Latest Laser Tag Rankings - Update after Laser Tag Battle at MegaZone Rayleigh in Essex

On Sunday 4th December 2011 Emily and I teamed up and joined the ranks of the foot soldiers of the Yellow team as we faced-off in a 27-player three-team Laser Tag Battle against the Reds and the Blues at the MegaZone in Rayleigh, Essex.

In the 30-minute shootout the mighty Yellow team was victorious beating the Blue team by just under 20,000 points!

In the match I was ranked 3rd overall, with Emily in 5th place in the 27-player field.

The Laser Tag Rankings have been updated following the contest and the top three places remain unchanged in the 11-player rankings. I am ranked #1 (with six wins from eight battles), while Oliver 'The Machine' Florence is #2 (with a 100% win/loss record from his four games) and Emily is #3 (with four wins from seven outings).

Click to enlarge ranking list

In the Seemingly Everlasting Laser Tag War waged between the forces of the REDS, BLUES, GREENS, and YELLOWS players in the Laser Tag Rankings have taken part in Laser Battles in 'laser-war-torn' places including Birmingham, Hemel Hempstead, Bristol, London, Peterborough, Crawley, New Brighton, Cannock, Whitstable, Skegness and Rayleigh.

Adventure Island's Aztec & Inca Adventure Golf in Southend-on-Sea (re-visit Dec 11)

On Saturday 2nd of December 2011 we replayed the two 9-hole Adventure Golf courses that were originally the 14th and 15th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in March 2007!

We also played the Aztec Adventure Golf course in 2003, way before our 'proper' Tour began.

On this occasion our Emily defeated (destroyed!) me in our Irregular Mini Golf Tour Match-up with a score of 22 to my 28 on the Aztec Adventure course and a 22 to my 30(!?) on the Inca Challenge course.

Photo: The courses do not contain any fake Crocodiles, or Alligators, but does have a turtle on the 9th hole of the Aztec Adventure course

In April 2007 I made my Professional Minigolf Debut in the BMGA British Masters tournament held on the Adventure Island courses in Southend-on-Sea, where I finished 24th in the field of 28 players and was the runner-up in the Novice Category.

Video: Playing Adventure Island Minigolf Golf in Southend-on-Sea (Dec 11)



Previous Blog Posts
- Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf in Southend-on-Sea - Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Minehead & Southend on Sea - pre-Crazy World of Minigolf Tour course visits
- From the Minigolf Archives - Results of our first-ever game of Adventure Golf against each other!
- Minigolf in Southend on Sea - The Southend Masters

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Southend-on-Sea's Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf (re-visit Dec 11)

On Saturday 2nd of December 2011 we revisited the 16th course we played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Southend's 18-hole Arnold Palmer Mini Golf course.

The course was closed for the season so we didn't manage to play it on our visit.

The site used to have two 18-hole Crazy Golf courses - the East & West courses. Only the East course remains.

The site of the old West course is now just an empty patch of grass.

Previous Southend-on-Sea Crazy Golf Blog Posts
- Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf in Southend-on-Sea - Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Arnold Palmer in Southend...
- Derelict Crazy Golf in Southend...
- Then & Now – Southend Arnold Palmer ‘West’ Course
- Minigolf in Southend on Sea - Arnold Palmer West Course
- Minehead & Southend on Sea - pre-Crazy World of Minigolf Tour course visits
- From the Minigolf Archives - Results of our first-ever game of Adventure Golf against each other!
- Minigolf in Southend on Sea - The Southend Classic 2010

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Cliff Lift Funicular Railway in Southend-on-Sea

While in Southend-on-Sea on Saturday 2nd December 2011 I had a ride on the Cliff Lift Funicular Railway. The lift was built in 1912 and reopened in 2010 following its closure in 2003.

You can get some great views from the carriage and it's 50p well spent to go on the 'trip'.

Pirate Cove Adventure Golf at Bluewater!

Visiting and playing the Pirate Cove Adventure Golf at Bluewater Shopping Centre.

On Friday 2nd of December 2011 we made a slight detour on our way to Southend-on-Sea to stop-off at Bluewater Shopping Centre as we hadn't yet played the two 18-hole Adventure Golf courses that opened there in the summer.

The Pirate Cove Adventure Park features two Adventure Golf courses - Pirates & Smugglers - and also has pedalos and a high-wire activity centre.

The courses became the 278th and 279th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

In our Irregular Mini Golf Tour Match-up I defeated Emily 41-47 on the Pirates course and 41-46 on the Smugglers course.

The new courses cover the area that used to be a 'Pro Tour Putting' Minigolf course that we visited on our Tour in March 2009.

Visit the Pirate Cove Adventure Golf course website for details of the opening times and prices.

