Gottfried's in the WMF World Minigolf Rankings (Nov 09)

The latest World Minigolfsport Federation (WMF) World Rankings List has been updated and released (dated 1st November, released 11th November).

Both Emily and I have moved down in the rankings from our previous positions.

In the last rankings Emily was ranked 100th and is now 130th in the Women's World Rankings.

I was previously ranked 352nd and am now 418th in the Men's World Rankings.

Great Britain is now ranked 24th of 30 Nations.

The WMF World Minigolf Rankings are those of the World Minigolfsport Federation (WMF) and are published twice annually. Competitions that earn WMF Ranking Points are predominantly played on Eternit, Beton and Swedish Felt Courses. For the purpose of the current rankings the results of the following tournaments have been included:

2007
World Championships - Canegrate / Italy WC
Nations-Cup - Canegrate / Italy NC
National Championships of 21 Nations National
European-Cup - Eskilstuna / Sweden Comp.
Integrated Youth-Players of 2007/2 (50 % of points) Comp.

2008
European Championships - Tampere / Finland Cont.Ch.
Asian Championships - Chiang Mai / Thailand Cont.Ch.
Nations-Cup - Tampere / Finland NC
National Championships of 20 Nations National
European-Cup - Hilzingen / Germany Comp.
Integrated Youth-Players of 2008/2 (50 % of points) Comp.

2009
World Championships - Odense / Denmark WC
National Championships of 20 Nations National
European-Cup - Vaduz / Liechtenstein Comp.
Nordic Championships - Tampere / Finland Comp.
U23-Team-Competition - Sirnach / Switzerland Comp

Emily and I each have one Great Britain International Cap from our appearance in the 2008 Nations Cup in Tampere, Finland.

The full WMF World Rankings List can be seen here.

Irregular Mini Golf Tour Rankings 2008-2009 Season

During the third season of the Irregular Mini Golf Tour, held between the 31st October 2008 and 30th October 2009, 50 Tour events took place with 14 players competing for Ranking Points. The final table of the 2008-2009 season Irregular Mini Golf Tour rankings is below.


Key:
NM Non-Mover
NE New Entry

Irregular Mini Golf Tour Ranking Points Calculations 2008/2009:
1st place = 100 points
2nd place = 75 points
3rd place = 50 points
Other place = 10 points


Irregular Mini Golf Tour 07-08 Season (06/10/2007 - 29/09/2008):
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2008/10/img-tour-end-of-season-0708-rankings.html

Irregular Mini Golf Tour 06-07 Season (30/09/2006 - 30/09/2007):
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2007/10/img-tour-end-of-season-results-rankings.html

Minigolf Report – Gottfried’s End of Season Review

8th November 2009
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report – Gottfried’s End of Season Review

Luton Minigolfers Richard & Emily Gottfried’s 2009 minigolf season came to an end last week in Margate, Kent, following their participation in the British Minigolf Association’s biggest Tour Calendar to date. In total Richard competed in 18 of the 19 BMGA Tour Ranking Events he was eligible for, winning three of them. Emily played in seven tournaments with a best finish of second place.

In April, Richard won the Mini Masters at PlayGolf Manchester and followed this up on his next visit to Manchester by winning the Miniature Open title in July. In the Miniature Open Emily also had her most successful tournament to date when she won a play-off to finish in second spot. Richard’s third win of the season came in the Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open in September where he won by eight clear shots and also set the new BMGA and all-time course record at 24(par), stealing the course record rankings points from former holder Emily.

Only four other players won more than one tournament this year, and Richard was among only two other players to net three titles in 2009. Richard was also very close to sealing victory number four in early October when he attempted to defend the Weymouth Open title. After tying for the lead he lost a sudden-death play-off at the fourth extra hole and had to settle for second place (his second in two days after also finishing runner-up at the London Open in Staines). He did, however, set his second course record of the season at Weymouth with a 41(+5).

In the 2008-2009 BMGA Order of Merit Rankings published on the 7th November Richard finished the year in 16th spot of 74 players with a total of 3,022 points. This was slightly down on last year when he finished in 14th spot of 68 with 2,553 points. Emily however moved up seven places in the Order of Merit, this year finishing in her highest position to date, at 38th place with 692 points.

In the 2003-2009 Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Rankings list both Richard and Emily have made significant movements up the table following a good showing in this year’s World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings. Richard moves up from 45th spot to 31st of 255 players, while Emily enters the top 50 at 50th place, up from 82nd spot.

In the World Minigolfsport Federation (WMF) World Minigolf Rankings list for International men’s competitions Richard is now ranked 352 of 365 players, up from 425th place of 433 last year. Emily meanwhile has moved up from 115th of 120 players to 100th position in the WMF women’s ranking list.

