Tampere Reunion Classic

Prior to the main BMGA English Open competition at the 18-hole Minigolf course at Wroxham Barns last Sunday, Richard & Emily both played in the Tampere Reunion Classic tournament on Saturday 9th May, against fellow members of the Great Britain Team who competed in Finland last May. In the one-round competition Richard came out on top with a 42 (+6), with Sean Homer in 2nd with 45 (+9) and Steve Gow 3rd with 46 (+10). Marion Homer was 4th with a 48 (+12). Emily was 5th with 53 (+17).

Tampere Reunion Classic
Wroxham Barns, Norfolk.
09/05/09

Rank Player Score Aces
1 Richard Gottfried 42 0
2 Sean Homer 45 1
3 Steve Gow 46 2
4 Marion Homer 48 0
5 Emily Gottfried 53 2

Aces Play-Off - Emily beat Steve

Gottfried’s 2009 Tour in the Luton News

The Luton News has been a great supporter of me and Emily’s Mini and Crazy Golf Career and so far this season the following tournament reports have appeared in the Luton News and Dunstable Gazette.

"Gottfried has room for improvement"
www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut/Gottfried-has-room-for-improvement.4900054.jp

"Gottfrieds back in action"
www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut/Gottfrieds-back-in-action.5107137.jp

"Golfing Richard dreams of flight."
See the e-version of the Herald & Post at http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/

"Gottfried triumphs at the Manchester Mini Masters"
www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut/Gottfried-triumphs-at-the-Manchester.5171011.jp

"Gottfried wins through in the British Matchplay"
www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut/Gottfried-wins-through-in-the.5216269.jp

Ham & Egger Files and "Pirate thrill for tee"

An article in the Blackpool Gazette about a planned new Crazy Golf course in Blackpool, entitled “Pirate thrill for tee” and published on the 25th March 2009, gives a very good mention to the Ham & Egger Files website and my travels around the UK’s best (and worst) Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses.

The full story can be viewed on the Blackpool Gazette website here: http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/daily-feature/Pirate-thrill-for-tee.5106807.jp

A year ago in Minigolf...

A year ago this weekend, Emily and I were in Tampere, Finland having been selected to be members of the Great Britain Minigolf Sport team that competed in the 2008 WMF Nations Cup.


The Great Britain Minigolf teams finished the tournament in 12th & 13th places.


In the individual rankings Richard finished in 51st place and Emily in 53rd.



The whole experiencing of representing my country and playing minigolf on the tough Tampere, Finland courses has definitely improved my playing skills - I've since become a BMGA British Club Champion, Weymouth Open Champion and holder of the Manchester Mini Masters title!


Back in May 2008 I was ranked 25th in the BMGA Order of Merit Rankings and at present I am ranked 17th in Great Britain.

This year the Great Britain Minigolf Sport team will be going to Odense in Denmark for the World Minigolf Championships.

Full details, results and statistics from the WMF Nations Cup 2008 can be found here.


Photos from Nations Cup 2008.

My original Nations Cup 2008 Blog Post can be found at the following link:
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2008/05/nations-cup-tampere-finland.html

Wacky, Waving, Inflatable, Arm-Flailing, Tube-men

Wacky, Waving, Inflatable, Arm-Flailing, Tube-men spotted in Luton, Guildford, Denver and Melbourne.

Spotted in Melbourne, Australia advertising mattresses:




In Luton promoting a car wash and valeting service:



In Guildford at a fun run:



In Denver with an unknown use!?:



See also:
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2008/09/wacky-waving-inflatable-arm-flailing.html
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/04/denver-wacky-waving-inflatable-arm.html

The Luton Sports Network Luton Sports Awards for 2008

The Luton Sports Network Luton Sports Awards for 2008.

Luton Minigolfer Richard Gottfried received nominations in the category of Sports Man of the Year in the Luton Sports Network Luton Sports Awards for 2008, and finished in 4th place.

Nominees for the awards had to have met the criteria below in their 2008 season:
• Achieved outstanding performances
• Shown outstanding ability
• Shown major improvement in their sport
• Promoted sport and influenced more members of the community to take part in sport

The top three nominees were from Athletics, Boxing and Swimming.

Following Richard's win in the Manchester Mini Masters minigolf tournament in early April he is looking good for another outstanding year on the BMGA Tour.

Minigolf Report – BMGA British Masters & British Matchplay Championships

Minigolf Report – BMGA British Masters & British Matchplay Championships

On Saturday 25th April Luton Minigolfer Richard Gottfried competed in a field of 30 in the first Minigolf Major of the 2009 BMGA Tour - the BMGA British Masters. Played over 36-holes at the Inca and Aztec themed Adventure Golf Course at Adventure Island in Southend on Sea, Richard had rounds of 24(+6), 22(+4), 21(+3) and 22(+4) for a total of 89(+17) and finished in 23rd place. The tournament was won by Chris Jones with a total of 72(par).


Richard said “I never fare too well on the Southend course in Strokeplay tournaments. In practice I can go round in 19 or 20, but then seem to get too many threes and fours in the main tournament.”


Saturday also saw the latest knockout match in the season-long BMGA British Matchplay Championships being played, with Richard defeating Kent Minigolf Club member Phil Exall 3&1. Richard is now through to the second round draw scheduled to take place in early June.

Commenting on his first round win in the BMGA British Matchplay Championships Richard said “Phil Exall was a very tough opponent and we had a close game. His two on the 9th Inca hole was excellent. Last year in this competition I was defeated in the first round in Southend so I am extremely happy to be through to round two.”

