Fish & Chips, Gluten Free Dessert and some Bar Billiards in Baldock

A fun Tuesday night out in Baldock.

With the Fish 'n' Chick'n' fish & chip shop in Baldock, Hertfordshire continuing to offer Gluten Free fish & chips (and battered mushrooms!) on the last Tuesday of the month, a group of us (including a pair of Coeliacs) headed there for a slap-up feed. As the Orange Tree Pub in Baldock also does Gluten Free food we decided to head there for some post-fish & chips Desserts and Bar Billiards.

The Orange Tree is a great pub and there's always a nice welcome on offer. As I was driving I couldn't have a Gluten Free beer (Hambleton's Ale is stocked there), but our party ordered the Gluten Free Chocolate Brownie that was being freshly prepared! While we waited we had a mini Bar Billiards tournament.

The Bar Billiards table has been moved into its own little room at the pub and it's also been refurbished and has a brand new baize!

Emily ready to take to the newly baized Bar Billiards table

In game one Emily took on Simon 'Practice' Hall in a closely fought contest that saw Simon win 440 to 380.

In the second match I faced off against the debuting Cat 'Corner' Patterson in a game that went to a sudden-death shootout on the black mushroom 200-hole! I won in a 870 to 420 match.

Following the Gluten Free pudding we contested a doubles match that also went to a sudden-death shootout and after I missed the first attempt at the 200-hole Simon stepped up and nailed the shot to win the tie 740 to 650 for his pairing with Emily.

The pub has had a garden renovation too and there is a great looking outside seating area that we'll be making use of in the summer.

Related Blog Posts:

- Results of a three town 'Octathlon' sporting challenge series

- Gluten Free Food & Beer (and Bar Billiards) in Baldock

- Bar Billiards in Baldock & Knebworth

- All Bar Billiards Blog Posts on The Ham & Egger Files

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

- Gluten Free Ales, Beers and Lagers

Links:

- The Orange Tree Baldock

- Fish 'n' Chick'n' Baldock

- Coeliac UK

Happy Groundhog Day 2013

Punxsutawney Phil predicts an early spring!

This morning legendary Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil prognosticated whether there would be a prolonged winter, or an early spring. As tradition dictates if he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather! This year, for only the 15th time in the previous 116 Groundhog Days Punxsutawney Phil did NOT see his shadow, so we are in for an early spring.

Emerging from his burrow on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, USA the prognosticator of prognosticators Punxsutawney Phil spoke to the President of the Groundhog Club in "Groundhogese" who conveyed the prediction to the crowd and the world at large!

A 'Punxutawney Phil' doesn't see his shadow while another 'Punxutawney Phil' does see it. Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Links:

- Groundhog Club

- Groundhog Day

- Punxutawney Phil on Twitter

New Factsheet from the British Minigolf Association

Check out the British Minigolf Association's website for 33 Facts and Stats about the British Minigolf Association and Minigolf in the UK.

The BMGA has a new Factsheet available with information, stats and facts about the BMGA since its formation in 1998. It also contains links to useful websites and associations in the sport of Minigolf.

The British Minigolf Association is the governing body for Minigolf Sport, including Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf. Free and BMGA Tour Pro Membership options are available. For more information please visit the BMGA website.

Link:
- British Minigolf Association Factsheet

Crazy Golf to feature on "Rory and Will - Champions of The World"

Channel 5 TV show to feature Crazy Golf on new show "Rory and Will - Champions of The World".

The new Channel 5 TV Show "Rory and Will - Champions of The World" will feature Crazy Golf on the next episode. Filmed at the Hastings seafront Crazy Golf course last year Rory McGrath and Will Mellor received some coaching from two of the world's best Crazy Golfers and then challenged each other to find out which of them is the best player in their ongoing challenge match.

You can catch a glimpse of Will Mellor playing Crazy Golf on the trailer for episode 2 at the end of the first show.

Episode 1 saw the pair take on Reliant Robin Racing, Nurdling, Thumb Wrestling, Fishing and Pea Shooting!

