Then & Now – Southend Arnold Palmer ‘West’ Course

The 'West' Course at Southend's Arnold Palmer Minigolf is no more.


The 'East' Course still exists and is in good condition.





However, the derelict 'West' course has been in decay for a number of years, and on my last visit in April 2009 all trace of the 18-holes that had once been there were gone.

Below are some of the photos I have taken of the course since I've been competing in Minigolf tournaments in Southend.

March 2007

March 2007

March 2008

November 2008

November 2008

November 2008

Gottfried's Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - 100 Minigolf Courses visited to date!

Mini Golf blog post about the visit to the 100th course on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

While I haven’t been able to play them all, due to closure/dereliction/flooding and visits ‘out of season’, to date I have visited 100 Minigolf courses around the UK, with a few played in Finland and the USA.

Number 100 was the 9-hole Arnold Palmer course at Pops Meadow Putting Green in Gorleston-on-Sea on Sunday 10th May 2009.




Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

All courses played 30th September 2006 - 10th May 2009
1 Portsmouth/Southsea (Treasure Island) - Adventure Golf (Victory Trail)
2 Portsmouth/Southsea (Treasure Island) - Adventure Golf (Warrior Trail)
3 Southsea (Golf Links) - 9 Hole Par 3/Pitch & Putt
4 Luton (Woodside Animal Farm) - Adventure Golf
5 Felixstowe (Mannings) - Golf FX
6 Felixstowe (Sea Front) - Crazy Golf
7 Felixstowe (Fantasia) - Adventure Golf
8 Watford (Top Golf) - Adventure Golf
9 Watford (Top Golf) - 9 Hole Putting Green
10 West Hagbourne, Oxon (Horse & Harrow Pub) - Crazy Golf
11 Shefford, Bedfordshire (The Green Man Pub) - Crazy Golf
12 Brighton (East of Palace Pier) - Crazy Golf
13 Brighton (Peter Pan's) - Adventure Golf
14 Southend-on-Sea (Adventure Island) - Adventure Golf (Inca course)
15 Southend-on-Sea (Adventure Island) - Adventure Golf (Aztec course)
16 Southend-on-Sea (Arnold Palmer Minigolf, East Course) - Minigolf
17 St Albans, Hertfordshire (Verulamium Park) - Crazy Golf
18 Luton (Wardown Park) - Crazy Golf
19 Luton (Wardown Park) - Mini Golf/Pitch & Putt
20 Lowestoft - Adventure Golf
21 Great Yarmouth (Pirates Cove) - Adventure Golf
22 Great Yarmouth (Arnold Palmer) - Minigolf 18 Hole
23 Great Yarmouth (Arnold Palmer) - Minigolf 9 Hole
24 Great Yarmouth (Pleasure Beach) - Adventure Golf
25 Great Yarmouth (Jungle Golf at the Gardens) - Crazy Golf (Update: 10th May 2009 - no longer exists, a Segway Grand Prix track is in its place)
26 Great Yarmouth (Hollywood Adventure Golf, Windmill Theatre) - Indoor Adventure Golf
27 Warwick (St Nicholas Park) - Adventure Golf
28 Warwick (St Nicholas Park) - Derelict Crazy Golf
29 Milton Keynes (Willen Lake) - Adventure Golf
30 Luton (Stockwood Park) - Mini Golf/Pitch & Putt
31 Abingdon (Abbey Meadow) - Crazy Golf
32 Abingdon (Abbey Meadow) - Pitch & Putt
33 Stonham, Suffolk (Stonham Barns) - Crazy Golf
34 Margate (Strokes) - Adventure Golf
35 Broadstairs (Lillyputt Minigolf) - Lillyputt Minigolf (Arnold Palmer)
36 Margate (Palm Bay Café) Cliftonville - Crazy Golf on Grass
37 Margate (Little Oasis Crazy Golf) Cliftonville - Minigolf (Arnold Palmer) 1 of the 2 18-hole courses
38 Letchworth Garden City - Putting Course on Grass
39 Hastings (Seafront) - Crazy Golf
40 Hastings (Seafront) - Minigolf
41 Hastings (Seafront) - Adventure Golf
42 Broxbourne (Paradise Wildlife Park) - Adventure Golf
43 Hastings (Planet Hastings) - Minigolf
44 Blackpool (Pleasure Beach) - Adventure Golf (New)
45 Blackpool (Starr Gate) - Minigolf (Arnold Palmer)
46 Blackpool (Pleasure Beach) - Adventure Golf (Old 'Alpine Golf')
47 Blackpool (Stanley Park) - Crazy Golf
48 Lytham St Anne’s - Crazy Golf
49 Stratford-upon-Avon - Minigolf
50 Tampere, Finland - Beton
51 Tampere, Finland - Eternit
52 Tampere, Finland - Swedish Felt
53 Felixstowe (Sea Front) - Putting Green
54 Coalville - Adventure Golf
55 Scarborough - Adventure Golf
56 Filey - Crazy Golf
57 Birmingham (Star City) - Adventure Golf (Lost Hut Trail)
58 Birmingham (Star City) - Adventure Golf (Hidden Cove Challenge)
59 Northwick Park - ‘Mini Majors’ Adventure Golf
60 Eastbourne (Treasure Island) - Adventure Golf
61 Southsea - Crazy Golf
62 Southsea - Putting Green
63 Shanklin (Isle of Wight) - Beton Crazy Golf
64 Shanklin (Isle of Wight) - Adventure Golf
65 Rylstone Gardens (Isle of Wight) - Crazy Golf
66 Sandown (Isle of Wight) - Indoor Adventure Golf
67 Sandown (Isle of Wight) - Beton Crazy Golf
68 Ryde (Isle of Wight) - Adventure Golf
69 Hayling Island - Adventure Golf
70 Wroxham Barns - Adventure Golf
71 Bury St Edmunds (Abbey Gardens) - Crazy Golf
72 Dorridge (Four Ashes Golf Centre) - Minigolf
73 Coventry (Allesley Park) - Crazy Golf
74 New Malden - Jurassic Golf
75 Guildford (Stoke Park) - Swedish Felt
76 Weymouth (Sea Life Centre) - Adventure Golf
77 Weymouth (Bowleaze Cove) - Crazy Golf
78 Herne Bay - Adventure Golf
79 Gravesend, Woodlands Park - Derelict Crazy Golf
80 Bluewater - Pro Tour Putting
81 Motspur Park, Sir Joseph Hood Park - Mini Golf
82 Northglenn, Denver, Colorado, USA, Boondocks Fun Center, Caverns Mill Course - Miniature Golf
83 Northglenn, Denver, Colorado, USA, Boondocks Fun Center, Hillbilly Hallow Course - Miniature Golf
84 Manchester - Championship MiniatureGolf @ Playgolf Manchester - Miniature Golf
85 Manchester - Paradise Island Adventure Golf (Tiki Hut Trail) - Adventure Golf
86 Manchester - Paradise Island Adventure Golf (Temple Ruins Adventure) - Adventure Golf
87 Canvey Island - Fantasy Island Minigolf
88 Hemsby - Lost World Adventure Golf

