Minigolf & Crazy Golf Rankings Update

Having missed the last event on the British Minigolf Association Tour - the BMGA British Masters - I am now currently ranked 19th of 84 players in the 2009-10 BMGA Order of Merit and 17th of 63 players in the 2010 BMGA Season Only Rankings.

In the 2003-2009 Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Rankings I am currently ranked 31st of 255 players.

Finger Jousting Update

While away in Austria recently I happened to introduce the Sport of Finger Jousting to two new international players - one from Finland and one from Hungary.

My winning streak continues (now at 62 matches and over three years), but I did 'suffer' two draws!

Finger Jousting
Win-Loss Record
Career Win-Loss Record Stats
Played 113
Won 101
Lost 9
Tied 3
% Won 89.38%

Matches (Since Official Membership of the WFJF)
Played 99
Won 92
Lost 4
Tied 3
% Won 92.93%

Links to other Finger Jousting stories on The Ham & Egger Files:

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/11/finger-jousting-video-squire-richard-of.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/11/finger-jousting-three-years-on.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/11/montegue-blisters-strange-games.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2008/10/finger-jousting-in-news.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2008/08/finger-jousting-win-loss-record.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2007/12/gottfried-wins-gottfried-wins-gottfried.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2007/12/finger-jousting-match-of-year.html

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2006/12/finger-jousting.html

For more information about the noble sport of Finger Jousting head over to the World Finger Jousting Federation's website at http://www.fingerjoust.com/

Mention in a minigolf rival's blog!

I get a mention in a blog post about BMGA Tour rookie Oliver Florence's first BMGA British Masters appearance.

Click to read the story - "Florence targets home success at Masters."

Minigolf 'Links Darts' featured in We Love Darts magazine

I have had a letter & photo printed in the March 2010 issue of We Love Darts magazine about the second minigolf 'Links Darts' tournament that is planned to take place on this year's BMGA Tour!

The photo was from the Semi-final between Rich 'The Bass' Hopkins and Tim '180' Davies from their match-up after the first day's play in the 2008 BMGA British Championships of Minigolf in Hastings.

You can buy We Love Darts magazine from http://www.welovedarts.com/.

Update on Course #149 - Cae Glas Park, Oswestry - the wierdest crazy golf hole?

My fellow Minigolf Golf tourists Paul and Owen Johnson alerted me to a change in the Cae Glas Park minigolf course in Oswestry following another visit they made last week.

The 18th hole is no longer a 'plant pot' but is now a very crazy wooden box tied down with string!? Photos by Paul Johnson below:

http://twitpic.com/1a9pxm

http://twitpic.com/1a9q3k

This has got to be the wierdest hole (in both its past and present forms) in Minigolf!

Minigolf Doubles Record - Richard Gottfried Career Statistics Update

Win/Loss Record (all)

• Played - 29
• Won - 13
• Lost - 14
• Drawn - 2

Win/Loss Record (in BMGA Events)

• Played - 13
• Won - 7
• Lost - 4
• Drawn - 2

8 playing partners (current competition team mate is Kevin Moseley)

13 competitive matches

16 friendlies

22 matchplay matches

7 strokeplay format matches

Link to previous Minigolf Doubles Record blog posts.

BMGA Minigolf Rankings - Order of Merit & Season Only Updates

With two events completed on the 2010 British Minigolf Association Tour the latest ranking lists have been published by the BMGA.

In the 2009-2010 BMGA Order of Merit Rankings published on the 1st March I am currently ranked 16th of 75 players, on 1,502 ranking points. Emily is currently in 39th place with 490 points.

In the new 2010 BMGA Season Only Rankings published today (7th March) I am currently in 12th place of 45 players, with 1,095 ranking points.

Tenpin Bowling at 'The Lanes' in Bristol

While we were in Bristol for the Minigolf English Open last weekend we also hit 'The Lanes' tenpin bowling alley for some pre-Macmillan Cancer Support Annual Bowling Challenge practice!

I beat the 'Coach' 102 to 75.