Links:

- Rory and Will - Champions of The World

- British Minigolf Association (BMGA)

- Hastings Adventure Golf

Minigolf Report – Gottfried’s begin new Miniature Golf Season at the BMGA Star City Open in Birmingham

13th and 18th place finishes for Luton-based Minigolfers Richard & Emily Gottfried at the first-event of the BMGA season.

Luton Minigolfers Richard and Emily Gottfried were back in Minigolf action on Sunday 27th January as they teed-off in the first competition of the British Minigolf Association’s 2013 Tour season at the BMGA Star City Open at Adventure Island Mini Golf, Star City, Birmingham.

Richard finished in 13th place for the second year in a row, with Emily in 18th place in the 24-player field.

Richard scored a three-round total of 104(-4), having scored 35, 37 and 32. Richard still jointly holds the official BMGA course record of 28(-8) on the Lost Hut Trail which he equalled in 2010 at the BMGA National Open. Emily scored a total 109(+1) after rounds of 36, 32 and 41.

Richard Gottfried playing the 8th hole at Adventure Island Mini Golf

The tournament was played over three 18-hole rounds on the Lost Hut Trail course at the Star City venue and was won by Michael Smith. Adam Kelly was runner-up, with Paul Johnson third.

Richard said "I’m happy with my round of 32, but my 35 and 37 weren't good. I didn't drop many shots, but missed too many hole-in-one opportunities. Emily played some really good Minigolf and it was disappointing to see her drop so many shots on one bad hole. I’m really looking forward to playing at the new BMGA British Crazy Golf Open in Hastings in March and the BMGA British Masters at Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing."

Emily Gottfried on the 9th hole at Adventure Island Mini Golf

Emily said “Adventure Island Mini Golf at Star City remains as a fantastic location for a winter tournament, as well as a great start to the new season. My first two rounds were great and I played well, but unfortunately one bad hole on the third round was enough to put me out of prize contention. Still, I enjoyed the tournament and the weekend, and can’t wait for the next competition in March.”

Richard and Emily are now in their seventh year as BMGA Tour Pro players. Last season Richard was ranked 5th of 120 players in the BMGA Season Rankings, 15th of 96 players in the BMGA Strokeplay Order of Merit Rankings and 15th of 60 players in the BMGA Matchplay Order of Merit Rankings. Emily was ranked 37th in the Season Only Rankings and 41st place in both the Strokeplay & Matchplay Order of Merit Rankings. Richard was 17th in the 2012 ‘Castle Golf’ World Crazy Golf Championship. And in last year's World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) Rankings Richard placed in tied 391st place in the WMF General Class (Adults) Men's category, with Emily ranked in tied 113th place in the WMF General Class (Adults) Women’s category.

Ends

Links and Further Information:

- The British Minigolf Association is the governing body for Minigolf Sport, including Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf. Free and BMGA Tour Pro Membership options are available. For more information please visit the BMGA website

- A British Minigolf Association Factsheet with 33 Facts and Stats about the BMGA and Minigolf in the UK can also be found on the BMGA website

- Adventure Island Mini Golf at Star City website

Miniature Golf Days in 2013

Special days to celebrate Minigolf!

If, like me, you're a fan of Miniature Golf (and it's many varieties) you'll be pleased to know that there are a number of special days to celebrate the great game!

The first will be on Saturday 11th of May 2013 which marks 'National Miniature Golf Day'.

The second is 'Miniature Golf Day' which always falls on the 21st of September and this year will be a Saturday.

Playing the 18th hole in front of the crowd at Wroxham Barns in the 2011 BMGA English Open

Interestingly two British Minigolf Association Tour competitions will be taking place on each of the above 'days', with the BMGA British Championships taking place at Wroxham Barns in Hoveton, Norfolk on the weekend of the 11th & 12th of May. Saturday 21st September will see the first day's play of the BMGA British International Open contested at Strokes Adventure Golf in Margate, Kent.

Playing hole 2 at the 2012 BMGA British Open at Strokes Adventure Golf in Margate, Kent

Last year on the 6th of May the Austrian Minigolf Federation (Österreichischer Bahnengolf-Verband - OBGV) organised the third-annual 'Minigolf Tag' ('Minigolf Day').

