A Re-visit to Southend-on-Sea's Arnold Palmer Minigolf Course

Replaying the Arnold Palmer Minigolf Course in Southend-on-Sea.

Wish You Were Here

Emily and I were recently in Southend-on-Sea and luckily for us the 18-hole Arnold Palmer Minigolf course on the Eastern Esplanade was open - and will be on Saturday's and Sunday's throughout the winter (weather permitting).

Emily playing the shortest hole on the course with Europe's longest pier in the background

We've played the course a number of times over the years and Arnold Palmer Putting/Crazy Golf/Minigolf courses are amongst my favourite types of Miniature Golf. They have that classic look and feel that I associate what the game is all about - the windmill, waterwheel, lumps, bumps and hillocks, and the all-important 'lucky' last hole.

A rough start for Richard with an overhit tee-shot landing in a bunker!

When we visited last December the course was closed, so it was nice to get a game of Crazy Golf this time round.

This hole used to have the cup in another position

In our one-round match Emily and I scored a pair of 48's (having enforced the course rules as opposed to BMGA rules) to force a sudden-death play-off to decide the winner. On the the replay of the 18th hole we both scored twos, but I was able to win the game with a two on the 16th hole.

Playing out the Lighthouse hole

Predictably, neither of us won a free game on the 19th hole. I was quite close though.

Emily having a crack at the Top Hole

The Arnold Palmer Minigolf course in Southend used to consist of two 18-hole courses, however it is only the East Course that still exists. On our first visits to the town as Minigolf enthusiasts the old West Course was still in place, though totally unplayable.

The sign for the East Course at Southend-on-Sea

Back in April 2007 I made my professional Minigolf Debut on the British Minigolf Association Tour in the BMGA British Masters competition that was played on the nearby Adventure Island Adventure Golf courses in Southend-on-Sea.

I think the course is always worth a play if you're in the area and you can find it at Darlowes Green, Eastern Esplanade, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS1 2ES.

Related Blog Posts:

- Minigolf and Crazy Golf in Essex
- Then & Now – Southend Arnold Palmer ‘West’ Course

- Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf in Southend-on-Sea - Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

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

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

How much does this guy weigh?

How much does this guy weigh?

As a fan of Wrestling I recently enjoyed re-watching the 1994 WWF King of the Ring Pay Per View event on VHS. It stands out as a great WWF PPV show for a number of reasons - Owen Hart winning the tournament being one of them. But the best part of it in my mind is that one of the commentators for the event was a Baltimore Colts American Football Legend, one Art Donovan. The fact was he knew very little about professional wrestling, the WWF or the wrestlers involved in the show. This, combined with one of his fellow commentators, WWE Hall of Famer Gorilla Monsoon, ignoring his questions for most of the show. For fans of wrestling (and Wrestlecrap 'quality' stuff) then I highly recommend you dig out a copy of the show.

If you've got 12 minutes to spare/waste then check out this YouTube video showing the 'highlights' of Art Donovan's WWF commentating career!

After watching the tape I headed online for more info on the event, why Art was booked, and who exactly was Art Donovan! My search led me to a number of sites, one of which is the brilliant "How Much Does This Guy Weigh?" blog by Art0Donnell. The name of the author of the site is a play on words based on Gorilla Monsoon's incorrect introduction of Art Donovan on the show (he called Art, "Art O'Donnell". Not a good way to start off a broadcasting relationship). Check out Art0Donnell's blog post about Art Donovan at "King of the Ring 1994: Enter Donovan".

The Art0Donnell blog is full of brilliant old school wrestling reviews and nostalgia and other stuff. As a big fan of underdogs (those loveable Ham & Eggers) one of my favourite posts is of "Jobbers of '93", which gives a rundown of all the enhancement talent local athlete jobbers that 'competed' on WWF Monday Night Raw in 1993! Brilliant stuff.

