Crazy Golf in Ipswich (Christchurch Park) - Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Course Played #183

Crazy Golf in Ipswich (Christchurch Park) - Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Course Played #183


On Saturday 24th July 2010 we made a trip to Ipswich, Suffolk and the new Crazy Golf course that has been set up in the town's Christchurch Park.



We had been tipped off about its existence by Emily's sister who lives in the town (Emily originally hails from Ipswich).

When we arrived at 10.50am the course was being laid out.

By 11.15am we were able to play, however only 8-holes were set up. With the 9th hole about 1/7th of the way to being complete!?



It's £1.50 a round and you do get a scorecard with a game.

In our Irregular Mini Golf Tour Ipswich Classic Competition Emily won with a great 24(+8), to my 32(+16).

Holes 1-8.











Hole 9!?








Check out the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour blog post for links to other course visits since September 2006.

Gluten Free in Suffolk - Ipswich & Felixstowe

While in Ipswich and Felixstowe we managed to find some excellent Gluten Free restaurants and shops.

In Ipswich we went to Church's Bistro & Bar for lunch. They have a dedicated Gluten Free menu and a huge range of options.

I chose the Ham Hock Terrine followed by the 100% Beef Burger. Both were magnificent.




If you're a Coeliac and in the Ipswich area you must visit. And even if you're not, the 'normal' food was great too.

In Felixstowe we spotted that The Good Food Shop sells Gluten and Wheat Free Cakes and food. I had a really nice Iced Banana Cake.

On the way we also went to Cox's of Letchworth - a brilliant Fish & Chip Shop that does excellent Gluten Free Batter. While in Letchworth Garden City We also drove round the UK's first roundabout (six times)!

Minigolf Report – Richard Gottfried Runner-Up in the Midlands Invitational Tournament 2010

18th July 2010
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report – Midlands Invitational Tournament 2010

Luton Minigolfer Richard Gottfried was runner-up in his second consecutive tournament at the weekend’s Midlands Invitational Tournament (MIT) played on the 12-hole Minigolf course at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull on Sunday 18th July.

In the field of 14 players Richard led the way after the first three rounds with scores of 21(-3), 22(-2) and 20(-4) to hold a four-shot lead. However, victory was not to be, as he scored a 27(+3) in the fourth round to record a total of 90(-6), to eventually lose out to current British Number One, Birmingham’s Chris Harding who scored 87(-9).

The result does mean that Richard has won a place in the Midlands ‘A’ Team for the BMGA British Club Championships later in the season. He will play alongside Chris Harding, Kevin Moseley (3rd) and Matthew Harding (4th). In 2008 Richard was a member of the team that lifted the BMGA Club Championships.

Earlier this month Richard was runner-up in the BMGA British Matchplay Championships in Worthing, and the Midlands Invitational Tournament second place is his fifth BMGA Tour Career runners-up spot.

After the tournament Richard said “Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. I’m amazed that I managed to contrive to lose, by turning a four-shot lead into a three-shot loss! On the positive side, to get another runner-up finish shows that I’m there contending for titles and I’ve now had eight top ten finishes from the ten competitions so far this season. Dorridge is a fantastic course and great tournament venue and I hope to be back there again soon.”

Last year Richard was 5th in the MIT, and in the other two MITs he has competed in he has been 3rd and 4th.


Emily Gottfried also played in the competition, but scored rounds of 32(+8), 32(+8), 28(+4) and 27(+3) for a four-round total of 119(+23) and last place.

Photo: The Midlands Minigolf Club (MMGC)

Photo: The MIT Top Four - The Midlands Minigolf Club (MMGC) 'A' Team. From l-r Chris 'Who' Harding, Matthew 'El Barto' Harding, Kevin 'Max' Moseley and 'Squire' Richard Gottfried

Ends

The Crazy Golf Museum on Strange Games

Montegue Blister's excellent Strange Games website has details of the launch of The Crazy Golf Museum in the blog post "News from the crazy world of Crazy Golf".

If you're not a follower of the Strange Games Blog and you're into your odd and obscure sports you jolly well ought to be!

Miniature Golfers Launch ‘The Crazy Golf Museum’

15th July 2010
News Release
For Immediate Release

Miniature Golfers Launch ‘The Crazy Golf Museum’

Two of the premier miniature golfers in the UK have joined forces to create The Crazy Golf Museum. Tim 'Ace Man' Davies and Richard 'Squire' Gottfried run the most visited websites and blogs on the subject of minigolf and crazy golf. The natural progression of this is to bring together all the information gathered over the years to create the World's First Virtual Crazy Golf Museum.

Tim and Richard’s joint goal is to create a Virtual Crazy Golf Museum online and then create a physical Crazy Golf Museum showing visitors the history of the game, collections of scorecards, tokens, badges, scorecards, flyers, balls, putters, games etc. and acting as the worldwide archive for Miniature Golf and Crazy Golf ephemera.

The Crazy Golf Museum’s ‘Curators’ have a vast archive built up over their many years playing the game, and are keen to enhance this with donations to help grow and support the collection in the future. The Virtual Crazy Golf Museum can be viewed at www.crazygolfmuseum.info

Tim 'Ace Man' Davies said of the launch “Crazy Golf has been at the forefront of sporting innovation since its conception. I'm enthused that we will be able to showcase the people's sport and its development to a worldwide audience.”

Richard 'Squire' Gottfried said “I’m really pleased that The Crazy Golf Museum is launching. The pooling of our minigolfing resources from our many years of playing the game will be a great resource for anyone who’s ever played, visited a course, or is into traditional pastimes. It’s going to be a great adventure in expanding the collection and setting up The Crazy Golf Museum.”