Latest Irregular Mini Golf Tour Rankings for the 2009/10 Season - 28/11/09-27/02/10

Key:
NM Non-Mover
NE New Entry
NL Not Listed yet this Season

Irregular Mini Golf Tour Ranking Points Calculations 2009/2010:
1st place = 100 points
2nd place = 75 points
3rd place = 50 points
Other place = 10 points

Irregular Mini Golf Tour Ranking Events - Bristol (February 2010)

While in Bristol last weekend for the BMGA English Open minigolf competition I also took part in a number of side-competitions including a number of Irregular Mini Golf Tour Ranking Events at the Jungle Rumble 36-hole two-course, indoor Adventure Golf centre at Cabot Circus.

First up on the 27th February 2010 was the 'Stan Butler Invitational Tournament' on the Secret Swamp Course. In this one-round 18-hole event I faced off against four members of the London Minigolf Club, finishing in 3rd place. Full results below.

'Stan Butler Invitational Tournament'
Rank Player Score
1 Alan 'Stormin' Norman 33(-3)
2 Gareth 'Colleen' Holmes 35(-1)
3 'Squire' Richard Gottfried 37(+1)
4 Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd 38(+2)
5 Chris 'Stretch' Jones 40(+4)


Next up was the Irregular Mini Golf Tour 'Non-Scrap Iron Cup' competition, also held on the Secret Swamp Course. In this event I defeated Owen and Paul Johnson. Results below.

Irregular Mini Golf Tour 'Non-Scrap Iron Cup'
Rank Player Score
1 'Squire' Richard Gottfried 35(-1)
2 Owen 'Jackpot' Johnson 38(+2)
3 Paul 'The Overtaker' Johnson 40(+4)

The evening competitions started off on the Jungle Course with the Irregular Mini Golf Tour 'Who Knows Al Classic'. I was third. Full results below.

Irregular Mini Golf Tour 'Who Knows Al Classic'
Rank Player Score
1 John 'Thighs' Moore 27(-9)
2 Chris 'Who' Harding 34(-2)
3 'Squire' Richard Gottfried 38(+2)

The final Irregular Mini Golf Tour on the Saturday, prior to the Sunday's big event - the BMGA English Open - was the 'In the Jungle, the Mighty Jungle...Classic' competition that took place on the Secret Swamp course. I was fourth. Full results below.

Irregular Mini Golf Tour 'In the Jungle, the Mighty Jungle...Classic'
Rank Player Score
1 Marc 'The Force' Chapman 30(-6)
2 Chris 'Who' Harding 32(-4)
3 John 'Thighs' Moore 33(-3)
4 'Squire' Richard Gottfried 35(-1)

Minigolf Courses Played #161 & 162 (#207 & 208 overall) - Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf, Bristol

On Saturday 27th February we headed to Bristol for the BMGA English Open minigolf competition at the new 36-hole two-course, indoor Adventure Golf centre at Cabot Circus.

The Jungle Rumble centre is home to two courses - the 'Jungle' and the 'Secret Swamp' - these were the 161st and 162nd courses played (and course visits 207 and 208 overall) on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.



Video of a hole-in-one on the 'Secret Swamp' course.



The courses are good fun to play, and while there are a lot of aces to be had, some of the holes can be very tough - as I found in the English Open itself!

The course also keeps a record of Celebrities who play at the course.


I am happy to report that I beat Carol Vorderman's score of 57 ha ha.

Check out the Jungle Rumble website for more details about the Jungle Rumble course.

X-Putt at Membury Service Station

On our way to Bristol for the BMGA English Open minigolf tournament we stopped at Membury Services.

While there I spotted an X-Putt 'Putt for Cash' Machine!

I didn't win £50.

Minigolf Report – Gottfried 24th in the BMGA English Open in Bristol

28th February 2010
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report – Gottfried 24th in the BMGA English Open in Bristol

Luton Minigolfer Richard Gottfried finished in 24th place in a 34 player field in the British Minigolf Association’s second tournament of the season at the English Open held at the Jungle Rumble Indoor Adventure Golf in Bristol on Sunday 28th February.

The tournament was played over three 18-hole rounds and Birmingham’s Chris Harding picked up his second consecutive win of the season with a 54-hole score of 88(-20). Richard had a three-round total of 113(+5) which included scores of 41(+5), 36(par) and 36(par).

