Minigolf course played #215 - Arnold Palmer 'South' Course at the Little Oasis Crazy Golf in Cliftonville, Margate

After 3 years, 6 months and 28 days since our first attempt to play the 'South' Arnold Palmer Course at the Little Oasis Crazy Golf in Cliftonville, Margate we finally managed to play the 18-hole minigolf on Saturday 9th April 2011!

After 1305 days the wait was finally over.

Photos of the Course

Blog posts of our attempts to play the 'South' course:
- Not Course Number 74
- Not Minigolf Course 74 Or 79!
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Closed course in Cliftonville (Margate)
- Still not played - Cliftonville Crazy Golf!

While we were there we also made good use of the half-price offer to play the other course on the same day, so we had a replay of Crazy Golf course number 37 on our tour!

Full details of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

When is a Minigolf Course not a Minigolf Course...(an update)

The Sport Finland Miniature Golf Putting Contest was the latest 'Minigolf Course' I have played that is not exactly a 'full course' visited and played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Others played can be found here.

Miniature Golf Putting for a trip to Finland

Last week I attempted to win a trip to Finland at the Sport Finland stand at SportAccord.

You had to score holes-in-one at three Finish Towns/Cities - Tampere, Lahti and Helsinki. I managed to 'Ace' Tampere and Lahti, but not Helsinki.


In nine attempts I scored two holes-in-one! A poor showing indeed!

In 2008 I played for the Great Britain Minigolf Team at the WMF Nations Cup in Tampere, Finland. A great country and a very nice city to visit.

Latest Laser Tag Rankings - Update after Whitstable 'Solo Stun' Battle!

Here is the update to the Laser Tag Rankings (since January 2011 to 10th April 2011):

Click to enlarge ranking list

In the Ongoing Laser Tag War that rages between the forces of the REDS, BLUES, GREENS, and YELLOWS we've all taken part in Laser Battles in 'laser-war-torn' places including Birmingham, Hemel Hempstead, Bristol, London, Peterborough, Crawley, New Brighton, Cannock and Whitstable.

The Latest Laser Tag Battle - Lazer Rush in Whitstable

The Laser Tag War continues to rage between the forces of the REDS, BLUES, GREENS, and YELLOWS.

The latest battle took place at the Lazer Rush centre in Whitstable, Kent, on Sunday 10th April, with me, Emily and Oliver Florence fighting in a 'Solo Stun' game amongst eleven players in the two-level arena.

In the all-against-all battle I was runner-up to an eleven-year-old kid, Emily was 3rd, and Ollie was 4th. On a Grand National weekend we would have been a good punt with an each-way bet!

Of our group of 3 'Rebels', Ollie had the best Accuracy Rating with 57%, Emily had 51% and with my scattergun/machinegun approach (and 478 shots fired!) I was ranked last on Accuracy with 21%

For the Record, I was a (quite ORANGEY) RED, while Ollie and Emily wore GREEN.

Our Laser Tag Battles have now taken place 'laser-war-torn' places including Birmingham, Hemel Hempstead, Bristol, London, Peterborough, Crawley, New Brighton, Cannock and Whitstable.

Website of Lazer Rush.

Scrap Iron Cup #9 - Paul Johnson claims his first-ever Scrap Iron Cup Victory

Ninth Scrap Iron Cup Minigolf Competition - Results and Report
Paul Johnson claims his first-ever Scrap Iron Cup Victory

Paul ‘The Overtaker’ Johnson was in the pink on Saturday 9th April 2011 as he landed his first-ever minigolf Scrap Iron Cup win, with a 2&1 victory over Seth ‘Clockwork Orange’ Thomas at the 18-hole Strokes Adventure Golf course in Margate, Kent.

'Squire' Richard Gottfried was unable to retain the Scrap Iron Cup, and was defeated by Johnson at the first hole of the sudden-death play-off, after both players had scored 29(+5) in the 12-hole Strokeplay first-round. Seth ‘Clockwork Orange’ Thomas qualified for the final with a round of 28(+4).

New Scrap Iron Cup Champion Paul Johnson was understandably tickled pink by his victory, which comes at the ninth attempt, and after three previous appearances in the final.