Related Blog Posts:

- Miniature Golf Days in 2012

- Dates for your Diary - National Miniature Golf Day

- Happy Miniature Golf Day 2011

- How I celebrated Miniature Golf Day 2011

- Let's get Minigolf 'trending' - Twitter, Minigolf and #MinigolfMonday

- Types and Variants of Miniature Golf visited and played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Links:

- National Miniature Golf Day on Wikipedia (within ‘Miniature Golf’ article - the first edition was in 2007)

- Miniature Golf Day on the Holiday Insights website

- #MinigolfMonday on Twitter

- British Minigolf Association

- World Minigolf Sport Federation

Minigolfnews.com 'Minigolf Photo of the Year' Competition Entry

Entry to the Minigolfnews.com Photo of the Year competition for the 2012 Minigolf season.

Here's the photo I am submitting on behalf of Emily Gottfried for the Minigolfnews.com Minigolf Photo of the Year competition.

The most avid spectator at the 2012 'Castle Golf' World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings watches Richard Gottfried playing the 18th hole of the seafront Crazy Golf course

It was taken during the final rounds of the Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championship in Hastings on Sunday 28th October 2012. The dog was one of the most excited members of the crowd at the event!

Links:

- Minigolfnews.com
- Photo of the year 2012 vote coming up

Related Blog Posts:
- Doggone Minigolf!
- Minigolf Report – Richard Gottfried a finalist in the ‘Castle Golf’ World Crazy Golf Championship

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" Minigolf Videos by Allan 'The Putter King' Cox

New Minigolf Videos by Australia's Allan 'The Putter King' Cox.

The 2011 / 2012 Putter King Allan Cox has put together some Minigolf videos in a new series called "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery". The Putt Putt star has based some of his trick shots on some of those I made as part of my entry into The Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunts. Check them out 

below:

Blindfold Mini Golf trick shot

Mini Golf Trick Shots on the Loop De Loop

Links: 

- Allan Cox's YouTube Channel, PuttPuttdownunder

- The Putter King 

- Ermington Putters Club 

- Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt related blog posts - 1st Edition - 2nd Edition

- My YouTube Channel

- Video: Minigolf Trick Shot - Blindfolded Hole-in-One - Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt

- Video: Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt 2011 - Task 16 - Hole-in-One on a Loop-de-Loop Hole

Join the British Minigolf Association for the 2013 Minigolf Season

Membership available to join the British Minigolf Association for the 2013 Minigolf Season.

The British Minigolf Association (BMGA) is the Governing Body for Minigolf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf sport in the UK and offers two membership options - 'Free' & 'BMGA Tour Pro'.

- The 'Free Membership' option via an online registration on the BMGA website ensures members receive regular newsletters on forthcoming events, ranking updates and results from competitions on the BMGA Tour.

- The 'Tour Card Membership' costs £20 for the season and entitles players to discounted pre-event practice rates at tournament venues on the calendar (some venues will offer these rates all season) and priority entry to selected events (subject to availability) before entries are opened to non Tour Pro members and the general public.

Full details of what is available to members under the two tiers of membership can be found at the BMGA Membership Page. To register for Free BMGA Membership please visit the BMGA website registration page.

The BMGA organises and promotes Miniature Golf and Crazy Golf competitions each year. Last season there were 28 competitions, with fourteen full BMGA Tour Ranking events held on eleven courses. You can find more details on the Roll of Honour for the 2012 season.

Last season I competed in twelve full British Minigolf Association Tour events and won a BMGA Tour title with victory at the BMGA & Putterfingers Oswestry Games Championship in July. Emily and I also represented Great Britain at the WMF World Adventure Golf Masters in Hastings and I ended the year with a career-best ranking of 5th in the BMGA Season Only Rankings for 2012.

You can download an information sheet with details of the BMGA and 'The (Abridged) Rules of BMGA Minigolf' here.

