July 29th 2011 saw the beginning of a new minigolf competition series, with players from JML competing against each other for inter-office glory.
Emily “Coach” Gottfried is well-known within the walls of JML’s London HQ for her exploits and achievements in both the Irregular Minigolf Tour with “Squire” Richard Gottfried, and the BMGA Tour where she has competed in a number of Professional Miniature Golf events all over the UK. And a few brave, daring souls have often laid down the gauntlet and challenged Emily to a game of minigolf or two...
So on July 29th, the talking was over and Luton’s Emily Gottfried headed to the new Dinosaur Safari Adventure Golf at the A1 Golf Driving Range in Arkley with Stevenage’s Simon Hinton to put the grand-standing to an end.
Whilst being a “big golf” player, Simon regularly talked up his short-game, however on arrival at the course, nerves seemed to take hold, and even a quick cigarette couldn’t dampen the nerves as both players approached the first hole.
This first match-up took place post-work on a beautiful July summers evening, and it proved to be the perfect setting for Emily to prove her minigolfing ability, when she bested Simon 42 to 45 on stroke play, and 2-up on matchplay.
Simon said after his defeat “It was a true pleasure to be able to demonstrate to Emily the finer details of my grip, the precision involved in the setting of the hips in my stance, and the pendulum effect of my in-out-in putting path.”
Hinton added “I know that Emily was extremely pleased as she now knows how not to putt like a complete t**t, and this will hold her in excellent stead in future competitions and the inevitable world rankings. And frankly, it’s all thanks to me.”
Emily said “I enjoyed the game immensely, and as I always knew I would win, it wasn’t much of a surprise, but it was very welcome all the same. Simon does have a certain finesse with a putter, and could definitely be a contender, if he honed his skills in certain areas. He suffered a five out there today, but he can work on that and take me on again in the future. However, having seen Simon’s recent comments, I can see that it will take another few defeats at my hand before he can accept defeat gracefully”.
Following on from these self-aggrandising comments Emily “Coach” Gottfried agreed to a re-match, which took place on August 9th.
In this second match Emily again beat Simon, 40 to 41. The victory was by a smaller margin, but improvements were made by both players, including aces by Emily on the 1st and by Simon on the 14th. The match ended all-square on matchplay. At this point, Simon grudgingly acknowledged that some of Emily’s guidance had helped his game and a second-round was played.
This round showed much improvement again, and with Simon following Emily’s coaching tips he managed to win 38 to Emily’s 41. This included another ace on the 14th for Simon - making it his favourite hole. Simon also won matchplay 2-up.
After the two-rounds were over Simon said “An under par round (course par is 40) equalling the course record came as absolutely no surprise to me. This is testament to my determination, focus, skill and on-course imagination. Oh – and Coach helped a bit too”.
Coach said: “I won the first round and lost the second, but I feel that I can take some credit in Simon’s victory. I saw his potential and some handy advice helped him to his win”.
The JML Irregular tour will hopefully continue later in the year with at least three more colleagues lined up to compete.
Link - Crazy World of Minigolf Tour visit to the Dinosaur Safari Adventure Golf Course
Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.
A blog about our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. With a sprinkling of nostalgia and urban exploration for good measure.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Gottfried vs. Hinton - Healthy Minigolf Competition at Dinosaur Safari Adventure Golf
Labels:
Adventure Golf,
Arkley,
Dinosaur Safari,
Emily Gottfried,
Hertfordshire,
JML,
Minigolf,
Simon Hinton
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
The 1st Annual Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt
The 1st Annual Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt has been announced and will run until the 1st of November 2011 (at midday Japan Standard Time) when the contest winner will be announced and awarded the coveted Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt Trophy.
The Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt is taking place on Miniature Golf courses worldwide and invites people to track down and record items and achievements related to all forms of the fine game of Minigolf.
Full details of this great contest can be found on the Putter King website.
Emily and I will be competing in the event and have been busy ticking off and planning our Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt milestones.
Richard & Emily Gottfried in their Putter King kits at the BMGA English Open at Wroxham Barns, Norfolk earlier this season
You can follow contestant's progress on twitter by using the hashtag #pkscavhunt
The Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt is taking place on Miniature Golf courses worldwide and invites people to track down and record items and achievements related to all forms of the fine game of Minigolf.
