Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Closed course in Cliftonville (Margate)

Following the British Open at the excellent Adventure Golf course at Strokes in Margate we headed to the Little Oasis Crazy Golf at Cliftonville hoping to grab a game on the second 18-hole Arnold Palmer course (having previously played the 18-hole course with obstacles including the Windmill back in September 2007 - when it was Minigolf course visit number 37).

The unplayed course wasn't Minigolf course visit number 74, nor was it number 79. And it still hasn't been open to be played and therefore is not Minigolf course visit number 153 on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.







Related blog post:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Trompone in the British Open

As a reminder of my wrong answer on the TV show Eggheads I had a shirt made up for my second day gimmick as the Italian Minigolfer 'Trompone'!

Minigolf Report – BMGA Players Championship & BMGA British Open

21st September 2009
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report – BMGA Players Championship & BMGA British Open

Luton Minigolfer Richard Gottfried’s minigolf tournament winning streak came to an end in Margate on Friday 18th September as he finished in 21st place of 31 players in the BMGA Players Championship, the traditional warm-up tournament to the British Open.

After recently winning both the Miniature Open in Manchester and the Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open, Richard scored a round of 46 (+10) in the BMGA Players Championship, played at the 18-hole Strokes Adventure Golf Course in Margate, Kent. The score wasn’t enough to see him qualify for the second round of Matchplay. Andy Exall from Tunbridge Wells took the title for the second year running.

In the two-day BMGA British Open, also held at Strokes Adventure Golf Course, Richard made the cut for the third consecutive year with rounds of 36, 41, 40 and 41 for a first-day total of 158. His round of 36 (par) was a new personal best on the Strokes course.

In the fifth round Richard scored another 41, but ended the tournament with a second personal best of the weekend with a 35 (-1) to card a total of 234 (+18) and finish in 25th place in the 49 player field. Richard was also ranked 13th of 37 British Players in the tournament.

Richard said “I’m pleased with the two personal bests I’ve carded, but a few too many threes put a stop to me qualifying for the super final. I was only eight shots off qualifying for the seventh round. Looking at my previous results here at Margate I am showing lots of improvement, and I’m feeling confident ahead of the Kent Open in November.”

At the top of the rankings it was a Swedish one, two, three with Torgny Kjellström the eventual winner with a 7 round total of 232 (-20). Johan Ahlander was second, with Björn Dinau third.

Ends

Paragon Gluten Free Fish & Chips in Birchington

While we were in Kent for the BMGA British Open we managed to find a Fish & Chip shop that served Gluten Free food.

The Paragon Fish & Chip shop in Birchington-on-Sea (near Margate) served up some great GF chips and a good piece of battered Cod too.

Richard Gottfried - 2009 BMGA Tour Rankings to date

BMGA Tour Rankings* for Richard Gottfried.


* Includes details of BMGA Order of Merit Rankings 2008-2009, and BMGA Season-Only Rankings 2009.

Richard Gottfried - BMGA Tour 2009 Record of Results to date

2009 Minigolf Tournament Record of Results* for Richard Gottfried from 18th January 2009 (Star City Open) to date.


* Includes details of Official BMGA Tour Events and Independent Competitions.

No holes at Henblas Crazy Golf course!?

Had a comment today on the YouTube video for our 140th Minigolf course visit to Henblas Park on the Isle of Anglesey.

The question was - Where is the hole?

The answer - check out the videos below to see if you can spot them?





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFXMZ9lN7Gk

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

Scorecards from the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Tour of Wales

A fine array of Minigolf and Crazy Golf scorecards gathered on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Tour of Wales last month.



Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list of courses visited and played
- Minigolf etc. - English to Welsh translations
- Wales

Richard Gottfried on Twitter & YouTube

I'm now on Twitter and YouTube.

As well as my regular blog posts about my adventures on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour here at http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/ you can also now follow me at http://twitter.com/putting_gott, and see my videos at http://www.youtube.com/richardgottfried.