If you have any questions about BMGA Tour membership please contact the BMGA via its website.

Yours in sport,

'Squire' Richard Gottfried

BMGA Tour Pro

Great Britain International

Member of the Midlands Minigolf Club

Member of the BMGA since January 2007

Nominations Open for the Luton Sports Awards!

Please nominate us for the Luton Sports Awards!

Entries have opened for the annual Luton Sports Awards, organised by Luton Sports Network and Emily & I would both really appreciate your nomination to help us be shortlisted (and hopefully win) a prestigious Luton Sports Award. Details on 'Criteria' and 'How to Nominate' is below. The nomination form can be downloaded from here.

International Minigolfers Emily & Richard Gottfried

Emily is entering the ‘Sports Woman of the Year’ category and I am entering the ‘Sports Man of the Year’ category. A summary of the highlights of our 2012 Minigolf Season can also be found below.

The closing date for nominations is Monday 18th of February 2013 and the Awards Ceremony will take place on Thursday 21st of March 2013. further details about the Luton Sports Awards and Luton Sports Network can be found on the Luton Sports Network website.

British Minigolf Association (BMGA) Tour Competition Highlights 2012

- I won a BMGA Tour title with victory at the BMGA & Putterfingers Oswestry Games Championship in July
- Emily was the runner-up in the Planet Hastings Crazy Golf Club Open in October and in the second placed team at the BMGA Oswestry Games Pro-Am Minigolf Classic
- I was the runner-up in the Category 2 BMGA British Minigolf Championships and 7th place overall in the Major championship
- Emily captained a Cambridgeshire Mini Golf Club team at the BMGA British Club Championships leading them to fourth place

British Minigolf Association (BMGA) Tour Rankings for 2012

- I finished the 2012 Miniature Golf season ranked in a career-high of 5th place in the 2012 BMGA Season Only Rankings. Emily was ranked 37th in the 120 player strong rankings and the third-best female player in the list

- In the BMGA Strokeplay Order of Merit Rankings I finished in 15th place of 96 players, with Emily in 41st place and second amongst the female players

- In the BMGA Matchplay Order of Merit I was ranked 15th of 60 players, with Emily in 41st place and in fifth place of the female players

- In the BMGA 2012 Season Rankings for Clubs Emily and the Cambridgeshire Mini Golf Club finished in second place. Me and the Midlands Minigolf Club finished in third place of six teams

International Minigolf Tournament Highlights 2012

- Both Emily and I gained our fourth Great Britain caps when we competed in the second WMF World Adventure Golf Masters tournament in Hastings in May. I finished the event in 14th place overall and in 11th place in the men’s competition. Emily was runner-up in the women’s event and 17th overall. As part of the Great Britain B team (with Brad Shepherd & Ruth Burke) we finished the international championship in fourth place
- At October’s ‘Castle Golf’ World Crazy Golf Championship in Hastings I was once again a finalist and finished the tournament in 17th place of 53 players in my sixth appearance for England

Independent Minigolf Competition Highlights 2012

- I won the Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Championship June Play-off at Selfridges London and went on to win the Grand Final in August
- I also won the Chrizy Golf Masters Championship in Manchester in December
- Emily was tied third in the Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Championship Grand Final

Other Highlights from 2012

- I was the organiser of the Minigolf activities in the 2012 Oswestry Games festival of sport held in Oswestry, Shropshire. The Oswestry Games were the first multi-sport event that Minigolf had been a part of in the UK and along with fellow coaches from the British Minigolf Association we organised a series of training & coaching activities and competitions for local novice players, a Pro-Am and a tournament for BMGA Tour Pro players
- As a member of the BMGA's Executive Committee I helped to organise and promote 28 British Minigolf Association Tour Events and as part of the WMF's Marketing & Media Committee I worked on eight WMF & EMF International Minigolf Championship Events
- These voluntary sports organisation activities were also logged as part of my Sport Makers logged hours and as a Sport Maker I was a Paralympic Flame Assistant at the Paralympic Flame Celebration Event in Luton in August
- Emily was a Tournament Director at the BMGA British Open tournament held at Strokes Adventure Golf in Margate in September and also helped run and marshal other BMGA competitions during the season including the 'Castle Golf' World Crazy Golf Championship in October

