Playing the game of Pit-Pat at Western Putting Miniature Golf in Littlehampton.
Back in March 2010 I visited the Askoe Wien Wasserpark in Vienna, Austria and while there I saw an intriguing game that was a hybrid of Miniature Golf and Billiards! That game was Pit-Pat.
.JPG "The Hindernis Billard layout at the Askoe Wien Wasserpark in Vienna, Austria (March 2010)") |
| The Hindernis Billard layout at the Askoe Wien Wasserpark in Vienna, Austria (March 2010) |
In April 2012 I managed to visit the UK's only known table*, at the Western Putting Minigolf in Littlehampton, West Sussex. Unfortunately my visit was a little late in the day, and out-of-season, so I didn't manage to play.
.JPG "Western Putting (and Pit-Pat) in Littlehampton (April 2012)") |
| Western Putting (and Pit-Pat) in Littlehampton (April 2012) |
That wasn't the case on our recent visit to the south coast as on Thursday 10th of April Emily and I made it to Western Putting on Banjo Road just before 4pm and were able to have a game of Pit-Pat, aka Crazy Snooker.
+Minigolf.JPG "Crazy Snooker cue and carry-case in hand and ready to play Pit-Pat")
+Minigolf.JPG "A view of the Pit-Pat course in Littlehampton") |
| A view of the Pit-Pat course in Littlehampton |
The game is a version of the 'Eternit' style of Miniature Golf, most often found in continental Europe, but played on tables and with cues rather than putters.
The obstacles are very similar to those found on Mini and Crazy Golf courses and the balls used are like specialist Minigolf-sport balls, rather than standard Golf, or low-bounce, balls.
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| My favourite table on the layout sees you having to play down table from a tee-off point right next to the hole! |
The obstacles are very similar to those found on Mini and Crazy Golf courses and the balls used are like specialist Minigolf-sport balls, rather than standard Golf, or low-bounce, balls.
+Minigolf.JPG "Emily sets up the skittles on table 1!") |
| Emily sets up the skittles on table 1! |
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| And I knock them all down in one go |
+Minigolf.JPG "Emily lines-up a shot on hole 2") |
| Emily lines-up a shot on hole 2 |
+Minigolf.JPG "Hole / Table 2") |
| Hole / Table 2 |
+Minigolf.JPG "Emily plays up a ramp obstacle") |
| Emily plays up a ramp obstacle |
+Minigolf.JPG "Western Putting on Banjo Road in Littlehampton is also home to a Swedish Felt type of Minigolf course and a grass Putting Green") |
| Western Putting on Banjo Road in Littlehampton is also home to a Swedish Felt type of Minigolf course and a grass Putting Green |
+Minigolf.JPG "Emily shoots the green ball over a little ramp and onto a bigger one") |
| Emily shoots the green ball over a little ramp and onto a bigger one |
+Minigolf.JPG "The Pipe hole - often my nemesis on Eternit Miniature Golf...") |
| The Pipe hole - often my nemesis on Eternit Miniature Golf... |
+Minigolf.JPG "...and no different on Pit-Pat as it was my worst hole!") |
| ...and no different on Pit-Pat as it was my worst hole! |
It's a real novelty to be able to play on a course/set-of tables like the Pit-Pat in Littlehampton. You are provided with a little carry case containing four different coloured Pit-Pat balls, with the table legs painted to correspond with the ball you should use for that particular table/hole/lane.
This is very handy to know as each of the balls has different properties, meaning that some are more bouncy, while others are harder and deader.
With our experience of playing tournament Minigolf in the British Minigolf Association (BMGA) and World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) since 2007 we were already thinking about how different shots could be played on different lanes by mixing the balls up a bit.
+Minigolf.JPG "The specialist Pit-Pat balls in their little red carry-case") |
| The specialist Pit-Pat balls in their little red carry-case |
This is very handy to know as each of the balls has different properties, meaning that some are more bouncy, while others are harder and deader.
+Minigolf.JPG "The green Pit-Pat ball is a bit of a dead ball") |
| The green Pit-Pat ball is a bit of a dead ball |
+Minigolf.JPG "The bouncy yellow Pit-Pat ball") |
| The bouncy yellow Pit-Pat ball |
+Minigolf.JPG "The slightly squidgy purple Pit-Pat ball") |
| The slightly squidgy purple Pit-Pat ball |
+Minigolf.JPG "The Red one") |
| The Red one |
With our experience of playing tournament Minigolf in the British Minigolf Association (BMGA) and World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) since 2007 we were already thinking about how different shots could be played on different lanes by mixing the balls up a bit.
