at Hither Green


Luton Minigolfer Richard Gottfried finished in 2nd place in a 17 player field in the Spring Classic minigolf tournament at the 18-hole Green Indoor Mini-Golf course in Hither Green, Lewisham on Saturday 27th March. Emily Gottfried also played and achieved 9th place.


The two-round competition was won by Canterbury’s Marc Chapman with a score of 69(-3). Richard had a 36-hole total of 87(+15) which included scores of 43(+7), and 44(+8). Emily had scores of 49(+13) and 60(+24) for a 109(+37) total.

The event took place on a new Swedish Felt Minigolf Course, one of the most challenging types of Miniature Golf course, and the only full size example of its kind in the UK. Richard’s score of 43 was also a new Personal Best on the Swedish Felt format, having previously only scored in the 50s and 60s.

Richard said “It’s brilliant to get a second place and especially pleasing considering my previous form on Swedish Felt courses. The personal best was great to get too. This is my second top ten finish in the three events I have played this season, and a great way to bounce back from my English Open finish last month. The BMGA Tour will be hosting more events at Hither Green this season so I will be looking forward to those.”


Richard is currently ranked 19th of 84 players in the 2009-2010 BMGA Order of Merit and 17th of 63 players in the 2010 BMGA Season Only Rankings. Emily is currently 42nd in the BMGA Order of Merit list. Richard is also currently ranked 31st of 255 players in the Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Rankings.

Ends

Minigolf Results - 2010 Spring Classic competition at Hither Green


Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Christopher Gottfried - Minigolf Player Profile

Miniature Golf Player Profile for Christopher Gottfried

Christopher Gottfried playing the Southsea Common Crazy Golf Course
Nickname
Bogey

Putter
Course

Laterality
Left-handed

Favourite Minigolf Balls
Yellow Ones

Minigolf Club Membership
Since-2007 - Portsmouth & Southsea Crazy Golf Club* (PSCGC)

BMGA Tournament Results

Other Tournament Results
Winner - Southsea Common Crazy Golf Classic 2011
Winner - Southsea Warrior Trail Masters 2009
Winner (Tied) - Southsea Invitational 2006
Winner (with Richard Gottfried) - SB Classic Doubles 2010
Runner-up - Amsterdam Open Championship 2017
Runner-up - Five-Course Southsea & Gosport Classic 2011
Runner-up - Southsea Pirate Masters 2010
Runner-up - Southsea Classic 2008
3rd - Crazy World of Minigolf Tour 5-Year Anniversary Tournament 2011
3rd - Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Victory & Warrior Trail 5-Year Anniversary Tournament 2011
3rd - Hampshire & Isle of Wight Invitational Tournament 2008
4th - The Brewmaster's Open 2012
4th - Luton Cup 2007

BMGA Tour Rankings
BMGA Season Only Rankings - 111th - 2008

Christopher Gottfried playing the Tea Green Golf Minigolf Course in Luton
* aka the Portsmouth & Southsea Crazy Gold Club

2010 Macmillan Cancer Support Annual Bowling Challenge

The Ham & Eggers Tenpin Bowling Team will be defending their Macmillan Annual Bowling Challenge Title at Luton's Namco Station in April.

Will anyone be able to beat the Ham & Eggers this year?

More information (and a photo of last year's victors) can be found at the Macmillan Cancer Support website.

Report from the Ham & Eggers Tenpin Bowling Team's win at the 2009 Macmillan Bowling Challenge.

Minigolf & Crazy Golf Rankings Update

Having missed the last event on the British Minigolf Association Tour - the BMGA British Masters - I am now currently ranked 19th of 84 players in the 2009-10 BMGA Order of Merit and 17th of 63 players in the 2010 BMGA Season Only Rankings.

In the 2003-2009 Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Rankings I am currently ranked 31st of 255 players.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Finger Jousting Update

While away in Austria recently I happened to introduce the Sport of Finger Jousting to two new international players - one from Finland and one from Hungary.

