World Minigolf Sport Rankings

New international minigolf ranking lists published by the WMF.

The World Minigolf Sport Federation has published the latest ranking lists for General Class (Adult), Youth and Senior players (dated 31 December 2014).

Emily and I are both ranked in the General Class Rankings.

The Great Britain 3 team at the 2013 WMF World Adventure Golf Masters in Hastings - from l-r John Moore, Emily Gottfried, Richard Gottfried, Craig Patterson. The team finished the event in fifth place

In the Women's World Ranking List Emily is in tied 107th place (110 players) alongside Erika Benke (HUN), Erika Takashima (JPN) and Kinga Szekretar (HUN).

Emily is the reigning WMF World Adventure Golf Masters Women's Champion, winning the title for the second time at the 2013 event in Hastings.

Emily at the WMF Nations Cup in Stockholm, Sweden - an event where she set a new British Women's Record with a round of 24 on the Miniaturegolf (Eternit) version of the sport

In the Men's World Ranking List I am in tied 383rd place (396 players) together with Takaya Asao (JPN), Mislav Bjazic (CRO), Jose Ferreira (POR), Hiroyuki Honda (JPN), Arton Krasniqi (KOS), Scott Lancley (GBR), Pawel Larus (POL), John Moore (GBR), Tiger (Alex) Pragnell (GBR), Jawaharlal Purohit (IND), Craig Small (GBR) and Georgij Srebren (CRO).

At the WMF Nations Cup in Sweden

In the General Class Nation Rankings Great Britain has moved down one place to be ranked 16th of 29 countries. Germany, Sweden and Austria top the rankings. Spain is the biggest mover in the lists entering for the first time at 24th.

The World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) is the umbrella organisation of Minigolf sports association's worldwide and continental associations in Asia, Europe and America.

There are over 38,000 competitive minigolf players registered with the WMF via the 46 member nations, with 900-plus clubs between them. More than 1,000 courses are approved for official competitions and over 1,500 minigolf tournaments are held each year.

The WMF is a member of SportAccord - the union for both Olympic and non-Olympic international sports federations, and organisers of international sporting events.

The Great Britain Minigolf Sport Team is sponsored by UrbanCrazy, suppliers of permanent and portable mini and crazy golf courses.

At the end of the domestic minigolf season I was ranked 12th and Emily 29th of 105 places (161 players) in the BMGA Strokeplay Order of Merit.

Links:
- World Minigolf Sport Federation
- European Minigolf Sport Federation
- British Minigolf Association
- SportAccord
- UrbanCrazy

WMF Ranking Lists at 31 December 2014:
- General Class
- Youth
- Senior

Related blog posts:
- World Minigolf Rankings for 2014
- End of 2014 minigolf season BMGA rankings
- UK Mini Golf Competitions in 2015

Player profiles
- Miniature Golf Player Profile of Richard Gottfried
- Miniature Golf Player Profile of Emily Gottfried

Bar Billiards and Darts in King's Cross

A look inside the Games Room at The Parcel Yard pub in London.

My fellow pub games enthusiast John Moore recently told me that a friend of his had informed him that The Parcel Yard pub at London's King's Cross train station has a Bar Billiards table! John relayed this information to me, so I had to go and take a look.

On my visit to the pub I couldn't see the Bar Billiards table, but did enjoy having a look inside as I'd never been there before. It's well worth popping in.

Having a look on the pub's website I noticed that the table is in the Games Room, so on my second visit I knew where to look. One of the pub's staff members was happy to show me the Games Room and I must say I was impressed with the setting.

The Bar Billiards table at The Parcel Yard

Unfortunately the room and the games inside are not open for everyday casual play, as the room is often booked out for functions. However, I made an enquiry online and found out that the room can be reserved for events - both corporate and private meetings or parties. For more information drop The Parcel Yard team a line via the website.

As big fans of darts it was great to see there's a board in the Games Room too.

The dart board and oche at The Parcel Yard

If Bar Billiards or darts aren't your thing, then the Games Room also has a Pinball Machine and other traditional games.