In our match-up on the crazy tables Emily and I drew on a score of 55 each. We can't wait for the rematch!
Videos from our visit:
Many of the Miniature Golf courses in Littlehampton are operated by Inspire Leisure. They also operate facilities in nearby Bognor Regis and all of those we've visited have been in great condition and had very friendly and helpful staff on duty.
There is an International Pit-Pat Association that consists of the Baden-Württembergischer Pit-Pat Association (in Germany), the Austrian Pit-Pat Sports Association and the Swiss Pit-Pat Association. The European Pit-Pat Championships taking place Fehring, Austria on the 31st of May and 1st of June this year. Check out the Pit-Pat TV YouTube Channel for videos of the sport.
Links:
Related blog posts:
Videos:
- Playing Pit-Pat (Crazy Snooker) in Littlehampton 1 of 5 (intro)- Playing Pit-Pat (Crazy Snooker) in Littlehampton 2 of 5 (hole-in-one)
- Playing Pit-Pat (Crazy Snooker) in Littlehampton 3 of 5 (hole-in-two)
- Playing Pit-Pat (Crazy Snooker) in Littlehampton 4 of 5 (two)
- Playing Pit-Pat (Crazy Snooker) in Littlehampton 5 of 5 (hoop)
* While in Skegness, Lincolnshire in May 2011 we saw a sign for 'Crazy Pool', however the 'tables' were long gone when we reached the (derelict) course.
.jpg "Vozars has a great range of cakes and pies to eat-in, or take-away. The WAGfree Black Forest Gateaux (bottom left) is a favourite of mine")
.jpg "My big lunch of a Chicken strips, rocket and chilli mayo sandwich; the Hand cut chunky chips with Vozars mayo; and a Celia gluten free lager")
.jpg "Vozars has had a refurbishment since my last visit in October 2013 and looks great. The food is still as excellent as ever")
+-+Copy.JPG "Richard Gottfried playing hole 13 of the Splash Point Mini Golf course in Worthing during the BMGA British Masters")
+-+Copy.JPG "Emily putting on hole 4 of the Splash Point Mini Golf course in Worthing during the BMGA British Masters Hole-in-One Challenge")
.jpg "A Bar Billiards table in Newcastle-upon-Tyne")
.jpg "An out-of-order Bar Billiards table in Newcastle-upon-Tyne")
.JPG "Playing the very well maintained Bar Billiards table in the pub of the Seaview Hotel in East Preston, near Littlehampton")
.JPG "John 'Big Al' Moore scores while Richard shoots on the Bar Billiards table at the Marine View Hotel in Worthing")
.JPG "A view of the Sharksville Adventure Golf at Littlehampton's Harbour Park")
.JPG "Sharksville Adventure Golf is open")
.JPG "Emily holes out on hole one of the Sharksville Adventure Golf")
.JPG "Playing hole one of the Sharksville Adventure Golf")
.JPG "Emily on hole two of the Sharksville Adventure Golf")
.JPG "The tricky uphill hole three at Sharksville Adventure Golf")
.JPG "Emily on hole four of the Sharksville Adventure Golf in Littlehampton")
.JPG "Emily on hole five at Sharksville Adventure Golf")
.JPG "On hole six at Sharksville Adventure Golf")
.JPG "Emily on hole seven of the Sharksville Adventure Golf course")
.JPG "Emily on the ninth hole at Sharksville Adventure Golf")
.JPG "The final hole at Sharksville Adventure Golf in Littlehampton")
.JPG "Promo card for the Lyle & Scott Masters Hole-in-One Challenge on Carnaby Street")
.JPG "Urban Crazy's Adam on the Lyle & Scott Hole-in-One Challenge hole on Carnaby Street")
.JPG "Tee-ing up my shot on the Lyle & Scott Hole-in-One Challenge")
.JPG "Gareth Holmes failing to get an Ace as Adam and Russell look on")
.JPG "Small swing and a big miss for 'Rowdy' Russell on the Lyle and Scott challenge")