Richard said “After my 8th place finish in the National Open in Birmingham last month I wanted to at least finish in the top ten in Bristol, but it just wasn’t to be. To say I’m disappointed with 24th place is an understatement. I had a dire first round on the Jungle Course, and my two rounds on the Secret Swamp course were only OK. I’ve got some time to practice and work on some areas of my game before the next event, and I’ll be pushing for more top ten finishes and some wins again this season.”

The first editions of the updated 2010 BMGA Tour Ranking Lists will be published this week. Last season Richard finished 8th in the Season-only Rankings, and 16th in the Order of Merit.

Ends

No crazy golf today, so a photo from the archives instead

A course I've still not played - the Crazy Golf course at Guildford Lido. It was closed on my visit in September 2008.

Miniature Golfer Awards 2009 - Ham & Egger Files wins 'Best Blog' Award

www.miniaturegolfer.com has unveiled the winners of the Miniature Golfer Awards for the 2009 Season and the Ham & Egger Files picked up the 'Best Blog' Award.

You can view all of the award categories and winners at http://www.miniaturegolfer.com/miniaturegolfer_forum_awards.html

Blog post from last year's Miniature Golfer Awards.

News Release - MiniatureGolfer.com 2009 UK Crazy Golf Price Survey

18th February 2010
News Release
For Immediate Use

MiniatureGolfer.com 2009 UK Crazy Golf Price Survey

MiniatureGolfer.com, in association with the Ham & Egger Files Crazy World of Minigolf Golf blog, has produced the first survey of its kind in order to find the UK’s best value Crazy Golf course.

Details of over 100 Crazy Golf courses countrywide were looked at and the most important factors in deciding the best value were cost and fun!

Information on the normal adult price for a single round on a sample of UK Crazy Golf courses was gathered, excluding special offers and courses within an attraction where a separate entrance fee is applicable. To do a proper comparison, the adult cost of one round was divided by the number of holes, giving a cost per hole. The cost per hole difference between the cheapest and most expensive courses was enormous, ranging from 7 pence to 56 pence.

Tim ‘Ace Man’ Davies webmaster of MiniatureGolfer.com said "As for the best course in the UK you'll have to visit Planet Hastings! Which this year is hosting the British Minigolf Association British Open on the 18th & 19th September."

‘Squire’ Richard Gottfried of the Ham & Egger Files Crazy Golf blog said "The price survey was very interesting to put together. Since September 2006 my wife and I have been on a mission to play all the UK’s minigolf courses and so far we’ve visited 206. We were able to put together a comprehensive price survey for all the countries this year as we did a nine-day Tour of Wales in the summer and the 28 Welsh courses we played account for approximately 80% of all the Minigolf courses in Wales (according to Miniaturegolfer.com) and 93% of the public courses there."

Best value courses by country
England
It was decided that the best value course in England was at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge near Birmingham at £1.50 for 12 holes (13p). This course was also the host venue of the British Minigolf Association British Club Championships in 2005 and 2006. Dorridge narrowly edges out Newcastle (14p) and Cheddar (14p).

And while you're in the Midlands do check out the excellent course in Stratford-upon-Avon and the best value Indoor course in England and the UK, Star City, Birmingham. Both come highly recommended.

Oswestry (Cae Glas Park) – 18-hole Eternit Miniature Golf, is the cheapest course in the UK at only 7p per hole! Sutton Fields came in at £1 for nine holes.

Special mentions should also go to Kingsway Golf Centre in Melbourn, Cambridgeshire, where for £2.20 you can play for as long as you like. And Tea Green Golf at Wandon End near Luton, Bedfordshire where for £2.00 you can get unlimited play with a ball purchase. To our knowledge neither of the courses has met the marathon week-long player with the miner's helmet yet.

Rhylstone Gardens on the Isle of Wight also deserves a mention as it has been around for 50 years!

Scotland
Perth is the cheapest and the best value course we found north of the border. It’s an outdoor 18-hole course but 9 holes are covered, it has a members club and it's floodlit! It comes in at 17 pence per hole! Also highly recommended is Fife.

As for indoor courses, Scotland has two – in Aberdeen and Glasgow. Aberdeen wins it at 32p a hole but both are well worth a visit. Aberdeen will be hosting the first ever BMGA Scottish Open in May this year.