I'm looking forward to getting the chance to play the Bar Billiards at The Parcel Yard for a bit of a 'do'. A group of us had a brilliant time on our London Bar Billiards Pub Crawl a couple of years ago and we do enjoy a pub sport meet-up.

Links:

- The Parcel Yard

- Bar Billiards Forum
- The All England Bar Billiards Association (AEBBA)

Related blog posts:

- Bar Billiards
- Darts

- Pub
- Pub games

UK Mini Golf Competitions in 2015

Minigolf tournament calendar for 2015.

The British Minigolf Association (BMGA) has announced its calendar of tournaments for the 2015 season.

Eight BMGA events have been confirmed, with competitions being held on six courses.

Emily playing at Hastings Crazy Golf during the 2014 World Crazy Golf Championships 

- The British Club Championships will be held on Sunday 1 March at the Pirate Adventure Golf course on Hastings seafront in East Sussex.

- The British Masters will be held on Sunday 12 April at Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing, West Sussex.

- The British Championships - a two-day major tournament - will be held on 16 and 17 May at the Pirate Adventure Golf course in Hastings.

Playing at Strokes Adventure Golf course in Margate last year

- The British Open - a two-day major competition - will be taking place on 19 and 20 September at Strokes Adventure Golf in Margate, Kent.

- The day before the British Open tees-off the Players Championship and International Players Championship contests will take place on the Strokes layout.

- The World Crazy Golf Championships - the final major of the season - will be played on 24 and 25 October at the Crazy Golf course in Hastings.



- The Star City Open will close the official BMGA Tour season on Sunday 6 December when it is held at the Adventure Island Mini Golf course in Birmingham.

There will also be various club events during the year, as well as fun friendlies and independent events on courses around the UK.

Playing at Splash Point Mini Golf course in Worthing during the British Masters last season

Club Open competitions announced so far include:
- Midlands Open - Sunday 22 March at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull.
- Splash Point Open - Saturday 25 July at Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing.
- Kent Open - Sunday 15 November at the Lost Island Encounter in Sidcup, Kent.

The World Minigolf Sport Federation will also be holding an event in England this year, with the WMF World Adventure Golf Masters taking place on 6 and 7 June at the Pirate Adventure Golf course in Hastings.

National Miniature Golf Day takes place on the second Saturday in May and this year will be on Saturday 9 May. Miniature Golf Day is always on 21 September, which this year falls on a Monday.

Worldwide there are over 38,000 competitive minigolf players registered with the WMF via the 46 member nations, with 900-plus clubs between them. More than 1,000 courses are approved for official competitions and over 1,500 minigolf tournaments are held each year.

Links:
- British Minigolf Association
- World Minigolf Sport Federation
- European Minigolf Sport Federation

Related blog posts:
- Mini Golf Days in 2015
- End of 2014 minigolf season BMGA rankings

New indoor adventure golf course in Cardiff, Wales

New 36-hole adventure golf course to open in Cardiff.

There's a brand new indoor minigolf course opening in Cardiff, Wales this year - Treetop Adventure Golf!

The themed miniature golf centre will have two 18-hole layouts set in a rainforest environment. One will be called the 'Tropical Trail' while the other is the 'Ancient Explorer'.

Looking at the Treetop Adventure Golf course website the courses will feature a thunderstorm, swamps, talking trees and more. Tree Top Adventure Golf will also have a bar and cafe.

The new indoor adventure golf course is due to open in Spring 2015 and will be located at St David's Dewi Sant Shopping Centre in Cardiff.

We're looking forward to visiting and playing the course as part of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. We've been to quite a few indoor mini, crazy and adventure golf courses over the years and they're a great way to play the game in all weathers.

Members of the team behind the course have designed and built some great indoor adventure golf courses that we've played for fun and in competitions in places like Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Aberdeen, Manchester and Nottingham, as well as outdoor courses in Hastings.