Courses visited but not played* 30th September 2006 - 10th May 2009
1 Southend-on-Sea (Arnold Palmer Minigolf, West Course) - Derelict Minigolf (Update: 25th April 2009 - now demolished)
2 Alton Towers - Extraordinary Golf
3 Lowestoft - Putting Green
4 Lytham St Anne’s - Crazy Golf #2
5 Weymouth - Putting Green
6 Guildford Lido - Minigolf
7 Margate (Little Oasis Crazy Golf) Cliftonville - Minigolf (Arnold Palmer) the 2nd 18-hole course
8 Oxford (Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park) - Swedish Felt
9 Oxford (Bury Knowle Park) - Swedish Felt
10 Oxford (Florence Park) - Swedish Felt
11 Hemsby - Stonehenge BIG Mini Golf
12 Gorleston-on-Sea - Minigolf (Arnold Palmer)

* Due to closure, flooding or dereliction

100 Courses visited to date!

Related blog posts:
- List of courses visited and played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - course re-visit and played course #173 - Gorleston-on-Sea

Grazy Golf!?

The Indoor Adventure Golf Course at the Windmill Theatre in Great Yarmouth is advertising a type of Minigolf I have not seen before – Grazy Golf!?





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

Arm Champs II – the rematch

Back in February 2007 I fought and lost (in controversial circumstances) against the Arcade machine Arm Champs II in Great Yarmouth. In May 2009 I returned for a rematch and this time lost in match one!




See the original match video here:
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/search?q=arm+champs

From Safari Golf to Segway Grand Prix!

On a trip to Great Yarmouth I found that the Jungle Golf at the Pleasure Beach Gardens is no more - it's now a Segway Grand Prix track! The second course with the jeep is still there though.

Then (June 2007)

Now (May 2009)

Related blog post:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Link:
- Pleasure Beach Gardens website

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

Minigolf Report – BMGA English Open

12th May 2009
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report – BMGA English Open

On Sunday 10th May Luton Minigolfers Richard and Emily Gottfried travelled to Hoveton in Norfolk to compete in a field of 37 players in the BMGA English Open. The competition was played over 54-holes at the 18-hole Adventure Golf course at Wroxham Barns.

Richard finished in 16th place after rounds of 39 (+3), 38 (+2) and 40 (+4) for a total of 117 (+9), including five holes-in-one.

