Saturday, November 07, 2015

Report from the 2015 Worlds £2 Tat Challenge in Hastings

Results from the off-course shenanigans at the amusements in Hastings.

The Old Town Amusement Arcade in Hastings
What the sport is all about

Since 2010 Crazy Mini Golfers from around the world have descended on the amusement arcades of Hastings to compete in 'Tat Challenge' tournaments.

The Old Town Amusement Arcade in Hastings
One of the machines not in use this year

2015 would be no different at 23 competitors lined-up to fight for the honour and prizes that come with being the World Tat Challenge Champion.

The Old Town Amusement Arcade in Hastings
The competitors receive some last minute instructions from The Buttons Committee

Following the first day's play of the World Crazy Golf Championships the group headed over the road to the Old Town Amusement Arcade for 20-minutes of non-stop tu-penny pushers gaming to see who could land the largest haul of prizes. There had been some doubt as to whether the event would take place, as in the lead-up to the contest on Saturday there had been reports that the Old Town Buttons had closed down and the site was up for sale!

The Old Town Amusement Arcade in Hastings
Afternoon of the Living Dead - a shocking sight indeed

Fortunately the Old Town ones were open and buzzing on the big day itself. Rendering the recce to the buttons next to The Deluxe pointless. Speculation that an alternative venue would be 'Keith's' buttons down by The Stade were also dismissed as hogwash. Especially when the rumour included something about the use of ten pence pieces. A ridiculous notion.

The Old Town Amusement Arcade in Hastings
Tatters Buttonsing

The 2015 champion was Helen Dodd with a total of seven bits of tat, leaving her closest rivals trailing in her wake with a mere four bits. The defending champion Kate 'Mrs' Kelly was unable to hold onto the crown as she slipped to a disappointing last place after drawing a blank.

Helen Dodd - the 2015 Worlds £2 Tat Challenge in Hastings
The Champ Helen Dodd shows off her winnings as a character looks on

The modern era of the sport has quite possibly seen advances in technology that favour 'the house' as the days of one person winning an event with 40 pieces of tat (as veteran James Rutherford rocketed into his pocket during the great summer of sport in 2012).

The Old Town Amusement Arcade in Hastings
Sussex's finest

With a total prize bag of 51 tats Helen declared that the toys and stuff would be put to good use as the 'second best Crazy Golfer in the Dodd household' (Emily Dodd) would be given them when Helen and Matt arrived back home.

Results of the 2015 Worlds £2 Tat Challenge (all competitors GB & NI except where stated)
1 - Helen 'Lucky 7' Dodd = 7
2 - John 'Forgot his Waffles' Moore = 4
2 - Richard 'Seen Better Days' Gottfried = 4
2 - Steve 'Stay Puft' Le Velle = 4
5 - 'Peter Peter Ice Cream Eater' Jones = 3
5 - Martin 'Alien' Greenhead = 3
5 - Ollie 'Little Alient' Greenhead = 3
5 - Steve 'The Treasure Hunter' Sturdy = 3
9 - Will 'Donnelaney' Donnelly = 2
9 - Tony 'Better than Kate this year' Kelly = 2
9 - 'The Portuguese Man o' War' Nuno Cunha (POR) = 2
9 - 'Big' Stevie Gow = 2
9 - Ed 'Dressed for the weather conditions for a change' Haynes = 2
9 - Chris 'Tusk' Wood = 2
9 - Adam 'On Par with Pa' Kelly = 2
9 - David 'Local Competitor' Hartley = 2
17 - Marion 'Local Athlete' Hartley = 1
17 - Mark 'Character' Wood = 1
17 - Matt 'Not top' Dodd = 1
17 - Steven 'Bonnie' Langford = 1
21 - Kathryn 'Debutee' Haynes = 0
21 - Ed 'Friend of Le Velle' Pope = 0
21 - Kate 'Oh dear what happened this year' Kelly = 0

To date ten official Tat Challenge competitions have been played with 800 bits of tat won for a total of £382.