Full details of this great contest can be found on the Putter King website.
Emily and I will be competing in the event and have been busy ticking off and planning our Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt milestones.
Richard & Emily Gottfried in their Putter King kits at the BMGA English Open at Wroxham Barns, Norfolk earlier this season
You can follow contestant's progress on twitter by using the hashtag #pkscavhunt
Labels:
Minigolf,
Putter King,
The 1st Annual Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt,
The Putter King
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Friday, September 09, 2011
British Players Performances in Major WMF Minigolf Competitions
Tim 'Ace Man' Davies, webmaster of MiniatureGolfer.com and Crazy Golf Legend, has updated the details of Great Britain Minigolf Sport Team Members Results at major WMF Championships on his website.
You can view the full details at British performances in Major European Competitions.
Emily and I have played for the Great Britain Minigolf Sport Team at two overseas Minigolf Championships - the 2008 WMF Nations Cup in Tampere, Finland and the 2011 WMF Nations Cup in Stockholm, Sweden.
My results in 2008 see me ranked at 61st of 73 performances at major WMF Championships, with Emily's results in Finland ranking her 69th.
We both improved massively in our performances in the 2011 Nations Cup as my performance sees me at 27th and Emily at 40th.
The results in the list include details of major World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) Competitions including Nations Cups, European Minigolf Championships and World Minigolf Championships.
You can view the full details at British performances in Major European Competitions.
Emily and I have played for the Great Britain Minigolf Sport Team at two overseas Minigolf Championships - the 2008 WMF Nations Cup in Tampere, Finland and the 2011 WMF Nations Cup in Stockholm, Sweden.
My results in 2008 see me ranked at 61st of 73 performances at major WMF Championships, with Emily's results in Finland ranking her 69th.
We both improved massively in our performances in the 2011 Nations Cup as my performance sees me at 27th and Emily at 40th.
The results in the list include details of major World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) Competitions including Nations Cups, European Minigolf Championships and World Minigolf Championships.
Labels:
Emily Gottfried,
Great Britain,
Great Britain Minigolf Team,
Richard Gottfried,
Tim 'Ace Man' Davies,
WMF,
WMF Nations Cup,
www.miniaturegolfer.com
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Thursday, September 08, 2011
Team Entry Now Open for the 2011 UK Rock Paper Scissors Championships in London
Entry for the team tournament at the 2011 UK Rock Paper Scissors Championships has now opened.
Teams of four have been invited to compete in the Wacky Nation organised event that will take place on Saturday 22nd October 2011 at the Knights Templar pub on Chancery Lane.
The team event will be taking place in addition to the individual competition which will see over 200 competitors in action for the national RPS title!
You can get all the details on this great event on the 2011 UK Rock Paper Scissors Championships website.
Teams of four have been invited to compete in the Wacky Nation organised event that will take place on Saturday 22nd October 2011 at the Knights Templar pub on Chancery Lane.
The team event will be taking place in addition to the individual competition which will see over 200 competitors in action for the national RPS title!
You can get all the details on this great event on the 2011 UK Rock Paper Scissors Championships website.
Labels:
London,
Rock Paper Scissors,
RPS,
UKRPS,
Wacky Nation
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
Minigolf News - "Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried signs for the Cambridgeshire Mini Golf Club!"
In the latest Minigolf Transfer News Emily 'Coach' Gottfried has signed for the newest Minigolf Club in the UK - the Cambridgeshire Mini Golf Club.
Emily, a former member of the Midlands Minigolf Club and the reigning WMF Women's World Adventure Golf Masters Champion, sealed the deal through a series of texts with CMGC Captain James 'Ruthers' Rutherford while seated at the 'Sheen Sisters Table' during a meal out at PJ's Restaurant in Covent Garden, London.
The CMGC was formed in August 2011 by former Green Mini Golf Club member James 'TheRocket' Rutherford. Surrey-based players Oliver 'The Machine' Florence and Richard 'Gentle Touch' Skeggs are the other two current club members.
