Crazy Golf at Mead Open Farm in Billington, Bedfordshire

Playing Crazy Golf on a visit to Mead Open Farm.

On Saturday 18th October we headed to Mead Open Farm for a morning of fun on the farm. And some Crazy Golf!

Emily putting on hole 2 of the Mead Open Farm Crazy Golf course

The course was the 350th we've played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and the 584th visited overall.

Playing hole 9 of the Mead Open Farm Crazy Golf course

The 9-hole course at Mead Open Farm was the last of the 'local' courses for us to play in Bedfordshire and it was worth the wait. We first heard about the farm about thirteen years ago when there was a very catchy local radio advert for it. We were singing it to ourselves on the drive there!

Emily playing hole 1 of the Mead Open Farm Crazy Golf course

Play of the Crazy Golf course is included in the entry price and you can have as many goes as you like! Check out photos of the 'Swedish Felt B-run' style of miniature golf course below.

In our minigolf medal match-up played over two 9-hole rounds I defeated Emily with a score of 42(+6) to 46(+10).

Scoring a hole-in-one at Mead Open Farm

Check out the videos of Emily and me scoring some holes-in-one on the course.

There's lots to see and do at Mead Open Farm

We had a great time at Mead Open Farm, there was plenty to see and do (even for big kids like us).

Lots of sheep, lambs and rams at Mead Open Farm

Crazy Goats!

A bull and a cow

Richard and a funny looking alpaca

As the 18 October was the first-day of the farm's special Halloween Freaky Fortnight there were ghoulish fun activities too.

Emily doesn't look too happy before we headed into 'The Dark'. I wasn't happy afterwards!

Getting a high-five off of a giant inflatable pumpkin witch

Check out the Mead Open Farm website for more information, opening times, prices, events and activities.

In my element

On the 18 October last year I played at the Putt in the Park Minigolf course in Wandsworth, London, and in 2012 I played the Woolly Golf course in Covent Garden.

Links:
- Mead Open Farm
- Mead Open Farm on Facebook
- Mead Open Farm on Twitter

Related blog posts:
- Farm
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Video links:
- Crazy Golf at Mead Open Farm 1 of 9 - Emily scores an Ace
- Crazy Golf at Mead Open Farm 2 of 9 - Richard Aces hole 1
- Crazy Golf at Mead Open Farm 3 of 9 - Richard Aces hole 3
- Crazy Golf at Mead Open Farm 4 of 9 - Richard Aces hole 6
- Crazy Golf at Mead Open Farm 5 of 9 - Richard Aces hole 7
- Crazy Golf at Mead Open Farm 6 of 9 - Richard Aces hole 8
- Crazy Golf at Mead Open Farm 7 of 9 - Close 2 on hole 5
- Crazy Golf at Mead Open Farm 8 of 9 - Close 2 on hole 8
- Crazy Golf at Mead Open Farm 9 of 9 - Emily plays hole 8 & course view

Mini Golf in Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote

Crazy Golf course spotted in Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote, Spain.

My sister-in-law Jo was recently on holiday in Lanzarote and spotted this coulourful Mini Golf course by the beach in Puerto del Carmen.

Check out MiniatureGolfer.com's list of Minigolf courses in Spain.

Spain is also one of the newest members of the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF).

Related blog posts:
- Jo Tubby
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Latest national ranking lists from the British Minigolf Association

National ranking list updates from the British Minigolf Association.

The official rankings have been updated following the 2014 BMGA English Open held at The Lost City Adventure Golf course in Nottingham.

Richard Gottfried playing at The Lost City Adventure Golf in Nottingham

Richard Gottfried's rankings in the Strokeplay Order of Merit for the 2013/14 season:
- Following the BMGA Star City Open - 12th of 74 places (135 players)
- Following the BMGA Star City Open & AGM changes - 11th of 79 places (135 players)
- Following the BMGA British Masters - 7th of 84 places (137 players)
- Following the BMGA British Championships - 10th of 85 places (138 players)
- Following the Splash Point Open - 11th of 85 places (138 players)
- Following the Midlands Open - 10th of 86 places (140 players)
- Following the BMGA Players Championship and BMGA British Open - 8th of 88 places (142 players)
- Following the BMGA English Open - 8th of 91 places (147 players)