The Old Town Amusement Arcade in Hastings
Hands like lightning! Peter Jones in action

The Old Town Amusement Arcade in Hastings
Local competitor Marion Hartley made her debut this year

The Old Town Amusement Arcade in Hastings
The former People's Champion 'Big' Stevie Gow in action, with Johnny Waffles eyeing up some 'rattin' opportunities

The Old Town Amusement Arcade in Hastings
Not winning this year

The Old Town Amusement Arcade in Hastings
Keith Kellard stalks the floors for some loose change while David Hartley is in the zone. Kellard would eventually find over £2 in dropped money while everyone else competed

The Old Town Amusement Arcade in Hastings
An Essex-based character playing the Buttons

The Old Town Amusement Arcade in Hastings
Ed Haynes uncharacteristically wearing a jacket

£2 Tat Challenge Hall of Fame:
#8 - William Edwards - 8 pieces of Tat (World Title)
#9 - Kate Kelly - 10 pieces of Tat (World Title)
#10 - Helen Dodd - 7 pieces of Tat (World Title)

Related Blog Posts:
Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter. You can also sign-up to receive our newsletter.

Schär gluten free

There are many funny things about being a Coeliac, not least being called a 'Celery', 'Celeriac' or even a 'Solero'.

When I checked my post this morning I didn't expect to be given a new first name on a mailer from Schär Gluten Free!?

I'm used to having a wide range of spellings for my surname - but 'Richard' is normally straightforward

I know I'm good at making up Italian sounding words for foodstuffs, but 'Riamo' takes the biscuit.

Schär used to be known as DS Gluten Free and I've been buying their products since I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease in 2008. At the recent Beds & Mid Herts Coeliac Group Food Fair I added my name to the Schar UK mailing list - my handwriting must've been terrible.

Schär gluten free
The offending mailer and some of the tasty Schar Milk Chocolate Nobbles that are currently residing in my cupboard

Find out more about Schar UK's products on their website. I'm a big fan of their Chocolate Fingers - I find it impossible to not eat a whole box at a time!

Related blog posts:
- Funny things about being a Coeliac
- Gluten free
- Coeliac
- Schar

Link:
- Schar UK website

Note:
- According to a quick search on the internet 'riamo' is a "first-person singular present indicative of 'riamare'". Riamare means 'to return the love of another' or 'to love again'.

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Monday, November 02, 2015

Videos from the 2015 World Crazy Golf Championships

Action from the World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings.

The 2015 World Crazy Golf Championships took place on the 18-hole Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Hastings, East Sussex on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th October.

Check out the video of the final group of Michael Smith (GBR), Nuno Cunha (POR) and Chris Harding (GBR) playing their final shots of the tournament.



Michael Smith defeated 74 players to become a three-time World Crazy Golf Champion.

Pasi Aho (FIN) was runner-up. Former, and three-time, champion Chris Harding (GBR) was third.

The date of next year's World Crazy Golf Championships has been announced as Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th June 2016.

Windmill hole at Hastings Crazy Golf
Emily playing the 5th hole at Hastings Crazy Golf

Videos:
- World Crazy Golf Championships 2015 - Phil Botto on Hole 2
- World Crazy Golf Championships Final 2015 - Hole 16
- World Crazy Golf Championships Final 2015 - Wasps in Hastings
- World Crazy Golf Championships Final 2015 - the leading group play hole 18
- World Crazy Golf Championships Final 2015 - the leading group play hole 18 version 2

Links:
- Hastings Adventure Golf
- British Minigolf Association
- World Crazy Golf Championships 2015 results

Related blog posts:
World Crazy Golf Championships 2014 Videos
BMGA British Crazy Golf Open 2013 Videos
- Videos from the Final of the 2012 'Castle Golf' World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings
- Videos of the 2011 Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings
- Report from the World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings
- World Crazy Golf Championships
- Hastings

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter. You can also sign-up to receive our newsletter.

Sunday, November 01, 2015

Gluten free beer update

Earlier this week I spotted that Twitter had introduced a new Poll function, so immediately asked a question.

The result of the poll is this blog post - on a topic I haven't posted about in a little while.