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour heads 'South'!

Looking at the many places visited and played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour so far I noticed a very interesting pattern has emerged!

The 1st, 100th and 150th minigolf courses I have played on the tour all have the word 'South' in them!

1 Portsmouth/Southsea (Treasure Island) - Adventure Golf (Victory Trail)
100 South Shields, Tyneside (Smugglers Cove) - 12-hole Adventure Golf
150 Southport (The Masters Putting Course) - Arnold Palmer Putting Course

It's also wierd as the 50th course played was in Tampere, SOUTH Finland!

Other South-y courses played include:
3 Southsea (Golf Links) - 9 Hole Par 3/Pitch & Putt
14 Southend-on-Sea (Adventure Island) - Adventure Golf (Inca course)
15 Southend-on-Sea (Adventure Island) - Adventure Golf (Aztec course)
16 Southend-on-Sea (Arnold Palmer Minigolf, East Course) - Minigolf
61 Southsea - Crazy Golf
62 Southsea - Putting Green
124 Swansea/Abertawe (Southend Park, The Mumbles) - Crazy Golf

The Pirate Adventure Golf course in Barry Island, Wales is also the southernmost Miniature Golf course in all of Wales!

But while I have seen them, I didn't get to play the Putting Course at Southwold, or the derelict and now demolished 'West' course in Southend-on-Sea. Nor either of the other two courses in Southport, at Hesketh Park and Pleasure Land.

"Gottfried wins Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open"

The Luton News reported on my win in the Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open last Saturday night with the story "Gottfried wins Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open".

You can check out the story here - http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut/Gottfried-wins-Blackpool-Pleasure-Beach.5630722.jp

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - 152 Minigolf Courses Played So Far

It all started on the 30th September 2006 when Emily and I decided to visit as many Crazy Golf & Minigolf courses, and seaside resorts, in the UK (and beyond) on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour!

To date, a total of 2,100 holes of mini and crazy golf have been played over the 152 course visits (not including all of the extra play at tournaments, practice rounds or multiple visits) with a whole lot of holes-in-one, tournament wins and great fun.

Now, just under three years later, I have played 152 Minigolf courses, while Emily has played 142 courses (including Crazy Golf/Minigolf variants such as Mini Golf, Miniature Golf, Adventure Golf, Eternit, Beton, Swedish Felt and Putting Greens).

The question is now - which will be the 200th course we play?