Emily Gottfried finished in 28th spot after rounds of 43 (+7), 46 (+10) and 38 (+2) for a total of 127(+19), including four holes-in-one.

The tournament was won by Nick Chitty with a total of 95 (-13). Nick also broke the course record with a round of 29 (-7), beating the previous record which was 34 (-2) and set by Richard in August last year.

Richard said “Last year I was 4th in the English Open so I was hoping for a good finish this year but it just wasn’t to be. I started the day with a four on a hole I should have Aced and didn’t play my best after that. It wasn’t my worst performance, but it was far from my best”

Ends

Another closed course – Stonehenge, Hemsby

While in Hemsby I was unable to play on the Stonehenge BIG Mini Golf course as it wasn't open.

12-holes in-between ‘Stonehenge’ type rocks. I will play there on my return to Hemsby.

Minigolf Course Visit Number 88 – The Lost World, Hemsby

The latest course to be visited and played on our UK tour was the Lost World Adventure Golf Course in Hemsby, Norfolk.

A great little 9-hole course with plenty of tough obstacles and some excellent theming!








One round played, with Emily scoring a 30 (+12) and me a 26 (+8).

Visit the Lost World Adventure Golf course website.

More from the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Bowlingo at Sea Palling

Touring the Norfolk coastline we found the tiny seaside resort of Sea Palling. The Beach Road amusement arcade was home to a great Bowlingo alley.

Roys Roys Roys of Wroxham

While in Wroxham (the capital of the Norfolk Broads) for the BMGA English Open we explored the town of Wroxham and the many shops owned by Roy!

Some of Roy’s shops in Wroxham include:
Roys of Wroxham, Roys Department Store, Roys DIY, Roys Garden Centre, Roys Toys, RoyZone Clothes, Roys Children's World.








See www.roys.co.uk

Tampere Reunion Classic

Prior to the main BMGA English Open competition at the 18-hole Minigolf course at Wroxham Barns last Sunday, Richard & Emily both played in the Tampere Reunion Classic tournament on Saturday 9th May, against fellow members of the Great Britain Team who competed in Finland last May. In the one-round competition Richard came out on top with a 42 (+6), with Sean Homer in 2nd with 45 (+9) and Steve Gow 3rd with 46 (+10). Marion Homer was 4th with a 48 (+12). Emily was 5th with 53 (+17).

Tampere Reunion Classic
Wroxham Barns, Norfolk.
09/05/09

Rank Player Score Aces
1 Richard Gottfried 42 0
2 Sean Homer 45 1
3 Steve Gow 46 2
4 Marion Homer 48 0
5 Emily Gottfried 53 2

Aces Play-Off - Emily beat Steve

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 and so far this season the following tournament reports have appeared in the Luton News and Dunstable Gazette.

"Gottfried has room for improvement"
www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut/Gottfried-has-room-for-improvement.4900054.jp

"Gottfrieds back in action"
www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut/Gottfrieds-back-in-action.5107137.jp

"Golfing Richard dreams of flight."
See the e-version of the Herald & Post at http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/

"Gottfried triumphs at the Manchester Mini Masters"
www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut/Gottfried-triumphs-at-the-Manchester.5171011.jp

"Gottfried wins through in the British Matchplay"
www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut/Gottfried-wins-through-in-the.5216269.jp

Ham & Egger Files and "Pirate thrill for tee"

An article in the Blackpool Gazette about a planned new Crazy Golf course in Blackpool, entitled “Pirate thrill for tee” and published on the 25th March 2009, gives a very good mention to the Ham & Egger Files website and my travels around the UK’s best (and worst) Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses.

The full story can be viewed on the Blackpool Gazette website here: http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/daily-feature/Pirate-thrill-for-tee.5106807.jp

A year ago in Minigolf...

A year ago this weekend, Emily and I were in Tampere, Finland having been selected to be members of the Great Britain Minigolf Sport team that competed in the 2008 WMF Nations Cup.


The Great Britain Minigolf teams finished the tournament in 12th & 13th places.


In the individual rankings Richard finished in 51st place and Emily in 53rd.



The whole experiencing of representing my country and playing minigolf on the tough Tampere, Finland courses has definitely improved my playing skills - I've since become a BMGA British Club Champion, Weymouth Open Champion and holder of the Manchester Mini Masters title!


Back in May 2008 I was ranked 25th in the BMGA Order of Merit Rankings and at present I am ranked 17th in Great Britain.

This year the Great Britain Minigolf Sport team will be going to Odense in Denmark for the World Minigolf Championships.

Full details, results and statistics from the WMF Nations Cup 2008 can be found here.


Photos from Nations Cup 2008.

My original Nations Cup 2008 Blog Post can be found at the following link:
http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2008/05/nations-cup-tampere-finland.html