Thursday, December 01, 2011

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

On Monday 28th November 2011 we headed north to visit the 12-hole Crazy Golf course at Stokesley Golf Range in Stokesley, Middlesbrough. The course became the 277th course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


The Crazy Golf course is in very good condition and has some tricky obstacles, notably the Windmill, Volcano and the 12th! It costs £3.75 a round for adults, but for an extra quid you can have a second round, which is nice. The course is very playable, so £4.75 for 24-holes is not bad at all.

Stokesley Golf Range is also home to a 9-hole Golf course and a Driving Range.

Photos of the 12-hole Crazy Golf course, including Sponsors Boards at each hole (a very good bit of business).

















The 9th hole is incredibly long and twisty, see the video below for the best view of it!











Photos from play during the Stokesley (NO/NIT) Classic Minigolf Tournament played at the course between 'Squire' Richard Gottfried, Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried and John 'Thighs' Moore.




Stokesley Golf Range is another visitor attraction that you can find if you follow the brown signs...


Stokesley Golf Range website

Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Minigolf Report – End of BMGA Tour Season Competitions at Dorridge

30th November 2011
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report – End of BMGA Tour Season Competitions at Dorridge

Luton Minigolfers Richard & Emily Gottfried’s 2011 BMGA Tour Minigolf Season came to an end over the weekend of the 26th and 27th November as the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull hosted the final tournaments on the 2011 BMGA Tour

Richard competed in 14 BMGA Tour events, with Emily playing in 11 tournaments. 2011 was the pair’s fifth year as BMGA Tour players.


The Cambridgeshire MGC Invitational Tournament

On Saturday 26th November Emily competed in the first-ever Cambridgeshire Minigolf Club Invitational Tournament and finished in fourth place with a score of 79(+7).

Photo: The Cambridgeshire Minigolf Club team from l-r Brenda Smith, James Rutherford (Captain), Oliver Florence, Emily Gottfried

The three-round tournament was won by Cambridge’s James Rutherford. Oliver Florence was runner-up. Brenda Smith was third.

The Green MGC Invitational Tournament

On Saturday 26th November Richard competed in the first-ever Green Minigolf Club Invitational Tournament and finished in fourth place with a score of 75(+3).

The competition was won by Oxford’s Michael Smith, with Chris Smith runner-up and Seth Thomas of Wandsworth third.

The BMGA British Club Championships

In the BMGA British Club Championships on Sunday 27th November Richard played for the Midlands Minigolf Club and he and this three team mates finished the event in third place.

Photo: The Midlands Minigolf Club A-Team from l-r Richard Gottfried, Jam Trubridge (front), Chris Harding (Captain), Paul 'Johnson Paul Johnson' Johnson

Emily and her Cambridgeshire Minigolf Club team were fifth in the seven team event, which featured teams from five of the BMGA’s Minigolf Clubs.

In the first group match Richard and Emily’s teams faced-off, with the Midlands winning 4&3 in the 12-hole Matchplay Match. The Midlands Minigolf Club went on to defeat the Allstars team by two-holes, before losing to the Kent Hurricanes team 2&1. In the semi-finals the team lost to eventual champions, the Kent Spitfires, 2&1, before winning the 3rd/4th place play-off match against the Kent Hurricanes 3&2.


Following the defeat to the Midlands in their first match Cambridgeshire went on to lose against the Kent Hurricanes by one-hole. Following the opening two defeats the Cambridge Team went on to score wins against the Allstars 5&4, and 2&1 and beating the London Minigolf Club by one-hole in the 5th/6th place play-off match.

Ends

Friday, November 25, 2011

Minigolf at Watford TopGolf - Major Course Improvements & Match vs. 'Rowdy' Russell Fenner

On Wednesday 23rd November 2011 I met up with old Dodgeball UK adversary 'Rowdy' Russell Fenner for a long-awaited rematch at the 18-hole Adventure Golf course at Watford TopGolf.

