A blog about our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. With a sprinkling of nostalgia and urban exploration for good measure.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
From the archives - Coalville Minigolf, Leicestershire (June 2008)
The course in Coalville, Leicestershire was the 54th we visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour at that point.
While we were there we held a three-player Irregular Mini Golf Tour competition that saw me, Emily and our friend Daniel Marsh play a two-round (18-hole) match. The first round was a qualifier, with the top two players then facing off against each other in round two.
In round one Emily scored a 28(+10), to me and Daniel's 23(+5).
In the second round Daniel hit a 24(+6), while I scored a 23(+5) again to just sneak the victory with a two-round +10 score of 46!
The next time we're heading north we must pass by the course for another round or two.
Irregular Mini Golf Tour - The Race to Play Near Rye (East Sussex), first 'Qualifier'
Hole 1
Hole 6
Hole 7
Irregular Mini Golf Tour announces The Race to Play Near Rye (East Sussex) parody minigolf tournament
The Irregular Mini Golf Tour today announces it's first unofficial parody tournament - The Race to Play Near Rye (East Sussex).
Details of the event itself are sketchy, as are the rules on qualification!
The first 'Qualifying' round for the tournament took place today at the rooftop 'home' course of the Irregular Mini Golf Tour in Parts Unknown (Luton), and pitted 'Squire' Richard Gottfried (#1) against a mystery partner (#6) on a randomly made and un-mapped 'Minigolf' course.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Latest Irregular Mini Golf Tour Rankings 2009/10 Season
Key
NM Non-Mover
NE New Entry
NL Not Listed yet this Season
Irregular Mini Golf Tour Ranking Points Calculations 2009/2010:
1st place = 100 points
2nd place = 75 points
3rd place = 50 points
Other place = 10 points
Thursday, February 11, 2010
From the archives...Arnold Palmer Starr Gate Crazy Golf in Blackpool (April 2008)
As the Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open minigolf champion the seaside resort will always be special to me. In addition to the excellent Pleasure Beach Adventure Golf course, Blackpool is also home to a number of other Crazy Golf, Minigolf, Miniature Golf and Adventure Golf courses, as well as a Putting Green.
One of these courses is the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course at Starr Gate. This 18-hole course was the 45th course we visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back on the 12th April 2008 (while in Blackpool for the 2008 Pleasure Beach Open tournament).
In our Irregular Mini Golf Tour match at Starr Gate, Emily and I both scored 49(+13), but as I had scored most holes-in-one (1!?) I picked up the victory!
The course also featured one of the highest placed giant fake ice cream cones I have seen on my travels - very unique!
Other Crazy Golf and Minigolf photos from our visit to Blackpool in April 2008.
Some of Blackpool's other courses were also visited in September 2009:
- Minigolf Course Visit No. 151 - Blackpool, Golden Isle Indoor Adventure Golf
- Minigolf Course Visit No. 152 - Fleetwood Crazy Golf
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Closed course in Blackpool (1) - Gynn Gardens
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Closed course in Blackpool (2) - Metropole Hotel
Related blog posts:
- Minigolf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf Courses in and around Blackpool
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Courses Visited List
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Minigolf Course Played #160 (#206 overall) - Hither Green, Swedish Felt
Today we visited the 206th course on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, when we played the brand new 18-hole indoor Swedish Felt minigolf course in Hither Green, Lewisham, London.
The course opened two weeks ago and as soon as we found out about it we had to give it a go. The one and only previous round of Swedish Felt Minigolf we played was following the Nations Cup tournament in Tampere, Finland, when the Great Britain Team held an Unofficial 'British Swedish Felt Run Championships' (aka 'The Rotten Shark Classic').
In total I played four rounds and Emily played two.
In our first match Emily picked up the win, with a score of 54(+18) to my 60(+24).
In the second match we also played against the course Manager Nick Sandqvist (from Sweden). The scores here were: Nick - 42(+6), Richard - 55(+19), Emily - 64(+28).
I also had a practice round where I scored a 58(+22).
In my fourth and final round versus Nick I scored a 53(+17), with Nick hitting a 41(+5).
The course is the first full size Swedish Felt Minigolf Course that I know of in the UK. We have played quite a few of the smaller Swedish Felt 'B-run' courses on our travels, but only the one full size course in Finland.
Swedish Felt is also interesting to play as it offers options for the level of difficulty for some holes. For instance, some of the gaps between obstacles can be made narrower, while some holes with helpful barriers can be lifted or dropped to determine the hole's difficulty.
I'm looking forward to returning to play more (and improve!).
Videos from our visit.
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.
Saturday, February 06, 2010
'Foggy day no gimmes challenge' minigolf competition at Tea Green Golf
'Foggy day no gimmes challenge' minigolf competition at Tea Green Golf
In the fog and cold we played a two-round 18-hole match at Tea Green.
It was absolutely freezing, and with the 'no gimmes' rule in force it made for some very cold hands with three water filled cups on the course!
The 9-hole minigolf course at Tea Green Golf normally offers up a number of Ace opportunities, but between the three of us we managed a paltry 'one' during the whole match!?
In the end it was Scott Holmes who picked up the win with 36(par), with me and Lester Coles tied for second on a dismal 39(+3).
There was some consolation for me in the end, as I won the 2nd/3rd place play-off with my first hole-in-one of the day!
Roll on summer for some more pleasant rounds.