Links:

- How Much Does This Guy Weigh? blog

- "King of the Ring 1994: Enter Donovan" post by Art0Donnell

- Wrestlecrap - the very worst of Pro Wrestling

- WWE

- The Art0Donnell YouTube Channel

- The Ham & Egger Files – An Introduction

Whatever happened to the blogs of 'The Machine' & 'Clockwork Orange'?

Two Minigolf blogs go unwritten on for a year and a bit.

It's been just over a year since my friend, fellow blogger, Minigolf rival and occasional team-mate Oliver 'The Machine' Florence blogged.

The last post on his blog - The Minigolfer - was about the dreadful weather conditions that prevented me making a trip to Guildford in a blog called "Snow luck for Gottfried as Guildford curse strikes again". It caused a blog post be written here in Luton too.

I did eventually make it to the county town of Surrey for a day of games, a visit to the castle and a look at a giant beetle in April last year. There was also an incident involving a car that Ollie should of blogged about. Maybe in a podcast format considering the vocal outburst made by Mr Florence.

Another blog to have fallen by the wayside in the last year is that of another friend and Minigolf Wunderkind Seth 'Orange Clock' Thomas, whose Forever Pushing Buttons blog hasn't been updated since January 29th 2012!

I wonder if either will be updated in 2013...

Link:

- The Minigolfer Blog

- Forever Pushing Buttons

Related Blog Posts:

- Oliver Florence ones

- Guildford ones

- Seth Thomas ones

- "Go With The Flo" Minigolf Doubles Team finish 7th of 14 at the GMGC Green Doubles Minigolf Championship

- Another Blogging Minigolf Team - Richard Gottfried & Seth Thomas Team Up

Not Playing the Buttons at Southend's Amusements

Finding a playable, unwinnable, 2p machine at 'the Buttons' in Southend.

As a big fan of seasides and amusement arcades I had a fun trip to Southend-on-Sea on Saturday. At one of the Amusement Arcades Emily and I spotted that one of the 2p pusher machines was working, but had no money in it!? 

The unwinnable 2p pusher in the Southend Arcade

Oddly, somebody must of played it as there were a few tuppences in the machine! As a veteran ratter and tatter (and 2012 Worlds Tat Challenge Champion) I know better...

Not playing the Buttons

I also spotted a fruit machine based on my favourite comic of all time that managed to rob me of 70p.

A Viz Fruit Machine in an Amusement Arcade in Southend on Sea

Related Blog Posts:

- Amusement Arcades

- Southend-on-Sea

- Tat Challenges

Play Portaputt Crazy Golf at Cwmbran Shopping Centre

Portable Crazy Golf course to be set-up at Cwmbran Shopping Centre on Saturday 30th March.

Edited 25th March 2013

The team at Portaputt Crazy Golf will have their Crazy Golf course available to play for free at Cwmbran Shopping Centre on Saturday 30th March 2013.

The Miniature Golf layout will be at Gwent Square from 11am to 4pm.

The event had been due to take place on Saturday 30th March, however the unseasonably snowy weather put paid to that! Fingers crossed the weather is better this weekend!

The Portaputt Crazy Golf course is ideal for a range of events and activities and can be hired for use at corporate events, fund raisers, by schools, for wedding receptions, parties (for the young and old) and by pubs & hotels to name a few!

The Portaputt Crazy Golf course at the World Alternative Games 2014

There will also be a special discount given for people making bookings for Minigolf parties after playing the course on the day!

Links: 

- Portaputt Crazy Golf 

- "Cwmbran family turn their love of minigolf into a business" story at Cwmbran Life

- Cwmbran Shopping Centre

Related Blog Posts: 

- Portaputt Crazy Golf in Cwmbran, Wales

- Wales-related Posts

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list of courses visited and played

- Minigolf etc. - English to Welsh translations

Dodgeball to be shown live on Eurosport 2!

Eurosport to televise the 2013 European Dodgeball Championships LIVE from Chester, England in August!

While playing at Harpenden Dodgeball Club recently I heard that this year's European Dodgeball Championships will be shown live on Eurosport!

The 2013 European Dodgeball Championships will be taking place in Chester on the 24th and 25th of August and will see Eurosport screen two hours of live Dodgeball action on each day.