Photo Links:
- Richard teeing-off in the 'Castle Golf' World Crazy Golf Championship in Hastings
- Richard playing hole 16 in the 'Castle Golf' World Crazy Golf Championship
- Richard playing hole 1 at the BMGA British Club Championship in Basingstoke
- Richard playing during the BMGA & Putterfingers Oswestry Games Championship
- Richard with his gold medal on the podium following his win at the BMGA & Putterfingers Oswestry Games Championship 
- Richard with the trophy from the Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Championship June Play-off at Selfridges London
- Emily playing the final hole at the Planet Hastings Crazy Golf Club Open
- Emily with her silver medal at the Oswestry Games Pro-Am Tournament

Related Blog Posts:

- Minigolf Report – Gottfried’s Final Results & End of Season Review 2012
- End of Season BMGA Tour Minigolf Rankings for 2012
- Richard Gottfried - Minigolf Player Profile
- Emily Gottfried - Minigolf Player Profile
- 2012 - A Big Year of Sport

Links:

- Luton Sports Network

- British Minigolf Association

- World Minigolf Sport Federation

Caption the Photo...

...a long time ago in Minigolf.

Me and Christopher Gottfried at TopGolf Watford's Adventure Golf course in April 2007!

The 18-hole Adventure Golf course at TopGolf Watford was the eighth (of the 523 courses) we've visited to-date and we first played there in December 2006!

Related Blog Posts:
- Watford
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Winning some Pirates Adventure Golf 'Treasure'

Winning a Pirates Adventure Golf Facebook Competition!

The team at Pirates Adventure Golf in Dundonald, Belfast, Northern Ireland have recently been running a number of online competitions to win Pirates Adventure Golf Goodies and I won the competition on Tuesday 11th December :-)

My prizes from the 'Guess the Number of Golf Balls Captain Jack Frost Fired at the Fort' Contest were three pin badges and a t-shirt. Some more great Minigolf items for my collection!

Back in August 2010 Emily and I visited and played at Pirates Adventure Golf. There are two 18-hole Adventure Golf courses there - Blackbeard's Adventure and The Captain's Challenge - and they became the 188th and 189th courses we played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Very good fun and testing courses they are too. While in Northern Ireland we played a Minigolf Challenge Tournament (the NIBBAL-IT) against Northern Ireland's top Minigolfers - Mark 'The Horse Whisperer' Swain and Craig 'Kamikaze' McCallister, with the Bangor Minigolf Club members winning the contest.

The courses have played host to two British Minigolf Association tournaments when Pirates Adventure Golf was the venue for the BMGA Irish Open in 2006 and 2007.

Links:

- Pirates Adventure Golf Website

- Pirates Adventure Golf Facebook

- Pirates Adventure Golf Twitter

Related Blog Post:

- Pirates Adventure Golf in Belfast, Northern Ireland - Crazy World of Minigolf courses played #188 & #189

Crazy Golf sessions at Fairwater Leisure Centre with the Cwmbran Minigolf Club

"Crazy Family Fridays at Fairwater Leisure Centre in January!"

The team at Portaputt Crazy Golf are beginning the New Year with fun Crazy Golf sessions on Friday evenings starting from the 4th of January 2013.

The Portaputt Crazy Golf layout at the World Alternative Games 2014

The Portaputt Crazy Golf course will be set-up at Fairwater Leisure Centre from 7pm and players can play multiple rounds between 7 and 8pm. From 8pm there will be a weekly Crazy Golf Challenge competition in adult and junior categories, with prizes up for grabs! 

Portaputt has also started-up the Cwmbran Minigolf Club and players can become members of the latest Miniature Golf Club in the UK, and the first in Wales, when they attend the Crazy Golf fun nights. 

Check out the Portaputt Crazy Golf website for more information.