Friday, February 05, 2010
Miniaturegolfer.com 2009 UK Crazy Golf Price Survey
The Miniaturegolfer.com 2009 UK Crazy Golf Price Survey looked at a sample of 119 Miniature Golf/Crazy Golf/Minigolf courses in the UK and came up with details of the 'best value' courses in the UK - taking into account factors including cost and fun!
Details of the survey, which gives details of courses in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands can be found at http://www.miniaturegolfer.com/miniaturegolfer%20price%20survey%202009.html
Preparing for the 2010 Macmillan Cancer Support Annual Bowling Challenge Title Defence!
Videos from our practice games.
Luton gets a seaside Shooting Shack!
So imagine my surprise while tenpin bowling at Namco Station in Luton yesterday when I spotted the games area now included a 'Doc's Interactive Shootout'!
While not my favourite type of Shooting Gallery Game, it wasn't too bad, and it did pay out 49 tickets for my efforts.
The links below have details of some of the other Shooting Shacks I have found on my travels:
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/09/pirate-flyer-laser-game-monorail-at.html
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/08/hillbilly-shooting-shack-in-rhyl.html
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/07/shooting-shacks-at-thorpe-park.html
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/05/shooting-shacks-walton-on-naze-clacton.html
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/04/docs-interactive-shootout.html
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2008/07/shooting-shacks-hayling-island.html
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2008/05/another-seaside-shooting-shack.html
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2008/04/bugseys-shooting-shack.html
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2008/04/old-zeke-kicked-bucket.html
Minigolf Challenge Matches at Watford TopGolf (& course visit updates)
In the main competition - the Irregular Mini Golf Tour Dodgeball UK Reunion Minigolf Tournament - the three former Dodgeball UK Team Captains* faced off in an 18-hole battle in the cold and wet weather conditions.
*Dodgeball UK Teams & Captains:
Abingdon Dodgeball Alliance (ADE) - 'Stentorian' Richard Gottfried
Just Might Lose - Emily 'Nine Lives' Gottfried
Welwyn Dodgeball Warriors (WDW) - 'Rowdy' Russell Fenner
At the end of the round we were all tied on a score of 48(+12) which forced a play-off at the 18th hole to decide the winner.
In the play-off 'Rowdy' Russell was first eliminated after hitting a three, and in the second play-off round I scored a two, compared to Emily's three to win the bragging rights!
The players on the podium.
We also played two Putting Green Challenge matches while we were there, with Emily and Russell both on 9(-1) in match one, and with Emily the victor in match two, with another one-under round of 9.
The Adventure Golf course at Watford was the 8th we played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour way back in December 2006.
We've played there a number of times over the years and the course remains one of the most difficult we've played. It's still a good fun course, and the centre's facilities are good.
TopGolf Watford also has a Putting Course, which until fairly recently was a 9-hole course, but is now only 5-holes. The photos below show the difference.
9-hole Putting Green in 2006.
5-hole Putting Green in 2010.
A hole to nowhere!?
The 4th hole on the 'new' course is also incredibly short.
Details of other Irregular Mini Golf Tour competitions we have played there can be found at the links below:
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/10/adventure-golf-at-watford-topgolf.html
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2008/12/results-of-third-annual-watford-classic.html
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2008/02/what.html
Photo: Christopher 'One BMGA Tour Event' Gottfried & 'Squire' Richard Gottfried line-up during a round at TopGolf Watford in April 2007.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Minigolf Course Played #159 (#205 overall) - Sandwell Valley Park, West Bromwich
Following the BMGA National Open tournament at Adventure Island Mini Golf at Star City in Birmingham last Sunday, we heard there was another Minigolf course we were yet to play, located in a park in West Bromwich.
With the lure of extending the weekend's minigolf fun and games by another 18-holes was too much so we headed off in search of the course in Sandwell Valley Park.
After a few wrong turns and a stop near a lake and sailing club, but no sign of a course, we had to call Midlands natives and fellow Crazy Golf Course Explorers - Paul and Owen Johnson for directions.
We found the course a few minutes later, and I was both surprised and pleased to find it was an Eternit Miniature Golf course! Quite a rarity on these shores.
I played an 18-hole round against myself, but still managed to lose (scoring a not great 49(+13))!?
Great fun, despite the leaves and rainwater on some holes. Would be better in the summer, and a few holes need some repairs.
The course was the 159th played, and 205th visited overall on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.
Videos from the visit are below.
"Solid opening for Gottfried" Luton News minigolf report
You can read the report at the Luton Today website at http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut/Solid-opening-for-Gottfried.6015053.jp
Thursday, January 28, 2010
From the archives...Adventure Island Mini Golf, Star City, Birmingham
I first visited the two Adventure Golf courses at Adventure Island Mini Golf at Star City in Birmingham, back in June 2008, when I competed in the Adventure Island/Heart FM Open. I have gone on to spend many happy hours Putting at the two 18-hole courses during the Adventure Island Mini Golf league during the 2008 season (when I was runner-up), at the 2009 BMGA Star City Open, and most recently at the 2010 BMGA National Open.
I have also played a number of minigolf doubles matches at the venue, and a few independent competitions there too.
Adventure Island Mini Golf in Birmingham is England’s first Indoor Adventure Golf Complex and the two courses are known as the Lost Hut Trail, and the Hidden Cove Challenge.
Following my round of 28(-8) on the Lost Hut Trail course during the 2010 BMGA National Open, I am also now the joint course record holder (shared with former World Crazy Golf Champion, Chris Harding).
The courses were the 57th and 58th played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.