Playing the Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf course at the Liverpool ONE shopping centre

At Adventure Island Mini Golf in Birmingham's Star City leisure and entertainment complex

Links:
- Treetop Adventure Golf course website
- St David's Dewi Sant Shopping Centre website
- Castle Golf Adventure Golf Developments

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Indoor Mini, Crazy and Adventure Golf courses

Winning at the PDC Unibet Darts Masters in Milton Keynes

A trip to the 'arrers in Milton Keynes.

On Sunday 1 February me, Emily and Marc 'The Roller' Bazeley attended the 2015 Unibet Masters Darts tournament presented by the Professional Darts Corporation and played at the tremendous facility that is the ArenaMK.

Two of the Sajwani Army on manoeuvres at the PDC Unibet Darts Masters in Milton Keynes

As BIG darts fans we were really looking forward to being at the major PDC competition and we weren't disappointed by the event. We had tickets for the semi-finals and the final. We saw some brilliant matches, with the Unibet Masters title won by world number one Michael Van Gerwen. We also got to meet darts legend 'The Prince of Style' Rod Harrington.

'Squire' Richard Gottfried playing a game if Inflatable Darts at the Unibet Masters - to win a Unibet 180 t-shirt you had to score 60 or more with three 'darts' (velcro balls)

Before the action got underway we had a wander around the ArenaMK venue and found that the tournament sponsor Unibet had set up an inflatable dart board where you could compete to win a Unibet 180 t-shirt, we couldn't miss that opportunity so stepped up to give it a go.

Channelling the spirit of darts underdog Peter 'Chatterbox' Sajwani I scored 100 with my three darts! Emily also won on the game, scoring treble-20, 20 and 5. Marc didn't play, but was incredibly happy with the Unibet Trucker Cap he got at the player's walk-on area

Links:
- Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)
- Unibet
- ArenaMK
- Peter Sajwani, Darts player (Twitter and Facebook)
- Darts Performance Centre

Related blog posts:
- Darts
- Milton Keynes

A hidden plaque in Woodbridge

On a recent trip to Woodbridge, Suffolk we had a walk along the banks of the River Deben. With our eyes always peeled for interesting things we noticed an old plaque on a shelter.

The wind shelter on the banks of the River Deben in Woodbridge

The old, painted over, plaque on the shelter in Woodbridge

We really enjoyed our visit to Woodbridge. We've been to pubs and restaurants in the town before, but had never had a wander there. We're looking forward to returning again.

Related blog posts:
- Plaque
- Plaques
- Suffolk
- Woodbridge
- Plaque-ing Interesting

Gluten Free Beer and Lager in Whole Foods Market Piccadilly

Five gluten free beers on sale in Whole Foods Market in London.

While recently in the West End I popped into the Piccadilly branch of Whole Foods Market to take a look at the gluten free products available and my eye was taken by the five different gluten free beers, ales and lagers on the shelf in the beer department.

The range of gluten free beers, ales and lagers on sale in Whole Foods Market Piccadilly - Daas Blond, Celia, Mongozo, St Peter's Brewery G-Free and Dark G-Free

Since being diagnosed with Coeliac Disease in 2008 I've tried all five of the gluten free beers (and a lot more besides).

The other fridge in Whole Foods Market contained bottles of Mongozo, Celia and St Peter's Dark G-Free gluten free beer

Having a look on the Mongozo website I noticed the gluten free Mongozo Buckwheat White Beer - one I haven't tried yet.

The Whole Foods Market website lists the New Planet Gluten Free Pale Ale, but I've never seen it in store. The website shows a mix of products that are available in UK and/or US stores.

Check out the links below for more information on the gluten free beers, as well as my blog post about the gluten free beverages I've drunk over the years.

Links:
- Whole Foods Market Piccadilly
- Celia Lager
- Mongozo
- Daas Beer
- St Peter's Brewery

Related blog post:
- Gluten Free Ales, Beers and Lagers

Please Keep Of The Flower Beds

Having read Viz comic for many years I always thought the correct way of saying it was 'Please Keep Off Of'.

Fantasia Adventure Golf in Felixstowe

A visit to the Fantasia Adventure Golf on Sea Road in Felixstowe.