Details of how to join the Cambridgeshire Mini Golf Club can be found on the CMGC website.
Emily, a former member of the Midlands Minigolf Club and the reigning WMF Women's World Adventure Golf Masters Champion, sealed the deal through a series of texts with CMGC Captain James 'Ruthers' Rutherford while seated at the 'Sheen Sisters Table' during a meal out at PJ's Restaurant in Covent Garden, London.
The CMGC was formed in August 2011 by former Green Mini Golf Club member James 'TheRocket' Rutherford. Surrey-based players Oliver 'The Machine' Florence and Richard 'Gentle Touch' Skeggs are the other two current club members.
Details of how to join the Cambridgeshire Mini Golf Club can be found on the CMGC website.
Labels:
Cambridgeshire,
Cambridgeshire Mini Golf Club,
CMGC,
Emily Gottfried,
GMGC,
James Rutherford,
Midlands Minigolf Club,
Minigolf Transfer,
MMGC,
Oliver Florence,
Richard Richard Skeggs,
transfer
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
Revisit to the Hello Campers Exhibition at Stevenage Museum
On Saturday 3rd September Emily and I made a revisit to the excellent 'Hello Campers' exhibition and display at Stevenage Museum in Hertfordshire.
I previously visited the exhibition in July.
The exhibition charted holiday camps from their beginnings through to the heyday in the 1960's and 70's and also included a small section on Crazy Golf and Minigolf.
The exhibition has now closed, but if you're in the area Stevenage Museum is well worth a visit.
Along with Tim 'Ace Man' Davies I am a Curator of The Crazy Golf Museum.
The Crazy Golf Museum's aim is to show visitors the history of the game of Miniature Golf, collections of scorecards, tokens, badges, scorecards, flyers, balls, putters, games etc. and act as the worldwide archive for Minigolf and Crazy Golf ephemera.
Link to The Crazy Golf Museum
Blog Post - Miniature Golfers Launch ‘The Crazy Golf Museum’
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
I previously visited the exhibition in July.
The exhibition charted holiday camps from their beginnings through to the heyday in the 1960's and 70's and also included a small section on Crazy Golf and Minigolf.
The exhibition has now closed, but if you're in the area Stevenage Museum is well worth a visit.
Along with Tim 'Ace Man' Davies I am a Curator of The Crazy Golf Museum.
The Crazy Golf Museum's aim is to show visitors the history of the game of Miniature Golf, collections of scorecards, tokens, badges, scorecards, flyers, balls, putters, games etc. and act as the worldwide archive for Minigolf and Crazy Golf ephemera.
Link to The Crazy Golf Museum
Blog Post - Miniature Golfers Launch ‘The Crazy Golf Museum’
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
Labels:
Crazy Golf,
Hello Campers,
Holiday Camp,
Museums,
Stevenage,
The Crazy Golf Museum
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Sunday, September 04, 2011
Gluten-Free in Edinburgh: Guest reviews
Gluten-Free in Edinburgh: Guest reviews: The following guest post of reviews comes from Richard Gottfried : Kings Manor Hotel – Best Western, Brunstane We booked into the Kings...
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Thursday, September 01, 2011
Minigolf Article on the blog Smitten by Britain
You can check out a piece I've written about minigolf for the excellent blog Smitten By Britain at "Favorite Minigolf Courses in the UK".
The Smitten by Britain blog is a blog all about the best of British and is run by American Britophile Melissa Stoey and covers subjects including culture, sports, travel, history, food & drinks and books - it's the home of the Britophile and all things British.
Link - Smitten by Britain
The Smitten by Britain blog is a blog all about the best of British and is run by American Britophile Melissa Stoey and covers subjects including culture, sports, travel, history, food & drinks and books - it's the home of the Britophile and all things British.
Link - Smitten by Britain
Labels:
Blog,
Blogs,
Britain,
British,
Britophile,
Great Britain,
Minigolf,
Smitten by Britain,
UK
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
The Brown Sign Way - A Website and Blog Dedicated to Tourist Attraction Signs
I recently discovered the website and blog of The Brown Sign Way via some facebooking related to Minigolf.