The tournament will be run by the UK Dodgeball Association and take place at the Cheshire County Sports Club in Chester, England. The two-day tournament will see championships contested in both Men and Women's categories.

Great news for a great fun sport. I can't wait to watch the action!

Links:

- United Kingdom Dodgeball Federation (UKDBA)

- European Dodgeball Federation (EDBF)

- England Lions Dodgeball

- UK Eurosport

- Cheshire County Sports Club

- Harpenden Dodgeball Club

- Dodgeball Related Blog Posts on the Ham & Egger Files

Mini Golf at Tea Green Golf Club near Luton

A visit to Tea Green Golf Club for a bit of Minigolf and some Driving Practice.

Last Sunday Emily and I headed up to Tea Green Golf Club at Wandon End near Luton to check out the new Golf Driving Range and have a game of Mini Golf. We haven't been up there in quite a while so it was nice to have a quick Putt around on the 9-hole Mini Golf and hit a bucket of balls on the Driving Range.

Emily having a go on the upgraded Driving Range at Tea Green Golf Club

In our Minigolf match-up - for the Coffee Mug in the Hedge 'Cup' at Tea Green - Emily defeated me 17 to 19, shooting a hat-trick of holes-in-one on holes 3, 4 and 5!

The coffee mug in the hedge at Tea Green

Richard playing a shot on hole four of Tea Green's Mini Golf course

It was a bit too cold to play much more, but I am determined to have a few rounds on the 9-hole Golf course at Tea Green this spring and summer.

Links:

- Tea Green-related Blog Posts

- Tea Green Golf Club

Crazy Golf on "Rory and Will - Champions of The World"

The "Unofficial Worlds TV Crazy Golf Championship Challenge" played in Hastings and shown on Channel 5!

Back in September 2012 the 'Castle Golf' World Crazy Golf Champion Michael Smith and three-time Women's World Crazy Golf Champion Ruth Burke and I (ably supported by BMGA Tour Pro Steve Sturdy) filmed a piece for the lighthearted travel documentary "Rory and Will - Champions of The World" for Channel 5 at the famous 18-hole Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Hastings, East Sussex. A few photos from the day's filming are below.

Rory McGrath lines up a Putt on the tough 14th hole in Hastings as his Crazy Golf Coach Michael Smith  looks on

The British Minigolf Association's Crazy Minigolfing Team in Hastings after filming, from l-r Rory McGrath, Ruth Burke, Michael Smith, Will Mellor, and me! (pic by Steve Sturdy)

Rory & Will's Champions of the World 'Unofficial World Crazy Golf Championship' Trophy - with customary seaside 99 with a flake!

If you missed the first airing, then you can watch the episode when it's repeated on Friday 8th of February at 7pm. You can also watch the programme on Channel 5's 'Demand 5' service!

If you enjoyed watching the programme, like Crazy Golf & Minigolf and fancy giving the sport a go then why not sign-up to the British Minigolf Association - there are FREE and paid options available and you can find out more on the BMGA website's Membership page.

The Hastings Crazy Golf course is the host venue for the 'Castle Golf' World Crazy Golf Championship and 2013 will see the eleventh edition of the tournament held. If that's too long to wait to take part in a Crazy Golf tournament then you can enter the first-ever BMGA British Crazy Golf Open that will be held in March!

Related Blog Post:

- Crazy Golf to feature on "Rory and Will - Champions of The World"

Links:

- Rory and Will - Champions of The World

- British Minigolf Association (BMGA)

- Hastings Adventure Golf

- British Minigolf Association Factsheet

Fish & Chips, Gluten Free Dessert and some Bar Billiards in Baldock

A fun Tuesday night out in Baldock.

With the Fish 'n' Chick'n' fish & chip shop in Baldock, Hertfordshire continuing to offer Gluten Free fish & chips (and battered mushrooms!) on the last Tuesday of the month, a group of us (including a pair of Coeliacs) headed there for a slap-up feed. As the Orange Tree Pub in Baldock also does Gluten Free food we decided to head there for some post-fish & chips Desserts and Bar Billiards.

