#249 - The Sutton Staithe Hotel, near Stalham, Norfolk - Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Following the BMGA English Open minigolf tournament on Sunday 5th June 2011, Emily and I headed to find and play the 18-hole Moosey's Miniature Golf course at The Sutton Staithe Hotel, Sutton Staithe, near Stalham, Norfolk.

We'd heard about the course from fellow Minigolf tourists Paul and Owen Johnson, and Hemsby's Lost World Adventure Golf course owner James Gray

The course became the 249th we have played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

In our Irregular Mini Golf Tour Match-up I defeated Emily 55-57.

The final hole we played on the course was particularly crazy! See the video below to find out why...

This hole was very interesting too, as there were loads of 'false' holes too!?

Links:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- The Sutton Staithe Hotel

Hemsby Stonehenge BIG mini golf - course revisit - 4th June 2011

On Saturday 4th June 2011 we made a revisit to the 15-hole Stonehenge BIG mini golf course in Hemsby, Norfolk.

Unfortunately as we arrived at the course towards the end of the evening it was closed. However, we did manage to play there last year, when it became the 174th played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The course has some interesting obstacles, one that I particularly like is the 'pole on a gallows' that can help or hinder your shot. I haven't seen this device on any other UK courses we've visited or played to date.

Hopefully we'll get to play there again soon.

When we visited Hemsby in May 2009 we arrived too late to play it too!

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - course re-visit and played course #174 - Hemsby's Stonehenge BIG Minigolf

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Gluten Free Fish & Chips that we've found on our travels

Details of Gluten Free Fish & Chip Shops and Restaurants we've visited on our travels to date.

On our travels around the UK we're always on the look out for new places to eat out, and for (often elusive) Gluten Free Fish & Chip Shops!

Tucking into my first plate of Gluten Free Fish & Chips at Rossi's in Swansea in 2009

To date we've found Gluten Free Fish & Chips to be served in the following locations:
- Rossi's Fish & Chips - Swansea, Wales
- Rhos Harbour Bistro - Colwyn Bay, Wales
- The Paragon Fish & Chip Shop - Birchington, Kent
- Old Harbour Fish Bar - Weymouth, Dorset
- Baldock, Herts (Fish 'N' Chick'n') - GF served on the last Tuesday of the month
- Cox's of Letchworth - Letchworth Garden City, Herts - GF available daily
- Fairwater Fish & Chip Bar - Fairwater (Coed Eva), Cwmbran, Wales - GF available daily
- Deep Blue - Woburn Sands, Bucks
- The Big Fish - Milverton, Leamington Spa
- The Big Fish - Hockley Heath, Solihull - Update: September 2012 - Now called Nelson's and only serves GF on Wednesday's
- Merivale Tea Rooms - Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
- Kingfisher Chip Shop and Restaurant - Keswick
- Godfrey's Fish & Chips - Harpenden, Herts
- Ivan's Fish & Chips - Cradley Heath, West Midlands - serves Gluten Free Fish & Chips between 5pm and 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays
- Tomlin's Fish & Chips - Southbourne, Dorset
- Atlantic Fish Bar - Kingsbury (between Birmingham and Tamworth)
- The Truscott Arms - Maida Vale, London
- Quayside Fish & Chips - Whitby, North Yorkshire

On our trip to Southwold a couple of years ago we also noticed that once a month they serve Gluten Free Fish & Chips in the Restuarant on the Pier.

Churchills Chippy in Southend-on-Sea offer Gluten Free Fish & Chips, but on our visit we found out that while the batter mix is made to be GF, the food is still cooked in the same oil and fryer as Gluten containing foods.

On a trip to South Shields Emily spotted that Colmans Fish & Chips Shop does Gluten Free options every last Saturday of the month.

A recent tweet from Deep Blue Restaurants (a chain of Fish & Chip shops - of which Woburn Sands is one) told me that they have eight restaurants now serving Gluten Free. Great news.

I've heard via Facebook that Chamberlain's Quality Fish & Chips in Birmingham can do Gluten Free Fish & Chips every day apart from between 5.30pm and 8.30pm on Friday and Saturday evenings. I noticed that they sell Estrella Damm Duara beer there too!

I contribute reviews of any places that I find offering Gluten Free options/catering for Coeliacs to the Travel Gluten Free and Gluugle websites. I also tweet any that I find.