The Brown Sign Way and Follow The Brown Signs are written by Amanda Hone and are well worth a look if you’re interested in travelling, signs (obviously), the UK & new and interesting things to do.
Before checking out the The Brown Sign Way blog I wasn’t aware there were a grand total of 93 different types of Brown Sign Symbols, ranging from 10 Pin Bowling, to Museums, to Windmills, to Zoos, with Golf also included, but not specifically Crazy or Mini Golf in the ‘93’.
Looking through our photo archives from the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour (and beyond) I found a few examples of Brown Signs I’ve snapped en route to, or at, places we’ve travelled to.
I found that the excellent Strokes Adventure Golf Course in Margate, Kent (course played #34) has the most photographed Brown Signs in my collection.
There are probably many more Brown Signs we’ve passed by on the way to some destination, or been side-tracked by on one of our many road trips around the UK.
Photo: The Brown Sign at the Merlewood Hotel (Gwesty) in Saundersfoot, Wales (the location of an unplayed Miniature Golf course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour)
Check out the who, what, how, when, where’s section on the The Brown Sign Way blog to find out more about these useful tools for pointing tourists in the direction of attractions.
Photo: The Brown Sign (and a White one too) at Conyngham Hall Park, Knaresborough
On our road trip around the Welsh coast in August 2009 we spotted this Brown Sign (below) in Penarth that shows just one of the many different ways that Miniature Golf (and variations such as Pitch & Putt, Minigolf and Crazy Golf) can be spelled in the Welsh language.
The Crazy Golf at the Rhylstone Gardens in Shanklin Old Town on the Isle of Wight (#65) is the most well signposted Miniature Golf course I've found to date, boasting seven signs on the walk to the course!
As well as Brown Signs in our photo archive, my search also turned up a number of other signposts (and the like), which I’ve snapped away at as they say something to do with Miniature Golf.
Photo: A Black Sign showing the way to the Crazy Golf course in Tonbridge, Kent
Photo: A Blue Sign showing the way to the Putting course at Greenhill Gardens in Weymouth, Dorset
Photo: A White Sign pointing towards a Miniature Golf course in Penarth, South Wales
Photo: A 'non-standard' Brown wooden sign at the entrance to the Crazy Golf course in Tredegar Park, Newport, Wales (oddly stating it's a Putting Green!?)
Link to the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
Links to The Brown Sign Way & Follow The Brown Signs
I'm also a fan of the Missin Letters Blog which looks for signs that are missing letters in them.
I've also had a number of photographs that I've taken over the years published for one odd reason or another in a number of media and newspapers (such as the 'broke' Ladbrokes in Stevenage Old Town).
The Brown Sign Way and Follow The Brown Signs are written by Amanda Hone and are well worth a look if you’re interested in travelling, signs (obviously), the UK & new and interesting things to do.
Before checking out the The Brown Sign Way blog I wasn’t aware there were a grand total of 93 different types of Brown Sign Symbols, ranging from 10 Pin Bowling, to Museums, to Windmills, to Zoos, with Golf also included, but not specifically Crazy or Mini Golf in the ‘93’.
Looking through our photo archives from the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour (and beyond) I found a few examples of Brown Signs I’ve snapped en route to, or at, places we’ve travelled to.
I found that the excellent Strokes Adventure Golf Course in Margate, Kent (course played #34) has the most photographed Brown Signs in my collection.
There are probably many more Brown Signs we’ve passed by on the way to some destination, or been side-tracked by on one of our many road trips around the UK.
Photo: The Brown Sign at the Merlewood Hotel (Gwesty) in Saundersfoot, Wales (the location of an unplayed Miniature Golf course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour)
Check out the who, what, how, when, where’s section on the The Brown Sign Way blog to find out more about these useful tools for pointing tourists in the direction of attractions.
Photo: The Brown Sign (and a White one too) at Conyngham Hall Park, Knaresborough
On our road trip around the Welsh coast in August 2009 we spotted this Brown Sign (below) in Penarth that shows just one of the many different ways that Miniature Golf (and variations such as Pitch & Putt, Minigolf and Crazy Golf) can be spelled in the Welsh language.
