Minigolf Report – BMGA British Club Championships Weekend

5th October 2009
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report – BMGA British Club Championships Weekend

Luton Minigolfer Richard Gottfried competed in two minigolf tournaments at the 18-hole Crazy Golf course in Sandbanks, Dorset over the weekend.

First up on Saturday 3rd October was the intra-team Scrap Iron Cup competition played between members of the Midlands Minigolf Club and using a two-round mixed strokeplay and matchplay format. Richard won the Cup after making the cut with a score of 27(+3) to tie with Paul Johnson in the 12-hole qualifying round, and then defeating Paul one-up in the 12-hole matchplay final.

In the BMGA British Club Championships on Sunday 4th October Richard and his three team-mates were not so fortunate and ended the tournament in seventh place of eight teams in the matchplay tournament. Last year in Stratford-upon-Avon Richard was a member of the winning team that went undefeated, but this year the Midland A Team, with Richard as Captain, could only manage two wins, a draw and four losses from their seven matches.

Richard and his team defeated Planet Hastings Crazy Golf Club A Team 2&1 in their first match, and went on to beat the Sandbanks Team 3&2. Their draw came against the Kent Minigolf Club, while they suffered defeats to the Midlands B Team, Planet Hastings B Team and the eventual winners from the London Minigolf Club.

Richard said “It’s disappointing not to be able to retain the British Club Championships title, but all credit to the London Team and also to our B Team that played really well and gave us a beating. From an individual point of view I am very pleased to have come out on top in the Club’s Scrap Iron Cup. It was a close run tournament with Paul Johnson pushing all the way until I won it at the last hole.”


Photo of the Midlands Minigolf Club.
Back row from l-r Cindy Kukielka, Leo Kukielka, Seve Kukielka, Jas Kukielka, Emily Gottfried (Coach).
Front row from l-r Kevin Moseley, Owen Johnson, Richard Gottfried (Captain), Paul Johnson.

Ends

Richard Gottfried wins the Johnson's Scrap Iron Cup in Sandbanks

On Saturday 3rd October Richard Gottfried won the intra-team Johnson's Scrap Iron Cup competition played between members of the Midlands Minigolf Club.

The tournament used a two-round mixed strokeplay and matchplay format and Richard won the Cup after making the cut with a score of 27(+3) to tie with Paul Johnson in the 12-hole qualifying round, and then defeating Paul one-up in the 12-hole matchplay final. Leo Kukielka was third with a score of 29(+5).

Full details and results are below:

Johnson's Scrap Iron Cup
Sandbanks, Poole 03/10/2009
Venue: Sandbanks Crazy Golf course

Round One - Strokeplay
Rank Player Score
1 Richard Gottfried 27
1 Paul Johnson 27
3 Leo Kukielka 29
4 Jas Kukielka 31
5 Owen Johnson 33
5 Cindy Kukielka 33
7 Seve Kukielka DNS

Round Two - Matchplay

Richard Gottfried vs. Paul Johnson

Richard Gottfried wins one-up

Final Rankings
Rank Player
1 Richard Gottfried
2 Paul Johnson
3 Leo Kukielka
4 Jas Kukielka
5 Owen Johnson
5 Cindy Kukielka
7 Seve Kukielka

Rules of the Johnson's Scrap Iron Cup
Played between members of the Midlands Minigolf Club
Played in groups of two in round one
Groups are drawn at random using the 'balls in a hat' technique
Round one is a strokeplay match played over 9, 12 or 18 holes
The two players with the top scores after round one qualify for the second round/final
Round two is a matchplay match played over 9, 12 or 18 holes
The winner of the matchplay match becomes the Scrap Iron Cup* Champion**

* The Scrap Iron Cup (aka the 'NABBA ENGLAND 95 CLASS TWO WINNER' Trophy) remains the property of Owen and Paul Johnson
** The Reigning Scrap Iron Champion retains the cup until the next defence whereupon it is given up until the next Scrap Iron Cup tournament has been completed







Post-Scrap Iron Cup minigolf tournament interview with Richard Gottfried.

