2009 Christmas Crazy Golf Challenge at Devonshire Square

Officially Unofficial Minigolf Report & Results of the 2009 Christmas Crazy Golf Challenge at Devonshire Square

On Thursday 10th December 2009 eleven of Great Britain’s finest minigolfers, along with a New Zealand Crazy Golfer, descended on the temporarily Christmas-themed Minigolf course at Devonshire Square in London to compete in the 2009 Christmas Crazy Golf Challenge.


The 2009 Christmas Crazy Golf Challenge competition took place over 17-holes and the event was won by Brad ‘The Fist’ Shepherd of the London Minigolf Club. Brad’s score of 41 (+7) was four shots clear of his nearest rivals, the duo of Nick 'Top Hole' Chitty and 'Stormin' Alan Norman who tied on 45 (+11) after the 17-holes of regulation play.

The tie could not be decided on holes-in-one either as both Alan and Nick had scored two Aces apiece. A sudden-death play-off would decide the winner, and it was reigning Kent Open Champion and Planet Hastings Crazy Golf Club member Nick Chitty who claimed the runner-up spot at the second extra hole (The Ferris Wheel).

Photos below: Winner Brad Shepherd, Nick Chitty and Alan Norman receive their rosettes from 'Squire' Richard Gottfried.



4th place was also decided with a play-off, as Jon ‘The Stance’ Angel defeated Lionel ‘The Spoon’ Bender after both had tied on 47 (+13).

In 6th place was Luton’s ‘Squire’ Richard Gottfried with a score of 48 (+14). London’s David ‘Man of Question’ Corkett was seventh on 52 (+18), Surrey’s Trevor ‘Trevino/Lord of Smeeth’ Robertson picked up another minigolf competition top-ten finish this year (following his 6th place in the MiniatureGolfer.com '9 Best' Crazy Golf Championships in October) with 8th spot.

Tied in 9th place and deciding against a play-off were Martin ‘Smashing’ Robertson and Emily ‘Coach’ Gottfried, who both scored 54 (+20). Reigning BMGA British Master Chris ‘Stretch’ Jones was 11th after hitting a 55 (+21).

Picking up the wooden spoon with a score of 58 (+24) was New Zealand’s Kelly Maaka, who was playing in only her fourth minigolf competition, following the New Malden Invitational, Motspur Park Classic and a Minigolf Doubles Match at the Jurassic Encounter back in March 2009.





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.

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Course visit number 199b (Coming Soon)

Watch this space!

Top Putt, or Not

After playing Minigolf at Adventure Island Mini Golf at Star City, Birmingham on Monday we had a wander around the centre and found a Top Putt Putting Machine, sadly it was (as is a running-theme of this blog) 'Out of Order'!

'Unlimited' Minigolf at Star City, Birmingham

On Monday night we made a trip to Adventure Island Mini Golf at Star City, Birmingham to take advantage of the great Monday night deal of 'Unlimited Minigolf' between 6pm and 11pm.


I hadn't played there since the Star City Open last January.


During the evening I managed three friendly rounds.

In a friendly versus Chris Harding, Paul Johnson and Owen Johnson on the Hidden Cove Challenge course I scored 37(+1) to finish 3rd. This was way off my personal best of 32(-4).

On the Lost Hut Trail course I hit a 42(+6) to again finish 3rd, and eight shots off my personal best of 34(-2).

In the third friendly round of the evening I scored a 37(+1) to Chris Harding's 32(-4) on the Lost Hut Trail.

In total I scored seven holes-in-one over the 54-holes.

There was also time for a Doubles Matchplay match on the Lost Hut Trail course with me and Paul Johnson teaming up (as 'The Pineapple Bits') versus Owen Johnson and Chris Harding (as 'The Grapefruit Chunks') in the first-ever 'Safe Route Challenge Competition'.

Paul and I lost to Owen and Chris 3&2 to extend my 'Enhancement Talent' losing-streak in Minigolf Doubles matches to three.




Last year I also took part in the Adventure Island Mini Golf League at the course, where I finished in 2nd place, just behind former World Crazy Golf Champion Chris Harding. And in June 2008 I won the Adventure Island/Heart FM Open at the course.

