Crazy Golf course visited, but not played, in Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees

On our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour trip to Teesside we made a visit to the 12-hole Crazy Golf course at Preston Hall Museum and Park in Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees.

Prior to our visit we knew the course would not be open and playable as I've been in contact with the new owners of the course who have plans to refurbish and reopen the course in the 2012.

We did have a wander around and had a look at the existing course.

To be honest, on our travels to the 436 Miniature Golf courses prior to visiting Eaglescliffe we have found some really Crazy Golf horror courses, many of which we've actually paid to play, so on seeing the condition of the Preston Hall Park course we didn't think it was that bad and obviously would have given it a play had it been open.

The borders of the course are solid and holes, such as the first (below), reminded me of Beton and Eternit type courses with wall shots needed.

The felt was worn in places and some holes had had patches replaced.

Leaf fall was a bit of a problem too!

We're looking forward to a return visit when the Crazy Golf course has been refurbed and we'll be having a look around the Museum there too, as it was also closed for a refurb on our visit.

Photos of the Stockton-on-Tees Crazy Golf course at Preston Hall Museum and Park on MiniatureGolfer.com

Link to more course visits on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Crazy Golf article in December 2011 Issue of Picture Postcard Monthly.

An article about Crazy Golf Postcards written by me and fellow Crazy Golf Museum Curator Tim 'Ace Man' Davies has been published in the December 2011 issue of Picture Postcard Monthly.

Picture Postcard Monthly is the top magazine for collectors of old and modern postcards worldwide and has been informing and entertaining the postcard world since 1980.

The Crazy Golf Postcards article looks at the history of Miniature Golf and Crazy Golf around the world since 1867, as well as featuring 14 postcard images showing a wide-range of Minigolf courses.

Issue 392, December 2011 costs £2.60 (+85p P&P) and also features articles on such topics as the Women’s Land Army, to Comic postcards from New Zealand, and Are postcards better mint or used? As it’s the Christmas issue there are also a number of seasonal articles, including one on Seasonal greetings from outer space!

You can order the latest issue of Picture Postcard Monthly online, details of the December 2011 issue can be found here.

Winners of the Putterfingers Micro Putt Minigolf Competition Announced

I am one of the five winners of a Putterfingers Masters Golf Putt Returner having competed in the Putterfingers Micro Putt Online Mini Golf Competition!

Micro Putt Mini Golf Game by Mochi Games

The overall winner was my BMGA Tour Minigolf rival James 'The Rocket' Rutherford who managed to score 2,868 with five holes-in-one in a rown and completed in 32 seconds!

The four other competition winners were tied on 2,867 points. Along with Laurence Wicks we completed the course in 33 seconds, with Laurence playing 143 times, while I had 118 plays. 'The Rocket' played the game a total of 218 times!

Others in tied second-place were Seth 'Clockwork Orange' Thomas and Stu 'British #66' Bowker.

Read the news item on the Putterfingers Blog.

You can still check out the Putterfingers Micro Putt Mini Golf Game here.

Putterfingers Web Links
- Putterfingers website
- Putterfingers Facebook page
- Putterfingers Micro Putt Mini Golf Game

Crazy Golf at Stokesley Golf Range, Middlesbrough - Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

On Monday 28th November 2011 we headed north to visit the 12-hole Crazy Golf course at Stokesley Golf Range in Stokesley, Middlesbrough. The course became the 277th course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

The Crazy Golf course is in very good condition and has some tricky obstacles, notably the Windmill, Volcano and the 12th! It costs £3.75 a round for adults, but for an extra quid you can have a second round, which is nice. The course is very playable, so £4.75 for 24-holes is not bad at all.

Stokesley Golf Range is also home to a 9-hole Golf course and a Driving Range.

Photos of the 12-hole Crazy Golf course, including Sponsors Boards at each hole (a very good bit of business).

The 9th hole is incredibly long and twisty, see the video below for the best view of it!

Photos from play during the Stokesley (NO/NIT) Classic Minigolf Tournament played at the course between 'Squire' Richard Gottfried, Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried and John 'Thighs' Moore.

Stokesley Golf Range is another visitor attraction that you can find if you follow the brown signs...

Stokesley Golf Range website

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Minigolf Report – End of BMGA Tour Season Competitions at Dorridge

30th November 2011
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report – End of BMGA Tour Season Competitions at Dorridge

Luton Minigolfers Richard & Emily Gottfried’s 2011 BMGA Tour Minigolf Season came to an end over the weekend of the 26th and 27th November as the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull hosted the final tournaments on the 2011 BMGA Tour

Richard competed in 14 BMGA Tour events, with Emily playing in 11 tournaments. 2011 was the pair’s fifth year as BMGA Tour players.

The Cambridgeshire MGC Invitational Tournament

On Saturday 26th November Emily competed in the first-ever Cambridgeshire Minigolf Club Invitational Tournament and finished in fourth place with a score of 79(+7).

Photo: The Cambridgeshire Minigolf Club team from l-r Brenda Smith, James Rutherford (Captain), Oliver Florence, Emily Gottfried

The three-round tournament was won by Cambridge’s James Rutherford. Oliver Florence was runner-up. Brenda Smith was third.

The Green MGC Invitational Tournament

On Saturday 26th November Richard competed in the first-ever Green Minigolf Club Invitational Tournament and finished in fourth place with a score of 75(+3).

The competition was won by Oxford’s Michael Smith, with Chris Smith runner-up and Seth Thomas of Wandsworth third.

The BMGA British Club Championships

In the BMGA British Club Championships on Sunday 27th November Richard played for the Midlands Minigolf Club and he and this three team mates finished the event in third place.

Photo: The Midlands Minigolf Club A-Team from l-r Richard Gottfried, Jam Trubridge (front), Chris Harding (Captain), Paul 'Johnson Paul Johnson' Johnson

Emily and her Cambridgeshire Minigolf Club team were fifth in the seven team event, which featured teams from five of the BMGA’s Minigolf Clubs.

In the first group match Richard and Emily’s teams faced-off, with the Midlands winning 4&3 in the 12-hole Matchplay Match. The Midlands Minigolf Club went on to defeat the Allstars team by two-holes, before losing to the Kent Hurricanes team 2&1. In the semi-finals the team lost to eventual champions, the Kent Spitfires, 2&1, before winning the 3rd/4th place play-off match against the Kent Hurricanes 3&2.

Following the defeat to the Midlands in their first match Cambridgeshire went on to lose against the Kent Hurricanes by one-hole. Following the opening two defeats the Cambridge Team went on to score wins against the Allstars 5&4, and 2&1 and beating the London Minigolf Club by one-hole in the 5th/6th place play-off match.

Ends