The Joy of the Amusement Arcade - Crazy Air Squash in Hastings

Back in October 2008 Minigolfers Richard Gottfried and Steve Gow battled it out in a game of Crazy Air Squash at The Deluxe Amusement Arcade in Hastings, East Sussex, which in turn was a kind-of-rematch from their original Air Hockey battle at Wroxham Barns, Norfolk.

With the previous matches being a draw and one win to Steve, the battle to become the UK (and arguably the world's) number one Air Hockey & Variants Champion drew the attention of two new challengers (and fellow Minigolfers) - Scott Lancley and Kevin Moseley.

In a new format, the four would battle it out at the Family Amusements on Hastings' Sea Front following the first day's play in the BMGA British Championships.

In the first match reigning and defending Crazy Air Squash Champion Steve Gow beat Richard Gottfried 8-4.

In the other first round match Scott Lancley beat Kevin Moseley 5-3 to take him through to the final.

Both matches saw plenty of off 'field' action with the puck being lost at least five times.

In the final, Steve Gow lost his crown to newcomer Scott Lancley in an exciting, high scoring and very close match, with the final score standing at 8-7.

In the 3rd/4th place play-off match Kevin Moseley beat Richard Gottfried 5-4.

Rankings
1. Scott Lancley
2. Steve Gow
3. Kevin Moseley
4. Richard Gottfried

Photos from the event:

Steve Gow and Richard Gottfried ahead of their Crazy Air Squash match.

Heads of Tails - pre-match coin toss to see who hits the puck first.

Scott Lancley and Kevin Moseley battle it out in their first round encounter.


Richard Gottfried and Kevin Moseley following their 3rd/4th place play-off match.

The final score in the final between defending Crazy Air Squash Champion Steve Gow and new challenger Scott Lancley.
Scott Lancley receives the 'prestigious' trophy.


Following the four-player tournament, play took place at the original Crazy Air Squash table in The Deluxe Amusement Arcade as the originators of the sport battled to find out the winner in the ongoing Gow/Gottfried competition.

In a high scoring and 103 second time-limited match it was Gottfried who took the win 9-5. Gow/Gottfried Air Hockey Competition Results to date: Wroxham Barns (Aug 08) - Draw Hastings (Oct 08) - SG Win Hastings (July 09) - RG Win

Minigolf Players Tackle Tea Green's Big Golf

BMGA Minigolfers 'Squire' Richard Gottfried and Jon 'The Stance' Angel competed in a round of 'Big' Golf at the Par-3 course at Tea Green, near Luton on Saturday 11th July.

Below: Jon 'El Pato' Angel and 'Hot Streak' Richard Gottfried adopt new nicknames for their round of golf.

Richard & Jon head to their respective bunkers for their second shots on the sixth hole!

'Hot Streak' Richard Gottfried beat Jon 'El Pato' Angel by one-shot with the same total he hit on his first visit, a 48(+19).

After the Big Golf came a round of Minigolf on the centre's Crazy Golf course.

With four holes currently being refurbished, holes 1, 2, 5 and 6 were replayed as the back four.

Jon 'The Stance' Angel beat 'Squire' Richard Gottfried 17(-1) to 21(+3).

The Tea Green Crazy Golf course record of 15(-3) set on the 1st July 2009 and held by Richard remains.

Photo published in Living Locally Magazine, July 2009

A photo of mine featuring a Duck and her chicks in Wardown Park, Luton has appeared in the July 2009 edition of Living Locally Magazine.

You can read the magazine here. The photo is on page 27.

Gottfried Minigolf Reports in the Luton News

Following my recent participation in the Midland Open, BMGA British Matchplay Championships and BMGA British Championships the following Minigolf Sports Reports have been in the Luton News:

"Tenth place for Gottfried"
www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut/Tenth-place-for-Gottfried.5417434.jp

"Disappointing weekend for minigolfer Gottfried"
www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut/Disappointing-weekend-for-minigolfer-Gottfried.5435610.jp

New Tenpin Bowling Personal Best

At Namco Station Luton yesterday (8th July) I hit my all-time personal best Tenpin Bowling score with a 179 (including 5 Strikes, a Turkey and 3 Spares).

My previous PB was in Denver Colorado in March, details here.

Minigolf Report – British Championships & British Matchplay Championships 2009

6th July 2009
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report – British Championships & British Matchplay Championships 2009

Luton Minigolfer Richard Gottfried competed in two minigolf tournaments in Hastings, East Sussex over the weekend.