The Orange Tree is a great pub and there's always a nice welcome on offer. As I was driving I couldn't have a Gluten Free beer (Hambleton's Ale is stocked there), but our party ordered the Gluten Free Chocolate Brownie that was being freshly prepared! While we waited we had a mini Bar Billiards tournament.

The Bar Billiards table has been moved into its own little room at the pub and it's also been refurbished and has a brand new baize!

Emily ready to take to the newly baized Bar Billiards table

In game one Emily took on Simon 'Practice' Hall in a closely fought contest that saw Simon win 440 to 380.

In the second match I faced off against the debuting Cat 'Corner' Patterson in a game that went to a sudden-death shootout on the black mushroom 200-hole! I won in a 870 to 420 match.

Following the Gluten Free pudding we contested a doubles match that also went to a sudden-death shootout and after I missed the first attempt at the 200-hole Simon stepped up and nailed the shot to win the tie 740 to 650 for his pairing with Emily.

The pub has had a garden renovation too and there is a great looking outside seating area that we'll be making use of in the summer.

Related Blog Posts:

- Results of a three town 'Octathlon' sporting challenge series

- Gluten Free Food & Beer (and Bar Billiards) in Baldock

- Bar Billiards in Baldock & Knebworth

- All Bar Billiards Blog Posts on The Ham & Egger Files

- Gluten Free Fish & Chips that we've found on our travels

- Gluten Free Ales, Beers and Lagers

Links:

- The Orange Tree Baldock

- Fish 'n' Chick'n' Baldock

- Coeliac UK

Happy Groundhog Day 2013

Punxsutawney Phil predicts an early spring!

This morning legendary Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil prognosticated whether there would be a prolonged winter, or an early spring. As tradition dictates if he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather! This year, for only the 15th time in the previous 116 Groundhog Days Punxsutawney Phil did NOT see his shadow, so we are in for an early spring.

Emerging from his burrow on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, USA the prognosticator of prognosticators Punxsutawney Phil spoke to the President of the Groundhog Club in "Groundhogese" who conveyed the prediction to the crowd and the world at large!

A 'Punxutawney Phil' doesn't see his shadow while another 'Punxutawney Phil' does see it. Photo for illustrative purposes only.

Links:

- Groundhog Club

- Groundhog Day

- Punxutawney Phil on Twitter

New Factsheet from the British Minigolf Association

Check out the British Minigolf Association's website for 33 Facts and Stats about the British Minigolf Association and Minigolf in the UK.

The BMGA has a new Factsheet available with information, stats and facts about the BMGA since its formation in 1998. It also contains links to useful websites and associations in the sport of Minigolf.

The British Minigolf Association is the governing body for Minigolf Sport, including Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf. Free and BMGA Tour Pro Membership options are available. For more information please visit the BMGA website.

Link:
- British Minigolf Association Factsheet

Crazy Golf to feature on "Rory and Will - Champions of The World"

Channel 5 TV show to feature Crazy Golf on new show "Rory and Will - Champions of The World".

The new Channel 5 TV Show "Rory and Will - Champions of The World" will feature Crazy Golf on the next episode. Filmed at the Hastings seafront Crazy Golf course last year Rory McGrath and Will Mellor received some coaching from two of the world's best Crazy Golfers and then challenged each other to find out which of them is the best player in their ongoing challenge match.

You can catch a glimpse of Will Mellor playing Crazy Golf on the trailer for episode 2 at the end of the first show.

Episode 1 saw the pair take on Reliant Robin Racing, Nurdling, Thumb Wrestling, Fishing and Pea Shooting!

Links:

- Rory and Will - Champions of The World

- British Minigolf Association (BMGA)

- Hastings Adventure Golf

Minigolf Report – Gottfried’s begin new Miniature Golf Season at the BMGA Star City Open in Birmingham

13th and 18th place finishes for Luton-based Minigolfers Richard & Emily Gottfried at the first-event of the BMGA season.