Emily Gottfried playing on the Temple Trail course at The Lost City Adventure Golf in Nottingham

Emily Gottfried's rankings in the Strokeplay Order of Merit for the 2013/14 season:
- Following the BMGA Star City Open - 42nd of 74 places (135 players)
- Following the BMGA Star City Open & AGM changes - 34th of 79 places (135 players)
- Following the BMGA British Masters - 26th of 84 places (137 players)
- Following the BMGA British Championships - 21st of 85 places (138 players)
- Following the Splash Point Open - 21st of 85 places (138 players)
- Following the Midlands Open - 21st of 86 places (140 players)
- Following the BMGA Players Championship and BMGA British Open - 26th of 88 places (142 players)
- Following the BMGA English Open - 26th of 91 places (147 players)

In the BMGA Season Only Rankings for 2014 I am 20th of 65 players, Emily is in 21st place.

In the BMGA Matchplay Order of Merit Rankings Emily is in tied 20th place of 55 players, I am in 38th position.

We are both ranked in the World Minigolf Sport Federation's General Class ranking lists. In the women's rankings Emily is in tied 120th position of 128 places (132 players). In the men's rankings I am ranked in tied 397th place of 413 places (419 players).

Links:
- British Minigolf Association (BMGA)
- BMGA on Facebook
- BMGA on Twitter

Related blog posts:
- Minigolf Report from The Lost City Adventure Golf in Nottingham
- World Minigolf Rankings for 2014
- Rankings
- Richard Gottfried's Minigolf Player Profile
- Emily Gottfried's Minigolf Player Profile

Zombies!!! 13: DEFCON Z board game

Backing a Kickstarter campaign for the latest addition to the Zombies!!! board game series.

Earlier this year I spotted that the team at Twilight Creations were launching a Kickstarter campaign for the latest addition to the post-apocalyptic survival horror game series and knew I had to chip in to the funding.

I'm a big fan of games, horror and zombies and while playing many of the editions and expansions of the Zombies!!! and Humans!!! games I'd noticed that the ruined cityscapes and environments in the Zombies!!! universe were lacking something that many towns and cities have.

You guessed it - a miniature golf course!

I was one of fifteen Tile Designers who backed the project and so now 'Squires Minigolf' is a playable part of the game!

The ruined, derelict and overrun Squires Minigolf course in the new Zombies!!! board game

Zombies!!! 13: DEFCON Z sees the military, the CDC and others begin the fightback against the zombie menace and takes place in the years after the original outbreak caused the end of the world as we know it!

Zombies!!! 13: DEFCON Z box front

The Zombies!!! games are very high quality - with great artwork on the event cards and game board tiles. There are also quite a few different types of zombie figures to kill (or avoid) in the game's universe - including humans, clowns, military enhanced zombies and zombie zoo animals!

Zombies!!! 13: DEFCON Z box reverse

Zombies!!! 13: DEFCON Z is a standalone expansion can be played in combination with Zombies!!! or in its own right. The set includes 25 map tiles (including the Minigolf course), 50 event cards, heart, bullet and new 'infection' tokens, dice, new player figures and 100 Zombies in four new poses.

What you get in the box - all ready to play!

The cast of characters - Zombies and Survivors

Check out the Twilight Creations website for more details and stockists of the Zombies!!! games and expansions, as well as other board and card games they make.

Back in 2011 we played in a Zombie Apocalypse outdoor laser tag event in Hastings. We were told that our group were the worst to ever play and so in the event of a Zombie Apocalypse we can all now rest easy in the knowledge that we would make better Zombies than survivors.

This year World Zombie Day is scheduled for Saturday 11 October!

Links:
- Twilight Creations website
- Twilight Creations on Facebook
- Zombies!!! 13: DEFCON Z Kickstarter page

Mini Golf Putting Green in Rhyl

Finding and playing a Mini Golf Putting Course in Rhyl, Wales.

On the last day of our Holiday on the Buses weekender we headed to Rhyl for some Charity Shop shopping, amusement arcading and anything else the seaside resort had to offer on a slightly out-of-season Monday in September.

'avin a larf at the East Parade Bowling Club's Mini Golf Putting Green in Rhyl

Parking up outside the Wales National Crown Green Bowling Centre on East Parade I spotted a Putting Green set-up on a Bowling Green!