Please check out the comments below for other tips and recommendations of gluten free fish & chip shops.

Links:
- Blog Post - Great Gluten Free Tea Rooms
- Blog Post - Gluten Free Ales, Beers and Lagers
- Coeliac UK - The charity working for people with coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis (DH)

Photos of the The Putter King Team at the BMGA English Open at Wroxham Barns, Norfolk

Richard & Emily Gottfried were representing The Putter King indoor miniature golf course franchise (based in Japan) at the 2011 BMGA English Open, held at the 18-hole Miniature Golf course at Wroxham Barns, Norfolk. Here are some photos from the BMGA English Open minigolf tournament.

Richard & Emily Gottfried in their Putter King kits

Emily 'Coach' Gottfried

'Squire' Richard Gottfried

Emily 'Coach' Gottfried playing the 10th hole at the Wroxham Barns minigolf course

'Squire' Richard Gottfried playing the 16th hole at the Wroxham Barns minigolf course

Link - Minigolf Report from the BMGA English Open at Wroxham Barns, Norfolk

Link - The Putter King website

Link - Part III of the Putter King Interview Series - An Interview with UK Minigolfer Richard Gottfried

Link - The British Minigolf Association (BMGA)

Minigolf Report - Richard Gottfried 7th in the BMGA English Open at Wroxham Barns, Norfolk

6th June 2011
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report – BMGA English Open

Luton Minigolfers Richard & Emily Gottfried were in action at the 13th Annual BMGA English Open Minigolf Championships which took place at the 18-hole Adventure Golf course at Wroxham Barns, Norfolk on Sunday 5th June.

A 28-player field contested the title and Richard scored a three-round, 54-hole total of 103(-5) which included scores of 31(-5), 33(-3) and 39(+3), to earn 7th place.

Photo: Richard plays the 18th hole in front of the crowd at Wroxham Barns

Emily finished in a respectable 19th place, with rounds of 41(+5), 37(+1) and 39(+3).

Photo: Emily plays the 18th hole at Wroxham Barns

The tournament was won by Oxford’s Michael Smith with a score of 90(-18).

Richard said “The English Open was a great event and I’m pleased with seventh place. I hit an all-time new personal best in my first round and I had 13 Aces overall. It was also great to do well on the round-killer twelfth hole which has been a problem for me in the past. A weekend with two top ten finishes is a great result.”

Richard & Emily were representing The Putter King indoor miniature golf course franchise (based in Japan) at the 2011 BMGA English Open.

Following the BMGA English Open Richard has moved up one place to 13th of 86 players in the BMGA Order of Merit Rankings for 2010-2011. Emily is in 44th spot. In the BMGA Season Only Rankings for 2011 Richard has moved up two places to 11th of 59 players. Emily is in 23rd place.

Prior to the BMGA English Open, Richard & Emily were also in action at the Lost World Adventure Golf Pro-Am Classic minigolf competition in Hemsby, Norfolk on Saturday 4th June - Results.

Next up for Richard and Emily is a trip to Stockholm, Sweden to play for the Great Britain Minigolf Team at the WMF Nations Cup.

Ends

To sponsor Richard and/or Emily Gottfried in future Minigolf tournaments please get in touch.

Minigolf Report - Gottfried & Collins Runners-Up in the Lost World Adventure Golf Pro-Am Classic 2011 in Hemsby

6th June 2011
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report - Lost World Adventure Golf Pro-Am Classic

Luton Minigolfers Richard & Emily Gottfried competed in the second-annual Lost World Pro-Am Classic doubles tournament, hosted by the Lost World Adventure Golf course in Hemsby on Saturday 4th June.

The competition format saw BMGA Tour ‘Pro’ Players paired with local ‘Amateur’ players via a random draw. In the 12-team field Richard and his partner, Hemsby’s William Collins, were runners-up having scored 88 as a pair in the 18-hole, two-round competition. The winners of the event had to be decided by a sudden-death play-off as Richard & William had tied with Nick Chitty and his partner Richard Hathaway at the end of regulation play. Unfortunately, William hit a three on the first hole of the play-off to allow the opposition to pick up the win with a two.

Photo: From l-r William Collins, James Gray, Richard Gottfried

Emily and her doubles partner Owen Johnson finished out of the prizes.

