Sunday, September 14, 2014

Crazy Golf in Seahouses, Northumberland

A visit to Seahouses to play Crazy Golf.

Back in April 2012 we embarked on a mammoth leg of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and visited a bumper crop of 49 miniature golf courses!

Mini Golf in Seahouses, Northumberland
At Beaches Crazy Golf in Seahouses

On re-entering England the 18-hole Crazy Golf course at The Bunker on Seafield Road in Seahouses, Northumberland became the 494th course visited overall when we arrived in the town on the 9 April, and the next day became the 297th course played.

Crazy Golf in Seahouses, Northumberland
A view of the Seahouses Crazy Golf course

Driving through the town you can't miss the course as its sat right next to the road!

Seahouses Crazy Golf on Seafield Road
The Beaches Crazy Golf course is right next to Seafield Road in Seahouses. Note the historic plaque built into the wall - the public gardens were opened in April 1980

Each of the holes on the Beaches Crazy Golf course have a local landmark theme and name. The course is well worth a play, with some interesting, tricky obstacles and hole layouts.

Seahouses Crazy Golf
Crazy Golf in Seahouses

In damp weather conditions on the 10 April 2012 we played a match-up on the course as part of our 'North West England, Scotland & North East England Tour Challenge' . In the contest I defeated Emily with a score of 36(par) to 45(+9).

Seahouses Crazy Golf
Emily playing a criss-cross of two holes at the Seahouses Crazy Golf course!

The course was the last of the thirteen we were able to play on our roadtrip, and the 48th visited overall during the holiday.

Crazy Golf in Seahouses, Northumberland

Crazy Golf in Seahouses, Northumberland

Crazy Golf in Seahouses, Northumberland

Crazy Golf in Seahouses, Northumberland


Seahouses Crazy Golf

Seahouses Crazy Golf

Seahouses Crazy Golf

Seahouses Crazy Golf

For more information, photos and prices for the Seahouses Crazy Golf course check out The Bunker website.

Seahouses Crazy Golf
The Crazy Golf course and The Bunker clubhouse in Seahouses

During the trip we managed to play the world's first miniature golf course - at St Andrews.

Link:
- The Bunker Seahouses

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - List and links for all Miniature Golf courses visited to date
- Visiting a further 49 Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses in England and Scotland

Videos:
- View of the course 1
- View of the course 2

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Celiac Awareness Day!

September 13 is Celiac Awareness Day!


So, I was blissfully unaware that today is Celiac Awareness Day until I noticed a Facebook post by 1-2-3 Gluten Free! So here's a blog post about today's 'Day'.

Celiac Central, the national foundation for celiac awareness in the USA, are the group behind Celiac Awareness Day.

Check out the Celiac Central website for more information and their top ten ideas for marking Celiac Awareness Day.

Richard Gottfried is Gluten Free
I've been living the gluten free life since I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease in May 2008. One of Celiac Central's ideas for Celiac Awareness Day was to show support by wearing green. I've worn blue clothes today - but here's a photo of me from last Christmas in my festive jumper

Things to remember about Celiac/Coeliac - it's NOT an allergy, it's NOT a preference, it's NOT a fad, it's NOT a diet, it's NOT an intolerance, it's NOT a choice - it's an AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE.

Also, it's NOT contagious - though it can sometimes be quite amusing to see waiting staff and people who've never heard of it before recoiling in horror at your 'plague'.

Coeliac Disease (aka Celiac Disease in the USA) is a lifelong autoimmune disease caused by intolerance to gluten and while there is no cure the only treatment is to adhere a strict lifelong gluten free diet - which can be harder than you think when you factor in the risks and hazards of cross-contamination!

In the UK it's estimated that 1 in 100 people have the condition, in the USA the figure is 1 in 133.

The strict gluten free diet means that a number of commonly found ingredients must be avoided. A non-exhaustive list of gluten containing things include wheat, barley, rye and oats. This means the diet is restrictive, expensive and can be a challenge. Every day is a learning experience about how to manage the condition, so its great to see so much information available online.