The Mini Golf Putting Green in Rhyl

The 9-hole Mini Golf course is at the East Parade Bowling Club. There are four bowling greens at the Wales National Crown Green Bowling Centre with one set-out for putting.

Seth Thomas taking a putt while Brad Shepherd and I look on

At only £1 per player for an hour of minigolf it was marvellous value for money.

Bargain Mini Golf at Rhyl's East Parade Bowling Club

The course was tricky, with some long putts - but we all came close to scoring some holes-in-one.

The 'podium' after the Rhyl Thrill Mini Golf Classic

Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd playing a long shot

Seth playing the final hole

Brad having a shot

In our match-up I picked up the win with a score of 21(+3), Seth Thomas was the runner-up with a round of 23(+5) and Brad Shepherd was third on 27(+9).

Minigolf 'Star' Richard Gottfried at Rhyl's Putting Course

The Mini Golf Putting Green at East Parade Bowling Club was the 349th course played and 583rd visited overall on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

On our travels we've played a number of miniature golf layouts on grass bowling greens. A good use of a 'fallow' part of the facilities.

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Wales
- Rhyl

Link:
- East Parade Bowling Club

Welsh Dragon Adventure Golf in Rhyl

A revisit to the Welsh Dragon Adventure Golf course in Rhyl, Wales.

Outside the Welsh Dragon Adventure Golf course in Rhyl

Back in August 2009 we visited and played the 12-hole Welsh Dragon Adventure Golf course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour visit to Wales.

During our holiday in nearby Prestatyn we made a revisit to the course, although as it was an 'out of season' Monday the course was closed. When we'd driven passed the course on the Saturday it had been open and looked nice and busy.

The Welsh Dragon Adventure Golf course in Rhyl

Related blog posts:
- Minigolf Course Visit No. 146 - Welsh Dragon Adventure Golf, Rhyl
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Wales
- Rhyl

Minigolf Report from The Lost City Adventure Golf in Nottingham

5th October 2014
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report from Nottingham

Luton Minigolfers Richard and Emily Gottfried competed in the BMGA English Open minigolf tournament at The Lost City Adventure Golf course in Nottingham on Sunday 5th October.

The English Open was played over three-rounds on the 18-hole Temple Trail Adventure Golf course and Emily and Richard tied on a score of 101(-7), alongside Nottingham’s Jam Trubridge. A total of 27-players competed in the event.

Emily scored rounds of 35, 32 and 34 and finished in 9th place with a round difference of three.

Emily Gottfried on the Temple Trail course at The Lost City Adventure Golf course in Nottingham

Richard scored rounds of 30, 34 and 37 and was classified in 11th place with a round difference of seven shots.

Richard Gottfried playing at The Lost City Adventure Golf course in Nottingham

Emily said “The Temple Trail was a great course to play, with some easy and some challenging holes. My round of 32 was a particular highlight. I really enjoyed playing in the English Open and was pleased to finish 9th overall.”

Richard said “I was happy with my opening round of 30, but disappointed with my third-round as I was chasing a podium finish. Great play by Emily again though. I’m now really looking forward to the World Crazy Golf Championships.”

Sean Homer won the BMGA English Open with a 54-hole score of 86(-22).

Emily’s good form continued following her win in the 2014 Holiday on the Buses Crazy Golf Pro Tournament in Prestatyn, North Wales last weekend. Playing in a six-player contest Emily won with a round of 35(-1) to lift the trophy on the 18-hole Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course at the town’s Central Beach.

Emily Gottfried - Holiday on the Buses Crazy Golf Pro Champion 2014

Ends

Crazy Golf at Drift Park in Rhyl

A revisit to the Drift Park Crazy Golf (Golff Bach) course in Rhyl, Wales.

Outside the Crazy Golf course in Drift Park, Rhyl

Back in August 2009 we visited and played the 11-hole Crazy Golf course at Drift Park on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour visit to Wales.

A view of the first hole (minus obstacle), the last hole and hut at Rhyl's Drift Park Crazy Golf course

While on holiday in Prestatyn we made a revisit to the course, although as it was an 'out of season' Monday the course was closed.

Related blog posts:
- Minigolf Course Visit No. 145 - Drift Park, Rhyl
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Wales
- Rhyl