On a recent visit to the seaside resort of Felixstowe, Suffolk we had a stroll along the prom and of course had a look at the 9-hole Fantasia Adventure Golf course on Sea Road.

It was out of season so the course wasn't open

We've played the course a number of times over the years. It was the 7th course we ever played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour way back in November 2006!

The longest second putt in minigolf? I wonder how long the ball has been waiting to be holed out...

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

Gluten free at the Black Tiles Restaurant & Bar

A visit to the Black Tiles Restaurant & Bar in Woodbridge.

Over the years I have provided a number of gluten free food reviews to Travel Gluten Free and the site recently let me know they'd been contacted by the Black Tiles Restaurant & Bar to tell them about their gluten free menu.

We're always searching for new places to visit and often head back to Emily's home town of Ipswich, and Woodbridge is right next to it.

Last weekend we booked a table for a lunch and looked forward to giving the food a try.

There's a lot to choose from on the gluten free menu. I decided to go for one of my favourites, the Slow roast pork belly, bubble & squeak, apple sauce and crackling.

I noticed chips were also on the gluten free menu, and ever vigilant of potential cross-contamination risks, asked how they were cooked. Without hesitation the waitress let me know that they were cooked in a separate fryer to avoid cross-contamination. I ordered a portion as a treat as it's not often I get to eat chips in restaurants.

Gluten free lunch at the Black Tiles Restaurant & Bar in Martlesham, Woodbridge

After a filling meal I wasn't going to have a dessert, but as Emily and her sister Jo both ordered puddings I decided to have an Eton Mess too. And I'm glad I did.

The food and service was very good and the pub was nice. We'd return for another meal.

Check out the Black Tiles Restaurant & Bar website and the gluten free menu.

Related blog posts:
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac

Links:
- Black Tiles Restaurant & Bar
- Travel Gluten Free

Coeliac Awareness Week 2015

This year Coeliac Awareness Week is 11 to 17 May.

Coeliac Awareness Week is taking place from 11 to 17 May. For more information check out the Coeliac UK website and the Awareness Week page over the coming months.

Last year I was Minigolfing gluten free in Margate during Coeliac Awareness Week.

Minigolfer, blogger and (unfortunately) a coeliac. Last year I was playing in a national minigolf tournament at Strokes Adventure Golf course in Margate during Coeliac Awareness Week

Coeliac Disease is a lifelong autoimmune disease caused by intolerance to gluten and the only treatment is to adhere to a strict lifelong gluten free diet.

In the UK it's estimated that 1 in 100 people have the condition.

I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease in May 2008 and have been living on a strict, lifelong gluten free diet ever since

It's important to know and remember that Celiac/Coeliac is NOT an allergy, it's NOT a preference, it's NOT a fad, it's NOT a diet, it's NOT an intolerance, it's NOT a choice - it's an AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE.

Check out the blog posts and links below for more information on Coeliac Disease and Gluten Free.

Related blog posts:
- Celiac Awareness Day 2014
- Coeliac UK Awareness Week 2014 and the Gluten-free guarantee
- Minigolfing gluten free in Margate
- What a Day, Week and Month! (2013)

- Awareness Week: Coeliac Facts from Udi's Gluten Free

- Gluten Free
- Coeliac
- Funny things about being a Coeliac
- Read my Gluten Free Journey blog on the Udi's gluten free website

Links:
- Coeliac UK
- Coeliac Awareness Week 2015
- National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) / Celiac Central

Crazy Golf in Felixstowe

Revisiting the indoor minigolf course at Manning's Amusements in Felixstowe.

We played the indoor Adventure Golf course at Manning's on our last trip to Felixstowe in November 2014 and we always visit the arcade and course when in town.

On our most recent visit to Felixstowe we noticed the sign for Sands Diner has an arrow pointing out the 'Crazy Golf' at Mannings. There are two other minigolf signs at Mannings - one for 'Indoor Adventure Golf' and one for 'Magical Golf'

We were up and about nice and early on our Saturday morning seaside stroll and saw a sight we'd never seen before - the doors to the Golf-FX Magical Golf course were closed!