All courses played 30th September 2006 - 6th September 2009
1 Portsmouth/Southsea (Treasure Island) - Adventure Golf (Victory Trail)
2 Portsmouth/Southsea (Treasure Island) - Adventure Golf (Warrior Trail)
3 Southsea (Golf Links) - 9 Hole Par 3/Pitch & Putt
4 Luton (Woodside Animal Farm) - Adventure Golf
5 Felixstowe (Mannings) - Golf FX
6 Felixstowe (Sea Front) - Crazy Golf
7 Felixstowe (Fantasia) - Adventure Golf
8 Watford (Top Golf) - Adventure Golf
9 Watford (Top Golf) - 9 Hole Putting Green
10 West Hagbourne, Oxon (Horse & Harrow Pub) - Crazy Golf
11 Shefford, Bedfordshire (The Green Man Pub) - Crazy Golf
12 Brighton (East of Palace Pier) - Crazy Golf
13 Brighton (Peter Pan's) - Adventure Golf
14 Southend-on-Sea (Adventure Island) - Adventure Golf (Inca course)
15 Southend-on-Sea (Adventure Island) - Adventure Golf (Aztec course)
16 Southend-on-Sea (Arnold Palmer Minigolf, East Course) - Minigolf
17 St Albans, Hertfordshire (Verulamium Park) - Crazy Golf
18 Luton (Wardown Park) - Crazy Golf
19 Luton (Wardown Park) - Mini Golf/Pitch & Putt
20 Lowestoft - Adventure Golf
21 Great Yarmouth (Pirates Cove) - Adventure Golf
22 Great Yarmouth (Arnold Palmer) - Minigolf 18-hole
23 Great Yarmouth (Arnold Palmer) - Minigolf 9-hole
24 Great Yarmouth (Pleasure Beach) - Adventure Golf
25 Great Yarmouth (Jungle Golf at the Gardens) - Crazy Golf (Update: 10th May 2009 - no longer exists, a Segway Grand Prix track is in its place)
26 Great Yarmouth (Hollywood Adventure Golf, Windmill Theatre) - Indoor Adventure Golf
27 Warwick (St Nicholas Park) - Adventure Golf
28 Warwick (St Nicholas Park) - Derelict Crazy Golf
29 Milton Keynes (Willen Lake) - Adventure Golf
30 Luton (Stockwood Park) - Mini Golf/Pitch & Putt
31 Abingdon (Abbey Meadow) - Crazy Golf
32 Abingdon (Abbey Meadow) - Pitch & Putt/Mini Golf
33 Stonham, Suffolk (Stonham Barns) - Crazy Golf
34 Margate (Strokes) - Adventure Golf
35 Broadstairs (Lillyputt Minigolf) - Lillyputt Minigolf (Arnold Palmer)
36 Margate (Palm Bay Café) Cliftonville - Crazy Golf on Grass
37 Margate (Little Oasis Crazy Golf) Cliftonville - Minigolf (Arnold Palmer) 1 of the 2 18-hole courses
38 Letchworth Garden City - Putting Course on Grass
39 Hastings (Seafront) - Crazy Golf
40 Hastings (Seafront) - Minigolf
41 Hastings (Seafront) - Adventure Golf
42 Broxbourne (Paradise Wildlife Park) - Adventure Golf
43 Hastings (Planet Hastings) - Minigolf
44 Blackpool (Pleasure Beach) - Adventure Golf (New)
45 Blackpool (Starr Gate) - Minigolf (Arnold Palmer)
46 Blackpool (Pleasure Beach) - Adventure Golf (Old 'Alpine Golf')
47 Blackpool (Stanley Park) - Crazy Golf
48 Lytham St Anne’s - Crazy Golf
49 Stratford-upon-Avon - Minigolf
50 Tampere, Finland - Beton
51 Tampere, Finland - Eternit
52 Tampere, Finland - Swedish Felt
53 Felixstowe (Sea Front) - Putting Green
54 Coalville - Adventure Golf
55 Scarborough - Adventure Golf
56 Filey - Crazy Golf
57 Birmingham (Star City) - Adventure Golf (Lost Hut Trail)
58 Birmingham (Star City) - Adventure Golf (Hidden Cove Challenge)
59 Northwick Park - ‘Mini Majors’ Adventure Golf
60 Eastbourne (Treasure Island) - Adventure Golf
61 Southsea - Crazy Golf
62 Southsea - Putting Green
63 Shanklin (Isle of Wight) - Beton Crazy Golf
64 Shanklin (Isle of Wight) - Adventure Golf
65 Rylstone Gardens (Isle of Wight) - Crazy Golf
66 Sandown (Isle of Wight) - Indoor Adventure Golf
67 Sandown (Isle of Wight) - Beton Crazy Golf
68 Ryde (Isle of Wight) - Adventure Golf
69 Hayling Island - Adventure Golf
70 Wroxham Barns - Adventure Golf
71 Bury St Edmunds (Abbey Gardens) - Crazy Golf
72 Dorridge (Four Ashes Golf Centre) - Minigolf
73 Coventry (Allesley Park) - Crazy Golf
74 New Malden - Jurassic Golf
75 Guildford (Stoke Park) - Swedish Felt
76 Weymouth (Sea Life Centre) - Adventure Golf
77 Weymouth (Bowleaze Cove) - Crazy Golf
78 Herne Bay - Adventure Golf
79 Gravesend (Woodlands Park) - Derelict Crazy Golf