Former Scrap Iron Cup champion Owen 'Jackpot' Johnson, Leo ‘Bosman’ Kukielka and previous Scrap Iron Cup finalists Cindy Kukielka and Peter ‘TCAA’ Jones were the other competitors at the tournament.

Scrap Iron Cup
09/04/2011
Venue: Strokes Adventure Golf, Margate

Round One – Strokeplay
Rank Player
1. Seth Thomas – 28
2. Paul Johnson – 29 (won a play-off to qualify for the final)
3. Richard Gottfried – 29
4. Owen Johnson – 36
5. Leo Kukielka – 34
6. Cindy Kukielka – 37

A play-off was required between Paul Johnson & Richard Gottfried to decide the second finalist. This was played on the 13th hole of the Strokes Adventure Golf layout, and was decided on the first extra-hole as Gottfried hit a three while Johnson scored a two.

Round Two – Matchplay

Seth Thomas vs. Paul Johnson

Result – Paul Johnson wins 2&1

Scrap Iron Cup - Hall of Fame
2011 - #9 - Paul Johnson beat Seth Thomas - Margate
2011 - #8 - Richard Gottfried beat Peter Jones - Liverpool
2011 - #7 - Seth Thomas beat Paul Johnson - Liverpool
2011 - #6 - Seth Thomas beat Owen Johnson - Hither Green
2011 - #5 - Seth Thomas beat Richard Gottfried - Bristol
2011 - #4 - Richard Gottfried beat Cindy Kukielka - Birmingham
2010 - #3 - Owen Johnson beat Richard Gottfried - Birmingham
2010 - #2 - Richard Gottfried beat Paul Johnson - Weymouth
2010 - #1 - Richard Gottfried beat Paul Johnson - Sandbanks

Rules of the Scrap Iron Cup
• Played between members of the Midlands Minigolf Club
• Played in either groups of two, or one group, in round one
• Groups are drawn at random (often using the 'balls in a hat' technique)
• Round one is a strokeplay match played over 7, 9, 11, 12 or 18 holes
• The two players with the top scores after round one qualify for the second round/final
• Round two is a matchplay match played over 7, 9, 12 or 18 holes
• The winner of the matchplay match becomes the Scrap Iron Cup* Champion**

* The Johnson's Scrap Iron Cup (aka the 'NABBA ENGLAND 95 CLASS TWO WINNER' Trophy) remains the property of Owen and Paul Johnson

** The Reigning Scrap Iron Champion retains the cup until the next defence whereupon it is given up until the next Scrap Iron Cup tournament has been completed

Minigolf and Sunburn

Even in my fifth season as a BMGA Tour Professional Minigolfer and after playing 65 British Minigolf Association Tour Events, at the seaside, in sunny weather conditions, since 2007 I still go and get bloody sunburnt at the weekend's BMGA British Masters tournament in Margate!

Photo evidence of my foolishness (courtesy of Oliver 'The Machine' Florence).

My regular Minigolf Doubles partner, Kevin 'Max' Moseley, is a Pharmacist too and would have definitely advised some Factor-50 should of been applied!

Richard Gottfried 9th in the BMGA British Masters Minigolf Tournament in Margate, Kent

10th April 2011
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report – BMGA British Masters

Luton Minigolfer Richard Gottfried picked up his second top ten finish of the 2011 BMGA Tour season as he finished in 9th spot of 38 players in the BMGA British Masters tournament at Strokes Adventure Golf course in Margate, Kent on Sunday 10th April.

Emily Gottfried was also in action at the competition, the first outdoor event of the British Minigolf Association season, and finished in 25th spot.

In excellent weather conditions at the 18-hole Strokes Adventure Golf course in Margate Richard managed rounds of 38(+2), 39(+3) and 39(+3) for a 54-hole total of 116(+8). The 9th place finish was Richard’s highest in the BMGA British Masters event. Richard made his debut in the BMGA British Masters tournament in Southend-on-Sea in 2007 and finished in 24th spot of 28 players. His two other previous results in the event have seen him finish in 22nd and 23rd places in 30 player fields.
 
In Emily’s first appearance in the BMGA British Masters, she managed rounds of 45 (+9), 48(+12) and 49(+13) for a total of 142(+34).


The tournament was won Canterbury’s Marc Chapman with a score of 98 (-10). Defending Champion Andy Exall of Paddock Wood, Kent was runner-up, with Cambridge’s Adam Kelly third.