Previous Bluewater Blog Post:
- March 2009 - Minigolf Course Visit No. 80 - Bluewater Shopping Centre, Kent

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Minigolf Report - Stokesley NO/NIT Classic - Minigolf Tournament in Middlesbrough

Minigolf Report - Stokesley (NO/NIT) Classic - Minigolf Tournament in Middlesbrough

Emily Gottfried wins three-round tournament on Teesside

On Monday 28th November 2011 Pro-Minigolfers Emily ‘Lemony’ Gottfried, ‘Squire’ Richard Gottfried and John ‘Thighs’ Moore headed to Teesside to compete in the first-ever Stokesley NO/NIT Classic Minigolf Tournament. The competiton was won by Emily Gottfried.

Photo: New Stokesley Classic Champion Emily Gottfried with the prestigious 'Newcastle Open!?' trophy and Gold numberless medal

The three-round, 36-hole event was held on the 12-hole Crazy Golf course at Stokesley Golf Range, Middlesbrough and saw Luton’s Emily Gottfried take a two shot victory with a total of 92(+20) with rounds of 31, 37 and a course record round of 24(par) in round three.

Photo: Emily Gottfried Putting her way to victory at the Stokesley Golf Range Crazy Golf course

Richard Gottfried was runner-up with a score of 94(+22) following rounds of 35, 28 and 31. Newcastle’s John Moore was third on 100(+28) with rounds of 32, 34 and 34.

Photo: Richard Gottfried (l) and John Moore with their medals

New Stokesley NO/NIT Classic Minigolf Champion Emily Gottfried said "I love the course at Stokesley. There are some really good, but tough holes, especially the Volcano hole! I felt I played really well, and apart from a dip during the second round I was in the lead for much of the tournament. Despite some excellent competiton from Squire and John "Al" Moore I really felt I deserved the win."

Runner-up Richard Gottfried said "At the end of the event I was amazed I hadn't won, but equally I was amazed I hadn't finished third! My first round was awful and then after a very good second round I found myself in the lead. A brilliant event on a very good course, in bitterly cold conditions, with an excellent champion in Emily, and yet another minigolf score of 24 for her to crow about. Well done to her for winning with a perfect par final round though."

Bronze Medallist John Moore was unavailable for comment following the tournament's conclusion.

The Stokesley NO/NIT Classic was the 2011 edition of the annual ‘Newcastle’ tournament that was inaugurated in 2009 with the hosting of the Newcastle Invitational Tournament that saw play at three courses on Tyneside. Last year saw the first-ever Newcastle Open take place at Gosforth Park, Newcastle.

Newcastle NO/NIT/SC Hall of Fame:
2011 – Emily Gottfried (won Stokesley Classic)
2010 – Simon Hardie (won Newcastle Open, defeating John Moore & Richard Gottfried in a sudden-death play-off)
2009 – John Moore (won Newcastle Invitational Tournament)

A selection of photos from the 2011 Stokesley NO/NIT Classic Minigolf Competition.

Photo: Emily Gottfried takes a Putt on the 10th - Tunnels

Photo: John Moore playing hole 10 - Tunnels

Photo: John Moore on Hole 4 - Restrictor

Photo: Richard Gottfried on Hole 5 - Volcano

Photo: Richard Gottfried (l) on Hole 11 - Bunkers

Photo: Richard Gottfried on Hole 3 - Windmill

Photo: Emily and some bags of quality potatoes! The land that Stokesley Golf Range is on is owned by farmers, so you can handily pick up some spuds when you visit the course

Previous Results & Reports:
- Newcastle Open (NO) 2010
- Newcastle Invitational Tournament (NIT) 2009

Unrelated Blog Post (with a Tenuous Link to 'a Newcastle')
- Minigolf Course Visit No. 133 - Henllan Station on the Teifi Valley Railway (it's near a place called Newcastle Emlyn)

Crazy Golf at Stokesley Golf Range, Middlesbrough - Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Crazy Golf course visited, but not played, in Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees

On our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour trip to Teesside we made a visit to the 12-hole Crazy Golf course at Preston Hall Museum and Park in Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees.

Prior to our visit we knew the course would not be open and playable as I've been in contact with the new owners of the course who have plans to refurbish and reopen the course in the 2012.

We did have a wander around and had a look at the existing course.

To be honest, on our travels to the 436 Miniature Golf courses prior to visiting Eaglescliffe we have found some really Crazy Golf horror courses, many of which we've actually paid to play, so on seeing the condition of the Preston Hall Park course we didn't think it was that bad and obviously would have given it a play had it been open.

The borders of the course are solid and holes, such as the first (below), reminded me of Beton and Eternit type courses with wall shots needed.

The felt was worn in places and some holes had had patches replaced.

Leaf fall was a bit of a problem too!

We're looking forward to a return visit when the Crazy Golf course has been refurbed and we'll be having a look around the Museum there too, as it was also closed for a refurb on our visit.

Photos of the Stockton-on-Tees Crazy Golf course at Preston Hall Museum and Park on MiniatureGolfer.com

Link to more course visits on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.