First up was his second-round match in the BMGA British Matchplay Championships against British number seven, and Planet Hastings Club Co-Captain, Ted McIver. Played on the Sea Front Crazy Golf course on Friday 3rd July, Richard lost by one-hole after fighting back from being four-down after seven holes. His holes-in-one on the 16th and 17th holes were not quite enough to force a play-off.

On Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th July Richard competed in the 2009 BMGA British Championships played on the 18-hole Sea Front Minigolf course. Played over 126-holes Richard entered rounds of 39, 43, 39, 45, 39, 37 and 41 to finish with a total of 283(+31) and be ranked 25th of 31 players. The winner was Keith Kellard from Bishop’s Stortford, with a seven-round total of 241(-11).

Kellard’s winning average score per hole was 1.91 shots, with Richard hitting an average of 2.24 shots per hole.

Richard said “I must admit I’m disappointed in both being knocked out of the matchplays and my finish in the British Championships. But to lose to Ted in the second round by only one-hole after a fightback from four-down wasn’t too bad, nor were many of my shots in the British Championships. So many of them were nearly Aces and over the course of the tournament I had 95 twos and so many shots that were so close to going in. Although I must have set a new BMGA Tour record after going 78 holes without a hole-in-one, but I managed to knock a few in on the Sunday.”

Ends

Video - Richard Gottfried attempts some practice ahead of the BMGA British Championships with an audience of Seagulls.

BMGA British Matchplay Championships 2009 - Round Two Match

BMGA British Matchplay Championships 2009 - Round Two Match

The draw for the second round of the 2009 BMGA British Matchplay Championships saw 'Squire' Richard Gottfried play John 'Big Top Ted' McIver, of the Planet Hastings Crazy Golf Club.

The full second round draw was as follows:
1. Anthony Pope vs Rocky Bullin
2. Andy Exall vs Matthew Harding
3. Trevor Robertson vs Brad Shepherd
4. Chris Harding vs Chris Jones
5. Gareth Holmes vs Seve Kukielka
6. Peter Emmerson vs Terry Exall
7. Tim Davies vs John Moore
8. Richard Gottfried vs Ted McIver

The match took place on Friday 3rd July 2009 at the Sea Front Crazy Golf course in Hastings, East Sussex.

'Squire' Richard Gottfried and John 'Big Top Ted' McIver in Hastings

Referee - John 'YI' Moore
Photographer - Emily 'Coach' Gottfried

'Squire' Richard Gottfried gives a pre-match interview



Coin Toss:
'Squire' Richard Gottfried calls Heads
John 'Big Top Ted' McIver wins with tails

'Squire' Richard Gottfried to tee-off first.


Match Scorecard:


John 'Big Top Ted' McIver wins 1up.

Minigolf Course Visit No. 112 - Metropole, Bexhill on Sea

On the 3rd July I visited my 112th Minigolf course - the 12-hole Crazy Golf in Bexhill on Sea.







Related blog post:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Tea Green's Big Golf

Following our visit to Tea Green Golf Club to play the Crazy Golf we returned to play the Par-3 course on the 2nd July.











Not the lowest scoring rounds ever!

I shot a 48(+19), Christopher a 59(+30) and Emily a 60(+31).

Minigolf Course Visit No. 111 - Tea Green, Luton!

On Wednesday 1st July we made a visit to our 111th Minigolf course on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, and of all places it was a course right on our doorstep in Luton!

The 9-hole Crazy Golf course at Tea Green Golf Club at Wandon End, near Luton, was spotted in an advert that appeared alongside the feature on Golf & Minigolf in the July 2009 issue of Luton at Large magazine (see here).

The course is currently being refurbished but was still playable on our visit, with three holes needing to have felt relaid.

Below is a video of a practice round I had.




The course owner and Club Pro were very friendly and welcoming and I had a match against each of them, winning 19(+1) to 21(+3) & 15(-3) to 21(+3) respectively.





All in all a good little course that is looking to be improved. I'm looking forward to my next visit.

"Minigolf Grows Bigger" - Richard & Emily Gottfried feature in Luton & Dunstable at Large

Luton Minigolfers Richard & Emily Gottfried feature in the July 2009 Issue of Luton & Dunstable at Large magazine in a story called "Minigolf Grows Bigger".