Good work by 1-2-3 Gluten Free in spreading the word. I met the team at the Allergy and Free From Show 2014 at Olympia and they told me about the brand's launch in the UK, having started life in the USA.

This year Coeliac Awareness Week here in the UK ran from the 12 to 18 May and Coeliac UK promoted the Gluten-free guarantee to ensure that key gluten free items are available in stores around the UK.

May was also Celiac Awareness Month in the US and Canada.

The team at Glutenlibre have their own 'smashmouth awareness campaign' and are on a mission to spread awareness worldwide. Check out the Glutenlibre website for more info.

Related blog posts:
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac
- Celiac
- Minigolfing gluten free in Margate
- Coeliac UK Awareness Week 2014 and the Gluten-free guarantee
- Awareness Week: Coeliac Facts from Udi's Gluten Free
Funny things about being a Coeliac

Links:
- Celiac Central - the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness
- Coeliac UK
- 1-2-3 Gluten Free
- #CeliacAwarenessDay on Twitter

National Minigolf Rankings Update

Latest national ranking lists from the British Minigolf Association.

The official BMGA rankings have been updated following the Midlands Open minigolf tournament and the BMGA British Doubles Championships held at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull.

Emily Gottfried playing Minigolf at Dorridge
Emily Gottfried playing hole 12 at Dorridge

Emily Gottfried's rankings for the Strokeplay Order of Merit in the 2013/14 season:
Following the BMGA Star City Open - 42nd of 74 places (135 players)
Following the BMGA Star City Open & AGM changes - 34th of 79 places (135 players)
Following the BMGA British Masters - 26th of 84 places (137 players)
Following the BMGA British Championships - 21st of 85 places (138 players)
Following the Splash Point Open - 21st of 85 places (138 players)
Following the Midlands Open - 21st of 86 places (140 players)

Richard Gottfried playing Minigolf at Dorridge
Richard Gottfried playing Minigolf in Dorridge

Richard Gottfried's rankings for the Strokeplay Order of Merit in the 2013/14 season:
Following the BMGA Star City Open - 12th of 74 places (135 players)
Following the BMGA Star City Open & AGM changes - 11th of 79 places (135 players)
Following the BMGA British Masters - 7th of 84 places (137 players)
Following the BMGA British Championships - 10th of 85 places (138 players)
Following the Splash Point Open - 11th of 85 places (138 players)
- Following the Midlands Open - 10th of 86 places (140 players)

Following the BMGA British Doubles Championships Emily has moved up to from 22nd to tied 20th of 55 players in the BMGA Matchplay Order of Merit Rankings. I have moved up from 43rd place to 38th.

In the BMGA Season Only Rankings following the Midlands Open Emily is at 14th of 57 players, while I am in 25th place.

Emily and I are both ranked in the World Minigolf Sport Federation's General Class ranking lists.

Emily and Richard Gottfried at the 2011 WMF Nations Cup in Stockholm, Sweden
Emily and Richard Gottfried at the 2011 WMF Nations Cup in Stockholm, Sweden

In the women's rankings Emily is in tied 120th position of 128 places (132 players). In the men's rankings I am ranked in tied 397th place of 413 places (419 players).

For further information on the BMGA, competitions and how to join visit the British Minigolf Association website.

Links:
British Minigolf Association (BMGA)
BMGA on Facebook
BMGA on Twitter

Related blog posts:
World Minigolf Rankings for 2014
Rankings
Richard Gottfried's Minigolf Player Profile
Emily Gottfried's Minigolf Player Profile

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

National Town Criers Championships in Hastings

Historic Hastings to Host Hollering Battle.

My friend and minigolf rival John 'Big Top Ted' McIver let me know that the 62nd edition of the annual National Town Criers Championships is coming up soon.

National Town Crier Championships in 2012
A Town Crier being stentorian in Hastings at the 60th National Town Crier Championships in 2012

The Town Criers, representing towns around the country, will gather at the Priory Meadow Shopping Centre in the town on Saturday 18 October between 11am and 5pm where they will be judged on volume, diction, clarity and inflection.

