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| The Crazy Mini Golfers in Skegness |
Over the weekend of the 9th and 10th of May 2015 we headed to Skegness in Lincolnshire for a seaside outing full of traditional British seaside fun and games.
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| Four Jolly Fishermen in Bracing Skegness |
Part of the trip involved the Skegness Minigolf Championship that saw ten players compete across five-rounds on five courses in the town.
.JPG "Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Skegness") |
| Emily playing one of the hardest holes on the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course |
Starting at the Arnold Palmer Putting Courses on Saturday 9th May (which also happened to be National Miniature Golf Day) six of the competitors lined-up on the 18-hole Crazy Golf course.
.JPG "Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Skegness") |
| Alan playing the classic Windmill hole |
During round one John 'Big Al' Moore arrived to take over on scoring duties and was ready to compete in round two.
.JPG "Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Skegness") |
| Alan putting on hole 6. The Big Wheel is especially tricky if you don't plan your tee-shot properly. As Chris found out |
Brad Shepherd had scored a very good two over par 38 in the first round to take the lead. There was a three-way tie for second place with Emily Gottfried, Richard Gottfried and Seth Thomas all scoring 42. Alan Norman was one-shot further back on 43, with Chris Jones shooting a 45.
.JPG "Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Skegness") |
| Richard playing the Rocket Ship hole |
After winning a free game on the lucky last hole, tournament leader Brad led out the groups on the 9-hole Crazy Golf course.
.JPG "Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Skegness") |
| Brad about to Ring The Bell on the Lucky Last Hole |
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| Brad and his winnings |
Following the second round there was a tie for first place, with Brad and Seth on 62. Emily was one-shot back on 63.
.JPG "Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Skegness") |
| Seth putting |
The grass Putting course at the Arnold Palmer centre would be the final course played in the tournament on the Sunday, so the players then made their way along the prom to course number three - the Pebble Beach Adventure Golf course.
.JPG "Pebble Beach Adventure Golf course in Skegness") |
| John Moore making a cameo appearance on the Pebble Beach Adventure Golf course |
Once again seven players teed-off, with Brad just about arriving in time to play having been waylaid en route between the North Parade and the Pleasure Beach.
.JPG "Pebble Beach Adventure Golf course in Skegness") |
| Chris playing the tough last hole |
The 9-hole Pebble Beach Adventure Golf saw some more close scores and Brad was able to extend his lead by one-shot having scored par. Seth remained in second place after a 19, with Emily, Alan and Richard all scoring 20. John and Chris had disappointing rounds of 24 and 25 respectively.
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| Richard at Pebble Beach |
With a break scheduled, the group played the two shooting shacks in the Pleasure Beach before part of the contingent headed to the town's charity shops, while others went to play some Bingo and have a spot of lunch.
.JPG "Skegness Pleasure Beach Shooting Gallery") |
| A face full of manky water at the Faulty Repair Shop shooting shack at the Pleasure Beach |
.JPG "Skegness Pleasure Beach Shooting Gallery") |
| The Hill Billy shooting shack fun |
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| Emily with her one and a half wins worth of Bingo prizes - a cheese knife and a building block type toy kit |
During the break in play the group was joined by Rhyl's #1 minigolfer Peter 'The Crazy Aced Assassin' Jones who warmed-up for the next round proper in an impromptu Aces Competition on the Original Crazy Golf course on South Parade.
.JPG "The Original Crazy Golf course on South Parade in Skegness") |
| The Crazy Aced Assassin scoring an Ace |
The event saw four-players play the 12-hole course using an 11-Wood that Chris had bought in a charity shop as the course was not open (it hadn't been open on the Friday either. It was however open on the Sunday).
.JPG "The Original Crazy Golf course on South Parade in Skegness") |
| A well struck shot from Seth manages to hit Brad |
The tied winners of the Aces contest were Peter and Richard who both scored one hole-in-one. In a play-off on hole two Richard managed to score another ace to take the overall victory. Alan and Chris finished in tied second-place after regulation play.
