Minigolf Report & Results - NIBBAL-IT Competition in Northern Ireland

Minigolf Report & Results - NIBBAL-IT Competition in Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Belfast Bangor Antrim & Larne Invitational Tournament (NIBBAL-IT) trophy.

On Saturday 31st July and Sunday 1st August the first ever Northern Ireland Belfast Bangor Antrim & Larne Invitational Tournament (NIBBAL-IT) trophy was contested between the Bangor Minigolf Club and the visiting Luton Wanderers Minigolf Club.

The 2010 NIBBAL-IT Champions - The Bangor MGC - l-r, Mark Swain, Craig McCallister.

The 2010 NIBBAL-IT Runners-Up - The Luton Wanderers MGC - l-r, Emily Gottfried, Richard Gottfried.

The NIBBAL-IT was played on four courses and comprised seven rounds, totalling 126-holes. The team tournament was won by the Bangor MGC with 47 points to the Luton Wanderers MGC's 32 points in the point-play system used to decide the NIBBAL-IT Champions.

The competitors receive their prizes (also pictured Eva McCallister - Bangor MGC Team Mascot).

Mark Swain, Co-Captain of Bangor MGC said "It feels fantastic. We used the home advantage well. It’s great to win."

Craig McCallister, Co-Captain of Bangor MGC said "It’s nice to win, despite my great efforts not to. I look forward to the return leg in Luton."

In the individual standings Mark 'The Horse Whisperer' Swain won the gold medal, by 15 clear shots of runner-up 'Squire' Richard Gottfried. Craig 'Kamikaze' McCallister was third. Emily 'Coach' Gottfried took the NIBBLA(sic)-IT Wooden Spoon in fourth place.

The final individual strokeplay rankings were:
1st - Mark 'The Horse Whisperer' Swain (NI & BMGC) - 293(+41)
2nd - 'Squire' Richard Gottfried (ENG & LWMGC) - 308(+56)
3rd - Craig 'Kamikaze' McCallister (NI & BMGC) - 325(+73)
4th - Emily 'Coach' Gottfried (ENG & LWMGC) - 332(+80)

Defeated tourist Richard Gottfried of the Luton Wanderers MGC said "What a fantastic tournament weekend in Northern Ireland. It was great to compete against such nice opponents in a fun, but very competitive tournament. The courses, the format of the competition and the quality of the players involved meant that the outcome was hard to predict. Mark and Craig's knowledge of the PAG course in Belfast, coupled with them being used to the inclement Northern Irish weather conditions certainly played into their favour. I can't wait for the 2011 NIBBAL-IT tournament now."

Emily Gottfried said "It was a really great tournament. All four course were challenging in their own way, so we all had a chance to take the lead during the seven rounds. Congratulations to Mark for his well-deserved win, and thanks also to Mark and Craig for a tough, but thoroughly enjoyable, doubles competition!"

The tournament began early on Saturday 31st July at the 18-hole Pirate themed Junction Jack's Adventure Golf course in Antrim, where the opening two NIBBAL-IT rounds were contested. After round one the Luton Wanderers MGC led by four points. After round two the score was ten points apiece.

Round three took place at the 18-hole Minigolf course at Larne's Carnfunnock Country Park. With Mark Swain winning the round with a score of 48(+12) to see the Bangor MGC take an overnight lead with 19 points to the Luton Wanderers' 15 points.

The day one standings were as follows:

Teams:
1st - Bangor MGC
2nd - Luton Wanderers MGC

Individuals:
1st - Mark 'The Horse Whisperer' Swain (NI & BMGC) - 132
2nd - 'Squire' Richard Gottfried (ENG & LWMGC) - 142
3rd - Craig 'Kamikaze' McCallister (NI & BMGC) - 146
4th - Emily 'Coach' Gottfried (ENG & LWMGC) - 151

The second and final day's play took place at the Bangor MGC's current home courses, at the 36-hole Pirates Adventure Golf centre in Dundonald, Belfast.

Two rounds were played on the Blackbeard's Adventure course first, with the standings after four rounds with Bangor MGC ahead by seven points.

After round five Bangor MGC led by five points. In the individual standings Mark had lost his 10-shot lead and shared first place with Richard heading into the final 36-holes on the Captain's Challenge course.

After the sixth round Mark had regained the lead, which also helped the Bangor MGC extend their lead to 11 points.

The inaugural NIBBAL-IT Trophy and Title was eventually won in round seven on the 5th hole, and saw the Bangor MGC lift their first piece of sliverware since Mark Swain won the Top Local Championship at the 2007 BMGA Irish Open.