National Town Criers Championships in Hastings
I don't know what the collective term is for a group of Town Criers, but here's a gathering of a few at the 2012 National Town Criers Championships in Hastings

Back in 2011 we visited the 59th edition of the National Town Criers Championships and we went along for a watch at the 60th event in 2012 too. The competition is a great spectacle.

Hastings is a great seaside town to visit, with plenty of community and cultural events going on. We're often there for Mini, Crazy and Adventure Golf tournaments down on the seafront.

Looking at the website of the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers there's a thriving competition circuit!

I wonder if Worthing's new Town Crier (the former Mayor and all-round character) Bob Smytherman will be competing over the border in East Sussex?

Bun Throwing in Abingdon
My home town of Abingdon on Thames has a very special event held on special occasions. Bun Throwing sees the townsfolk scramble for hot cross buns thrown from the roof of the old County Hall. Here's me, my brother Jon, and my dad Chris with Abingdon's Town Crier after the April 2011 Royal Bun Throwing

Links:
The Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers
- Visit 1066 Country
The 62nd National Town Criers Championship on the 1066 Country website
- National Town Criers Championship on the Hastings Borough Council website

Related blog posts:
- The 59th Annual National Town Criers Championships in Hastings
- Hastings
- World of Bun Throwing

Tuesday, September 09, 2014

Minigolf Doubles Record Update - September 2014

Update of my career minigolf doubles record following the 2014 BMGA British Doubles Championship held at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge.

Minigolf Doubles Career Record (click to englarge)

Minigolf Doubles Career Record of Richard Gottfried

My first minigolf doubles match was on the 17 May 2008, when I teamed with Emily in a loss to the 'Casual Force' combo of Sean Homer and Marion Homer at the 2008 BMGA British Doubles Championship in Warwick.

Minigolfer Richard Gottfried playing the 12th hole at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge
Playing the 12th hole at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge

Since then I've played 75 matches, with 38 wins, 6 draws and 31 losses. In those 75 matches I've had a total of 21 playing partners - the latest being John 'Ted' McIver, who I teamed up with in a losing effort to Emily and my former team-mate Scott 'Donkey Gringo' Lancley.

Weymouth Minigolf Open Team Tournament Champions - Richard Gottfried & Chris Harding
Me and Chris Harding - 2011 Weymouth Open Team Champions

My other team-mates have been: Matt Smith, Andy Gonsalves, Owen Johnson, Paul Johnson, Kevin Moseley, Chris Harding, Simon Hall, Leo Kukielka, Christopher Gottfried, Alan Norman, Oliver Florence, Julio Kent, Richard Skeggs, William Collins, Michael Smith, Seth Thomas, Guy Martin and Adam Kelly.

Related blog posts:
- Doubles
- Dorridge

Monday, September 08, 2014

Minigolf Report from Dorridge

8th September 2014
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report from Dorridge

Results from the Midlands Open competition and BMGA British Doubles Championships held at the Four Ashes Golf Centre.

Luton Minigolfers Richard and Emily Gottfried competed in two Minigolf tournaments at the 12-hole course at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge, Solihull on the 6th and 7th September.

In the Midlands Open competition held on Saturday Emily finished in 17th place overall in the 29 player field. Richard was 19th.

Crazy Golf at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge
Emily playing the fourth hole at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge

Emily scored a four-round total of 98(+2) with rounds of 26, 24, 24 and 24.

Richard scored a total of 100(+4) after rounds of 25, 24, 25 and 26.

Minigolf at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge
Richard Gottfried playing hole five at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge

On Sunday the pair teamed-up for the first time since 2008 to take on thirteen other duos in the BMGA British Doubles Championship. After six rounds of play the team finished in 6th place.

A score of 22(-2) in the first qualifying round saw them top the rankings. This was followed up with a 24(par) to finish 5th in the preliminary classification round.

In the seeded matchplay knockout stages they were drawn against the London pair of Max Plaice and Becky Statham and would go on to win 3&2.