We didn't have time to play the course this time, but we'll be back again for a round on the tricky layout later this year.

Check out the links and blog posts below for more information on Manning's Amusements and photos of the course from our many visits over the years.

Links:
- Manning's Amusements website
- Manning's Amusements on Twitter
- Manning's Amusements on Facebook

Related blog posts:
- Felixstowe
- Indoor Crazy Golf in Felixstowe
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Indoor Mini, Crazy and Adventure Golf courses
- Indoor Adventure Golf at Mannings Amusements in Felixstowe

Crazy Golf in Broomfield Park, London

A revisit to the Adventure Golf course at Broomfield Park in Palmers Green.

Broomfield Park in Palmers Green, London has an 18-hole Adventure Golf course

On Saturday 17 January we were visiting my cousins in Enfield and popped to Palmers Green for lunch, which opened up the opportunity to have an unexpected look at the Adventure Golf course in Broomfield Park.

Unfortunately the course wasn't open as it was out-of-season

Broomfield Park's 18-hole Adventure Golf course in Palmers Green, London

We first visited Broomfield Park's minigolf course in May 2007, but didn't play it until April 2010.

A view of Broomfield Park's minigolf course in January 2015

The course was the 169th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Check out the blog post from our visit in 2010.

A view of the Adventure Golf course in London's Broomfield Park. There are some really long minigolf holes there!

You can find Broomfield Adventure Golf at Broomfield Park, Aldermans Hill, London N13 4RB. Check out the course website for opening times and prices.

Broomfield Park's Adventure Golf course is normally open at weekends and during school holidays. Weather permitting

The nearest tube stations to the miniature golf course at Broomfield Park are Arnos Grove, Southgate and Bounds Green. The course is only a short walk from Palmers Green Mainline station. It's not a million miles away from Winchmore Hill either.

To date we've visited 589 miniature golf courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and played 355 of them. In and around London we've visited 43 minigolf, crazy golf, adventure golf and grass putting courses, and played 26 of them.

On our visit we had a nice walk around the park. We didn't remember the park having so many ponds, many of which were frozen over on this occasion. It was funny seeing the seagulls slipping and sliding as they came in to land.

One of the frozen ponds at Broomfield Park

Link:
- Broomfield Adventure Golf

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - List and links for all Miniature Golf courses visited to date
- Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses in and around London
- London (Broomfield Park) - Adventure Golf

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

Amusement Arcading in Felixstowe and the one penny pence piece pusher

A potential venue and 'course' for a Tat Challenge tournament in the future.

While on a recent visit to the Suffolk seaside resort of Felixstowe we spotted a rare sight in one of the seafront's amusement arcades - a 1p pusher machine!

It's not often in this day and age that you see a one penny pusher in the arcade. They're normally 2p or 10p machines

Related blog posts:
- Amusement Arcades
- Tat Challenge
- Felixstowe

Dinner time - a gluten free mystery meal

When you're a Coeliac what do you have at dinner (or tea) time?

Udi's gluten free asked on Facebook "Is your evening meal Dinner or Tea where you are? And more importantly....what are you making?"

Well, here in Leagrave (the sunny part of Luton) we call it dinner. When Udi's asked I didn't have a clue what we'd be having, but Emily obliged with the answer "It's turkey meatballs with tomato and basil sauce. All gluten free. Obviously."

And it was very good indeed. Absolutely delicious.

The rustic gluten free turkey meatballs with tomato & basil sauce, served with Gallo gluten free spaghetti 

As someone with Coeliac Disease every day can be a struggle to eat and drink safely. It can also be pretty stressful and annoying, so it's brilliant that Emily cooks up some brilliant gluten & wheat free meals for us to enjoy.

Check out the Facebook thread that started the discussion and have a look at the blog posts and links below for more information on the range of gluten free food from Udi's. They do some really great products.