Luton Minigolfers Richard and Emily Gottfried were back in Minigolf action on Sunday 27th January as they teed-off in the first competition of the British Minigolf Association’s 2013 Tour season at the BMGA Star City Open at Adventure Island Mini Golf, Star City, Birmingham.

Richard finished in 13th place for the second year in a row, with Emily in 18th place in the 24-player field.

Richard scored a three-round total of 104(-4), having scored 35, 37 and 32. Richard still jointly holds the official BMGA course record of 28(-8) on the Lost Hut Trail which he equalled in 2010 at the BMGA National Open. Emily scored a total 109(+1) after rounds of 36, 32 and 41.

Richard Gottfried playing the 8th hole at Adventure Island Mini Golf

The tournament was played over three 18-hole rounds on the Lost Hut Trail course at the Star City venue and was won by Michael Smith. Adam Kelly was runner-up, with Paul Johnson third.

Richard said "I’m happy with my round of 32, but my 35 and 37 weren't good. I didn't drop many shots, but missed too many hole-in-one opportunities. Emily played some really good Minigolf and it was disappointing to see her drop so many shots on one bad hole. I’m really looking forward to playing at the new BMGA British Crazy Golf Open in Hastings in March and the BMGA British Masters at Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing."

Emily Gottfried on the 9th hole at Adventure Island Mini Golf

Emily said “Adventure Island Mini Golf at Star City remains as a fantastic location for a winter tournament, as well as a great start to the new season. My first two rounds were great and I played well, but unfortunately one bad hole on the third round was enough to put me out of prize contention. Still, I enjoyed the tournament and the weekend, and can’t wait for the next competition in March.”

Richard and Emily are now in their seventh year as BMGA Tour Pro players. Last season Richard was ranked 5th of 120 players in the BMGA Season Rankings, 15th of 96 players in the BMGA Strokeplay Order of Merit Rankings and 15th of 60 players in the BMGA Matchplay Order of Merit Rankings. Emily was ranked 37th in the Season Only Rankings and 41st place in both the Strokeplay & Matchplay Order of Merit Rankings. Richard was 17th in the 2012 ‘Castle Golf’ World Crazy Golf Championship. And in last year's World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) Rankings Richard placed in tied 391st place in the WMF General Class (Adults) Men's category, with Emily ranked in tied 113th place in the WMF General Class (Adults) Women’s category.

Ends

Links and Further Information:

- The British Minigolf Association is the governing body for Minigolf Sport, including Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf. Free and BMGA Tour Pro Membership options are available. For more information please visit the BMGA website

- A British Minigolf Association Factsheet with 33 Facts and Stats about the BMGA and Minigolf in the UK can also be found on the BMGA website

- Adventure Island Mini Golf at Star City website

Miniature Golf Days in 2013

Special days to celebrate Minigolf!

If, like me, you're a fan of Miniature Golf (and it's many varieties) you'll be pleased to know that there are a number of special days to celebrate the great game!

The first will be on Saturday 11th of May 2013 which marks 'National Miniature Golf Day'.

The second is 'Miniature Golf Day' which always falls on the 21st of September and this year will be a Saturday.

Playing the 18th hole in front of the crowd at Wroxham Barns in the 2011 BMGA English Open

Interestingly two British Minigolf Association Tour competitions will be taking place on each of the above 'days', with the BMGA British Championships taking place at Wroxham Barns in Hoveton, Norfolk on the weekend of the 11th & 12th of May. Saturday 21st September will see the first day's play of the BMGA British International Open contested at Strokes Adventure Golf in Margate, Kent.

Playing hole 2 at the 2012 BMGA British Open at Strokes Adventure Golf in Margate, Kent

Last year on the 6th of May the Austrian Minigolf Federation (Österreichischer Bahnengolf-Verband - OBGV) organised the third-annual 'Minigolf Tag' ('Minigolf Day').