BMGA British Matchplay Championships Photos

From left to right: Referee Trevor Robertson, Phil Exall, Richard Gottfried

Minigolf Friendly Match - 24/04/09 - Squire vs. His Excellency

Minigolf Friendly Match - 24/04/09 - 'Squire' Richard Gottfried vs. Anthony 'His Excellency' Pope.

Arnold Palmer Minigolf, Eastern Esplanade, Southend on Sea.

'Squire' Richard Gottfried = 44(+8)
Anthony 'His Excellency' Pope = 39(+3)

Minigolf Course Visit No. 87 - Canvey Island

Minigolf Course Visit No. 87 was to the Arnold Palmer Minigolf course on Canvey Island.

The course used to be 18-holes but is now a 9-hole course.








Two rounds played with a 25(+7) and a 23(+5) scored. Three Aces.

Related blog posts:
- List of courses visited and played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Minigolf and Crazy Golf in Essex
- Canvey Island
- 10 Minutes in Canvey Island

Ham & Eggers win the Macmillan Bowling Challenge

At the third attempt the Ham & Eggers bowling team yesterday won the prestigious Macmillan Cancer Support Annual Bowling Challenge, defeating eight other teams to lift the trophy.

The Macmillan Annual Bowling Challenge took place at Luton's Namco Station and the Ham & Eggers improved on their Bronze medal position from 2008 to lift the trophy with a two game team score of 870.

Macmillan Annual Bowling Challenge Honours Board:
2009 - The Ham & Eggers
2008 - The Flecney Four
2007 - Plumbs DIY
2006 - Plumbs DIY

Previous Ham & Eggers Team Rankings:
2009 - 1st
2008 - 3rd
2007 - 6th
2006 - DNP








The 2008 Report can be seen here.

One & Other - an hour on the plinth in Trafalgar Square

One & Other is the brainchild of the artist Antony Gormley, best known for iconic statues such as The Angel of the North and the figures on the beach at Crosby, Merseyside. He is asking people from all over the UK to help create an incredible living monument by standing on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, for an hour each, 24 hours a day, for 100 days without a break.

And I have applied for a place!

Minigolf Report – Richard Gottfried wins the Manchester Mini Masters tournament

Minigolf Report – Richard Gottfried wins the Manchester Mini Masters tournament

Luton’s Richard Gottfried won the inaugural Manchester Mini Masters minigolf tournament at the 9-hole Championship MiniatureGolf course @ Playgolf Manchester on Saturday 11th April. The competition was played over 27-holes and in a field of twelve players Richard won with a three round total of 81(-24) after scoring 26, 27, and 28.

In second place with a score of 86(-19) was current BMGA British Number One Chris Harding. Paul Johnson was third with 87(-18).

Richard Gottfried said “It feels great to be the Manchester Mini Masters champion and to win by five clear shots is brilliant. The course is incredibly tough with some tricky water hazards but is great fun to play, the practice I put in on the Friday paid off. I am looking forward to defending my title next year and wearing the Championship MiniatureGolf winner’s shirt with pride.”

Emily Gottfried was also competing in the tournament and finished in 6th spot after rounds of 33, 29, and 33 for a total of 95(-10).

The Manchester Mini Masters is Richard’s fourth tournament win since his British Minigolf Association (BMGA) debut in April 2007; he is also the Adventure Island/Heart FM Open Champion, Weymouth Open Champion, and one-quarter of the reigning BMGA British Club Champions. Richard is currently ranked 16th of 66 in the BMGA Order of Merit Rankings, while Emily is in 42nd place.

Ends

Manchester Mini Masters - Gottfried Wins

On Saturday 11th April I won the Manchester Mini Masters minigolf tournament at the 9-hole Championship MiniatureGolf course @ Playgolf Manchester.

In a field of twelve I won with a three round total of 81, five shots clear of British Number One Chris Harding. Third was Paul Johnson with 87.

A full report is to follow.

Doc's Interactive Shootout

It's been a while since I've seen and played an arcade shooting gallery but I managed to find one in the Namco Station at the Trafford Centre in Manchester.

It was an update on the traditional seaside arcade version, with a mix of video game action and 'real life' targets.



In my opinion it wasn't a patch on Ol' Zeke's Shooting Shack!

Paradise Island Adventure Golf in Manchester

Visits to the Tiki Hut and Temple Ruins courses.


While in Manchester in April 2009 we visited and played the two 18-hole Adventure Golf courses at the Trafford Centre's Paradise Island Adventure Golf.

The first round was on the Tiki Hut Trail, followed by a round on the Temple Ruins Adventure, where I scored a 33(-3) which included a run of four Aces in a row!






Links:
- Paradise Island Adventure Golf in Manchester
- Paradise Island Adventure Golf

Minigolf Course Visit No. 84 - Championship MiniatureGolf @ Playgolf Manchester

Friday 10th April saw us visit and play at our 84th minigolf course - the 9-hole Championship MiniatureGolf course @ Playgolf Manchester.

The course was to be the location for the next day's Manchester Mini Masters tournament.

Tenpin Bowling - the '$1million' Challenge

On Tuesday 7th April three members of the Ham & Eggers Bowling Team competed for the '$1million' Bowling Challenge prize at Namco Luton.

Playing six games (and a play-off) it was Mike 'Five Star' Wright who walked away with the '$1million' winnings after defeating Richard 'Bowlingo' Gottfried in the 7th game decider after both players had won three games apiece.

In the 7th game 'Five Star' scored a 111 while 'Bowlingo' was one-pin away on 110.



Earlier in the evening Richard had scored a new personal best on UK-soil, with a solid 158.

Emily 'EBA/MVP' Gottfried meanwhile had a bad night picking up no wins and a best score of 101 in the first game.

Next up for the Ham & Eggers Bowling Team is the Macmillan Annual Bowling Challenge 2009 later this month.