Richard has also competed in 12 non-Ranking minigolf tournaments alongside regular BMGA Tour events picking up three wins and six other podium places.

Richard said “Last year I had set myself the objective of winning more individual BMGA Tour events and breaking into the top five of the BMGA British Rankings. I’ve certainly won some titles but haven’t yet broken into the top five. In 2010 I’d like to continue my winning ways and I’d definitely like to be in the top ten by the end of the season.”

Emily said “I have really enjoyed this season, and although I only played in a handful of tournaments, I played much better and achieved a higher ranking than I expected.”

In the three month close-season Richard and Emily will be practicing at the recently refurbished Crazy Golf course at Tea Green Golf at Wandon End, Luton. In 2010 they will be back in action, first of all competing in the BMGA National Open at Star City in Birmingham, and there are around 20 further events scheduled for the Tour.

Ends

More photos of the Nutters with Putters on Eggheads

Kevin Botto of the Nutters with Putters quiz team has uploaded the photos he took of the team when they headed to the BBC to face-off against quiz show goliaths - the Eggheads.

A selection of the photos are below.







See also:
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/07/ham-eggheads.html
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/07/nutters-with-putters-on-eggheads.html

Photos courtesy of Kevin Botto.

Finger Jousting video - Squire Richard of Surleigh vs. Sir Myles of Hampshire

The UK's number one Finger Jouster Squire Richard of Surleigh takes on his arch-rival Sir Myles of Hampshire in a point play rules Finger Jousting match.



This match took place on the 25th March 2007.



For more information about the noble sport of Finger Jousting head over to the World Finger Jousting Federation's website.

Finger Jousting - three years on!

I was checking out Montegue Blister's website and it got me thinking about the sport of Finger Jousting.

Looking through the WFJF archives I re-read the story announcing my arrival on the WFJF scene and noticed that I had joined exactly three years ago today! See here for more.

Checking out my Finger Jousting career win/loss record I dug out the following stats:

Played - 108 matches
Won - 98
Lost - 9
Tied - 1
% - 90.74%

I have faced 25 different opponents in 18 locations (including Luton, Ipswich, Great Yarmouth, Felixstowe, London, St Albans, Abingdon, Wallingford, Portsmouth, Brighton and Finland!) and I am also on a 57-match winning streak that has lasted since my last defeat on 21st December 2006!



Details of official World Finger Jousting Federation (WFJF) 'Point Play Rules' are below.

"In point play, different parts of the body count for different amounts of points. The legs and latent arm count as one point. The chest, back, and neck count as two points. The head counts as three points. Point play matches are played to six for tournaments, but when playing leisurely any number above two is allowed."

Check out the World Finger Jousting Federation website for more information.

Montegue Blister's Strange Games

Check out Montegue Blister's Strange Games website at http://strange-games.blogspot.com/ for details of loads of strange sports, games and pastimes.

The fine sport of Finger Jousting gets a listing.

Minigolf and Crazy Golf both get listed too!

"Top 10 finish for Gottfried" Luton News

The Luton News reported on the final tournament on the 2009 BMGA Tour with the story "Top 10 finish for Gottfried."

You can read the full story here.

Thank you to the team at the Luton News for their support and coverage of me and Emily during the minigolf season, it is very much appreciated.

Still not played - Cliftonville Crazy Golf!

Prior to last Sunday's Kent Open minigolf tournament we popped along to the little Oasis Crazy Golf Course in Cliftonvolle, Margate hoping to be able to play the second 18-hole Arnold Palmer course.

Unfortunately it was closed (again!) so wasn't the 156th course played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.



Perhaps I'll get to play it in 2010!

You can check out my previous attempts to play the course here.

Minigolf Report – Kent Open

2nd November 2009
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report – Kent Open

Luton Minigolfer Richard Gottfried picked up his tenth top 10 finish of the season as he finished in 8th spot of 24 players in the season closing Kent Open in Margate on Sunday 1st November.

In very wet weather conditions at the 18-hole Strokes Adventure Golf course Richard managed rounds of 44 (+8), 41 (+5) and 36 (par) for a 54-hole total of 121 (+13).


The tournament was won following a play-off by London’s Nick Chitty with a score of 108 (par).

Richard said “Despite the terrible weather I managed to put together some good rounds. Last year I was 13th here so to get 8th place and another top ten finish is great.”

The new BMGA Season begins in January 2010 when Richard will be competing in the BMGA National Open at Star City, Birmingham.