The Beer Cave and Westerham Brewery Co

En route to Hastings for the recent World Crazy Golf Championships we made a stop in Tunbridge Wells and while having a wander to stretch out legs we spotted a chalkboard sign advertising the Beer Cave. We heeded the instructions and found ourselves in the underground beer shop.

The Bedford Beer Cave in Tunbridge Wells
A great bit of advertising

If I see an independent beer shop I'll always pop in on the off chance that I'll find a gluten free beer, ale or lager that I haven't seen or tried before

The Bedford Beer Cave in Tunbridge Wells
The Beer Cave

I was in luck on this occasion as the chap at the Beer Cave let me know about Scotney Pale Ale from the Westerham Brewery Co! I had to buy a bottle at the reasonable price of £2.80.

Scotney gluten free Pale Ale by the Westerham Brewery Co
Scotney Pale Ale by the Westerham Brewery Co

Find out more about Westerham Brewery Co's range of gluten free beers on their website. They do a fair few.

Check out the Beer Cave website and if you're walking along the High Street do make sure you head down the alley for a look around.

Flatstick Pub

Another gluten free beer I've only recently heard about is from the Ghostfish Brewing Co based in Seattle, Washington, USA. It's served at the Flatstick Pub in Kirkland, Washington, a place that is on my must visit list!

The main four gluten free beers from the Ghostfish Brewing Co are:
- Grapefruit IPA
- Shrouded Summit Witbier
- Vanishing Point IPA
- Watchstander Stout

They also have Taproom Exclusives.

Not only does the Flatstick Pub serve gluten free beer, but they've also got a minigolf course and an array of pub games, two of which I'd never seen before - Duffleboard and Puttskee!

Gluten free beers around the world

With the addition of the Ghostfish Brewing Co beers I've now found out about 108 gluten free beers, ales, lagers, stouts, porters etc. since I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease in 2008. Check out the full list on my blog post here.

Links:
- The Beer Cave
- Westerham Brewery Co
- Flatstick Pub
- Ghostfish Brewing Co
- The Puttskee
- Coeliac UK

Related blog posts:
- Details of gluten free ale, beer and lager found since being diagnosed with Coeliac Disease
- Gluten Free Ales, Beers and Lagers
- Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses in Pub Beer Gardens
- Pub Games

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter. You can also sign-up to receive our newsletter.

The Game That Got Away sports blog

My friend and minigolf rival Marc 'The Roller' Bazeley has started up a new sports blog.

The Game That Got Away is dedicated to Rugby League and will include opinion, analysis and features on the sport.

Marc (left) and me outside the now demolished Greyfriars Bus Station in Northampton during the epic year of sport that was 2012
Marc (left) and me outside the now demolished Greyfriars Bus Station in Northampton during the epic year of sport that was 2012

Find out more about Marc's blog here.

Links:
- The Game That Got Away blog
- The Game That Got Away on Twitter

Related blog posts:
- Marc Bazeley
- Blog
- Blogging

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Mini Golf in the 2016 Picture Postcard Annual

The 2016 Picture Postcard Annual has a feature on minigolf postcards.

I wrote the piece about the top minigolf, crazy golf, adventure golf and putting postcards we've found on our travels this year.

Postcard of the Mini Golf course in Newquay, Cornwall (A1E). Harvey Barton Viewcard. Postally unused
A postally unused Harvey Barton Viewcard of the Mini Golf course in Newquay, Cornwall (A1E). We visited the course on our summer roadtrip

Other articles in the 2016 Picture Postcard Annual include early Donald McGill cards, Alpine mountains, artist drawn London cards and more. There are also dates for fairs and auctions taking place next year and useful reference info.

Visit the Reflections of a Bygone Age website to order the 2016 edition of the Picture Postcard Annual and for more information about the postcard collecting hobby. Do check out the website of Picture Postcard Monthly magazine too.

We've been collecting postcards for a few years now and have found some great old and new cards showing the ever changing landscape of miniature golf in the UK and overseas. Our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour has so far taken us to 671 courses and we've amassed almost that amount of postcards!

I've written other features for Picture Postcard Monthly, starting with an article on Crazy Golf in the December 2011 edition.