In the quarter-finals the duo were defeated 3&2 by Margate’s Scott Lancley and Hastings’ John ‘Ted’ McIver.

The team bounced back in the classification match against Cambridge’s James Rutherford and Canterbury’s Marc Chapman with Emily scoring holes-in-one on four of the six holes she played and Richard acing the final hole for a 1up victory.

The pair were defeated by Brechin’s Freddie Blackburn-Shaw and London’s Will Donnelly in the match for 5th place, with Donnelly scoring a hole-in-one at the first hole of a sudden-death play-off.

Commenting after the weekend’s events Emily said “I was really pleased with my 17th place finish in the Midlands Open. I felt that I played well, scoring quite a few aces, however I was let down by my performance on one particularly tricky hole. I carried that level of performance over into the Doubles on the second day of competition, achieving consistent aces through the day. Richard and I were a great team, helping and motivating each other and I was pleased with sixth place.”

Richard said “Emily played well all weekend and was a great partner in the British Doubles, scoring a huge amount of aces and we picked up some good wins and a great first round score.”

Michael Smith of Oxford won the Midlands Open, with Birmingham’s Chris Harding teaming with Smith to win the BMGA British Doubles Championship.

Ends

Thursday, September 04, 2014

British Minigolf Rankings Update

Latest national ranking lists from the British Minigolf Association.

The official BMGA rankings have been updated following the inaugural Splash Point Open competition held at the 18-hole Splash Point Mini Golf course in Denton Gardens, Worthing.

Richard Gottfried's rankings in the Strokeplay Order of Merit in the 2013/14 season:
- Following the BMGA Star City Open - 12th of 74 places (135 players)
- Following the BMGA Star City Open & AGM changes - 11th of 79 places (135 players)
- Following the BMGA British Masters - 7th of 84 places (137 players)
- Following the BMGA British Championships - 10th of 85 places (138 players)
- Following the Splash Point Open - 11th of 85 places (138 players)

Minigolf Photo: Richard Gottfried at Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing earlier this year
Richard Gottfried at Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing earlier this year

Emily Gottfried's rankings in the Strokeplay Order of Merit in the 2013/14 season:
- Following the BMGA Star City Open - 42nd of 74 places (135 players)
- Following the BMGA Star City Open & AGM changes - 34th of 79 places (135 players)
- Following the BMGA British Masters - 26th of 84 places (137 players)
- Following the BMGA British Championships - 21st of 85 places (138 players)
- Following the Splash Point Open - 21st of 85 places (138 players)

Minigolf Photo: Emily Gottfried playing at Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing earlier this season
Emily Gottfried playing at Splash Point Mini Golf in Worthing earlier this season

In the current BMGA Matchplay Order of Merit rankings Emily is at 22 of 53 players (52 places), while I am in 43rd place.

In the BMGA Season Only Rankings following the Splash Point Open Emily is at 20th of 51 players, while I am in 26th place.

Emily and I are both ranked in the World Minigolf Sport Federation's General Class ranking lists. In the women's rankings Emily is in tied 120th position of 128 places / 132 players. In the men's rankings I am ranked in tied 397th place of 413 places / 419 players.

For further information on the BMGA, competitions and how to join visit the BMGA website.

Links:
- British Minigolf Association (BMGA)
- BMGA on Facebook
- BMGA on Twitter

Related blog posts:
- World Minigolf Rankings for 2014
- Latest BMGA minigolf matchplay rankings
- Rankings
- Richard Gottfried's Minigolf Player Profile
- Emily Gottfried's Minigolf Player Profile

Crazy Golf at The Dolphin Pub in Melbourn

A revisit to a pub beer garden course in Cambridgeshire. Or not as it would turn out.

On our way home from a recent visit to Ipswich we stopped off at The Dolphin Pub in Melbourn, Cambridgeshire for a quick soft drink in the beer garden there.

Back in May 2010 we'd visited the pub to have a look at the derelict 4-hole Crazy Golf course there. It wasn't playable then (no putters or balls at the bar) and we were told it was "just there"!