The Crazy Golf at the Rhylstone Gardens in Shanklin Old Town on the Isle of Wight (#65) is the most well signposted Miniature Golf course I've found to date, boasting seven signs on the walk to the course!
As well as Brown Signs in our photo archive, my search also turned up a number of other signposts (and the like), which I’ve snapped away at as they say something to do with Miniature Golf.
Photo: A Black Sign showing the way to the Crazy Golf course in Tonbridge, Kent
Photo: A Blue Sign showing the way to the Putting course at Greenhill Gardens in Weymouth, Dorset
Photo: A White Sign pointing towards a Miniature Golf course in Penarth, South Wales
Photo: A 'non-standard' Brown wooden sign at the entrance to the Crazy Golf course in Tredegar Park, Newport, Wales (oddly stating it's a Putting Green!?)
Link to the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
Links to The Brown Sign Way & Follow The Brown Signs
I'm also a fan of the Missin Letters Blog which looks for signs that are missing letters in them.
I've also had a number of photographs that I've taken over the years published for one odd reason or another in a number of media and newspapers (such as the 'broke' Ladbrokes in Stevenage Old Town).
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Crazy Golf in Luton - Charity Fun Day at Kent Athletic Club - 9-hole Minigolf
On the 29th August 2011 we headed to the Bank Holiday Charity Fun Day organised by the Kent Athletic Club at their club grounds on Tenby Drive in Luton, Bedfordshire.
One of the activities at the fundraising event for Macmillan Cancer Support was a 9-hole Crazy Golf course. The course became the 267th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.
At Kent Athletic Club (Luton) |
The Crazy Golf course laid out on the football pitch of Kent Athletic FC |
Putting on the temporary Crazy Golf course |
Great to see a windmill obstacle on the Crazy Golf course |
Emily plays a shot on the Minigolf layout |
The holes on the course were very small indeed |
I also won two prizes in three goes on the Tombola!
Winning |
I have no idea why the Kent Athletic Club is so called and how it came to be in Luton!? Their website does say they have been established for over 50 years though. In competition Miniature Golf there is a Kent Minigolf Club.
Related blog posts:
Link:
Labels:
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour,
Fete,
irregular mini golf tour,
irregular minigolf tour,
Kent Athletic Club,
Kent Minigolf Club,
KMGC,
Luton,
Tombola
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Four Years and Eleven Months of Crazy Minigolfing!
As of today we've been on a Crazy World of Minigolf Tour for four years and eleven months!
Back on the 30th September 2006 we played what would become course #1 on our tour, the Victory Trail Adventure Golf course at Southsea's Seafront Treasure Island.
Any suggestions for how we should celebrate the five year anniversary of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour gratefully received!
Back on the 30th September 2006 we played what would become course #1 on our tour, the Victory Trail Adventure Golf course at Southsea's Seafront Treasure Island.
Any suggestions for how we should celebrate the five year anniversary of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour gratefully received!
Labels:
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour,
irregular mini golf tour,
irregular minigolf tour,
Portsmouth,
Southsea
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Hillbilly Shooting Shack in Portobello & Joppa - Edinburgh's seaside
While on our mini-holiday to Edinburgh we found a Hillbilly Shooting Shack in one of the two amusement arcades in Portobello & Joppa.
Other blog posts about Shooting Shacks
The amusement arcade looked like it used to be much bigger and we also found a sign that pointed us in the direction of the now non-existent Fun Park.
Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.
Labels:
Amusement Arcades,
Edinburgh,
Hill Billy Shooting Shack,
Hillbilly Shoot Out,
Portobello and Joppa,
Richard Gottfried,
Shooting Gallery,
Shooting Shack,
Shooting Shacks,
The Buttons,
The Hillbillys
Location:
Portobello, Edinburgh EH15, UK
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Musselburgh Miniature Golf Links (Pitch & Putt) - Fisherrow Links
On Sunday 21st August 2011 Emily and I were having a wander from our hotel in Brunstane, Edinburgh heading towards the seaside at Portobello & Joppa. Our first stop was at nearby Musselburgh where we found a Miniature Golf Links course at Fisherrow.