80 Bluewater - Pro Tour Putting
81 Motspur Park (Sir Joseph Hood Park) - Mini Golf
82 Northglenn, Denver, Colorado, USA (Boondocks Fun Center) Caverns Mill Course - Miniature Golf
83 Northglenn, Denver, Colorado, USA (Boondocks Fun Center) Hillbilly Hallow Course - Miniature Golf
84 Manchester (Championship MiniatureGolf @ Playgolf Manchester) - Miniature Golf
85 Manchester (Paradise Island Adventure Golf, Tiki Hut Trail) - Adventure Golf
86 Manchester (Paradise Island Adventure Golf, Temple Ruins Adventure) - Adventure Golf
87 Canvey Island (Fantasy Island) - Minigolf (Arnold Palmer)
88 Hemsby - Lost World Adventure Golf
89 Glasgow (Victoria Park) - 9-hole Putting Green
90 Glasgow (Paradise Island Adventure Golf, Maggie McCaw's Challenge) - Adventure Golf
91 Glasgow (Paradise Island Adventure Golf, Tiki Hut Trail) - Adventure Golf
92 Dovercourt - Swedish Felt
93 Clacton-on-Sea - Eternit
94 Clacton-on-Sea (Augusta Masters) - Adventure Golf
95 Blake End, near Braintree - Swedish Felt
96 Hemel Hempstead (Gadebridge Park) - 9-hole Crazy Golf
97 Maidenhead (Riverside Gardens) - 18-hole Eternit
98 Windsor (Alexandra Gardens) - 12-hole Eternit
99 Windsor (Alexandra Gardens) - 9-hole Eternit Putting Course
100 South Shields, Tyneside (Smugglers Cove) - 12-hole Adventure Golf
101 Tynemouth (Lost World Blue Course) - Adventure Golf
102 Tynemouth (Lost World Red Course) - Adventure Golf
103 Newcastle (Gosforth Park) - Minigolf
104 Ripon (Spa Gardens) - Crazy Golf
105 Ripon (Spa Gardens) - Putting Course
106 Sandbanks - Crazy Golf
107 Bournemouth (Lower Gardens) - Minigolf
108 Boscombe (Chine Gardens) Minigolf
109 Southbourne/Fisherman's Walk (Cafe Riva) - Crazy Golf
110 Fordingbridge (Tudor Rose Inn) - Miniature Golf
111 Tea Green, Wandon End, Luton - Crazy Golf
112 Bexhill-on-Sea (Metropole) - Crazy Golf
113 Tea Green, Wandon End, Luton - Putting Green
114 Manchester (Wythenshawe Park)
115 Walton Hall Gardens (Warrington) - Miniature Golf
116 Walton Hall Gardens (Warrington) - Putting Green
117 Staines (Lammas Park) - Adventure Golf
118 Oxford (Bury Knowle Park) - Swedish Felt
119 Oxford (Florence Park) - Swedish Felt
120 Oxford (Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park) - Swedish Felt
121 Barry Island/Ynys y Barri (Smuggler's Cove) - Adventure Golf
122 Porthcawl (Trecco Caravan Park) - Adventure Golf
123 Porthcawl (Trecco Caravan Park) - Putting Course
124 Swansea/Abertawe (Southend Park, The Mumbles) - Crazy Golf
125 Swansea/Abertawe (Singleton Boating Lake) - Crazy Golf
126 Gowerton (Gowerton Golf Range) - Minigolf
127 Gowerton (Gowerton Golf Range) - Putting Course
128 Pembrey/Pen-bre (Pembrey Country Park) - Crazy Golf
129 Pendine Bay - Crazy Golf
130 Saundersfoot - Crazy Golf
131 Heatherton Park, near Tenby - Adventure Golf
132 Eglwyswrw (Dyfed Shires & Leisure Farm) - Crazy Golf
133 Henllan Station (Teifi Valley Railway), near Newcastle Emlyn - Crazy Golf
134 Llanrhystud (Penrhos Golf & Country Club) - Crazy Golf
135 Aberystwyth - Crazy Golf
136 Aberystwyth - Putting
137 Aberdovey/Aberdyfi - Putting
138 Tywyn (Leisure Park) - Crazy Golf
139 Isle of Anglesey/Ynys Môn (Holyhead Park) - Crazy Golf
140 Isle of Anglesey/Ynys Môn (Bodorgan, Henblas Country Park) - Crazy Golf
141 Isle of Anglesey/Ynys Môn (Anglesey Sea Zoo) - Swedish Felt
142 Llandudno (Great Orme/Y Gogarth) - Alpine Adventure Golf
143 Llandudno (Great Orme/Y Gogarth) - Rocky Pines Adventure Golf
144 Towyn (Knightly's on Sandbank Road) - Crazy Golf
145 Rhyl (Drift Park) - Minigolf
146 Rhyl (Welsh Dragon) - Adventure Golf
147 Prestatyn - Arnold Palmer Putting Course
148 Llangollen (Riverside Park) - Minigolf
149 Oswestry (Cae Glas Park) - Eternit Minigolf
150 Southport (The Masters Putting Course) - Arnold Palmer Putting Course
151 Blackpool (Golden Isle) - Indoor Adventure Golf
152 Fleetwood (Marine Hall Gardens) - Crazy Golf