My current favourite breakfast/brunch/lunch/snack/pudding is an Udi's gluten free Chocolate Chip Bagel, toasted and topped with a sliced banana.

Related blog posts:
- New products from Udi's Gluten Free
- Udi’s Gluten Free – more than just mince pies
- Awareness Week: Coeliac Facts from Udi's Gluten Free
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac
- Emily's cooking

Links:
- Udi's Gluten Free UK
- Udi's Gluten Free UK on Facebook
- Udi's Gluten Free UK on Twitter
- Riso Gallo
- Udi's Gluten Free USA
- Coeliac UK

UK Rock Paper Scissors Championships 2015

The date and venue for the 2015 edition of the UK Rock Paper Scissors Championship have been announced!

This year the popular sporting contest will be taking place on Saturday 21 November at the Green Man Pub in London.

Facing Neil 'Razor' Ruddock in a warm-up match at the International Rock Paper Scissors Championships in 2012

For more information check out the Wacky Nation website and UK Rock Paper Scissors Championships Facebook page.

Emily and I have competed in a number of RPS contests organised by the team at Wacky Nation. Our best performance was in the International Rock Paper Scissors Team Championships in 2012 when, along with two team-mates from the USA, we represented San Marino and finished fourth!

The 'wildcard' team from San Marino at the 2012 International Rock Paper Scissors Championships in London. From l-r Richard Gottfried, Emily Gottfried, Sophie Barry, Dave Barry

Related blog posts:
- Rock Paper Scissors

Links:
- Wacky Nation
- UK Rock Paper Scissors Championships

Indoor Adventure Mini Golf in Swindon

Playing indoor minigolf at The Golfing Hole Adventure Golf course in Swindon.

At The Golfing Hole indoor Adventure Golf course in Swindon

On Sunday 11 January Emily and I visited Swindon, Wiltshire to play our first miniature golf course of the New Year. The location was The Golfing Hole Indoor Adventure Golf course on Mead Way.

Emily playing hole 2 - a big ramp that leads to a spiral

Putting into a machine

Emily putts into one of the factory's machines. This one was really tough

Putting from the back of the green

There's a BIG minigolf loop-di-loop on one of the holes

   

My favourite hole at The Golfing Hole. Though quite what a green 'grass' minigolf layout with sandy bunkers is doing inside a 'factory' I don't know. Very crazy golf! 

The course was the 589th visited and 355th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since 2006. In 2014 we visited 46 courses and played 28 of them.

Emily putts out after playing through a cabin/site office in The Golfing Hole factory

During our match we played through each of the obstacles, rather than taking the easier line and putting around the lumps and bumps of the greens. Some of the holes in the pipes were easier to get the ball into than others, with a few of them causing a lot of frustration. The result of our contest was a draw, with a score of 54 each.

At the first miniature golf course visited in 2015

We've played quite a few indoor mini, crazy and adventure golf courses over the years and always like to see Blacklight / UV minigolf holes. The Golfing Hole has two holes that tick this box.

Hole 13 leads into the blacklight area, while the tee-off point for hole 14 is inside

This hole was really difficult as the gap at the top of the ramp isn't much bigger than the golf ball

Playing out the UV hole

Emily tees-off inside the blacklight room

And putts out in the light of the factory

An 18-hole round of minigolf at The Golfing Hole Indoor Adventure Golf course cost us £7 each. Full price details and opening times can be found on The Golfing Hole Adventure Golf website.

In addition to the Adventure Golf course the indoor venue has a licensed bar, air hockey, pool tables and table football.

The course was built by City Golf, check out their website too.

Related blog posts:
- Indoor Mini, Crazy and Adventure Golf courses
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour overall list
- Mini Golf courses visited in 2014
- Previous blog comment about The Golfing Hole
- A little bit of indoor minigolf in Woking

Links:
- The Golfing Hole Adventure Golf website
- The Golfing Hole on Twitter
- The Golfing Hole on Facebook
- City Golf

Give the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a Like on Facebook, watch our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter. You can also now sign-up to receive our miniature golf newsletter.