Friday, April 23, 2010

Minigolf report from the St George's Day Classic 2010

Minigolf report from the inaugural St George’s Day Classic in Stratford-upon-Avon

The first ever St George’s Day Classic minigolf competition took place on the 23rd April 2010 to celebrate England's Patron Saint and England's National Day, at the Recreation Ground Minigolf Course in Stratford-upon-Avon.

17 minigolfers took part in the event, with an individual St George’s Day Classic title up for grabs, along with a team prize.


The Minigolfers line-up before the competition at Stratford-upon-Avon
In the St George’s Day Classic players competition it was London’s Gareth Holmes that picked up the win with an excellent round of 30(-6). Luton’s Richard Gottfried was runner-up with 33(-3). In tied third-place were Nick Chitty and Welsh guest player Tim ‘Ace Man’ Davies.


Photo: St George's Day Classic Champion Gareth Holmes receives his prizes from Emily GottfriedPhoto: St George's Day Classic Champion Gareth Holmes receives his prizes from Emily Gottfried

Photo: Gareth Holmes holds aloft the St George's Day Classic Trophy (donated by the majority of the Welsh Team!?) Photo: Gareth Holmes holds aloft the St George's Day Classic Trophy (donated by the majority of the Welsh Team!?)

In the St George’s Day Classic team competition England ‘A’ won with a cumulative team score of 170(-10). Wales were second with 187(+7). Scotland were third with 192.5(+12.5) and England ‘B’ were fourth with 205(+25).


Photo: The St George's Day Classic Team Champions - England 'A' Photo: The St George's Day Classic Team Champions - England 'A'

Minigolf results from the inaugural St George’s Day Classic in Stratford-upon-Avon
Tournament Formats
Individual Competition
• One 18-hole round played by all players
• Lowest score by an English Player wins the St George's Day Classic Title
• Other 'Home International Players' are 'Guests'


Team Competition
• England Team line-ups drawn blind by random 'balls in a hat system'
• All team's total scores are the combined player's scores from the individual round
• Lowest cumulative team score wins the St George's Day Classic Team Title


Teams

England 'A'
England A - From l-r Chris Jones, Gareth Holmes, Alan Norman, Richard Gottfried, Nick ChittyPhoto: From l-r Chris Jones, Gareth Holmes, Alan Norman, Richard Gottfried, Nick Chitty

WalesWales - From l-r Jas Kukielka, Seve Kukielka, Leo Kukielka, Cindy Kukielka, Tim Davies
Photo: From l-r Jas Kukielka, Seve Kukielka, Leo Kukielka, Cindy Kukielka, Tim Davies

England 'B'

England B - From l-r Sean Homer, Oliver Florence, Brad Shepherd, Paul Johnson, Owen JohnsonPhoto: From l-r Sean Homer, Oliver Florence, Brad Shepherd, Paul Johnson, Owen Johnson

ScotlandScotland - From l-r Ted McIver, Guy MartinPhoto: From l-r Ted McIver, Guy Martin

The England Players hold the England Flag Aloft Photo: The England Players hold the England Flag Aloft

Ends

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Midlands Minigolf Club members Gottfried & Moseley Team up again for BMGA British Doubles Championships


'Squire' Richard Gottfried will once again team up with fellow Midlands Minigolf Club (MMGC) member Kevin Moseley at the BMGA British Doubles Championships. This year the tournament is being held at the excellent 18-hole minigolf course in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The pair first combined forces on the 17th May 2009 (defeating the duo of Jam Trubridge and Peter Jones 4&2 in their debut as a team in a friendly match at Stratford-upon-Avon) and teamed up for competitive action at last season's BMGA British Doubles Championships, finishing in 9th place of 17 teams and winning the second division of play-offs.