Links:
- Picture Postcard Annual
- Reflections of a Bygone Age
- Picture Postcard Monthly magazine

Related blog posts:
- Postcard
- Postcards
- Picture Postcard Monthly

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter. You can also sign-up to receive our newsletter.

Adventure Golf at Stevenage Leisure Park in Hertfordshire

New indoor Adventure Golf courses heading to Stevenage.

A brand new Adventure Golf course is heading to Stevenage Leisure Park in Hertfordshire. The 36-hole centre will have two 18-hole layouts with a nautical theme.

We've visited Mr Mulligan's Pirate Adventure Golf courses in Milton Keynes, Castleford and Woking. The Stevenage course will differ from the other sites as it'll be an indoor venue.

A view of Mr Mulligan's Pirate Adventure Golf course in Milton Keynes
A view of Mr Mulligan's Pirate Adventure Golf course in Milton Keynes

We're looking forward to visiting and playing the new Adventure Golf course in Stevenage when it opens in Spring 2016.

Links:
- Adventure Golf Limited website
- Mr Mulligan's Adventure Golf website
- Stevenage Leisure Park website

Related blog posts:
- Indoor Mini, Crazy and Adventure Golf courses
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - List and links for all Miniature Golf courses visited to date
- Hertfordshire
- Stevenage

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Monday, October 26, 2015

666 - the mark of the...

...666th course visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour!

Earlier this year we visted the seaside town of Bridlington in the East Riding of Yorkshire. While our stop in the town was only a short one on this occasion we did manage to play a couple of rounds of minigolf.

Treasure Island Adventure Golf course in Bridlington
Emily about to ace the 1st hole

Walking along the esplanade we spotted the Treasure Island Adventure Golf course. You can't really miss it as the stern of the pirate galleon is certainly quite a sight jutting out as it does from the row of shopfronts!

Treasure Island Adventure Golf course in Bridlington
Treasure Island Adventure Golf in Bridlington is very well themed

Emily was on a real roll in Bridlington, scoring five holes-in-one in a row between the previous course we played at North Marine Gardens and the first two holes at Treasure Island!

Treasure Island Adventure Golf course in Bridlington
Skellingtons and skulls on hole 2

I managed to get the win 19 to 24 in our match-up on the ten-hole layout, with a six on the 8th hole doing Emily in while I scored an ace.

Treasure Island Adventure Golf course in Bridlington
On the 3rd hole

The Treasure Island Adventure Golf course was the 384th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Treasure Island Adventure Golf course in Bridlington
Emily aced the Volcano. I did not

Treasure Island Adventure Golf course in Bridlington
Thar be treasure

My victory wasn't all plain sailing though as I got locked up early in the round and had to play a shot out of a prison cell!

Treasure Island Adventure Golf course in Bridlington
What an obstacle

Treasure Island in Bridlington is also home to a Pirate Golf Walk. We weren't too scared to go in, it was just that unfortunately we didn't have time to have a wander around it this time.

Treasure Island Adventure Golf course in Bridlington
The walls have eyes!

Treasure Island Adventure Golf course in Bridlington
Hole 8 and the caves of the course

We really enjoyed our visit to Bridlington and will definitely be returning for more seaside fun and games in the town.

Treasure Island Adventure Golf course in Bridlington
A view of the 9th (the 10th hole is a very short 'Lucky' last hole)

Links:
- Treasure Island Adventure Golf on Facebook

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Indoor Mini, Crazy and Adventure Golf courses
- Bridlington

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter. You can also sign-up to receive our newsletter.

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Report from the World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings

Gottfried’s compete in the World Crazy Golf Championships.

Leagrave minigolfers Richard and Emily Gottfried competed in the 13th annual World Crazy Golf Championships held on the Arnold Palmer Putting Course at Hastings Adventure Golf in East Sussex on the 24th and 25th October.

Richard finished in 20th place in the 75-player field after scoring rounds of 37, 34, 37, 35, 35, 35 for a 213(-3) total.


Photo of Richard Gottfried at the World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings
Richard Gottfried playing hole 2 of the Crazy Golf course in Hastings


Emily recorded rounds of 33, 38, 39, 39, 37, 35 for a 221(+5) total, and 34th place overall. Emily scored 22 holes-in-one during the tournament and won The Gommery title for the second year in a row.