I've been visiting the course at TopGolf Watford since the 2nd of December 2006, when the course became the 8th ever played on me and Emily's Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. On this latest visit the first thing I noticed (after seeing the price increase to £6 a round) was the amount of changes and improvements that had been made to the course!

Photo of the Adventure Golf course at TopGolf in Watford
Photo: The 'Rocky Pines' Canoe beside the 2-hole practice Putting area

The last time I played there was in March this year, when the course had had some extra changes made to it. At the time it wasn't in the best condition (the 18th hole being particularly horrible, especially when compared to how it used to be - a well placed shot between two rocks would reward you with a hole-in-one more often than not. See here for a photo of how it looked during the changes in July 2010). However, the new modifications have made the course the most playable it has been since our first visits back in 2006, 2007 & 2008!

As well as new obstacles, the felt has been completely relaid so there are no patches or tears. Each hole has also had a sign put up and they all now carry names.

Photo: Hole 1 "Canoe Canyon"

In July 2010 I played the Watford Adventure Golf course three times and on each visit the course was different! The first of those visits on the 7th saw the course a little worn in places, but quite playable. On my visit on the 13th a lot of pieces of felt were missing!? Most noticeably on the tee-off areas! Instead of felt the area was bare concrete. On my visit on the 22nd the finishing touches had been made to the 'refurb', with new patches of felt over worn areas, aling with new tee-off areas of felt (which play incredibly slowly). But the course was in a sorry state and not much fun compared to how it had been.

So I was very pleased to see the improvements, both in the general look of the course and in the playability of it. Some new bunkers have been added, tricky rock obstacles put in place, and some of the holes have been extended and/or widened. To play the course now is very different indeed compared to 2010 and earlier this year.

Photo: Hole 2 "Ramp Rage"

Photo: A stone circle

Photo: The addition of two parallel planks add a new way to play your shots on this hole

Photo: Hole 7 "Pine Pass" has had an interesting change made to it. It used to be a great hole-in-one opportunity, however the rocks have been changed to block the path to the hole! A bit of practice and a nicely weighted shot could see Aces still drop, but it's not as easy as it used to be

Photo: Hole 13 "Cross Paths" has also been significantly changed with the addition of a third route to the hole. My shot made it to the smaller of the two entry points to the tunnel, but was slightly too strong a shot and lipped out when it reached the hole

Photo: 'Rowdy' Russell Fenner goes fishing for his ball on Hole 14

Photo: The bridge on Hole 14 as it is now. Link to how it was in 2010

Photo: The dogleg left Hole 15 has also been changed to now include a ramp & tunnel in the corner. Using a very bouncy standard course (golf) ball meant that the shot into it was not ideal. However, using a good specialist minigolf deadball may see a better result

Photo: A view of the exit ramp on Hole 15

Photo: Hole 18 "Pipe Dream"

Photo: Hole 18 "Pipe Dream" - the central obstacle

Photo of the Adventure Golf course at TopGolf in Watford
Photo: Hole 18 "Pipe Dream" - the last hole and ball collector

Photo: Hole 18 "Pipe Dream" - a view of the exit ramp from the main obstacle

In our match-up I scored a 44(+8) including holes-in-one on the 5th and 9th holes. 'Rowdy' Russell had a poor round though and scored a disappointing 55(+19), far worse than he normally plays as he usually gives me a good run for my money!

As the course is in such fine shape and with the many improvements made to it I think it's in good enough condition to once again host a British Minigolf Association Tour competition - it was the location for the London Invitational Tournament won by Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd in August 2008.

The Watford TopGolf Game Centre is located at Bushey Mill Lane, Watford Herts, WD24 7AB and is very easy to find if you follow the many Brown Signs it has had put up in the surrounding area.

Photo: Just one of the many Brown Tourist Signs pointing potential visitors TopGolf's way

In order for 'Rowdy' Russell to attempt to gain a measure of revenge for his minigolf defeat we decided to have a game of Pool.

I broke.

And with my shot managed to pot the black in the middle left hand pocket. As well as potting a red in the top right hand corner pocket.