The 4-hole Mini Golf course layout at The Dolphin pub in Melbourn (May 2010)
The 4-hole Crazy Golf course layout at The Dolphin pub in Melbourn (May 2010)

The course is long-gone now.

In the beer garden of The Dolphin pub in Melbourn (August 2014)
In the beer garden of The Dolphin pub in Melbourn (August 2014)

However, there was a little football target game set-up so I had a kickabout on that.

The Dolphin Pub in Melbourn
Having a kickabout in the beer garden

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Course Visit #223 Overall - The Dolphin Pub, Melbourn, Cambs
Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses in Pub Beer Gardens

Link:
- The Dolphin Pub

Wednesday, September 03, 2014

A Crazy Golf 'ghost' course in Felixstowe

A revisit to Felixstowe, Suffolk.

While promenading in the East Anglian seaside resort of Felixstowe we always walk passed the once busy, but now derelict amusements and boating pond near to the leisure centre on Sea Road.

Back in 2006 the Crazy Golf that stood on the site was the 6th course played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour!

However, in April 2010 the course was removed from the land and moved just up the road where it became the Ocean Boulevard Crazy Golf course - in its new layout it became the 166th course played.

Amazingly even after all this time - and the strong weather conditions the sea front at Felixstowe receives - the outline of the course still remains as a ghostly echo!

Crazy Golf in Felixstowe, Suffolk
The ghostly outline of the old Crazy Golf course on Sea Road in Felixstowe in August 2014

Crazy Golf in Felixstowe, Suffolk
How the Sea Road Crazy Golf course looked in May 2009. More photos from our visits to the course since 2006 can be found here.

Related blog posts:
- Course Visit Update - Felixstowe Sea Road Crazy Golf (April 2010)
- Course Visit #166 (& 6a) - Felixstowe (Ocean Boulevard Golf/Hollywood Holes/Grand Canyon Golf - Sea Front) - Crazy Golf
- Felixstowe
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour List

Tuesday, September 02, 2014

Gluten Free Enjoy Life Soft Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies

Finding some new gluten free cookies in Tesco.

While shopping in Tesco Metro in The Mall Luton I spotted an interesting box on the Free From shelves - it was was from the US company Enjoy Life and contained chocolate chip soft baked cookies.

As I'm always looking for new and different gluten free food & drink to try I had to get them.

Enjoy Life gluten free cookies
The Enjoy Life Soft Baked Cookies contain twelve delicious treats. Unfortunately I had already scoffed four of them before I was able to take this photo

After poring over the details on the box to ensure they were total and utterly gluten & wheat free I was really pleased to see they were.

You get twelve cookies in a box for £3 and while they may look a little small they are packed full of choc chips, nice and squidgy, and delicious. Thinking back I may well have had some of the Enjoy Life range on a previous trip to the USA as I always try to stock up my hotel room from the nearest Whole Foods Market.

As someone with Coeliac Disease I've been 'stung' a few times over the years when products have proclaimed they are 'gluten free', but in the very small-print it'll say something along the lines of 'made in a facility that handles gluten/wheat etc.' so I was very pleased indeed to see that the box was full of reassuring signs of it being safe for me to eat.

Enjoy Life foods are 'Free from the 8 common allergens'*. On the Enjoy Life website you can read that they are dedicated to producing delicious snacks that are certified gluten-free and safe for those who have celiac (coeliac) disease, gluten intolerance or gluten sensitivity so everyone can enjoy without worry.

Enjoy Life gluten free cookies
The reassuring and bold messages on the box of Enjoy Life gluten free cookies

The Enjoy Life Soft Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies are also Dairy, Nut and Soy Free and made in a dedicated nut and gluten-free bakery. Great to know.

I'll be looking out for more Enjoy Life products on sale in the UK.

Related blog posts:
Gluten Free
Coeliac Disease

Links:
- Enjoy Life
- Tesco
- Empire Food Brokers

* Enjoy Life products are free of eight common allergens and listed on the box are: wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish and shellfish. They are also made without casein, potato, sesame and sulfites. They are also marked as 'Certified Gluten-Free' by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) - a program of The Gluten Intolerance Group.