Photo of The Gommery Champion Emily Gottfried at the World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings
Emily Gottfried is now a two-time Gommery Champion

Richard said “I always enjoy competing in the World Crazy Golf Championships and was pleased with my consistent play during the weekend. In such a large and competitive field I’m delighted with a top 20 finish, but I’m looking forward to my return to Hastings next year for another shot at the finals and the title.”


Photo of Emily Gottfried at the World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings
Emily Gottfried playing the first hole of the Crazy Golf course in Hastings


Emily said “I had a great weekend at the World Crazy Golf Championships. I achieved two out of three of my pre-tournament goals: to retain the Gommery for most Aces and to score all six rounds with sub-40 totals. The only goal I didn’t achieve was to beat my rival Ruth Burke, who defeated me by two shots in the end, although we did chop and change throughout the tournament. I’m really happy with my overall performance, particularly of being joint-third following the first round, and I really enjoyed the weekend.”

The World Crazy Golf Championships was won by Oxford’s Michael Smith who became a three-time World Champion. Finland’s Pasi Aho was runner-up, with former champion Chris Harding third.

Next up for the Richard and Emily is a trip to Birmingham for the Star City Open in December.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Minigolf Sport Club Sanremo in Arma, Italy

Photos of the minigolf course in Arma, Italy.

Our friends Karl and Sophia Moles were recently on holiday in Arma, Italy and sent through some snaps of the minigolf course they found there.

Minigolf course in Arma, Italy by Karl and Sophia Moles August 2015
Sophia and Karl Moles at the course


Minigolf course in Arma, Italy by Karl and Sophia Moles August 2015
Action on the Arma minigolf course


Karl told me "I came joint first with 61. There was one hole that was dead straight down the fairway and the green was a circle about three metres in diameter, depending on where your ball stopped there was a code round the outside with instructions on a sign which you had to decode which then gave you the direction to hit the ball to get it in the hole. For example when you worked it out it would say 3cm to the left of the hole! It was in Italian which made it even harder!"

The Moles family are big minigolf fans and always give a course a play if they see one. We've also had some matches against Karl while daytripping in Felixstowe.

The course is a Concrete (Beton) variety of minigolf. We've played a few Beton minigolf courses on our travels. Most notably in Finland and Sweden while playing for the Great Britain team in Nations Cup international tournaments.

You can find out more about the different types of minigolf in the World Minigolf Sport Federation's Starting Out In Minigolf guide.

Minigolf course in Arma, Italy by Karl and Sophia Moles August 2015
The minigolf course is approved by the World Minigolf Sport Federation


Check out the Minigolf Sport Club Sanremo Facebook page for more information.

Minigolf course in Arma, Italy by Karl and Sophia Moles August 2015
The trophies won by Minigolf Sport Club Sanremo!

Links:
- Minigolf Sport Club Sanremo Facebook
- World Minigolf Sport Federation website
- Federazione Italiana Golf su Pista / Italian Minigolf Federation website

Related blog posts:
- Italy
- Karl Moles
- Sophia Moles

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Thursday, October 15, 2015

Minigolf in Sirmione, Italy

A visit to the Mini Golf course in Sirmione, Italy.

Photo of the Minigolf course in Sirmione, Italy

Charter member of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Christopher Gottfried has found another miniature golf course while overseas!

Photo of the Minigolf course in Sirmione, Italy
A wavy and long hole

On his mini-honeymoon in Sirmione he spotted a Mini Golf course!

Photo of the Minigolf course in Sirmione, Italy
A bit of a dip. We played a hole similar to this (without the plateau) in Lyme Regis

Christopher told us they were having an afternoon stroll and about half a mile from where they were staying in Sirmione they spotted the 18-hole course. He said they saw only two people playing there.

Photo of the Minigolf course in Sirmione, Italy

Sirmione is the small peninsula that points out at the southern part of Lake Garda. Christopher tells me that apart from the thermal spas and the ice cream parlours, the Crazy Golf course was the only other nearby attraction in the historic town.