Links:

- Portaputt Crazy Golf

- "Cwmbran family turn their love of minigolf into a business" story at Cwmbran Life

Related Blog Posts:

- Portaputt Crazy Golf in Cwmbran, Wales

- Wales-related Posts

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list of courses visited and played

- Minigolf etc. - English to Welsh translations

2013 Luton Invitational Minigolf Tournament - New Year's Day Crazy Golf at Woodside Animal Farm

Results and photos from the 2013 Luton Invitational New Year's Day Minigolf Competition at Woodside Animal Farm, Slip End Village near Luton.

A double thumbs (and putters!) up from the 2013 champ

On New Year's Day Emily and I headed to Woodside Animal Farm near Luton for a round of Crazy Golf on the 18-hole course and a look at the animals. In our Crazy Golf match Emily was looking to make it three wins in a row in the 'Luton Invitational Tournament', but was unable to achieve the feat, losing to me by two shots in a match that saw us score 48(+12) and 50(+14) on the stony course!

Some rock steady play led Richard to victory

Since 2010 the Luton Invitational Minigolf Tournament has been the traditional opening Miniature Golf event of the year on the 'Irregular Mini Golf Tour'. In 2010 the players faced-off in arctic cold weather conditions, while 2011 was played in heavy drizzle and last year's weather was mild, but drizzly.

Emily 'Lemony Lemster' Gottfried tired towards the end of the round and was unable to retain her title for a threepeat

New Luton Invitational Tournament minigolf champion 'Squire' Richard Gottfried with the 2012 LIT prize of a Fudge bar

The fifth staging of the event saw only two players compete as Simon 'Practice' Hall was otherwise engaged.

The animals at Woodside were in high spirits once again this year, with a couple of goats squaring off in a head-butt fight!

Two of the fighty goats fighting, while another one looks on

Luton Invitational Tournament Honours Board:

2013 - Richard Gottfried

2012 - Emily Gottfried

2011 - Emily Gottfried

2010 - Richard Gottfried

2006 - Joanne Tubby

On the 1st of January each year Woodside Animal Farm opens for a New Year's Day Party to raise money for the Keech Cottage Children's Hospice.

Luton Invitational Tournament Minigolf Results 2006-2013:

2013 Luton Invitational Tournament Results:

1. Richard Gottfried - 48 (+12)

2. Emily Gottfried - 50 (+14)

2012 Luton Invitational Tournament Results:

1. Emily Gottfried - 47 (+11)

2. Richard Gottfried - 49 (+13)

2011 Luton Invitational Tournament Results:

1. Emily Gottfried - 43 (+7)

2. Richard Gottfried - 51 (+15)

3. Simon Hall - 54 (+18)

4. Mystery Player - 57 (+21)

2010 Luton Invitational Tournament Results:

1. Richard Gottfried - 46 (+10)

2T. Emily Gottfried - 54 (+18)

2T. Mystery Player - 54 (+18)

4. Simon Hall - 57 (+21)

2007-2009 - Luton Invitational Tournament:

Not Played

2006 Luton Invitational Tournament Results*:

1. Jo Tubby - 54 (par)

2. Emily Gottfried - 56 (+2)

3. Richard Gottfried - 62 (+8)

* Note: Par used was 'Course Par' of 3 shots per hole, rather than 'BMGA Par' of 2 shots per hole.

The Crazy Golf course at Woodside Animal Farm course was the fourth course ever to be played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back on the 27th October 2006. As of January 1st 2013 we have visited 523 Miniature Golf courses on the Tour.

A new sport or game for 2013?

What sport or game that we haven't tried already should we give a go in 2013?

As well as playing lots of Minigolf on our travels around on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, Emily and I also regularly compete in British Minigolf Association competitions at Crazy Golf, Miniature Golf and Adventure Golf courses. We also enjoy participating in 'side-tournaments' and trying out new sports and games.

2012 was the year of Bar Billiards and 2011 saw us play a fair bit of Laser Tag, but what sport or game shall we take-up in 2013?

Related Blog Post:

- Behold...

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

All the very best and have a great 2013.