Photos and Videos from the NIBBAL-IT 2010.

Rounds 1&2 at Antrim













Videos - Action from Antrim's Junction Jack's Adventure Golf course.





Round 3 at Larne






Video - Action from Larne's Minigolf at Carnfunnock Country Park.



Rounds 4-7 at Belfast













Video - The new NIBBAL-IT Champions - The Bangor MGC - Interviewed Following the Tournament.



The prestigious title will be contested again at the NIBBAL-IT (Northern Ireland Bangor Bedfordshire and Luton - Invitational Tournament) in 2011.

Pirates Adventure Golf in Belfast, Northern Ireland

A visit to two Adventure Golf courses in Belfast.


On Sunday 1st August 2010 we headed to Pirates Adventure Golf in Dundonald, Belfast, Northern Ireland to play the final four rounds of the first-ever NIBBAL-IT minigolf competition.

We launched straight into the tournament play, tackling two rounds on each of the two course.



The 188th course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour was Blackbeard's Adventure.



The 189th was The Captain's Challenge.


The 189th course played was also the 249th Minigolf Course Visit overall on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since our journey began on the 30th September 2006.








The visit was great fun and we enjoyed the whole trip to Northern Ireland to see (and compete against) our friends Mark Swain and Craig McAllister. We look forward to a future visit.

The Pirates Adventure Golf course was also the host venue for the 2006 and 2007 BMGA Irish Open tournaments.

You can find the Pirates Adventure Golf course at 111a Old Dundonald Road, Dundonald, Belfast, BT16 1XT. Check out the Pirates Adventure Golf website for more information, opening times and prices.

Link:
- Pirates Adventure Golf website

Related blog posts:
- Results of the 2010 NIBBAL-IT Minigolf Competition
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Winning some Pirates Adventure Golf 'Treasure'

Putting Course at Carnfunnock Country Park, Larne, Northern Ireland - Crazy World of Minigolf course played #187

While at Carnfunnock Country Park in Larne, Northern Ireland we also spotted a tricky looking 9-hole Putting Course!

A view of the Putting Course at Larne's Carnfunnock Country Park in Northern Ireland.


This became the 187th course played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

We decided to pick up our Putters for one more game on the first day of the NIBBAL-IT competition, this time in a three-player, two-round Carnfunnock Classic Putting Challenge.

Introducing the Carnfunnock Classic Putting Challenge at Larne's Carnfunnock Country Park in Northern Ireland.


Richard Gottfried plays a shot on the Putting Course at Larne's Carnfunnock Country Park in Northern Ireland.


Results of the 18-hole Carnfunnock Classic Putting Challenge:
1 - Richard Gottfried (ENG) - 44(+8)
2 - Mark Swain (NI) - 46(+10)
3 - Craig McCallister (NI) - 60(+24)








Results and Report from the 2010 NIBBAL-IT Minigolf Competition.

Minigolf at Carnfunnock Country Park, Larne, Northern Ireland - Crazy World of Minigolf course played #186

On the 31st July 2010 we also played at the 18-hole minigolf course at Carnfunnock Country Park in Larne, where it was the 186th course played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

In the pre-NIBBAL-IT practice round in Larne the scores were as follows:
1 - Richard Gottfried - 46(+10)
2 - Craig McCallister - 51(+15)
3 - Mark Swain - 52(+16)
3 - Emily Gottfried - 52(+16)

We played one further round at the course as part of the inaugural Northern Ireland Belfast Bangor Antrim & Larne Invitational Tournament.




A view of the Minigolf Course at Larne's Carnfunnock Country Park in Northern Ireland.


Playing Hole 14 Up the Pipe(!!!) at Carnfunnock Country Park, Larne, Northern Ireland.


Results and Report from the 2010 NIBBAL-IT Minigolf Competition.

Junction Jack's Adventure Golf in Antrim, Northern Ireland - Crazy World of Minigolf course played #185

On the 31st July 2010 we played at our first minigolf course in Northern Ireland, when we made a visit to the 18-hole Pirate Themed Junction Jack's Adventure Golf in Antrim.

Video introducing the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour course visit to Junction Jack's Adventure Golf in Antrim, Northern Ireland on the 31st July 2010.



The course has some great theming and effects, along with some excellent music, which helps create a fun playing atmosphere.