Wales
Is it Rocky Pines Adventure Golf, at the summit of the Great Orme Mountain in Llandudno at 14p per hole? (Which can also lay claim to the honour of being the highest minigolf course in the British Isles!) Or was it Prestatyn?

The honour goes to Prestatyn. A fine example of an Arnold Palmer Putting Course which comes in at 13p per hole, and a chance to win a free game on the lucky nineteenth hole.

Wales has no known indoor courses.

Northern Ireland
The best value course found was at Carnfunnock at 17p per hole.

Highly recommended is Belfast, which held the BMGA Irish Open in 2006 & 2007.

Northern Ireland has no known indoor courses.

Channel Islands
Jersey's Living Legend course has 36-holes and comes in at 35p per hole, and is slightly more expensive than Guernsey's Oatlands at 32p. The Living Legend wins out.

The Channel Islands has no known indoor courses.

Worst value in the UK
Attractions where an entrance fee is payable were excluded.

Woking, at only 9-holes and in poor condition wins this ignominious title. The course does have concessions for locals but you’d have to be a very crazy Crazy Golfer to pay £4 to play the course! It is also the second equal most expensive course in the UK at 44p per hole.

Overall best value Crazy Golf courses in the UK
Outdoor - The Arnold Palmer Putting Course, Prestatyn
Indoor - Aberdeen narrowly beating Star City, Birmingham

Weblinks:
http://www.miniaturegolfer.com/ - the number one website for information on all things minigolf, run by five-times World Crazy Golf Champion Tim ‘Ace Man’ Davies

http://www.miniaturegolfer.com/miniaturegolfer%20price%20survey%202009.html - online reference to the survey and links to the courses

http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/ - Richard & Emily Gottfried’s Crazy World of Minigolf Tour blog, charting their journeys and adventures in miniature golf

http://www.minigolf.org.uk/ - website of the British Minigolf Association (BMGA), the UK governing body for minigolf sport

Ends

From the archives - Coalville Minigolf, Leicestershire (June 2008)

Back on the 14th June 2008 we were heading to Northallerton on a roadtrip (that would also see us play courses in Scarborough and Filey) and were passing by Coalville on our journey up the M1 so decided to look in on the (then) brand new 9-hole hole course.


The course in Coalville, Leicestershire was the 54th we visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour at that point.



While we were there we held a three-player Irregular Mini Golf Tour competition that saw me, Emily and our friend Daniel Marsh play a two-round (18-hole) match. The first round was a qualifier, with the top two players then facing off against each other in round two.

In round one Emily scored a 28(+10), to me and Daniel's 23(+5).

In the second round Daniel hit a 24(+6), while I scored a 23(+5) again to just sneak the victory with a two-round +10 score of 46!




The next time we're heading north we must pass by the course for another round or two.

Irregular Mini Golf Tour - The Race to Play Near Rye (East Sussex), first 'Qualifier'

Following the announcement of the Irregular Mini Golf Tour's new Race to Play Near Rye (East Sussex) competition today, the first 'Qualifier' match took place at the rooftop 'home' course in Parts Unknown (Luton) and pitted 'Squire' Richard Gottfried (#1) against a mystery opponent (#6) on a randomly made and un-mapped 'Minigolf' course.

Hole 1




Hole 6


Hole 7

Irregular Mini Golf Tour announces The Race to Play Near Rye (East Sussex) parody minigolf tournament

The Irregular Mini Golf Tour today announces it's first unofficial parody tournament - The Race to Play Near Rye (East Sussex).

Details of the event itself are sketchy, as are the rules on qualification!











The first 'Qualifying' round for the tournament took place today at the rooftop 'home' course of the Irregular Mini Golf Tour in Parts Unknown (Luton), and pitted 'Squire' Richard Gottfried (#1) against a mystery partner (#6) on a randomly made and un-mapped 'Minigolf' course.

Latest Irregular Mini Golf Tour Rankings 2009/10 Season

Latest Irregular Mini Golf Tour Rankings for the 2009/10 Season - 28/11/09-13/02/10.

Key
NM Non-Mover
NE New Entry
NL Not Listed yet this Season

Irregular Mini Golf Tour Ranking Points Calculations 2009/2010:
1st place = 100 points
2nd place = 75 points
3rd place = 50 points
Other place = 10 points