Water Wars at Thorpe Park - Gottfried vs. Gow

The Richard Gottfried vs. Steve Gow (obscure) sports 'war' continued at Thorpe Park on Sunday.

Stepping outside the normal arenas of Minigolf, Rock Paper Scissors, Crazy Air Squash and Shooting Shacks - we faced off in a Water Balloon War!

I lost.

A great, fun 'sport' to play though - especially the ending!

Shooting Shacks at Thorpe Park

On Sunday 26th July we visited Thorpe Park for fellow Minigolfer Steve Gow's half-birthday - and while we were there we had to play the Shooting Shacks.

This one was quite good.

However, this one was the second sh*ttest shooting shack I have ever played. Even though it was one of the best themed ones (a classic with Old Zeke Kicking the Bucket) barely any of the targets worked and those that did didn't fire any water.

A poor effort.

Minigolf Course Visit No. 116 - Walton Hall Gardens (2)

Walton Hall Gardens was also home to an excellent 18-hole Putting Green.




I scored a 38(+2) which included three holes-in-one. A new Putting Green personal best!

Minigolf Course Visit No. 115 - Walton Hall Gardens

After drawing a blank on the previous two park visits in Manchester and Warrington we sort of struck Minigolfing Gold at Walton Hall Gardens, just outside Warrington.

First up was the 18-hole felted Eternit course (with added 'Crazy' obstacles).






Not a bad course, but it would be far better with just the original obstacles.

From a Minigolf Course to Flower Beds...

...the Minigolf course in Orford Park, Warrington no longer exists.

No Crazy Golf course in Heaton Park anymore

Following the Gottfrieds and the Johnsons trip to Wythenshawe Park we headed to Heaton Park to find the Crazy Golf course there. However, this course was long gone!

There was a Pitch & Putt though.

We didn't play it.

'Old School' Joke on the Minigolf Course

Minigolf Doubles - Career Stats

Minigolf Course Visit No. 114 - Wythenshawe Park

Following the Manchester Miniature Open, Emily and I were joined by two fellow Crazy Golf Course Tourists and Enthusiasts Paul and Owen Johnson in a visit to Wythenshawe Park in Manchester.






The Gottfrieds also took on the Johnsons in 9-hole Strokeplay and Matchplay Doubles Matches, with one win for each team. Full Doubles record and scores follow.

A 'new' golfing definition of 'ham and egger'

Golf course architects Forrest Richardson & Associates have a list of Golf Course Terms on their website at http://www.golfgroupltd.com/golf_course_terms.html

Under 'h' they list the term 'ham and egger' as "...a feature or golf course that is very common in nature."

A list of other definitions and an introduction to The Ham and Egger Files can be found on my first blog post from 21st December 2006 here http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2006/12/ham-egger-files-introduction.html

Minigolf Report – Gottfrieds finish first and second in the Manchester Miniature Open tournament

26th July 2009
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report – Gottfrieds finish first and second in the Manchester Miniature Open tournament

Luton minigolfers Richard & Emily Gottfried finished first and second in the Manchester Miniature Open tournament at the 9-hole Championship MiniatureGolf course at Playgolf Manchester on Saturday 25th July.

The second ‘Mini Major’ competition of the year was played over 27-holes, and in a field of twelve players Richard won with a three round total of 87(-18) after scoring rounds of 27, 31 and 29.

After tying for second place with scores of 90(-15), Emily and Birmingham’s Paul Johnson played a four-hole cumulative score play-off to decide second and third place. Emily was able to score a total of 11, while Johnson hit 15, giving Emily her highest minigolf tournament finish to date.

Richard Gottfried said “I am so happy to have won my second Mini Major minigolf title. I seem to play really well on the tough greens in Manchester. It’s so difficult to ace any holes here that a two is worth its weight in gold. The final round was very tense, as going into it I was only two shots ahead of Emily and Nick Ashfield. Emily did very well to get second place.”

Emily said “It was a really great tournament, and at one point I thought I might win it as I was playing really well, but Rich played better and definitely deserved to win.”

The Manchester Miniature Open is Richard’s fifth tournament win since his British Minigolf Association debut in April 2007; he is also the Manchester Mini Masters Champion, Weymouth Open Champion, Adventure Island/Heart FM Open Champion, and one-quarter of the reigning BMGA British Club Champions.

Richard is currently ranked 19th of 81 players in the BMGA Order of Merit Rankings, while Emily is in 44th place.

Ends

Richard Gottfried wins the Manchester Miniature Open minigolf tourney...

...Emily Gottfried second after a four-hole cumulative score play-off victory over Birmingham's Paul Johnson.

Full results to follow.

Practice at Tea Green Crazy Golf

This evening I had nine practice rounds at Tea Green's Crazy Golf course and scored rounds of 15, 17, 21, 20, 18, 16, 17, 17 and 19. The round of 15(-3) included three aces and six twos and was an equal to my course record, and my lowest score on the 'new' course since it was semi-refurbished.




Hole 3 has changed for a second time with the obstacle switching positions and now has the ramp to the left hand side (below).


Speaking with Tea Green Golf's manager Lester Coles the Crazy Golf competition scheduled for Friday 17th July was postponed due to the torrential rain that fell, flooding the course.

Tea Green Crazy Golf Course 'Then' & 'Now'

When I first visited Tea Green's Crazy Golf course on the 1st July a couple of the holes were in need of some refurbishment, and I am happy to say that they have now been improved.

Hole 3 - 1st July

Hole 3 - 16th July

Hole 8 - 1st July

Hole 8 - 16th July

More improvements are planned for the course over the summer and I look forward to returning again soon to try and better my PB and Course Record of 15(-3).

Tea Green Crazy Golf Course Record and Competition

The course record for the Crazy Golf course at Tea Green, near Luton, that I set on my visit on the 1st July has now been equalled by Course Manager Lester Coles who managed to hit a 15(-3) earlier today.

The course is holding a knockout minigolf tournament for new players tomorrow (17th July) and are advertising this (and the course record) outside the clubhouse.




The Crazy Golf course has also been improved a lot over the last few weeks, with new obstacles on the third and the eighth holes, and with other holes re-concreted and freshly painted.

More details, and 'then' & 'now' photos to follow.

Minigolf Course Visit No. 113 - Putting Green at Tea Green

Thursday 16th July saw me play on my 113th course on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour when I teed-off on Tea Green's Putting Green.





In the game I managed a 21(+3), which included an Ace on the 3rd hole.