At the 2009 BMGA British Doubles Championships the pair had the following win/loss record:
Played - 6
Won - 4
Lost - 1
Drew - 1

Player/Team Stats

Richard Gottfried
- Hailing from Luton
- 2009 Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open Champion
- 2009 Manchester Miniature Open Champion
- 2009 Manchester Mini Masters Champion
- 2008 Weymouth Open Champion
- 2008 BMGA British Club Champion (with the Midlands Minigolf Club)
- Currently ranked 19th in the BMGA Order of Merit Rankings
- Currently ranked 17th in the BMGA Season Only Rankings
- Currently ranked 31st in the Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Rankings 2003-09
- 2009 BMGA British Doubles Championship ranking - 9th of 17 teams (as Squire Trelawney, with Kevin Moseley)
- 2008 BMGA British Doubles Championship ranking - 11th of 14 teams (as Team Squire, with Emily Gottfried)

Kevin Moseley
- Hailing from Bath
- 2010 BMGA National Open runner-up
- 2009 Weymouth Open Champion
- 2009 Midlands Invitational Tournament Champion
- 2009 Midlands Open third-place
- Stratford-upon-Avon course record holder since June 2009
- Currently ranked 9th in the BMGA Order of Merit Rankings
- Currently ranked 9th in the BMGA Season Only Rankings
- Currently ranked 13th in the Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Rankings 2003-09
- 2009 BMGA British Doubles Championship ranking - 9th of 17 teams (as Squire Trelawney, with Richard Gottfried)
- 2008 BMGA British Doubles Championship ranking - DNP

Previous Related Blog Posts
New Minigolf Doubles Playing Partner - Announcement of the creation of the Squire Trelawney team

Minigolf Report – BMGA British Doubles Championship 2009 - Details of last year's event

The 2009 Weymouth Open Minigolf Tournament
At the 2009 Weymouth Open the team-mates tied for first place and had to face-off in a sudden-death play-off. Richard was the defending Champion, while Kevin was looking for his second tournament victory of the season.

Videos from the play-off
Play-off Coin Toss – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGvb2JfZ8hs
Play-off Hole 1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJG5opQHXv8
Play-off Hole 2 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRMHhhq6Q3U
Play-off Hole 3 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo5SrN5i08g
Play-off Hole 4 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GA8xJSXzlc

Richard Gottfried's Doubles Minigolf Record:

Win/Loss Record (in all events)
Played - 30
Won - 13
Lost - 15
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
17 friendlies
23 matchplay matches
7 strokeplay format matches

14 rounds of Minigolf played at Tea Green Golf today...

...and I hit a new personal best on the 13th round! A 14(-4).



Gluten Free Fish & Chips in Letchworth Garden City

I had some excellent Gluten Free Fish & Chips today from Cox's Of Letchworth (2 Arena Parade, Letchworth Garden City).

The staff are very knowledgeable and the great thing is, the Gluten Free options are served every day!

Gluten Free Fish & Chips in Letchworth Garden City

Cox's Of Letchworth also do Gluten Free Chicken.

Can't wait for my next visit.

From the Archives - Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Course Visit #38 Letchworth Garden City - Putting Course

We originally visited and played the Putting Course in Letchworth Garden City on the 29th September 2007.


On a re-visit to the Par 3 Golf Centre in the Garden City today I found the Putting Course has not been continued. A shame as it was a good little course.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Course Visit #170 - Barnet (Copthall/Metro Golf Centre) - Mini Golf

After visiting and playing the 18-hole Adventure Golf at Broomfield Park, the second minigolf course we visited on the 17th April 2010 was the 9-hole Mini Golf course at the Metro Golf Centre at Barnet Copthall in London.

The course was visit #170 on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

It's a great little 9-hole course, with some good ace opportunities, but some tricky second putts should your ball go 'over the edge'!



Metro Golf Centre in Barnet, London
Mini Golf at the Metro Golf Centre in Barnet, London
Mini Golf at the Metro Golf Centre in Barnet, London
Mini Golf at the Metro Golf Centre in Barnet, London
Mini Golf at the Metro Golf Centre in Barnet, London

Mini Golf at the Metro Golf Centre in Barnet, London
Mini Golf at the Metro Golf Centre in Barnet, London
Mini Golf at the Metro Golf Centre in Barnet, London

The 7th hole was a 9 foot Putt - very short indeed!