So 'Rowdy' left with a 'win'.


After our dismal performances in the Sportingbet.com UK RPS Championships last month we decided against having a Rock Paper Scissors contest to confirm an overall winner of the evening's activity and chose to call it a draw.

TopGolf Watford can be found on facebook and twitter. TopGolf Watford Adventure Golf details online.

Previous Blog Posts About Visits to Watford TopGolf:
- 17/03/11 - Adventure Golf at Watford TopGolf - 16th March 2011
- 09/12/10 - Adventure Golf at Watford TopGolf - change to Hole 18
- 01/08/10 - Changes to the felt and mats at Watford TopGolf
- 05/02/10 - Minigolf Challenge Matches at Watford TopGolf (& course visit updates)
- 30/10/09 - Adventure Golf at Watford TopGolf
- 21/12/08 - Results of the Third Annual Watford Classic
- 04/02/08 - WHAT

Link to more information, photos and videos of other course visits on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Following a Random Brown Tourist Sign in Scotland to visit the 'Maid of the Loch'

While at Loch Lomond in Scotland on Sunday 20th November I made a point of following a random Brown Tourist Sign (as recommended by Amanda of the excellent Follow The Brown Signs website) to the intriguingly named 'Maid of the Loch'.

Brown Tourist Sign to the 'Maid of the Loch' at Loch Lomond
Photo: I noticed that Brown Tourist Signs in Scotland feature a Thistle in a blue oval, rather than being plain brown with white text and/or images 

I found out by having a look in the visitors leaflet for Loch Lomond that the Maid of the Loch was the last Paddle Steamer to be built in Great Britain.

'Maid of the Loch' at Loch Lomond

Launched on the Loch in 1953 the ship is officially now an historic ship and was placed on the "Designated Vessels List" (which recognises ships of "substantial heritage merit with regional and local significance") in 2004.

'Maid of the Loch' at Loch Lomond

Unfortunately on my visit the ship was not open for viewing as it is closed during the winter and will reopen at Easter 2012.

'Maid of the Loch' at Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond also has a shopping centre, Sea Life centre, a couple of Minigolf courses (which I didn't get to play on this visit), restaurants, play area and on my visit there was a farmer's market too.

Links:
- Maid of the Loch Official Website
- Follow The Brown Signs Website
- The Brown Sign Way - A Website and Blog Dedicated to Tourist Attraction Signs

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Crazy Golf & Mini Golf courses at Loch Lomond

On my trip to Scotland last weekend we made a visit to Loch Lomond in Balloch, Dunbartonshire. While we were having a wander around my Minigolf-alert alarm went off again as I spotted a sign for a Crazy Golf course!

Crazy Golf & Mini Golf courses at Loch Lomond

I was very pleased with my find, as I hadn't known a course was there before we visited.

Crazy Golf & Mini Golf courses at Loch Lomond

Unfortunately when I enquired about playing the course at the newsagents that hires out the Putters and Balls I was told that the course had been taken up for the time being to make way for a Twister fairground ride!?

Funfair at Loch Lomond

So, in a way it was good to have found another new Minigolf course, but it was unfortunate (but not entirely surprising considering my track record) of finding it to be unplayable on the day I visit!

Looking at the leaflet for the Loch Lomond Shopping Centre and the one for the nearby 'Muddy Good Fun' activity centre I saw that there is another Minigolf course there. I spotted this once I got home to Luton. Muddy Good Fun also has a Segway Safari (new for 2011). On a revisit to a Crazy Golf course in Great Yarmouth I once found the Safari Golf had been turned into a Segway Grand Prix!

I've added the two courses to our 'to visit' list for 2012.

While at the Loch Lomond shopping centre I had a look around the Antiques Centre and noticed on two old postcards that there was a Municipal Putting Course on the seafront at nearby Helensburgh in what looked to be the 1930's. After a web search I found that there is another Putting Green at Hermitage Park in Helensburgh.

Blog link:
Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

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