Related Blog Posts:

- Miniature Golf Days in 2012

- Dates for your Diary - National Miniature Golf Day

- Happy Miniature Golf Day 2011

- How I celebrated Miniature Golf Day 2011

- Let's get Minigolf 'trending' - Twitter, Minigolf and #MinigolfMonday

- Types and Variants of Miniature Golf visited and played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Links:

- National Miniature Golf Day on Wikipedia (within ‘Miniature Golf’ article - the first edition was in 2007)

- Miniature Golf Day on the Holiday Insights website

- #MinigolfMonday on Twitter

- British Minigolf Association

- World Minigolf Sport Federation

Minigolfnews.com 'Minigolf Photo of the Year' Competition Entry

Entry to the Minigolfnews.com Photo of the Year competition for the 2012 Minigolf season.

Here's the photo I am submitting on behalf of Emily Gottfried for the Minigolfnews.com Minigolf Photo of the Year competition.

The most avid spectator at the 2012 'Castle Golf' World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings watches Richard Gottfried playing the 18th hole of the seafront Crazy Golf course

It was taken during the final rounds of the Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championship in Hastings on Sunday 28th October 2012. The dog was one of the most excited members of the crowd at the event!

Links:

- Minigolfnews.com
- Photo of the year 2012 vote coming up

Related Blog Posts:
- Doggone Minigolf!
- Minigolf Report – Richard Gottfried a finalist in the ‘Castle Golf’ World Crazy Golf Championship

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" Minigolf Videos by Allan 'The Putter King' Cox

New Minigolf Videos by Australia's Allan 'The Putter King' Cox.

The 2011 / 2012 Putter King Allan Cox has put together some Minigolf videos in a new series called "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery". The Putt Putt star has based some of his trick shots on some of those I made as part of my entry into The Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunts. Check them out 

below:

Blindfold Mini Golf trick shot

Mini Golf Trick Shots on the Loop De Loop

Links: 

- Allan Cox's YouTube Channel, PuttPuttdownunder

- The Putter King 

- Ermington Putters Club 

- Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt related blog posts - 1st Edition - 2nd Edition

- My YouTube Channel

- Video: Minigolf Trick Shot - Blindfolded Hole-in-One - Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt

- Video: Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt 2011 - Task 16 - Hole-in-One on a Loop-de-Loop Hole

Join the British Minigolf Association for the 2013 Minigolf Season

Membership available to join the British Minigolf Association for the 2013 Minigolf Season.

The British Minigolf Association (BMGA) is the Governing Body for Minigolf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf sport in the UK and offers two membership options - 'Free' & 'BMGA Tour Pro'.

- The 'Free Membership' option via an online registration on the BMGA website ensures members receive regular newsletters on forthcoming events, ranking updates and results from competitions on the BMGA Tour.

- The 'Tour Card Membership' costs £20 for the season and entitles players to discounted pre-event practice rates at tournament venues on the calendar (some venues will offer these rates all season) and priority entry to selected events (subject to availability) before entries are opened to non Tour Pro members and the general public.

Full details of what is available to members under the two tiers of membership can be found at the BMGA Membership Page. To register for Free BMGA Membership please visit the BMGA website registration page.

The BMGA organises and promotes Miniature Golf and Crazy Golf competitions each year. Last season there were 28 competitions, with fourteen full BMGA Tour Ranking events held on eleven courses. You can find more details on the Roll of Honour for the 2012 season.

Last season I competed in twelve full British Minigolf Association Tour events and won a BMGA Tour title with victory at the BMGA & Putterfingers Oswestry Games Championship in July. Emily and I also represented Great Britain at the WMF World Adventure Golf Masters in Hastings and I ended the year with a career-best ranking of 5th in the BMGA Season Only Rankings for 2012.

You can download an information sheet with details of the BMGA and 'The (Abridged) Rules of BMGA Minigolf' here.

If you have any questions about BMGA Tour membership please contact the BMGA via its website.

Yours in sport,

'Squire' Richard Gottfried

BMGA Tour Pro

Great Britain International

Member of the Midlands Minigolf Club

Member of the BMGA since January 2007

Nominations Open for the Luton Sports Awards!