Monday, September 01, 2014

World Minigolf Rankings for 2014

Latest international Minigolf season rankings published by the World Minigolf Sport Federation.

The World Minigolf Sport Federation, the world governing body for the sport, has published the latest World Minigolf Rankings for 2014.


In the women's rankings Emily is in tied 120th position of 128 places / 132 players.

In the men's rankings I am ranked in tied 397th place of 413 places / 419 players.

Great Britain has retained its place at number 15 in the nations ranking list.

The Great Britain 3 team at the 2013 WMF World Adventure Golf Masters in Hastings
The Great Britain 3 team at the 2013 WMF World Adventure Golf Masters in Hastings

Emily is the reigning WMF World Adventure Golf Masters Women's Champion, winning the title for the second time at the 2013 event in Hastings.

I finished the WMF World Adventure Golf Masters in 20th place of 37 players, with Emily in tied 27th place. Playing as part of the Great Britain 3 team alongside John Moore and Craig Patterson we finished the team event in 5th place of 7 teams, and the second placed GB team.

GB players are also listed in the WMF World Ranking Lists for Junior and Senior players.

The WMF is the umbrella organisation of Minigolf sports association's worldwide and continental associations in Asia, Europe and America. The WMF currently has 46 member nations whose players and clubs play on four Minigolf systems recognised by the WMF – Concrete, Miniaturegolf, Feltgolf and Minigolf Open Standard (MOS). The WMF is a member of SportAccord, the International Federations' Union.

Worldwide there are over 38,000 Minigolf players registered with the WMF, 1,000 courses approved for competitions, 900 clubs and over 1,500 Minigolf tournaments held each year.

Visit the World Minigolf Sport Federation website for more information.

Links:

Related blog posts:

Friday, August 29, 2014

Putterfingers Crazy Golf in Bury St Edmunds

Putterfingers Crazy Golf course to be at the Arc Shopping Centre in Bury St Edmunds this weekend.

Putterfingers Crazy Golf in Bury St Edmunds
The Putterfingers Crazy Golf course set-up at the Arc Shopping Centre in Bury St Edmunds last weekend. Photo by Kate Tubby

Last weekend my sister in law Jo and niece Kate were at the Arc Shopping Centre in Bury St Edmunds and spotted the Putterfingers Crazy Golf course set-up for the Raiders of the Lost Arc event and sent me the great photo above.

The Putterfingers course is back at the Arc Shopping Centre this weekend (30 & 31 August) too.

Check out the links below for more info on Putterfingers and the Arc Shopping Centre.

Related blog posts:
- Putterfingers
- Bury St Edmunds
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Links:
- Putterfingers
- Arc Shopping Centre

Putt Putt #2 Crazy Golf in Croydon

Visiting and playing the Putt Putt #2 art installation Crazy Golf course in Croydon.

TURF Projects Putt Putt #2 Crazy Golf course at Platform Ruskin Square in Croydon
The colourful TURF Projects Putt Putt #2 Crazy Golf course at Platform Ruskin Square in Croydon

Over the summer the Croydon-based art group TURF Projects has had a playable art installation set-up at Platform Ruskin Square just outside East Croydon train station.

With just three days before the course was packed away I managed to make it down to give the course a visit. It was well worth it.

TURF Projects Putt Putt #2 Crazy Golf course at Platform Ruskin Square in Croydon
Hole 1 of Putt Putt #2 - by WELCHWHITAKER

TURF Projects Putt Putt #2 Crazy Golf course at Platform Ruskin Square in Croydon
Hole 2 of Putt Putt #2 - by W A V E Y B O Y Z

TURF Projects Putt Putt #2 Crazy Golf course at Platform Ruskin Square in Croydon
Hole 3 of Putt Putt #2 - by Natalie Finnemore

TURF Projects Putt Putt #2 Crazy Golf course at Platform Ruskin Square in Croydon
Hole 4 of Putt Putt #2 - by Holly Hendry