You can view the story here

Richard Gottfried - BMGA Tour Majors - Record of Results

Record of career finishes in BMGA Tour 'Majors' for Richard Gottfried since his debut on the BMGA Tour in 2007.



Official BMGA Tour Majors include the:
- BMGA British Championships
- BMGA British Open
- Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships

The BMGA British Masters is not yet considered to be a Major tournament due to its one day format. The three Official Majors comprise at least six rounds held over two days.

Richard Gottfried - BMGA Tour Record of Results

Record of Official BMGA Tour Finishes for Richard Gottfried since his BMGA Tour Debut at the BMGA British Masters on 28th April 2007.

Minigolf Report – Midland Open 2009

1st July 2009
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report – Midland Open 2009

Luton Minigolfer Richard Gottfried competed in the Midland Open at Stratford upon Avon’s Recreation Ground minigolf course on Sunday 28th June.

With rounds of 39 (+3), 36 (Par) and 37 (+1) in the 54-hole competition, Richard finished in 10th place in the 20-strong field with a total score of 112 (+4). The tournament was won by Newcastle’s John Moore with a score of 93 (-15) which included a new course record of 29 (-7).

Richard said “I’m pleased to have got another top ten finish on the BMGA Tour. I am always happy to play at the excellent course in Stratford, unfortunately I haven’t hit enough holes-in-one there to rank higher in the two events held there this year.”

With seven events of the 2009 season played so far, Richard has achieved one win and three other top ten finishes and is currently ranked 18th of 80 players in the BMGA Order of Merit with a total of 1,475 points.

Ends


Round 3 Playing Group from l-r - Richard Gottfried, Phil Exall, Anthony Pope

Latest BMGA Tour Rankings - Richard & Emily Gottfried

Following the recent BMGA British Doubles Championship in Boscombe the latest BMGA Order of Merit Rankings have been published and I am now ranked 18th of 80 players with 1,475 points.

Emily is ranked 43rd with 201 points.

The full ranking list can be found at:
http://www.minigolf.org.uk/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=137%3Aofficial-player-rankings-updated-following-the-doubles-tournament&catid=34%3Arankings&Itemid=60

Gottfried’s 2009 Tour in the Luton News

The Luton News has been a great supporter of me and Emily’s Mini and Crazy Golf Career.

The latest tournament reports to appear in the Luton News and Dunstable Gazette have been:

"Disappointing English Open finish for Gottfried"
http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut/Disappointing-English-Open-finish-for.5257989.jp

"Ninth place for Gottfried"
www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut/Ninth-place-for-Gottfried.5374035.jp

From the archives

Minigolf & Crazy Golf Rankings

Minigolf & Crazy Golf Rankings for Richard & Emily Gottfried as at 16th June 2009.

Richard Gottfried
2008-2009 BMGA Order of Merit Ranking – 17th of 70 Players*
2009 BMGA Season Only Ranking – 27th of 71 Players**
2007-2008 BMGA Order of Merit Ranking – 14th of 68 Players
2008 BMGA Season Only Ranking – 8th of 129 Players
2008 WMF World Minigolf Ranking – 425th of 433 Places (443 Players)***
2003-2008 Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Ranking - 45th of 217 Places ****
2008 Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships – 17th of 68 Players*****
2008 AIMG League Ranking – 2nd of 8 Players******

Emily Gottfried
2008-2009 BMGA Order of Merit Ranking – 43rd of 70 Players
2009 BMGA Season Only Ranking – 57th of 71 Players
2007-2008 BMGA Order of Merit Ranking – 46th of 68 Players
2008 BMGA Season Only Ranking – 29th of 129 Places
2008 WMF World Minigolf Ranking – 115th of 120 Places (129 Players)
2003-2008 Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Ranking - 82nd of 217 Places
2008 Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships – 43rd of 68 Players
2008 Castle Golf Women’s World Crazy Golf Championships – 3rd of 9 Players