In addition to the 152 courses we have played, we have also made visits to 41 other Minigolf courses around the country, which for one reason or another have been unplayable. Details are below:

Courses visited but not played* 30th September 2006 - 6th September 2009
1 Southend-on-Sea (Arnold Palmer Minigolf, West Course) - Derelict Minigolf (Update: 25th April 2009 - now demolished)
2 Alton Towers - Extraordinary Golf
3 Lowestoft - Putting Green
4 Lytham St Anne’s - Crazy Golf #2
5 Weymouth - Putting Green
6 Guildford Lido - Minigolf
7 Margate (Little Oasis Crazy Golf) Cliftonville - Minigolf (Arnold Palmer) the 2nd 18-hole course
8 Hemsby (Stonehenge) - BIG Mini Golf
9 Gorleston-on-Sea (Pop's Meadow Putting Green) - Minigolf (Arnold Palmer)
10 Gorleston-on-Sea (Bure Park) - Pitch & Putt/Minigolf
11 Glasgow - Victoria Park - Derelict 18-hole Minigolf
12 Bedford - Putting Green
13 Dovercourt - Putting Green
14 Southwold - Putting Green
15 Felixstowe (Sea Front) - new build (not yet complete as at May 2009)
16 Tyneside - the site of a now demolished Arnold Palmer course
17 Newcastle (Exhibition Park) - Derelict 9-hole Crazy Golf
18 Bournemouth (Near Lower Gardens) - Derelict course
19 Manchester (Heaton Park) - Crazy Golf - no longer exists
20 Warrington (Orford Park) - Now flower beds!?
21 Barry Island/Ynys y Barri - Crazy Golf - Demolished for new Smuggler's Cove Adventure Golf
22 Pendine Sands - Crazy Golf - Demolished
23 Saundersfoot (Merlewood Hotel) - Putting Course - for hotel guests only
24 Gumfreston (The Dinosaur Park) - Adventure Golf - was just closing
25 Herons Brook Animal Farm - Crazy Golf (Demolished five years ago)
26 Aberystwyth Cliff Railway - Claimed to have a new Crazy Golf course - it did not exist
27 Aberystwyth Cliff Railway - The 'Games Room' did have a broken minigolf arcade machine that was out of order
28 Tywyn (Leisure Park) - Putting (ran out of time on visit)
29 Porthmadog - Crazy Golf (arrived at 5.30pm, course closed at 6pm but would not let us play)
30 Porthmadog - Swedish Felt (arrived at 5.30pm, course closed at 6pm but would not let us play)
31 Porthmadog - Putting (arrived at 5.30pm, course closed at 6pm but would not let us play)
32 Criccieth - Miniature Golf (Pitch & Putt)
33 Criccieth - Miniature Golf (Pitch & Putt)
34 Abergwyngregyn (Aber Falls Tavern) - course unplayable, Tavern under redevelopment
35 Llanfairfechan - Crazy Golf - only holes 13, 14, 15, 16 & 17 remain - no kiosk
36 Southport (Hesketh Park) - Crazy Golf - only open weekends (visited on a Friday)
37 Southport (Pleasure Land) - Moroccan Adventure Golf - derelict (but still in good condition for the shape it's in)
38 Cleveleys (Jubilee Park/Gardens) - Crazy Golf - Demolished
39 Blackpool (Gynn Gardens) - Crazy Golf - Closed for the season
40 Blackpool (Metropole) - Crazy Golf - Closed for the season
41 Leyland (Worden Park) - Mini Golf - Open weekends at 11am but was closed when we visited on a Sunday!?