Richard said “I was pleased with the rounds I put together and I was quite consistent. I had a few holes-in-one too and to get a top ten finish is always nice. I was also very pleased to finish so well in a very strong field in a prestigious event like the BMGA British Masters.”

In the latest update of the BMGA Order of Merit Rankings for 2010-2011 Richard is currently in 14th spot of 86 players, with Emily in 43rd place.

Ends

85 Years Too Late to Play a Rooftop Putting Green in London

On the 4th of April 2011 I headed to London Bridge to check out Adelaide House.

Back in 1926 the building had a Rooftop Putting Green!

According to the website Skyscrapernews.com "Adelaide House was one of the first buildings in London to have air conditioning, an internal mail system and not to forget, its own rooftop putting green."

A photo of the Putting Green on the roof of Adelaide House, taken in 1926/1927 (at Heritage-Images.com).

A photo of the Miniature Golf course at Adelaide House in 1930 (at The London Bridge Museum & Educational Trust).

The building is home to Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP.

For details on courses I've visited and played since 2006 please head to the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Page.

Crazy Golf in Chiswick, London

Minigolf at Rocks Lane Multi Sports Centre.

On Monday 4th April 2011 I headed to the Rocks Lane Multi Sports Centre in Chiswick, London to visit and play the 9-hole Crazy Golf course at the centre.



The Crazy Golf in Chiswick was the 214th course played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.



Each of the 9-holes is named after and designed to either resemble, or be associated with, another sport:
1 - Dominoes
2 - Bar Billiards
3 - Skittles
4 - Penalty Shoot Out
5 - Croquet
6 - St Andrews
7 - Monte Carlo
8 - 8 Ball Pool
9 - Pinball













Quite unmissable in the course layout is the London Bus! A first on a course I've visited!

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses in and around London

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

Minigolf Nicknames

Just like the Putter and the Ball used to play the game, Minigolf Nicknames are an integral part of Minigolf Sport.

Examples include Tim 'Ace Man' Davies, Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd, Owen 'Jackpot' Johnson, Oliver 'The Machine' Florence, Sean 'Freebird' Homer, Nick 'Top Hole' Chitty, John 'Big Top Ted' McIver, Chris 'Who' Harding, Seth 'Clockwork Orange' Thomas, Chris 'WMD' Smith, John 'Thighs' Moore, Peter 'The Crazy Aced Assassin' Jones, and Richard 'Gentle Touch' Skeggs to name but a few!

Since my debut on the British Minigolf Association's UK Competitive Minigolf Circuit in 2007 I have been known by the nickname "Squire" Richard Gottfried (the name stems my from Finger Jousting days when I was known as "Squire Richard of Surleigh"!). Emily is known variously as 'Coach', or '9 Lives', the latter stemming from her Dodgeball UK days.

Recently I have recieved two new potential minigolf monikers from conversations on twitter!

The Gluten Free Putting Machine

The Boss of The Moss

Long Live The Ham and Egger Files!

Of course The Ham and Egger Files will continue to be the home for all the news and updates from our Adventures on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour (and in other sports and games).

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/

Gottfried Wins and The Ham & Egger Files Closes its Doors

Following my BIG 'win' at the Luton Sports Awards I've decided that the 'Ham and Egger Files' title for the Blog is no longer relevant - therefore, as of today, you can visit us at The Steak and Chip Files!

http://steakandchipfiles.blogspot.com/

321 Minigolf Courses Visited To Date/213 Of Them Played

Since the 30th of September 2006 we have visited a total of 321 Crazy Golf/Minigolf/Mini Golf/Adventure Golf/Putting/Miniature Golf courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour!

Of these 321 visited, we've managed to play 213 of them!

BIG Buttons!

Spotted outside an Amusement Arcade in Liverpool!

Richard Gottfried and the HUGE 'Vegas' scene on an Amusement Arcade in Liverpool.

Video of me playing some BIG Buttons in Las Vegas

Wallasey Beach Mini Golf - course visited but not played in New Brighton

On Saturday 19th March 2011 we also headed to the Wallasey Beach Mini Golf/Miniature Golf course. The Pitch & Putt layout looked very well tended and the course was open with a number of people enjoying the course. For more information about the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour please click here.