Richard said “As with last year James and the team at Hemsby put on a great event. The Lost World is one of my favourite courses to play. Last year Emily and her partner picked up third place here so I’m pleased to have gone one better. Although we lost the play-off, William and I played well as a team and he put in two great rounds. Thanks also to our playing partners Seth and George for a great game too.”

Ends

Irregular Mini Golf Tour - 'Lost World Trophy' event in Hemsby, Norfolk

Prior to the 2011 Lost World Adventure Golf Pro-Am Classic tournament in Hemsby on Saturday 4th June, Emily and I faced off in an 18-hole Irregular Mini Golf Tour Match.

In the two round contest I defeated Emily 44 to 56.

Photos from our revisit.

Richard receives his prize from course owner James Gray.

Emily in the boneyard!

The 9-hole Lost World Adventure Golf course on Beach Road, Hemsby was the 88th course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in May 2009.

On our visit to the course last year I defeated Emily in the Irregular Mini Golf Tour Lost World Cup 9-hole contest. Emily however fared better in the 2010 Lost World Classic event itself, finishing in third place, with doubles partner Brad Shepherd.

Scrap Iron Cup #10 - Owen Johnson becomes a two-time Scrap Iron Cup Minigolf Champion

Tenth Scrap Iron Cup Minigolf Competition - Results and Report

Owen Johnson becomes a two-time Scrap Iron Cup Minigolf Champion

Owen ‘Jackpot' Johnson became a two-time Scrap Iron Cup minigolf champion on Saturday 4th June 2011 with a one-hole victory over three-time champion Seth ‘Clockwork Orange’ Thomas at the 18-hole Miniature Golf course at Wroxham Barns, Norfolk.

Round one was a 9-hole Strokeplay qualifier, with Seth ‘Clockwork Orange’ Thomas setting the pace with a score of 15. Owen 'Jackpot' Johnson shot a 17.

In the 9-hole Matchplay second round Seth took an early lead, and went two-up at the 3rd hole (the 12th). However, Owen fought back and brought the game back to level pegging at the 8th hole and forced a sudden-death play-off that would begin at hole one.

Both Thomas and Johnson scored twos on the first and second holes, but it was at the short but tricky third hole that Owen, the youngest ever Scrap Iron Cup Champion, stepped up and hit a hole-in-one. Seth was unable to score the much needed Ace and so Owen 'Jackpot' Johnson won the title and the bragging rights.

Defending champion Paul 'The Overtaker' Johnson was unable to retain the Scrap Iron Cup in the event and finished tied third alongside four-time champion 'Squire' Richard Gottfried.

New Scrap Iron Cup Champion Owen Johnson has now won the title twice, from a total of three final appearances.

Emily 'Coach' Gottfried was the other competitor at the tournament.

Scrap Iron Cup #10
04/06/2011
Venue: Wroxham Barns, Hoveton, Norfolk

Round One – Strokeplay
Rank Player
1. Seth Thomas – 15
2. Owen Johnson – 17
3T. Richard Gottfried – 19
3T. Paul Johnson – 19
5. Emily Gottfried – 20

Round Two – Matchplay

Seth Thomas vs. Owen Johnson

Result – Owen Johnson wins 1up at the third extra-hole of the sudden-death play-off

Photos from the 10th Scrap Iron Cup tournament.

Scrap Iron Cup - Hall of Fame
2011 - #10 - Owen Johnson beat Seth Thomas - Wroxham Barns
2011 - #9 - Paul Johnson beat Seth Thomas - Margate
2011 - #8 - Richard Gottfried beat Peter Jones - Liverpool
2011 - #7 - Seth Thomas beat Paul Johnson - Liverpool
2011 - #6 - Seth Thomas beat Owen Johnson - Hither Green
2011 - #5 - Seth Thomas beat Richard Gottfried - Bristol
2011 - #4 - Richard Gottfried beat Cindy Kukielka - Birmingham
2010 - #3 - Owen Johnson beat Richard Gottfried - Birmingham
2010 - #2 - Richard Gottfried beat Paul Johnson - Weymouth
2010 - #1 - Richard Gottfried beat Paul Johnson - Sandbanks