The course was a Pitch & Putt variety of Miniature Golf and there was a couple of large groups on the first few holes so we decided to give playing it a miss. However on a return visit we'd very likely play the course as it looked in great condition with some interesting bumps and hillocks.
It was £2.50 a round for adults.
Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.
The course was a Pitch & Putt variety of Miniature Golf and there was a couple of large groups on the first few holes so we decided to give playing it a miss. However on a return visit we'd very likely play the course as it looked in great condition with some interesting bumps and hillocks.
It was £2.50 a round for adults.
Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.
Labels:
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour,
Links Golf,
Miniature Golf Links,
Musselburgh,
Not Played,
Pitch and Putt,
Pitch Putt,
Scotland
Location:
Musselburgh, East Lothian, UK
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
No Crazy Golf in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh
While in Edinburgh we were chatting to a stallholder at the Antique Market in the Grassmarket and she told us there used to be a Crazy Golf course in Princes Street Gardens.
We went for a wander through the park but couldn't find one.
We did however find the oldest pub in Edinburgh - The White Hart Inn, which was established in the Grassmarket in 1516. We sampled a few Whisky's while we were there too.
Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.
We went for a wander through the park but couldn't find one.
We did however find the oldest pub in Edinburgh - The White Hart Inn, which was established in the Grassmarket in 1516. We sampled a few Whisky's while we were there too.
Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.
Location:
Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Minigolf Putting Green at Powderhall Bowling Green, St Mark's Park, Edinburgh
During the break in the over 60s and over 50s British Cycle Speedway events taking place at the Edinburgh Falcons Club at Redbraes Park on Saturday 20th August 2011 we popped to the Powderhall Bowling Club, which uses one of its three Bowling Greens as a 9-hole Putting Course!
Time was getting on and as the course closed at 5pm the man at the course let us have a round on the proviso that we played quickly!
The Putting course was on a Bowling Green and while pretty flat was still fairly tricky in gauging speed and weight of the shots.
With time of the essence Emily decided she didn’t want to play so it was left to be a battle between me and my Midlands Minigolf Club team mate (and fellow 2008 BMGA British Club Champion) John ‘Thighs’ Moore.
After eight speedy holes, with the man watching us as he collected the flags in after we’d completed each hole, the scores were level with me and John scoring 3, 2, 3, 3, 3 2, 2, 2 and 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2 respectively.
I was first up to play the ninth hole and scored a dreadful four. John, the 2006 BMGA British Champion, stepped up and scored a two to take the victory 22 to 24.
The course at St Mark’s Park was the 266th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.
Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.
Time was getting on and as the course closed at 5pm the man at the course let us have a round on the proviso that we played quickly!
The Putting course was on a Bowling Green and while pretty flat was still fairly tricky in gauging speed and weight of the shots.
With time of the essence Emily decided she didn’t want to play so it was left to be a battle between me and my Midlands Minigolf Club team mate (and fellow 2008 BMGA British Club Champion) John ‘Thighs’ Moore.
After eight speedy holes, with the man watching us as he collected the flags in after we’d completed each hole, the scores were level with me and John scoring 3, 2, 3, 3, 3 2, 2, 2 and 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2 respectively.
I was first up to play the ninth hole and scored a dreadful four. John, the 2006 BMGA British Champion, stepped up and scored a two to take the victory 22 to 24.
Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.
Labels:
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour,
Edinburgh,
John Moore,
Midlands Minigolf Club,
Miniature Golf,
MMGC,
Putting,
Putting Course,
Putting Green,
Richard Gottfried,
Scotland
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
Cycle Speedway in Edinburgh - The British Veterans over 50s and over 60s Individual Championships
Blog post about spectating at a Cycle Speedway in Edinburgh - The British Veterans over 50s and over 60s Individual Championships in August 2011.
On Saturday 20th August 2011 we flew to Edinburgh for a nice weekend away. We’d managed to get the flights on easyJet incredibly cheap via a very good use of our Nectar Points and with us being on the first flight of the day we arrived in the city centre at 8.30am.