My winning streak continues (now at 62 matches and over three years), but I did 'suffer' two draws!

Finger Jousting
Win-Loss Record
Career Win-Loss Record Stats

Played 113
Won 101
Lost 9
Tied 3
% Won 89.38%

Matches (Since Official Membership of the WFJF)
Played 99
Won 92
Lost 4
Tied 3
% Won 92.93%

Links to other Finger Jousting stories on The Ham & Egger Files:

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/11/finger-jousting-video-squire-richard-of.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/11/finger-jousting-three-years-on.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/11/montegue-blisters-strange-games.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2008/10/finger-jousting-in-news.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2008/08/finger-jousting-win-loss-record.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2007/12/gottfried-wins-gottfried-wins-gottfried.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2007/12/finger-jousting-match-of-year.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2006/12/finger-jousting.html

For more information about the noble sport of Finger Jousting head over to the World Finger Jousting Federation's website at http://www.fingerjoust.com/

Mention in a minigolf rival's blog!

I get a mention in a blog post about BMGA Tour rookie Oliver Florence's first BMGA British Masters appearance.

Click to read the story - "Florence targets home success at Masters."

Minigolf 'Links Darts' featured in We Love Darts magazine

I have had a letter & photo printed in the March 2010 issue of We Love Darts magazine about the second minigolf 'Links Darts' tournament that is planned to take place on this year's BMGA Tour!

The photo was from the Semi-final between Rich 'The Bass' Hopkins and Tim '180' Davies from their match-up after the first day's play in the 2008 BMGA British Championships of Minigolf in Hastings.



You can buy We Love Darts magazine from http://www.welovedarts.com/.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Update on Course #149 - Cae Glas Park, Oswestry - the wierdest crazy golf hole?

My fellow Minigolf Golf tourists Paul and Owen Johnson alerted me to a change in the Cae Glas Park minigolf course in Oswestry following another visit they made last week.

The 18th hole is no longer a 'plant pot' but is now a very crazy wooden box tied down with string!? Photos by Paul Johnson below:

http://twitpic.com/1a9pxm

http://twitpic.com/1a9q3k

This has got to be the wierdest hole (in both its past and present forms) in Minigolf!

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Minigolf Doubles Record - Richard Gottfried Career Statistics Update


Win/Loss Record (all)

  • Played - 29
  • Won - 13
  • Lost - 14
  • Drawn - 2

Win/Loss Record (in BMGA Events)

  • Played - 13
  • Won - 7
  • Lost - 4
  • Drawn - 2


8 playing partners (current competition team mate is Kevin Moseley)

13 competitive matches

16 friendlies

22 matchplay matches

7 strokeplay format matches


Link to previous Minigolf Doubles Record blog posts.

Sunday, March 07, 2010

BMGA Minigolf Rankings - Order of Merit & Season Only Updates

With two events completed on the 2010 British Minigolf Association Tour the latest ranking lists have been published by the BMGA.

In the 2009-2010 BMGA Order of Merit Rankings published on the 1st March I am currently ranked 16th of 75 players, on 1,502 ranking points. Emily is currently in 39th place with 490 points.

In the new 2010 BMGA Season Only Rankings published today (7th March) I am currently in 12th place of 45 players, with 1,095 ranking points.

Saturday, March 06, 2010

Tenpin Bowling at 'The Lanes' in Bristol

While we were in Bristol for the Minigolf English Open last weekend we also hit 'The Lanes' tenpin bowling alley for some pre-Macmillan Cancer Support Annual Bowling Challenge practice!





I beat the 'Coach' 102 to 75.


Latest Irregular Mini Golf Tour Rankings for the 2009/10 Season - 28/11/09-27/02/10



Key:
NM Non-Mover
NE New Entry
NL Not Listed yet this Season

Irregular Mini Golf Tour Ranking Points Calculations 2009/2010:
1st place = 100 points
2nd place = 75 points
3rd place = 50 points
Other place = 10 points