Please nominate us for the Luton Sports Awards!

Entries have opened for the annual Luton Sports Awards, organised by Luton Sports Network and Emily & I would both really appreciate your nomination to help us be shortlisted (and hopefully win) a prestigious Luton Sports Award. Details on 'Criteria' and 'How to Nominate' is below. The nomination form can be downloaded from here.

International Minigolfers Emily & Richard Gottfried

Emily is entering the ‘Sports Woman of the Year’ category and I am entering the ‘Sports Man of the Year’ category. A summary of the highlights of our 2012 Minigolf Season can also be found below.

The closing date for nominations is Monday 18th of February 2013 and the Awards Ceremony will take place on Thursday 21st of March 2013. further details about the Luton Sports Awards and Luton Sports Network can be found on the Luton Sports Network website.

British Minigolf Association (BMGA) Tour Competition Highlights 2012

- I won a BMGA Tour title with victory at the BMGA & Putterfingers Oswestry Games Championship in July
- Emily was the runner-up in the Planet Hastings Crazy Golf Club Open in October and in the second placed team at the BMGA Oswestry Games Pro-Am Minigolf Classic
- I was the runner-up in the Category 2 BMGA British Minigolf Championships and 7th place overall in the Major championship
- Emily captained a Cambridgeshire Mini Golf Club team at the BMGA British Club Championships leading them to fourth place

British Minigolf Association (BMGA) Tour Rankings for 2012

- I finished the 2012 Miniature Golf season ranked in a career-high of 5th place in the 2012 BMGA Season Only Rankings. Emily was ranked 37th in the 120 player strong rankings and the third-best female player in the list

- In the BMGA Strokeplay Order of Merit Rankings I finished in 15th place of 96 players, with Emily in 41st place and second amongst the female players

- In the BMGA Matchplay Order of Merit I was ranked 15th of 60 players, with Emily in 41st place and in fifth place of the female players

- In the BMGA 2012 Season Rankings for Clubs Emily and the Cambridgeshire Mini Golf Club finished in second place. Me and the Midlands Minigolf Club finished in third place of six teams

International Minigolf Tournament Highlights 2012

- Both Emily and I gained our fourth Great Britain caps when we competed in the second WMF World Adventure Golf Masters tournament in Hastings in May. I finished the event in 14th place overall and in 11th place in the men’s competition. Emily was runner-up in the women’s event and 17th overall. As part of the Great Britain B team (with Brad Shepherd & Ruth Burke) we finished the international championship in fourth place
- At October’s ‘Castle Golf’ World Crazy Golf Championship in Hastings I was once again a finalist and finished the tournament in 17th place of 53 players in my sixth appearance for England

Independent Minigolf Competition Highlights 2012

- I won the Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Championship June Play-off at Selfridges London and went on to win the Grand Final in August
- I also won the Chrizy Golf Masters Championship in Manchester in December
- Emily was tied third in the Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Championship Grand Final

Other Highlights from 2012

- I was the organiser of the Minigolf activities in the 2012 Oswestry Games festival of sport held in Oswestry, Shropshire. The Oswestry Games were the first multi-sport event that Minigolf had been a part of in the UK and along with fellow coaches from the British Minigolf Association we organised a series of training & coaching activities and competitions for local novice players, a Pro-Am and a tournament for BMGA Tour Pro players
- As a member of the BMGA's Executive Committee I helped to organise and promote 28 British Minigolf Association Tour Events and as part of the WMF's Marketing & Media Committee I worked on eight WMF & EMF International Minigolf Championship Events
- These voluntary sports organisation activities were also logged as part of my Sport Makers logged hours and as a Sport Maker I was a Paralympic Flame Assistant at the Paralympic Flame Celebration Event in Luton in August
- Emily was a Tournament Director at the BMGA British Open tournament held at Strokes Adventure Golf in Margate in September and also helped run and marshal other BMGA competitions during the season including the 'Castle Golf' World Crazy Golf Championship in October