Minigolf Course Visit No. 154 - Poole Park, Putting Green

Minigolf course visit number 154 on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour was to the 18-hole Putting Green at Poole Park.



Playing the 11th hole at Poole Park's Putting Green.

Minigolf Course Visit No. 153 - Poole Park Crazy Golf

Prior to the BMGA British Club Championships in Sandbanks we paid a visit to the 9-hole Crazy Golf course at Poole Park in Dorset as part of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.






A great little 9-hole course with a fun 9th hole.


Here's a video showing one way to get a hole in one on the 9th hole.


Poole Park was also home to an 18-hole Putting Green which became minigolf course visit number 154 on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

"Gottfried off the pace in Margate competitions"

The Luton News reported on my rather lacklustre performances in the BMGA Players Championship and BMGA British Open a few weeks back with the story "Gottfried off the pace in Margate competitions".

You can view the story here - http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut/Gottfried-off-the-pace-in.5669289.jp

Minigolf Titles Held by Richard Gottfried (at September 2009)

BMGA Tour Minigolf Titles Held by Richard Gottfried (at September 2009)

2009 Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open (won September 2009)

2009 Manchester Miniature Open (won July 2009)

2009 Manchester Mini Masters (won April 2009)

2008 Weymouth Open (won October 2008)

2008 BMGA British Club Championship (won June 2008)

New (Minigolf) Balls Please...

At the BMGA British Open tournament last weekend I picked up five new minigolf balls for my kitbag.


Among them was the new Tim 'Ace Man' Davies Legends Ball, which I look forward to testing out on the greens at Strokes in Margate, and on the Ace Man's home course at Planet Hastings.


My minigolf kitbag has certainly grown since March 2008.


Which ball would ace the hole now?

I also picked up some Camouflage Golf Balls today, they'll be interesting to use!?

Pitch & Putt Par 3 Golf at Stockwood Park

Played a round of Pitch & Putt golf at Luton's Stockwood Park today.



Had a new pb round of 33(+6), hitting some sweet tee-shots. Lovely crisp, but sunny autumn day.

Richard Gottfried - 2009 BMGA Tour Rankings update

2009 BMGA Tour Rankings update for Richard Gottfried, following the BMGA British Open, as at 20/09/09:

Ranked 14th of 84 players in the 2008-2009 BMGA Order of Merit.

Ranked 19th of 93 players in the 2009 BMGA Season-only Rankings.

Minigolf Reports from the BMGA British Open 2007-2009

Minigolf Reports about Richard & Emily Gottfried from the BMGA British Open 2007-2009:

2007 - http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2007/09/luton-local-impresses-in-minigolf.html

2008 - http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2008/09/bmga-players-championship-bmga-british.html

2009 - http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/09/minigolf-report-bmga-players.html

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Closed course in Cliftonville (Margate)

Following the British Open at the excellent Adventure Golf course at Strokes in Margate we headed to the Little Oasis Crazy Golf at Cliftonville hoping to grab a game on the second 18-hole Arnold Palmer course (having previously played the 18-hole course with obstacles including the Windmill back in September 2007 - when it was Minigolf course visit number 37).

The unplayed course wasn't Minigolf course visit number 74, nor was it number 79. And it still hasn't been open to be played and therefore is not Minigolf course visit number 153 on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.







Related blog post:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Trompone in the British Open

As a reminder of my wrong answer on the TV show Eggheads I had a shirt made up for my second day gimmick as the Italian Minigolfer 'Trompone'!

Minigolf Report – BMGA Players Championship & BMGA British Open

21st September 2009
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report – BMGA Players Championship & BMGA British Open

Luton Minigolfer Richard Gottfried’s minigolf tournament winning streak came to an end in Margate on Friday 18th September as he finished in 21st place of 31 players in the BMGA Players Championship, the traditional warm-up tournament to the British Open.