Ahead of the trip we’d spoken to our friend, Midlands Minigolf Club team mate and minigolf rival John Moore who told us he was also going to be up in Edinburgh on the Saturday and that he was heading to a great sporting event – Cycle Speedway!
Ever on the lookout for new and unusual sports to take part in, or spectate at, we met up with John and headed to Edinburgh’s Redbraes Park (home of the Edinburgh Falcons Club) and the British over 50s and over 60s Individual Championships of Cycle Speedway!
With ‘Tapes-up’ at 2pm we arrived in time to see the introduction of the riders who would be competing in the first event of the afternoon, the over 60s Individual British Championships.
According to the Edinburgh Falcons Cycle Speedway Club website the sport of Cycle Speedway came into being in the late 1940’s and grew out of Motorbike Speedway. Races take place on oval tracks 60-90m long and racers ride around the circuit in an anti-clockwise direction. In each race four riders race each other over four laps with the winner picking up four points, runner-up three, third-place two and fourth place picks up one point.
There was some great strategy in use in the races with riders battling to get the best of the track positioning and a few restarts due to some physical contact between riders. We saw a couple of crashes too. The event was great fun and free to attend! There were programmes for sale as well as T-shirts, along with refreshments. If you’ve never been to a Cycle Speedway event (and I’m guessing a lot of readers haven’t) it’s well worth a watch.
Full results and report from the British Cycle Speedway over 50s and over 60s Individual Championships
Edinburgh Falcons website
Photos from the over 50s competition
Photos from the over 60s competition - with us here and here
During the interval between the over 60s and over 50s events we went to a nearby pub for a quick drink and then on to St Mark’s Park and the Powderhall Bowling Club, which uses one of its three Bowling Greens as a 9-hole Putting Course! This would become the 266th Miniature Golf course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour!
Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.
On Saturday 20th August 2011 we flew to Edinburgh for a nice weekend away. We’d managed to get the flights on easyJet incredibly cheap via a very good use of our Nectar Points and with us being on the first flight of the day we arrived in the city centre at 8.30am.
Ahead of the trip we’d spoken to our friend, Midlands Minigolf Club team mate and minigolf rival John Moore who told us he was also going to be up in Edinburgh on the Saturday and that he was heading to a great sporting event – Cycle Speedway!
Ever on the lookout for new and unusual sports to take part in, or spectate at, we met up with John and headed to Edinburgh’s Redbraes Park (home of the Edinburgh Falcons Club) and the British over 50s and over 60s Individual Championships of Cycle Speedway!
With ‘Tapes-up’ at 2pm we arrived in time to see the introduction of the riders who would be competing in the first event of the afternoon, the over 60s Individual British Championships.
According to the Edinburgh Falcons Cycle Speedway Club website the sport of Cycle Speedway came into being in the late 1940’s and grew out of Motorbike Speedway. Races take place on oval tracks 60-90m long and racers ride around the circuit in an anti-clockwise direction. In each race four riders race each other over four laps with the winner picking up four points, runner-up three, third-place two and fourth place picks up one point.
There was some great strategy in use in the races with riders battling to get the best of the track positioning and a few restarts due to some physical contact between riders. We saw a couple of crashes too. The event was great fun and free to attend! There were programmes for sale as well as T-shirts, along with refreshments. If you’ve never been to a Cycle Speedway event (and I’m guessing a lot of readers haven’t) it’s well worth a watch.
Full results and report from the British Cycle Speedway over 50s and over 60s Individual Championships
Edinburgh Falcons website
Photos from the over 50s competition
Photos from the over 60s competition - with us here and here
During the interval between the over 60s and over 50s events we went to a nearby pub for a quick drink and then on to St Mark’s Park and the Powderhall Bowling Club, which uses one of its three Bowling Greens as a 9-hole Putting Course! This would become the 266th Miniature Golf course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour!
Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.
Labels:
Cycle Speedway,
Cycling,
Edinburgh,
Emily Gottfried,
John Moore,
Park,
Redbraes Park,
Scotland,
Sport
I’m a Champion Miniature Golfer on a tour of the UK’s minigolf and crazy golf courses. Coeliac living a gluten free life. Train nerd. Retro gamer. Urban explorer.
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