Rules of the Scrap Iron Cup
• Played between members of the Midlands Minigolf Club
• Played in either groups of two, or one group, in round one
• Groups are drawn at random (often using the 'balls in a hat' technique)
• Round one is a strokeplay match played over 7, 9, 11, 12 or 18 holes
• The two players with the top scores after round one qualify for the second round/final
• Round two is a matchplay match played over 7, 9, 12 or 18 holes
• The winner of the matchplay match becomes the Scrap Iron Cup* Champion**

* The Johnson's Scrap Iron Cup (aka the 'NABBA ENGLAND 95 CLASS TWO WINNER' Trophy) remains the property of Owen and Paul Johnson
** The Reigning Scrap Iron Champion retains the cup until the next defence whereupon it is given up until the next Scrap Iron Cup tournament has been completed

Blogs by Mr Daniel Weir

A tweet to me regarding Minigolf courses in Hunstanton from a Mr Daniel Weir (who hails from 'the wilds of east anglia') led me to have a look at his blogs. And very interesting they are too.

Do check out his blogs at:
- dig your fins
- Wishing I Was Here
And my personal favourite - Welcome to Norfolk, which features an A-Z of places in Norfolk, with a fine selection of Road Signs!

My favourite interesting sounding places in Norfolk are 'Repps with Bastwick' and 'Acle'.

On our travels we often find odd and interesting sounding places, here's a link to our latest 'discoveries'.

Arnold Palmer Putting Courses, Crazy Golf and Wacky Waving Arm-Flailing Inflatable Tube-men in Ayr!

Whilst browsing the excellent MiniatureGolfer.com website recently, Emily spotted some photos our fellow BMGA Tour Pro, and Crazy Golf Traveller, Peter 'The Crazy Aced Assassin' Jones took of the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Ayr, Scotland.

Not only is the Crazy Golf shown, but there is a Wacky Waving Arm-Flailing Inflatable Tube-man in the background!

Ham & Egger Files Blog Posts about Airdancers

New York, Langrick, Boston

On our travels around the UK we often come across places with similar names to more well known places, or names that seem out of place in that particular location.

Driving through Lincolnshire we spotted a road sign directing us to New York and Boston!

Where does the Sea End? Surfleet Seas End!

On our many roadtrips around the UK we are attempting to visit every seaside in the country. On our recent trip along the Lincolnshire coast heading towards Norfolk we drove past Surfleet Seas End, and decided to take a look and see what the Seas End looks like!

Surfleet Seas End is in the South Holland District of Lincolnshire.

A Selection of Seaside Shooting Shacks...

It wouldn't be a trip to a seaside resort without playing a Hill Billy Shooting Shack!

Cleethorpes.

 Skegness.

Ingoldmells.

Hunstanton.

While it wasn't a Shooting Shack, this target game in the Vegas Amusement Arcade in Hunstanton was certainly different!

We also spotted a new type of Arm Wrestling Game in one amusement arcade in Cleethorpes.

Other Seaside Shooting Shacks visited and played on our travels.

Crazy Golf at the Vegas Amusement Arcade in Hunstanton

The 40th and final minigolf course we visited on our seaside and minigolf tour of Lincolnshire & Norfolk was at the Vegas Amusement Arcade in Hunstanton. It became the 24th we were able to play on the road trip, and was the 248th course played overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

We didn't know there was going to be a Crazy Golf course there until I spotted the words 'Crazy Golf' on the sign outside, as we came out from the nearby mini-funfair.

The name 'Vegas' promised so much, however the course itself did not live up to our initial expectations... but for a pound a go and an 'experience' it was still fun.

The Crazy Golf course itself was not inside the amusement arcade (as had been the case in Cleethorpes), but was located 'out the back', next to a Go Kart Track.

In June 2010 we visited the real Las Vegas, where we played four Minigolf courses:
175 King Putt (North West Las Vegas, USA) - Indoor Mini Golf - Review at The Putting Penguin here
176 Pike's Pass (Circus Circus, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA) - Miniature Golf
177 King Putt (Henderson, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA) - Indoor Mini Golf - Review at The Putting Penguin here
178 The Putt Park (Las Vegas, Nevada, USA) - Miniature Golf - Review at The Putting Penguin here

So far we've managed to visit a grand total of 384 Miniature Golf courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, playing 248 of them!

Related blog posts:
- List of courses visited and played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Minigolf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf Courses on the Lincolnshire Coast