For more information on The Crazy Golf Museum please contact Tim or Richard at tim@crazygolfmuseum.info or richard@crazygolfmuseum.info

Ends

Notes for Editors
• Tim ‘Ace Man’ Davies is the most decorated Minigolfer in the UK and is a five-time World Crazy Golf Champion. For the past decade he has dominated the British Crazy Golf scene and would like to give something back.
• Richard ‘Squire’ Gottfried is a keen Minigolfer and has been blogging about his Minigolf Career and his travels to the UK’s courses for over four years at the Ham and Egger Files. To date he has visited 240 minigolf courses on his Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. During this time he has also won five BMGA Tour titles. Not a day goes by without him picking up his Putter!

Related blog posts:
- Ephemera
- Merchandise

Minigolf in Southend on Sea - The Southend Masters

On 11th July 2010 we played two rounds at the Adventure Island Adventure Golf course in Southend on Sea.

The former host venue for the BMGA British Masters was the venue for the first BMGA Tour Competition I competed in - the 2007 BMGA British Masters - where I was 24th of 28 players, and the 2nd place novice player.


On this visit Emily and I played the Irregular Mini Golf Tour Southend Masters, with me coming out the victor with an 18-hole total of 43(+7) compared to Emily's 55(+19).













The Inca and Aztec courses at Adventure Island were the 14th and 15th courses visited and played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2007.


A new addition to the course is the Helicopter on top of the Hut!

Minigolf in Southend on Sea - Arnold Palmer West Course

Where there once was a course, then became earth, and is now a bit grassy.

I wonder what the plans are for the plot of land?

Minigolf in Southend on Sea - The Southend Classic 2010

While in Southend on Sea for a family BBQ on Saturday 10th July 2010, my young cousin Ryan Jones challenged me to a game of Crazy Golf at the 18-hole Arnold Palmer course on the seafront.

I accepted the challenge and off we went for a round!

Also playing were Emily and another Cousin of mine, three year old Ronnie Jones (caddied by his mum Elaine).

The tournament - The Southend Classic - was contested over one 18-hole round. We were the third from last group out for the night, but eventually were the last group in!

The Southend Classic Results:
1. Richard Gottfried - 45(+9)
2. Emily Gottfried - 52(+16)
3. Ryan Jones - 64(+28)
4. Ronnie Jones - 101(+65) - but did not play from hole 13 (so scored 7's for holes 14-18)

Ryan played very well and beat me on holes 2, 3, 5 and 16! He also matched me on a few of the other holes too. Another player to watch out for in the future!

Ronnie played some excellent shots too, and some were far above those I'd expect from a three year old. He was knocking in alot of good 3's and even had a hole-in-one on the 12th (when me and Ryan had a 2 each, and Emily got a 3!)

The Water Wheel hole has a very fast moving set of blades (much faster than at Hastings Crazy Golf), this makes your tee-shot even more crucial!

The Classic Windmill hole!


After losing my ball on the second hole (!?) I had to go back to the hut and ask for another. Wary of giving me another 'good ball' this is what I was given to use for the next 16-holes!!!

Unfortunately none of us were able to ring the bell on the Top Hole.

Great fun. Looking forward to another round again soon.

Upminster (Hall Lane) - Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Course Visit - Derelict Course

On Sunday 11th July 2010 we headed to Upminster on our way home from Southend on Sea.

We had heard from London Minigolf Club member (and St George's Day Classic Champion) Gareth Holmes that there was a 9-hole Miniature Golf / Crazy Golf course on Hall Lane - he had played there last summer.

However, the course was most definitely closed on our visit (and by the looks of it, and the sign on the gate, it had been for some time).










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.

Brentwood (King George Playing Fields) - Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Course Visit - Course Unable to be Opened!?

On our way to Southend on Sea on Saturday 10th July 2010 we had a check online to see if Brentwood was home to any minigolf or crazy golf courses, and we were in luck!

At the King George Playing Fields in Brentwood, Essex, there is a fine looking 18-hole Miniature Golf course. However it was not to be the 182nd course played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour*, but would be added to the long-line of course visits that end in disappointment as the course was only open between 11am and 3pm.








I'm not too sure when I'll next be in Brentwood between 11am and 3pm. Hopefully I'll get to play the course in the future, as me and Emily were looking forward to a competitive round.

* The eventual 182nd course played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour was the 18-hole Novelty Golf course at Billericay's Lake Meadows Park.

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses in Essex

Non-courses on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour (plus one 'not sure') - Hornchurch, Romford and Havering

While touring the UK on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour we get to visit some great towns, cities and villages; meet some great people; and best of all play lots of Minigolf in all it's many guises.

However, on our travels we have often found that courses that should (or did once) exist are no longer there (or have very little trace of their remains). In the cases of the three courses we attempted to seek out below we found that they no longer exist:

- Hornchurch (Harrow Lodge Park) - Minigolf/Miniature Golf - Did not exist!?


- Hornchurch (Haynes Park) - Minigolf/Miniature Golf - Did not exist!?



- Romford (Harold Wood Park) - Mini Golf - Did not exist!?
So, if you are venturing out to any of the locations in the hope of a round of Miniature Golf, it's probably best not to!

If however you're reading this and have any information on the history of the courses above do let me know?

There was also another Miniature Golf course in Havering, at Central Park, however our time touring Essex on the 10th and 11th July 2010 was fading fast and we had to give up the search.


Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses in Essex