Review of Tea Green Golf's Crazy Golf course at www.miniaturegolfer.com

My Tea Green Golf, Luton, Minigolf Review is now up at www.miniaturegolfer.com.

You can read the review at - http://www.miniaturegolfer.com/luton_tea_green_golf_review.html

Tiger Woods Crazy Golf Challenge?

I wonder if Tiger Woods would be interested in taking up fellow British Minigolf Association Tour Player (and minigolf legend) Tim 'Ace Man' Davies’ challenge for a head-to-head Crazy Golf battle.

The challenge, put out through the story "Should Tiger go 'crazy' to return to form?" at CNN Living Golf during the summer, continues to go unanswered!

The Luton Bun

Ever heard of the Luton Bun? Neither had I until I read the Simply Sims column (page 6) in the Luton News on Wednesday (2nd December)!


It's on sale in Don Millers bakers in Luton Town Centre and is priced at 65p for one, or two for £1.20, and is described as "A soft, fluffy and light cinnamon bun with currants and a delicious apple filling."


While in town today we popped into Don Millers to sample the Luton Bun, which the owner of the shop has named in honour of the town and to his customers who have supported his business over the last 22 years. His inspiration was taken after seeing many types of food named after their place of origin such as Eccles Cakes and Melton Mowbrey Pies.


Unfortunately as a Coeliac I couldn't partake in the eating of the cake (though I support its introduction as it's a great example of a business creating something new that is linked to the great town of Luton), so it was left to Emily to try it out. And her verdict? Emily says "The Luton Bun was nice, if a little dry. But when you got a bite with the fruit it was really tasty."


My World of Bun Throwing blog also cropped up in Simply Sims search into the Luton Bun and gets a mention in the story!

I'll have to have a go at making a Gluten Free version of the Luton Bun, either that or see if Don Millers would be able to make one using their 'secret recipe'!

Another great Bedfordshire dish is the Bedfordshire Clanger - a suet pastry which is both a savoury and sweet dish in one.

End of Season Minigolf Rankings and BMGA Roll of Honour

In the British Minigolf Association (BMGA) End of Season Minigolf Rankings and BMGA Roll of Honour news story at www.minigolf.org.uk I get a mention for the three wins I achieved on the BMGA Tour this season (along with my fellow 'three-peaters' Andy Exall and Nick Chitty).

Links to my wins:
Manchester Mini Masters minigolf tournament.

Manchester Miniature Open minigolf tournament.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open minigolf tournament.

London Open & Weymouth Open - BMGA Minigolf News Stories

News stories about my weekend of runner-up spots in the London Open and Weymouth Open minigolf tournaments can be found on the British Minigolf Association's website news section at www.minigolf.org.uk.

Links:
The London Open minigolf tournament.

The Weymouth Open minigolf tournament.

Ham & Egger Files Report about the London Open and Weymouth Open.

Canvey Island and its Crazy Golf

The Diamond Geezer Blog has published an interesting post about Canvey Island which gave a mention to the 'lacklustre' Crazy Golf course with a link to my post about the 10 minutes we spent in Canvey Island last November.

Link: Diamond Geezer's Canvey Island Blog Post

My Boondocks Miniature Golf Review on www.theputtingpenguin.com

A review of my visit to the Miniature Golf Courses at Boondocks Fun Center in Northglenn, Colorado, has been published online at www.theputtingpenguin.com.

You can read my review of the Caverns Mill and Hillbilly Hallow Miniature Golf courses at the Putting Penguin website here.

The Putting Penguin website was set up to showcase reviews of Miniature Golf courses around the USA and the world. My visitor review has helped the Putting Penguin website hold reviews of Minigolf courses in 29 states, with my review the first course reviewed in Denver.

A review of Emily's visit to the Minigolf at Circus Circus in Las Vegas will be sent to the Putting Penguin site soon.

Check out www.theputtingpenguin.com for more reviews, and the Putting Penguin's tweets on Twitter at http://twitter.com/PuttingPenguin.

New Malden's Jurassic Encounter Adventure Golf

Last night we re-visited minigolf course number 74 on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour (Jurassic Encounter Adventure Golf at World of Golf, New Malden).

It was the first time we had teed-off since the last event of the 2009 BMGA Tour - the Kent Open - at the beginning of the month. The weather wasn't much better than at the Kent Open!