Notes on the Rankings Systems:
* The BMGA Order of Merit Ranking System is calculated by adding a player’s top four scores of the current season to the top two scores from the previous season. BMGA competitions are played on Minigolf Open Standard (MOS) courses.
** The BMGA Season Only League Table Ranking System began on 16/03/2008 following the first event of the 2008 Tour (the PHCGC Open). These rankings are separate to the official BMGA Order of Merit Rankings and are based only on the current season’s results. Points are scored only in official BMGA events and will not be carried forward to the next year. Points are awarded in multiples of 5, starting at 10, up to the second placed player when the difference to the winner will be 10.
*** The WMF World Minigolf Rankings are those of the World Minigolfsport Federation and are published twice annually. Competitions that earn WMF Ranking Points are predominantly played on Eternit, Beton and Swedish Felt Courses.
**** The Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Rankings contain ranking details for the 217 players who have competed in the Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships, held in Hastings, between 2003 and 2008.
***** The 2008 Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships Rankings are based on the annual World Crazy Golf Championships that take place in Hastings, rules dictate that all players must use only one type of ball for play (Minigolf tournaments allow players to choose from a number of different balls of varying properties). In 2008 a Women’s Championship was introduced and competed for in parallel with the main tournament.
****** The AIMG League Ranking is based upon weekly competition in 2008 at the Adventure Island Mini Golf Courses at Star City, Birmingham.

Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Rankings 2003-2008

Miniaturegolfer.com has published a new Ranking List - the Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Rankings.

The list contains ranking details for the 217 players who have competed in the Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships, held in Hastings, between 2003 and 2008.

I am currently ranked 45th of 217 with 87.1 ranking points from my two appearances in 2007 and 2008.

Emily is currently ranked 82nd of 217 with 47.6 points from her two appearances in 2007 and 2008.

The full ranking list can be seen at: http://www.miniaturegolfer.com/castle_golf_world_crazy_golf_rankings.html

In the 2008 Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships Richard finished in 17th place of 68 players and Emily was 43rd. Emily was also ranked in 3rd place in the 2008 Castle Golf Women's World Crazy Golf Championship.

Minigolf Doubles - Career Win/Loss Record - 15/06/09

Career Win/Loss Record (Matchplay & Strokeplay)
Played - 22
Won - 11
Drawn - 2
Lost - 9

Minigolf Report – BMGA British Doubles Championship

15th June 2009
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report – BMGA British Doubles Championship

Luton Minigolfer Richard Gottfried competed in the BMGA British Doubles Championship at the 18-hole Minigolf course at Boscombe Chine Gardens, Dorset on Sunday 14th June. With regular doubles partner Emily Gottfried currently unable to compete due to injury Richard teamed up with Bath’s Kevin Moseley.

The tournament was played in a matchplay format over 9, 12 and 18-holes and was split into two stages, with a round robin group stage followed by knockout play-offs for positions 1-8 and 9-17.

In the group stage Richard and Kevin picked up one win, one draw and one loss for a total of four points. This was not enough to see them qualify for the 1-8 place play-offs, so the best finish available would be 9th place of 17 teams. In the knockout matches they achieved three straight wins to top the second division after victories against Adrian Jukes & Katherine Marsh (2&1), Simon Locksley & Alan Marsh (3&2), and Brad Shepherd & Chris Jones (one-up after two extra-holes).

Richard said “After the disappointment of finishing third in our group Kevin and I knew we had to play well to win the second division of play-offs and we really did pick up our game. At the end of the tournament we had a record of four wins, a draw and only one loss, so it’s a shame to have only finished 9th, but we didn’t win enough in the round robins so it was the best we could hope to achieve in the end.”

Ends

Photos from the 2009 BMGA British Doubles Championship.

Putting practice.



Hole 5 - Toadstools.



Wishing for a bit of luck before the tournament.



Team 'Squire Trelawney' - Richard Gottfried & Kevin Moseley.

Minigolf Course Visit No. 110 - Tudor Rose Inn, Fordingbridge

Following a tip-off from my Minigolf Doubles Team Mate, Kevin Moseley, we made a short detour on the journey back from Boscombe to the Tudor Rose Inn, Fordingbridge which is home to a good little 9-hole Miniature Golf course.





I scored a 21(+3) and Emily hit a 22(+4).

Minigolf Course Visit No. 109 - Southbourne / Fisherman's Walk

On Sunday 14th June 2009 we played quite possibly one of the worst Crazy Golf courses in the country - Southbourne / Fisherman's Walk, near Boscombe. The setting was good and the ideas were OK but the course played worse than many derelicts I have played.

The course also charged the strangest price for a round of Crazy Golf - £2.05 a round!?

Minigolf Course Visit No. 108 - Boscombe Chine Gardens

The 108th course visit on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour was to the home of the 2009 BMGA British Doubles Championship - the 18-hole minigolf course at Boscombe Chine Gardens.