Cheers,

Richard & Emily

2012 - A Big Year of Sport

A jam-packed year of playing, spectating and organising sporting events!

2012 has been a very full year of sporting events large, small and everything in-between. As a player, spectator, visitor and organiser I have been involved in a lot of contests during 2012.

2012 has been a GIANT year of sport

Player/Competitor

• Twelve British Minigolf Association Tour Events, winning a BMGA Tour title at the BMGA & Putterfingers Oswestry Games Championship

• WMF World Adventure Golf Masters – Individual and Team competitions

• Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championship – Finalist and 17th place overall

• World Alternative Games Egg Throwing Championship – Champion (with Jas Kukielka)

• Worlds £2 Tat Challenge – Winner

• Mayor of Luton’s Charity Tenpin Bowling Challenge – Team Champions

• Luton High Town Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Street Party Men's 18-50 year-olds 60m Running Race – Runner-up

• Oswestry Games Oslympics Quiz – 3rd place team

• International Rock Paper Scissors Championship – 4th place (as Team San Marino)

• Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt 2 – 4th

• The first-ever World Bun Throwing Championships in Abingdon-on-Thames – Competitor 

• 33rd Bun Throwing in Abingdon-on-Thames – Participant 

• The Chase – TV Quiz Show Contestant

• First Ever Ripping Yarns Hopathon – Guinness World Record attempts for the ‘Fastest 400m Relay Hop’ and the ‘Largest Group Hop’

• Luton Community Games – Petanque and Pitch & Putt

• Yattendon & Frilsham Fete Christmas Tree Throwing Competition

• Twelve other Miniature Golf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf competitions including victory at the Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Championships at Selfridges London

Spectator/Visitor

• London 2012 Olympic Games – Handball, Archery & BMX

• London 2012 Paralympic Games – Wheelchair Fencing, Powerlifting & Boccia

• PDC Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship 2013

• Olympic Torch Evening Celebration Event in Luton

• Olympic Torch Relay Event in Luton

• Olympex 2012 at the British Library

• Guinness World Record Attempt for the “Largest Synchronized Morris Dance”

• Jigfest

Organiser/Volunteer

• 28 British Minigolf Association Tour Events

• Eight WMF & EMF International Minigolf Championship Events

• World Finger Jousting Federation UK Championship at the World Alternative Games 

• Paralympic Flame Celebration Event in Luton – Paralympic Flame Assistant as part of Sport Makers

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Milestones

• 300th course played and 500th course visited overall

• At Wonderland theme park at Telford Town Park

Related Blog Posts:

- Behold...

- 2011 - Ham & Egger Files - The Year in Review

- 2010 - Ham & Egger Files - The Year in Review

- 2009 - Ham & Egger Files - The Year in Review

Minigolf & Crazy Golf at Wigan's Haigh Country Park

Having a look at the Crazy Golf and Grass Putting Miniature Golf courses at Haigh Country Park in Wigan.

On a recent visit to Wigan, on a bitterly cold & snowy day, I checked out the Crazy Golf course that I had heard had been refurbished by the Friends of Haigh Country Park.

Nine of the 18-holes have been cleaned up and are open for play during school holidays and the team of volunteers behind the clean-up are looking to develop and renew the course over the coming months and years as it is a work in progress.

From my brief look at the course it appears to have a mixture of playing surfaces. Some of the holes and obstacles appear to be 'eternit' style Miniature Golf, while others are more unique felt on concrete holes.

The Play Haigh Golf Complex is home to a regular golf course and also a Putting Green called the 'Himalayas'!

The undulating Putting Green looked very good and it was a shame it wasn't warmer as I would have definitely given it a play.

I've played two other courses named 'The Himalayas' - one is in Melbourn, Cambridgeshire and replaced an old Crazy Golf course, the other is at St Andrews and was the world's first-ever Miniature Golf course!

The courses were the 521st and 522nd courses visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Links:
- Haigh Country Park
- Friends of Haigh Country Park
- Play Haigh Golf Complex

Related Blog Post:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

All the best for the festive season and have a happy New Year in 2013.

Cheers,

Richard & Emily