A blog about our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. With a sprinkling of nostalgia and urban exploration for good measure.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Minigolf Courses Played #171 & 172 - Codonas Aberdeen Beach
On Friday 14th May 2010 we played our 171st and 172nd courses on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.
Both were at Codonas Aberdeen Beach, the host venue of the 2010 BMGA Scottish Minigolf Open tournament.
Course #171 was the 18-hole Pirate Island Adventure Golf course.
Course #172 was the 18-hole Indoor Congo Adventure Golf course.
Link:
- Codona's Amusement Park
Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Indoor Minigolf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf courses
- Minigolf Reports – Codonas Classic & BMGA Scottish Open
Shooting Shack in Aberdeen - Tin Can Alley
Sadly there wasn't an Old Zeke-style wild-west one, instead it was a 'rat-infested' Tin Can Alley!
Links to other Shooting Shack posts on the Ham & Egger Files.
Richard Gottfried's Doubles Minigolf Record Update
Richard Gottfried's Doubles Minigolf Record:
Win/Loss Record (in all friendlies & full BMGA Tour events)
Played - 37
Won - 18
Lost - 16
Drawn - 3
Win/Loss Record (in BMGA Tour events)
Played - 19
Won - 11
Lost - 5
Drawn - 3
Record (in BMGA Warm-up Doubles events)
Played - 1
First - 0
Second - 1
Third - 0
Other - 0
9 playing partners (current competition team mate is Kevin Moseley)
19 competitive matches
18 friendlies
29 matchplay matches
8 strokeplay format matches
1 BMGA Warm-up Doubles event
Results - Tennants (sic) Super League Minigolf Tournament
Seven of those players also decided to play a a one-round shootout competition called the 'Tennants (sic) Super League Minigolf Tournament' on the 18-hole Congo Indoor Adventure Golf Course.
The competition featured players from England, Scotland, Finland and Gibraltar and was won by London's Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd with a score of 32(-4), setting a new Unofficial BMGA Player Course Record in the process. London's Alan 'Stormin' Norman was runner-up with 36(par), with Luton's 'Squire' Richard Gottfried finishing third with 37(+1).
Photo - The competitors line-up following the competition.
Photo - Brad Putting to victory.
Photo - 'Stormin' Norman lines up a shot.
Results - Midlands Mini Miniatures Invitational Minigolf Tournament
Photo - 'Squire' Richard Gottfried receives his Mini Miniatures prizes from competition organiser Jas Kukielka.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Minigolf Reports – Codonas Classic & BMGA Scottish Open
Press Information
For Immediate Release
Minigolf Reports – Codonas Classic & BMGA Scottish Open
Luton Minigolfers Richard and Emily Gottfried were in action over the weekend as they competed in events at the 18-hole Pirate Island Adventure Golf Course at Codonas Amusement Park in Aberdeen.
Codonas Classic Doubles Competition
The first of the weekend’s British Minigolf Association competitions was the Codonas Classic, played on Saturday 15th May.
The format saw teams of two selected via a random draw. Richard was one of the seeded players and was drawn with British number 47 Leo Kukielka from Cwmbran, Wales. Each pair played one round of the 18-hole course with both players’ scores counting towards the team total in the nine team field. Richard scored a 33(-3), with Leo hitting a 37(+1) for a total of 70(-2) which earned them second place, behind Oxford’s Michael Smith and Brechin’s Freddie Blackburn-Shaw who scored a total of 66(-6).
BMGA Scottish Open
The inaugural BMGA Scottish Open tournament was held on Sunday 16th May, with both Richard and Emily competing in the 29-player field.
The four-round competition was won by Birmingham’s Chris Harding with a score of 125(-19). Richard had a 72-hole total of 138(-6) which included scores of 38(+2), 33(-3), 35(-1) and 32(-4). Emily scored rounds of 41(+5), 35(-1), 40(+4) and 39(+3) for a total of 155(+11).
Richard said “It was a great tournament weekend and the course and venue in Aberdeen was excellent. I’m really pleased with performances and thought me and Leo did really well as a team to earn second place in the Codonas Classic. The Scottish Open was my 50th BMGA Tour competition since my debut in 2007, and although I didn’t win it, the ranking points from my 8th place finish have pushed me into the top-ten of the BMGA Order of Merit for the first time. Reaching the top ten is another minigolf career objective of mine achieved.”
In the BMGA Order of Merit Rankings Richard has moved up three places to a career best Order of Merit Ranking of 10th of 80 ranked players, with 2,206 points. Emily has moved up two places and is also now at a career best ranking at 29th, with 816 points.
In the BMGA Season Only Rankings Richard has moved up three places to be ranked 8th of 83 players, with 2,350 points, having played in four of the five qualifying ranking tournaments so far this season. Emily has entered the Season Only Rankings at number 50, with 365 points from the Scottish Open, as it was her first singles ranking event of the year.
Ends
Sunday, May 09, 2010
220 Minigolf Course Visits to date on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
170 of these courses have been playable, but 50 have, for one reason or another, been un-playable!
You can check out the updated list of courses visited and played, with links and reviews on many of them, at the blog post: Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Courses Visited List with Links
No Mini Golf at Dunstable's Party in the Park!?
However, when we arrived there wasn't a course of any kind, and despite the advertising no one there knew anything about it!?
Whether it was going to be a Minigolf/Crazy Golf course type of 'Mini Golf Range', or a BIG Golf Driving Range type of set-up is unknown.
Aside from the lack of Minigolf to play, the event did have a lot of other activities, and I got to meet a Star Wars Stormtrooper!
Minigolf and Crazy Golf at Luton's Wardown Park
As part of it the Minigolf (Grass Putting) was free of charge to play.