Mini Golf at the Metro Golf Centre in Barnet, London
Mini Golf at the Metro Golf Centre in Barnet, London
Mini Golf at the Metro Golf Centre in Barnet, London
Mini Golf at the Metro Golf Centre in Barnet, London





In the Irregular Mini Golf Tour Barnet Challenge competition Emily picked up the win with a round of 20(+2) to my 22(+4).

The Metro Golf Centre was also home to a four-hole Putting area.

Golf Putting Green at the Metro Golf Centre in Barnet, London
Golf Putting Green at the Metro Golf Centre in Barnet, London

Links:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Metro Golf Centre
Blog post about other Mini Golf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf courses in and around London

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Course Visit #169 - London (Broomfield Park) - Adventure Golf

On Saturday 17th April 2010 we played two new courses on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour as we headed into London.

First up was a re-visit of sorts. Back on the 1st May 2007 we had visited Broomfield Park in Palmers Green to play the 18-hole Adventure Golf course. However, on that occasion we found the course to be closed (it is open on weekends and holidays only).

Luckily on our visit this time the weather was lovely and the course was doing a roaring trade.



Adventure Golf course at Broomfield Park in London
Adventure Golf course at Broomfield Park in London
Adventure Golf course at Broomfield Park in London
Adventure Golf course at Broomfield Park in London
Adventure Golf course at Broomfield Park in London
Adventure Golf course at Broomfield Park in London
Adventure Golf course at Broomfield Park in London
Mini Golf course at Broomfield Park in London



In the Irregular Mini Golf Tour Broomfield Park Challenge I beat Emily by two shots - 41 to 43 (despite getting a horrible four on the 18th).



Sadly neither of us beat the course record of 34 (-2).

Mini Golf course at Broomfield Park in London

After playing at Broomfield Park we headed off to the Metro Golf Centre in Barnet for a game on their 9-hole Minigolf course.

Links:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Broomfield Park Adventure Golf
- Other Mini Golf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf courses in and around London

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Irregular Mini Golf Tour - East & West Anglia Masters 2010

Having played eight rounds of minigolf during our roadtrip around East and West Anglia the winner of the coveted and inaugural 'East & West Anglia Masters' title on the Irregular Mini Golf Tour was me with an 84-hole total of 239(+71)!

Emily was obviously second, with a score of 289(+121).

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Course Visit #168 - Sudbury, Suffolk (Maldon Grey Pub) - Crazy Golf


Just next to Cornard Tye is the town of Sudbury and as we were just driving through I noticed a pub beer garden with some obstacles and a bouncy castle in it. The obstacles looked like it was a Crazy Golf course and I was right, as the pub had a 9-hole course in the beer garden!

The pub is the Maldon Grey in Sudbury, Suffolk and the course was the 168th played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.








In the Irregular Mini Golf Tour Sudbury Masters competition I beat Emily 53 to 59 over two rounds.

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 #167 - Cornard Tye, Suffolk (Old Joe's Driving Range and Golf Course) - Putting

On the way back from Felixstowe we didn't expect to find any minigolf courses but as we were driving the scenic route back home on the 11th April we spotted a sign for a Golf Driving Range in Cornard Tye, Suffolk, and on a hunch we went to investigate.

As luck would have it, we found the Driving Range was also home to a Pitch & Putt course and a 9-hole Putting Course!



The Putting Green course is at Old Joe's Driving Range and Golf Course and was the 167th played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.




In the Irregular Mini Golf Tour Cornard Classic competition I beat Emily 51 to 58 over two rounds.





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

Minigolf course re-visit - Felixstowe's Magical Indoor Adventure Golf at Mannings

While we were in Felixstowe we also made re-visits to courses #5 and #7.

Minigolf course visit #5 was to the Indoor Golf FX at Mannings the 19th of November 2006.

We have since played the course a number of times and it is now known as 'Magical Golf'. On this latest visit I defeated Emily 38 to 50 in the Irregular Mini Golf Tour Felixstowe Magical Classic competition.



Blog Post - December 2009 - Golf FX at Mannings Amusements now Magical Golf!

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