Photo Links:
- Richard teeing-off in the 'Castle Golf' World Crazy Golf Championship in Hastings
- Richard playing hole 16 in the 'Castle Golf' World Crazy Golf Championship
- Richard playing hole 1 at the BMGA British Club Championship in Basingstoke
- Richard playing during the BMGA & Putterfingers Oswestry Games Championship
- Richard with his gold medal on the podium following his win at the BMGA & Putterfingers Oswestry Games Championship 
- Richard with the trophy from the Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Championship June Play-off at Selfridges London
- Emily playing the final hole at the Planet Hastings Crazy Golf Club Open
- Emily with her silver medal at the Oswestry Games Pro-Am Tournament

Related Blog Posts:

- Minigolf Report – Gottfried’s Final Results & End of Season Review 2012
- End of Season BMGA Tour Minigolf Rankings for 2012
- Richard Gottfried - Minigolf Player Profile
- Emily Gottfried - Minigolf Player Profile
- 2012 - A Big Year of Sport

Links:

- Luton Sports Network

- British Minigolf Association

- World Minigolf Sport Federation

Caption the Photo...

...a long time ago in Minigolf.

Me and Christopher Gottfried at TopGolf Watford's Adventure Golf course in April 2007!

The 18-hole Adventure Golf course at TopGolf Watford was the eighth (of the 523 courses) we've visited to-date and we first played there in December 2006!

Related Blog Posts:
- Watford
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Winning some Pirates Adventure Golf 'Treasure'

Winning a Pirates Adventure Golf Facebook Competition!

The team at Pirates Adventure Golf in Dundonald, Belfast, Northern Ireland have recently been running a number of online competitions to win Pirates Adventure Golf Goodies and I won the competition on Tuesday 11th December :-)

My prizes from the 'Guess the Number of Golf Balls Captain Jack Frost Fired at the Fort' Contest were three pin badges and a t-shirt. Some more great Minigolf items for my collection!

Back in August 2010 Emily and I visited and played at Pirates Adventure Golf. There are two 18-hole Adventure Golf courses there - Blackbeard's Adventure and The Captain's Challenge - and they became the 188th and 189th courses we played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. Very good fun and testing courses they are too. While in Northern Ireland we played a Minigolf Challenge Tournament (the NIBBAL-IT) against Northern Ireland's top Minigolfers - Mark 'The Horse Whisperer' Swain and Craig 'Kamikaze' McCallister, with the Bangor Minigolf Club members winning the contest.

The courses have played host to two British Minigolf Association tournaments when Pirates Adventure Golf was the venue for the BMGA Irish Open in 2006 and 2007.

Links:

- Pirates Adventure Golf Website

- Pirates Adventure Golf Facebook

- Pirates Adventure Golf Twitter

Related Blog Post:

- Pirates Adventure Golf in Belfast, Northern Ireland - Crazy World of Minigolf courses played #188 & #189

Crazy Golf sessions at Fairwater Leisure Centre with the Cwmbran Minigolf Club

"Crazy Family Fridays at Fairwater Leisure Centre in January!"

The team at Portaputt Crazy Golf are beginning the New Year with fun Crazy Golf sessions on Friday evenings starting from the 4th of January 2013.

The Portaputt Crazy Golf layout at the World Alternative Games 2014

The Portaputt Crazy Golf course will be set-up at Fairwater Leisure Centre from 7pm and players can play multiple rounds between 7 and 8pm. From 8pm there will be a weekly Crazy Golf Challenge competition in adult and junior categories, with prizes up for grabs! 

Portaputt has also started-up the Cwmbran Minigolf Club and players can become members of the latest Miniature Golf Club in the UK, and the first in Wales, when they attend the Crazy Golf fun nights. 

Check out the Portaputt Crazy Golf website for more information.

Links:

- Portaputt Crazy Golf

- "Cwmbran family turn their love of minigolf into a business" story at Cwmbran Life

Related Blog Posts:

- Portaputt Crazy Golf in Cwmbran, Wales

- Wales-related Posts

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list of courses visited and played

- Minigolf etc. - English to Welsh translations