In our Challenge Match I beat Emily, 28 shots to 31 over 9-holes.
Wardown Park is also home to a 9-hole Crazy Golf course that was host to many Irregular Mini Golf Tour Matches in 2007 and 2008.
Tea Green Golf Fun Day - Minigolf Lessons
Despite the less than sunny weather, there was a good turnout at the Fun Day. In addition to the Minigolf lessons visitors also had the chance to play a round of BIG Golf, have a free lesson with the Club's PGA Pro, practice their Putting, try their luck on the Driving Range with a 17th Hole at Sawgrass Challenge and a lot more.
At the event I gave one-to-one sessions with players looking to try out the sport of Minigolf. I ran through the basic rules, and fundamentals such as grip, stance, swing and shot types.
Photos:
Showing a player the right way to play a tee-shot on Hole-1.
Practicing Hole-2.
Showing fellow Lutonian Simon Hall a shot on Hole-5.
Practicing the dog-leg 6th Hole.
Lester, the Club Manager also lined up a number of his BIG Golf Club members for challenge matches against me – happily I won them all.
My fellow Midlands Minigolf Club (MMGC) Members Paul and Owen Johnson also came down to the event to lend their support and also have some challenge matches.
If you're in, or near, Luton make sure you check out Tea Green Golf Club for a warm welcome, good food and drink, and of course Minigolf (and BIG Golf)!
Previous Blog Post about the event:
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2010/05/minigolf-lessons-at-tea-green-golf-fun.html
Friday, May 07, 2010
Minigolf News Story in the Luton News - "Gottfrieds take on the Midland Open and BMGA British Doubles Championships"
Saturday, May 01, 2010
Minigolf Lessons at Tea Green Golf 'Fun Day' in Luton
Tea Green Golf will also be running a minigolf competition (among other activities) at the course as part of the 'Fun Day'.
Video of a practice round of minigolf at Tea Green's 9-hole course on the 1st May 2010.
In January 2010 the Luton News/Lutontoday.co.uk filmed me playing at Tea Green for the video "Your guide to crazy golf".
Details of the Tea Green Golf Driving Range/Chipping and Putting Green/Sand Bunker/Mini Golf.
Richard Gottfried - Minigolf Player Profile.
We first played the course ten months ago today - when it became the 111th course to be played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.
Minigolf & Putting Green Practice at Tea Green Golf today
I also played four rounds on the Putting Green, which today consisted of six-holes. My best score was an 11(-1).
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Course Visit No. 113 - Putting Green at Tea Green.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Minigolf Reports – Midland Open & BMGA British Doubles Championships
Press Information
For Immediate Release
Minigolf Reports – Midland Open & BMGA British Doubles Championships
Luton Minigolfers Richard and Emily Gottfried were in action over the weekend as they competed in events at Stratford-upon-Avon’s 18-hole Minigolf Course at the town’s Recreation Ground.
Midland Open
First up was the Midland Open competition on Saturday 24th April, with Richard finishing 4th overall in the 37 strong field.
The three-round competition was won by Birmingham’s Chris Harding with a score of 94(-14). Richard had a 54-hole total of 101(-7) which included scores of 33(-3), 34(-2) and 34(-2). Richard’s score of 101 was two shots off third place, taken by Ted McIver from Hastings. Canterbury’s Marc Chapman was runner-up with 95(-13).
Richard also won the Aces Champion prize for most holes-in-one over the Midland Open tournament, scoring 13 over 54-holes.
BMGA British Doubles Championships
The 2010 BMGA British Doubles Championships were held on Sunday 25th April, with both Richard and Emily competing.
In the tournament Richard teamed with Bath’s Kevin Moseley, while Emily teamed with Welsh Ladies number one, Cindy Kukielka from Cwmbran.
Photo: From l-r Kevin, Richard, Emily and Cindy
Richard’s team achieved third place overall, a significant improvement on their 9th place finish last year. Emily’s team were also in the mix at the top of the leaderboard, and eventually finished in 4th place, following a play-off defeat to Richard’s team.
Each of the competing 16 teams played in a qualifying group stage, before moving on to a knockout stage to determine the final rankings. Both Richard and Emily’s pairs qualified for the play-offs for positions 1-8. Emily’s team did so by way of a Sudden-Death Play-Off victory over the team of Margate’s Scott Lancley and London’s Nick Chitty, after both pairs were tied on points in their group.
Photos: Emily and Cindy play-out hole 3 in their sudden-death play-off
The Gottfried/Moseley team had a win/loss record of four wins, one draw and one loss. The loss came in the semi-final clash against eventual champions Chris Harding and Marc Chapman.
Photo: The team of Squire Trelawney
The Gottfried/Kukielka duo had a win/loss record of two wins, one draw and three losses. They missed out on a place in the final following a semi-final loss to the Hastings team of Tim Davies and Ted McIver.
Photo: Emily and Cindy (aka 'The Scorpions') receive their prize money from Stratford-upon-Avon course owner Martin Dexter.
Richard said “Heading into the weekend I was aiming for top-ten finishes and was confident as I’ve had some good results in Stratford in the past. So to get a fourth place in the Midland Open and then follow it up with a podium finish in the British Doubles Championships is brilliant. I’m also really pleased for Emily and her partner Cindy as they battled through and achieved a great finish too.”
Emily said “I really enjoyed the tournament, and the doubles matchplay format is great fun. Cindy I won the most important matches and our sudden-death play-off with strong teamwork and we enjoyed every minute! This is the highest ever finish for a female pair in the competition, so we’re really pleased with what we achieved.”
Ends