Ends

Action from the final of the 2009 Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships

Action from the final of the 2009 Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships that took place in Hastings on Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th October 2009.

The leading group of Keith Kellard, Peter Emmerson and Anthony Pope play the final hole in the final round, with all three players scoring a hole in one!

Keith Kellard became the new World Crazy Golf Champion with an impressive 5 shot victory over the rest of the 83-strong field. Peter Emmerson was second, with Finland's John Mittler third.

Full results of the tournament can be found here.



The Gottfried's report can be found here.

Crazy Golf Snail

Spotted on the 16th Hole at Hastings Crazy Golf last weekend - a snail on the course!?

Results of the www.miniaturegolfer.com '9 Best' Crazy Golf Championships

Results of the www.miniaturegolfer.com '9 Best' Crazy Golf Championships, held in Hastings on 23/10/09.

1. Peter Emmerson 16
2. Anthony Pope 17
3. Richard Gottfried 19
3. Sean Homer 19
5. Tim 'Ace Man' Davies 20
6. Trevor Robertson 22
7. Gareth Holmes 23
8. Alan Norman 25
9. Brad Shepherd 25
10.Janette Robertson 28
10.Martin Robertson 28
12.Chris Jones 30

"Gottfrieds do like to be beside the seaside" Luton News story

This week the Luton News reported on our competing in the 2009 Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships, and the www.miniaturegolfer.com '9 Best' Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings.

You can check out the story here.

Adventure Golf at Watford TopGolf

This evening we made a return visit to the 8th course we played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Watford TopGolf.

The 18-hole 'Florida-style' had changed a little since our last visit, with some new rock obstacles added to some of the holes.

The 9-hole Indoor Putting Green Course is now only a four/five hole set-up as seating has replaced part of the course.

The visit was also a chance to spend some of my winnings at the American Golf store from victories earlier in the season at the Manchester Mini Masters and Manchester Miniature Open.

In our match-up I beat Emily 45 shots to 48.

See also - http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2008/12/results-of-third-annual-watford-classic.html

World Crazy Golf Championships - practice

Practice at the Crazy Golf course in Hastings ahead of the 2009 Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships.

Gottfried vs. Holmes-Crazy Golf Challenge Match in Hastings

Prior to the 2009 Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings Midlands Minigolf Club member Richard Gottfried took on the London Minigolf Club's Gareth Holmes in a 'two-hole' Crazy Golf Challenge Match.

After playing holes 1 & 18 the scores were tied and a decider was needed. Finland's John Mittler chose the second hole for the play-off, Richard was up first in the sudden death play-off, watch to find out what happened...

Not so Wacky, Waving, Inflatable, Arm-Flailing, Tube-man in London

While in London I spotted a not so Wacky, Waving, Inflatable, Arm-Flailing, Tube-man this time advertising a Car Wash in Tower Hill!


Rather than the usual 'billowing and flailing' action of the Tube-Man it was so full of air it was completely static!

Check out the link below for other examples of Wacky, Waving, Inflatable, Arm-Flailing, Tube-men I've seen on my travels:
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/05/wacky-waving-inflatable-arm-flailing.html

Gluten Free in London - Lunch & Dinner!!!

As well as finding two new courses on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour while in London on Wednesday, we also found two new places to eat that were suitable for Coeliacs.

For the first time since my diagnosis I was able to eat out and had a great Miso Soba in Pod at Devonshire Square, and Dinner at PJ's in Covent Garden (while sat at the 'Su Pollard' table!). Both places are highly recommended, whether you're a Coeliac or not!




While in Kentish Town we also spotted a cafe that served Gluten Free food! Unfortunately I wasn't hungry enough to venture in - I will do next time I'm there though.

Minigolf Course Visit No. 155 - Devonshire Square, London

On Wednesday 28th October 2009 we also visited and managed to play the Minigolf Course at Devonshire Square in London (near Liverpool Street Station).

The course visit was 199 overall (including derelicts and closed courses) and the 155th course we have played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The 18-hole indoor course was tricky with some very interesting moving obstacles.

Great fun to play too.





Video - Introducing the 155th Crazy World of Minigolf Tour visit to Devonshire Square


Video - Hole 1


Video - Hole 2 (A very tough moving obstacle!)


Video - Hole 4 (Crazy Golf AND Bowling! What could be better?)



In the "Richard vs. Emily" Irregular Minigolf Tour match-up it was Emily who won by a stroke, with a score of 46 to my 47.

The course manager told us that in November, December and January the course will be changed to have a Christmas/Winter Wonderland theme! Hopefully we'll get a chance to return to play the new course layout then.

View other courses visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Link to a blog post about other Mini Golf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf courses in and around London.