In the pre-NIBBAL-IT practice round (The Antrim Classic) the scores were as follows:
1 - Richard Gottfried - 43(+7)
1 - Mark Swain - 43(+7)
3 - Emily Gottfried - 46(+10)
4 - Craig McCallister - 47(+11)



We played two further rounds at the course as part of the inaugural Northern Ireland Belfast Bangor Antrim & Larne Invitational Tournament.

Results and Report from the 2010 NIBBAL-IT Minigolf Competition.

The course is a BMGA Affiliate course which means you can receive a discount when you play there.






You can check out the Junction Jack's Adventure Golf website at http://www.junctionjacks.co.uk/

Breaking News - Bangor Minigolf Club win the 2010 NIBBAL-IT Minigolf Competition

The 7-round 4-course Northern Ireland Belfast Bangor Antrim & Larne Invitational Tournament (NIBBAL-IT) trophy was contested over the weekend of the 31st July and 1st August.

The winners of the team competition were the Bangor Minigolf Club, who defeated the Luton Wanderers MGC.

In the individual standings Mark 'The Horse Whisperer' Swain won the gold medal, by 15 clear shots of runner-up 'Squire' Richard Gottfried. Craig 'Kamikaze' McCallister was third. Emily 'Coach' Gottfried took the NIBBLA(sic)-IT Wooden Spoon in fourth place.

Full results, photos and videos to follow.

The title will be contested again in 2011 at the NIBBAL-IT (Northern Ireland Bangor Bedfordshire and Luton) competition.

World Finger Jousting Federation's Fifth Anniversary

The World Finger Jousting Federation celebrated it's Fifth Anniversary on the 1st of August 2010!

In a message from Julian Gluck, aka The Lord of the Joust, he described to WFJF members how the sport has grown since the forming of the WFJF in August 2005 and that he is pleased with the way the game has been played by thousands of players worldwide. He also hinted at the 'major changes' that may follow over time and he thanked WFJF members and Finger Jousters everywhere for their support of the fun activity and the WFJF.

In the time since my debut I have battled against 27 different opponents from five countries, in 20 locations in the UK and Austria. I am currently on a 66 match unbeaten streak, with my last loss at the hands of Emily Gottfried on the 21st December 2006 in Luton, Beds! My latest victory was a Quick Play Rules defeat of Suffolk's number one Finger Jouster Kallum Harper on the 23rd July 2010.

My Career Finger Jousting Record:
Career Win-Loss Record Stats
Played 117
Won 105
Lost 9
Tied 3
% Won 89.74%

Matches (Since Official Membership of the WFJF)
Played 103
Won 96
Lost 4
Tied 3
% Won 93.20%

A video of a match pitting me (Squire Richard of Surleigh) against my Arch-Rival Sir Myles of Hampshire.


Montegue Blister and his Strange Games Blog have also covered the noble sport of Finger Jousting, you can read the post here.

Finger Jousting was also recently placed at number three in Montegue Blister's "Top 10 Strange Jousting Games" list!

I would like to congratulate The Lord of the Joust and the WFJF on reaching this milestone and I wish all the best to the WFJF in all their future endeavours!

Minigolf Interview on BBC Radio Shropshire

I was interviewed about Minigolf on the Ryan Kennedy Show on BBC Radio Shropshire on Saturday 31st July.

You can listen to the interview on the BBC iPlayer for the next week at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p0090kr6

The interview begins at 1 hour 8 mins in. Then there is some more about Crazy Golf at 1 hour 18mins in.

There's also a good bit of Spandau Ballet at 45mins and 20secs into the show!

Changes to the felt and mats at Watford TopGolf

Over the last month I've played the 18-hole Adventure Golf course at Watford TopGolf three times. Each time the course has been different!

Visit 1 - 7th July 2010

On my visit on the 7th July for a minigolf Challenge Match versus my old Dodgeball nemesis 'Rowdy' Russell Fenner the course was in much the same condition as it has been on our last few visits - a little worn in places, but quite playable. On this round I scored a new personal best at the course of 39(+3).




Visit 2 - 13th July 2010

On my visit on the 13th July a lot of pieces of felt were missing!? Most noticeably on the tee-off areas! Instead of felt the area was bare concrete. My best score in the two rounds played was 44(+8).





Visit 3 - 22nd July 2010

On my latest visit on the 22nd July the finishing touches had been made to the 'refurb', with new patches of felt over worn areas, aling with new tee-off areas of felt (which play incredibly slowly). I scored a disappointing 45(+9) on the 'new' course.




The 18th hole (which is one of the course's best challenges) also looks like it will soon be changed.