After recently winning both the Miniature Open in Manchester and the Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open, Richard scored a round of 46 (+10) in the BMGA Players Championship, played at the 18-hole Strokes Adventure Golf Course in Margate, Kent. The score wasn’t enough to see him qualify for the second round of Matchplay. Andy Exall from Tunbridge Wells took the title for the second year running.

In the two-day BMGA British Open, also held at Strokes Adventure Golf Course, Richard made the cut for the third consecutive year with rounds of 36, 41, 40 and 41 for a first-day total of 158. His round of 36 (par) was a new personal best on the Strokes course.

In the fifth round Richard scored another 41, but ended the tournament with a second personal best of the weekend with a 35 (-1) to card a total of 234 (+18) and finish in 25th place in the 49 player field. Richard was also ranked 13th of 37 British Players in the tournament.

Richard said “I’m pleased with the two personal bests I’ve carded, but a few too many threes put a stop to me qualifying for the super final. I was only eight shots off qualifying for the seventh round. Looking at my previous results here at Margate I am showing lots of improvement, and I’m feeling confident ahead of the Kent Open in November.”

At the top of the rankings it was a Swedish one, two, three with Torgny Kjellström the eventual winner with a 7 round total of 232 (-20). Johan Ahlander was second, with Björn Dinau third.

Ends

Paragon Gluten Free Fish & Chips in Birchington

While we were in Kent for the BMGA British Open we managed to find a Fish & Chip shop that served Gluten Free food.

The Paragon Fish & Chip shop in Birchington-on-Sea (near Margate) served up some great GF chips and a good piece of battered Cod too.

Richard Gottfried - 2009 BMGA Tour Rankings to date

BMGA Tour Rankings* for Richard Gottfried.


* Includes details of BMGA Order of Merit Rankings 2008-2009, and BMGA Season-Only Rankings 2009.

Richard Gottfried - BMGA Tour 2009 Record of Results to date

2009 Minigolf Tournament Record of Results* for Richard Gottfried from 18th January 2009 (Star City Open) to date.


* Includes details of Official BMGA Tour Events and Independent Competitions.

No holes at Henblas Crazy Golf course!?

Had a comment today on the YouTube video for our 140th Minigolf course visit to Henblas Park on the Isle of Anglesey.

The question was - Where is the hole?

The answer - check out the videos below to see if you can spot them?





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFXMZ9lN7Gk

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

Scorecards from the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Tour of Wales

A fine array of Minigolf and Crazy Golf scorecards gathered on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Tour of Wales last month.



Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list of courses visited and played
- Minigolf etc. - English to Welsh translations
- Wales

Richard Gottfried on Twitter & YouTube

I'm now on Twitter and YouTube.

As well as my regular blog posts about my adventures on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour here at http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/ you can also now follow me at http://twitter.com/putting_gott, and see my videos at http://www.youtube.com/richardgottfried.

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour heads 'South'!

Looking at the many places visited and played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour so far I noticed a very interesting pattern has emerged!

The 1st, 100th and 150th minigolf courses I have played on the tour all have the word 'South' in them!

1 Portsmouth/Southsea (Treasure Island) - Adventure Golf (Victory Trail)
100 South Shields, Tyneside (Smugglers Cove) - 12-hole Adventure Golf
150 Southport (The Masters Putting Course) - Arnold Palmer Putting Course

It's also wierd as the 50th course played was in Tampere, SOUTH Finland!

Other South-y courses played include:
3 Southsea (Golf Links) - 9 Hole Par 3/Pitch & Putt
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
61 Southsea - Crazy Golf
62 Southsea - Putting Green
124 Swansea/Abertawe (Southend Park, The Mumbles) - Crazy Golf

The Pirate Adventure Golf course in Barry Island, Wales is also the southernmost Miniature Golf course in all of Wales!

But while I have seen them, I didn't get to play the Putting Course at Southwold, or the derelict and now demolished 'West' course in Southend-on-Sea. Nor either of the other two courses in Southport, at Hesketh Park and Pleasure Land.