TURF Projects Putt Putt #2 Crazy Golf course at Platform Ruskin Square in Croydon
Hole 5 of Putt Putt #2 - by Nicolas Henninger

TURF Projects Putt Putt #2 Crazy Golf course at Platform Ruskin Square in Croydon
Hole 6 of Putt Putt #2 - by Mark Scott-Wood

TURF Projects Putt Putt #2 Crazy Golf course at Platform Ruskin Square in Croydon
Hole 7 of Putt Putt #2 - by Liz West

TURF Projects Putt Putt #2 Crazy Golf course at Platform Ruskin Square in Croydon
Hole 8 of Putt Putt #2 - by AV Co-op

TURF Projects Putt Putt #2 Crazy Golf course at Platform Ruskin Square in Croydon
Hole 9 of Putt Putt #2 - by Iain Haines

The course had a real mix of playing surfaces - felt, concrete, plastic, metal & gravel!. The artist's designs led to the creation of some very tricky obstacles. I really liked the look of the course and the scorecards were nicely designed too.

TURF Projects began in October 2013 and last year the nomadic artist-run project team of artists, filmmakers and architects created a temporary Mini Golf course in Croydon.

The aim of the TURF Projects group is to shine a spotlight on the diverse, rapidly changing cultural landscape of Croydon, and provide opportunities for local residents and visitors to be involved.

The Putt Putt #2 art Mini Golf course is curated by Alice Cretney and David McLeavy and features work by artists including AV Co-op, EXYZT, Natalie Finnemore, Iain Hales, Holly Hendry, Mark Scott-Wood, W A V E Y B O Y Z, WELCHWHITAKER and Liz West.

Chatting to Alice at the course she told me that Putt Putt #2 has proved to be really popular with a real mix of people giving the course a play.

You can read all about the Putt Putt #2 installation and the story behind it on the Turf Projects website.

The course was the 345th played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and the 578th visited overall since September 2006.

TURF Projects Putt Putt #2 Crazy Golf course at Platform Ruskin Square in Croydon
Playing hole 8 at Putt Putt #2 in Croydon

TURF Projects Putt Putt #2 Crazy Golf course at Platform Ruskin Square in Croydon
Hole 1 - Easy Hole - not as easy as it looks!

TURF Projects Putt Putt #2 Crazy Golf course at Platform Ruskin Square in Croydon
Playing hole 5 of the Putt Putt #2 art installation - a very long and winding hole built around the rocks

Since July 2008 Emily and I have visited 43 (and a half) Minigolf, Crazy Golf, Miniature Golf, Adventure Golf and Putting Courses in and around London, playing 27 (and a half) of them.

Thank you to Alice for taking the action photos of me playing the course.

For more information on Putt Putt #2 and other art projects, events and activities from the Turf team check out the links below.

The course is free to play and is open until Saturday 30 August 2014.

Links:
Turf Projects website
Turf Projects on Twitter
Turf Projects on Facebook
PUTTPUTT#2 event on Facebook
Platform Ruskin Square

Related blog posts:
Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses in and around London
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list of courses visited and played
Art
- Croydon
- Minigolf and Art in Croydon

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Finger Jousting videos from the World Alternative Games 2014

Competitors from five countries competed in the World Finger Jousting Championships at the World Alternative Games 2014 in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales with Sara Galvao of Portugal and Denis Taylor of Russia crowned as new world champions.

Finger Jousting at the World Alternative Games 2014
The Finger Jousting Champions and Corinthian competitors at the World Alternative Games 2014 in Llanwrtyd Wells

Following the event the World Finger Jousting Federation, the governing body for the sport of Finger Jousting, has uploaded a number of videos with action from the event to the WFJF YouTube Channel.

Video: An introduction to the official 2014 World Finger Jousting Championships

Check out the World Finger Jousting Federation's YouTube Channel for more videos from the 2014 World Finger Jousting Championships.

You can read the report from the World Finger Jousting Championships on the WFJF website.

Links:
- World Finger Jousting Federation
- World Finger Jousting Federation on YouTube
- World Alternative Games

Related blog posts:
- Finger Jousting
- World Alternative Games