The contest between me and Emily also marked the start of the 2009-2010 Season of the Irregular Minigolf Tour.



After playing 18-holes Richard won after hitting a new personal best score of 42(+4), to Emily's 43(+5). In the matchplay scores Emily won 1-up.

Richard with his champion's certificate.

Emily with her runner-up certificate.

Videos from the visit last night:









After the first two rounds of the 2009-2010 Irregular Minigolf Tour it is a tie for first place with both Richard & Emily on 175 points.

There will be many many more Irregular Minigolf Tour events taking place throughout the season, with the next event due to take place at Devonshire Square in the run-up to Christmas.

Links to other Ham & Egger Files blog posts about the Jurassic Encounter Adventure Golf at World of Golf, New Malden are below:
- Photos from our original visit in September 2008
- Report from the New Malden Invitational from March 2009
- Results of the New Malden Invitational
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

"Minigolf season comes to a close" - end of season report in the Luton News

Our end of season minigolf report appeared in this week's Luton News.

The story can also be read online here.

Thank you to the Luton News for their support and coverage of me and Emily's participation on the BMGA Tour this year.

Minigolf Doubles - Career Stats (Update)

Latest update of my career record for Minigolf Doubles matches since 17th May 2008.

Played - 26
Won - 12
Lost - 12
Drawn - 2

7 playing partners (current competition team mate is Kevin Moseley)
13 competitive matches
13 friendlies
20 matchplay matches
6 strokeplay format

Biggest winning margin to-date - 5&3 victory (with Andy Gonsalves) over Matt Smith & Fraser Cameron at Adventure Island Mini Golf at Star City, Birmingham.

Titles held:
- Second Division Champions at the 2009 BMGA British Doubles

Other Minigolf Doubles related stories on the Ham & Egger Files:
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/06/minigolf-report-bmga-british-doubles.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/06/new-minigolf-doubles-playing-partner.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2008/05/bmga-british-doubles-tournament.html

Richard Gottfried's Career Minigolf Record 2007-2009

Richard Gottfried's Career Minigolf Record 2007-2009

Richard Gottfried's BMGA Minigolf Tournament Results 2009

Richard Gottfried's BMGA Minigolf Tournament Results for the 2009 Season

When is a Minigolf Course not a Minigolf Course...

...on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour?

When it is one of these lone holes or automated (if out of order) Putting machines:

An out of order 'Putting Challenge' Machine up a cliff in Aberystwyth during our grand tour of Wales in August 2009.




A 'Top Putt' machine on Llandudno Pier in the summer.




A great little UrbanCrazy Hole at the International Direct Marketing Fair in May 2007.



A 'Putting Challenge II' machine at Namco Station London in May 2007.


For examples of courses counted as visits on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour check out the link here.

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

Midlands Minigolf Club (MMGC) - Minigolf Rankings 2009

Following the conclusion of the 2009 British Minigolf Association Tour I have had a look at how the members of the Midlands Minigolf Club fared in the two Ranking Lists produced by the BMGA.

Midlands Minigolf Club - Ranking by BMGA Season-only Rankings 2009

In the BMGA Season-only Rankings 2009 I was ranked 2nd in the Midlands Minigolf Club (8th overall out of 164 ranked players). Emily was ranked 10th within the Club (37th overall)


Midlands Minigolf Club - Rankings by BMGA Order of Merit 2008-2009

In the BMGA Order of Merit 2008-2009 I was ranked 3rd in the Midlands Minigolf Club (16th overall out of 94 ranked players). Emily was ranked 6th within the Club (39th overall)

Update: 2009 BMGA Season-only Rankings

The 2009 BMGA Season-only Rankings were released today (15th November) and Richard again had a top ten finish.



Richard finished 8th of 164 players in the 2009 BMGA Season-only Rankings with 1,190 ranking points. He also finished 8th in 2008, when 129 players were ranked.

Emily dropped down slightly on her 2008 ranking, moving from 29th to 37th place of 164. Emily also finished as the 5th best woman of 25 ranked players.

Richard & Emily's full 2009 BMGA Minigolf Season Report can be seen here.

The 2009 BMGA Order of Merit Rankings 08-09 (end of season)