.JPG "The Original Crazy Golf course on South Parade in Skegness") |
| Richard managing to get the ball through the dolphin |
With John's stay in Skegness a short one as he had an athletics meeting to attend in Coventry, seven-players continued to the Gold Mine Adventure Golf course at the Pleasure Beach for round four.
.JPG "Gold Mine Adventure Golf in Skegness") |
| Seth putting at the Gold Mine |
The Gold Mine would prove a happier hunting ground for Alan and Richard as they tied for the half-win after scoring rounds of 19 on the 9-hole layout.
.JPG "Gold Mine Adventure Golf in Skegness") |
| Richard playing his second shot through a pipe |
Brad once again held onto the lead by one-shot from Alan, with Seth a shot further back having scored a 23 at the Gold Mine. Peter Jones scored a 25, with Chris scoring 25, while Emily hit a 29.
.jpg "Gold Mine Adventure Golf in Skegness") |
| Alan playing at the Gold Mine Adventure Golf course |
At the end of day one the rankings were:
1. Brad Shepherd = 102
2. Alan Norman = 103
3. Seth Thomas = 104
4. Richard Gottfried = 106
5. Emily Gottfried = 112
6. Chris Jones = 116
7. John Moore = DNS & DNF, but played 18-holes
8. Peter Jones = DNS & DNF, but played 12-holes
Note: These results were also the final rankings of the 2015 National Miniature Golf Day Championship.
After a great night out in Skegness the players awoke ready to play the final of the Skegness Championship. The first round of day two was planned to take place at the Lost World Adventure Park on North Parade. However this was cancelled as the theme park was found to have closed down! The final 18-holes would be played out on the grass Putting course at the Arnold Palmer Putting Centre.
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| Seth teeing-off on hole 2 of the Arnold Palmer Putting Course |
Joining the six players left standing were local competitors Eric Huckle, the 2014 Butler Cup Champion, and Steven Huckle. The round would also constitute the Holiday on the Buses Reunion Mini Golf Competition.
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| Brad putting |
In the Mini Golf Putting course round Richard won with a score of 42. Brad and Alan tied for second-place with rounds of 45. Chris and Seth both hit 46, with Emily on 49. Eric scored 58 and Steven shot a 74.
.JPG "The podium of the Skegness Minigolf Championship, from l-r Richard Gottfried, Alan Norman, Brad Shepherd, Seth Thomas") |
| The podium of the Skegness Minigolf Championship |
The overall event went to the wire, with Brad managing to hold off a late challenge from Richard, while Alan narrowly missed forcing a play-off, as Seth's challenge slipped on the grass playing surface.
.JPG "Brad receives the Skegness Minigolf Championship trophy from reigning Holiday on the Buses Butler Cup Champion Eric Huckle") |
| Brad receives the Skegness Minigolf Championship trophy from reigning Holiday on the Buses Butler Cup Champion Eric Huckle |
The final Skegness Minigolf Championship results were:
1. Brad Shepherd = 38+24+18+22+45 = 147
2. Alan Norman = 43+21+20+19+45 = 148
2. Richard Gottfried = 42+25+20+19+42 = 148
3. Seth Thomas = 42+20+19+23+46 = 150
4. Emily Gottfried = 42+21+20+29+49 = 161
5. Chris Jones = 45+19+25+27+46 = 162
6. John Moore = DNS & DNF, but played 18-holes scoring 48
6. Eric Huckle = DNS but played 18-holes scoring 58
6. Steven Huckle = DNS but played 18-holes scoring 74
7. Peter Jones = DNS & DNF, but played 12-holes scoring 25
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| The Crazy Mini Golfers at the Arnold Palmer Putting Course |
All of the players agreed the seaside resort was a marvellous place for a weekend away. With plenty of things to see and do, great places to eat and drink, and a nice pier and beach.
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| Emily and Seth cleaned up at the Arabian Camel Derby on Skegness Pier |
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| Richard and another mascot |
Skegness is the town with the most miniature golf courses in the UK - with a current count of 110-holes, spread over ten Crazy, Mini, Adventure, Putting and Pitch & Putt courses!
Related blog posts:
- Minigolf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf Courses on the Lincolnshire Coast
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