* Due to closure, flooding, dereliction or other causes

Adding together the minigolf courses we have visited (both played and derelicts etc.) equals a grand total of 193 courses visited to date!

Only seven more for the big 200!

Related blog post:
- List of courses visited and played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Closed course in Leyland

Our last minigolf course visit of last weekend took us to Worden Park in Leyland. However, the course was closed.

It was similar to the Crazy Golf course visit to Hesketh Park in Southport. The sign here also said it was open at weekends at 11am, but was closed when we visited on a Sunday afternoon!?

Gluten free in Preston - Pond & Duk

Following my win in the Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open Minigolf tournament I was able to spend some of the winnings on a slap-up meal, rather than settling for Ham & Eggs.

On our stay in Preston on the journey back we headed for Pond Tapas Bar at 37 Cannon Street where we feasted on the 9-course Tapas Banquet!


Gluten Free or otherwise it was the best tapas I have eaten on my travels. It really was awesome.

Check out www.dukrestaurant.co.uk

Gluten free in Blackpool - AJ's Bistro

While in Blackpool we found a great restaurant that was able to cater for Coeliacs.

AJ's Bistro at 65 Topping Street had a great range of Gluten Free dishes - I would highly recommend it.

Check out www.ajs-bistro.co.uk for more details.

From the archives...Crazy Golf and Minigolf in Blackpool - April 2008

After our visit to Blackpool for this year's Pleasure Beach Open tournament, I had a look through the archives of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and dug out the photos of the course visits we made when we travelled up for the 2008 Pleasure Beach Open last April.

Back then we visited and played five of the courses in Blackpool and Lytham St Anne's (below).

44 Blackpool (Pleasure Beach) - Adventure Golf (New)





45 Blackpool (Starr Gate) - Minigolf (Arnold Palmer)



46 Blackpool (Pleasure Beach) - Adventure Golf (Old 'Alpine Golf')






47 Blackpool (Stanley Park) - Crazy Golf




48 Lytham St Anne’s - Crazy Golf




The Blackpool Gazette has also mentioned my Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in a story about the many minigolf courses in Blackpool called "Pirate thrill for tee".

This year we were less lucky on the course visit side, but a lot better in the competition side.

How is that a three course meal?

Sign spotted in Blackpool - how does a Pizza usefully illustrate a three course meal!?

Perhaps it was a Trompone!

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Closed course in Blackpool (2) - Metropole Hotel

The second of the closed miniature golf courses we visited in Blackpool was the Crazy Golf on the North Shore next to the Metropole Hotel.





Related blog posts:
- Minigolf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf Courses in and around Blackpool
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Courses Visited List

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Closed course in Blackpool (1) - Gynn Gardens

On our visit to Blackpool this year we also visited two other Crazy Golf courses, that were unfortunately closed (for the season).

The first of these was the course in the very nice setting of Gynn Gardens.

The 18-hole Putting course was also closed (and quite waterlogged too).


Related blog posts:
- Minigolf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf Courses in and around Blackpool
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Courses Visited List