Photo of the Minigolf course in Sirmione, Italy

The course is a style of minigolf called Concrete or Beton. We've played a few of them on our travels. Most notably in Finland and Sweden while on international duty with the Great Britain team.

Photo of the Minigolf course in Sirmione, Italy
It looks like a nice setting for a course

You can see links to other courses visited by Christopher at the bottom of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour links page.

Link:
- Minigolf Sirmione website

Related blog posts:

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Christopher Gottfried
- Letoonia Golf Resort, Belek, Turkey - Minigolf
- Majorca (Vista Alegre, Porto Cristo, Mallorca) - Minigolf

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter. You can also sign-up to receive our newsletter.

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Gottfried’s compete in the first Cambridgeshire and Essex Open Championship

Report from the first CEMGC Open minigolf competition.

Leagrave minigolfers Richard and Emily Gottfried competed in the inaugural Cambridgeshire and Essex Open Minigolf Championship held on the 18-hole Miniature Golf course at Dunton Hills Family Golf Centre in West Horndon, near Brentwood on Saturday 10th October.


Photo of Richard Gottfried playing in the Cambridgeshire and Essex Open Championship at Dunton Hills Family Golf Centre near Brentwood

Richard finished in 9th place in the 28-player field after scoring rounds of 48, 49 and 47 for a total of 144(+36).

Emily recorded rounds of 54, 55 and 55 for a 164(+56) total and 27th place overall. Emily finished the CEMGC Club Championship in 6th place, with that contest won by Mark Wood.


Photo of Emily Gottfried playing in the Cambridgeshire and Essex Open Championship at Dunton Hills Family Golf Centre near Brentwood

Richard said “The Miniature Golf course at Dunton Hills is a really tough layout and I’m pleased with my consistent rounds to finish in the top-ten of a very competitive field of players. The CEMGC’s first Open event was a great success and brilliant fun.”


Photo of Richard Gottfried playing in the Cambridgeshire and Essex Open Championship at Dunton Hills Family Golf Centre near Brentwood

Emily said “My overall performance was not particularly good, but I did score a hole-in-one on a really tricky hole, which was a silver lining for me. The Dunton Hills course is unique and I really enjoy the random element of the rough-brick borders, as well as long, wide greens, which are very different to other courses we play regularly. My CEMGC team mates are a great bunch and did a fantastic job organising and hosting the event.”


Photo of Emily Gottfried playing in the Cambridgeshire and Essex Open Championship at Dunton Hills Family Golf Centre near Brentwood

The tournament was won by Oxford’s Michael Smith with a total of 123(+15). Sussex’s Steve Lovell was runner-up with 129(+21), with Portugal’s Nuno Cunha finished in third-place on 132(+24) after defeating Essex’s Mark Wood at the fifth hole of a sudden-death play-off.

In addition to the Miniature Golf layout, Dunton Hills Family Golf Centre is home to a full Golf course and an 18-hole par-3 course. The venue has hosted three Invitational minigolf contests in the lead-up to the CEMGC's first Open.

CEMCGC / Dunton Hills Hall of Fame
• CEMGC Invitational Tournament, Dec 2014 - Emily Gottfried won a two-round event with 99
• Dunton Hills Invitational, Feb 2015 - Richard Gottfried won a three-round event with 140
• Dunton Hills Invitational II, Aug 2015 - Steve Lovell won a three-round event with 140
• Cambridgeshire and Essex Open, Oct 2015 - Michael Smith won a three-round event with 123
• Cambridgeshire & Essex Mini Golf Club Championship, Oct 2015 – Mark Wood won a two-round event with 85

Next up for the Richard and Emily is a trip to Hastings, East Sussex for the 13th annual World Crazy Golf Championships held on the Arnold Palmer Putting Course at Hastings Adventure Golf.

Report from the first Cambridgeshire and Essex Open Minigolf Championship

11th October 2015
News release
For immediate use

Report from the first Cambridgeshire and Essex Open Minigolf Championship


Open minigolf tournament held in West Horndon.

Twenty-eight minigolfers from the British Minigolf Association tour competed in the inaugural Cambridgeshire and Essex Open Minigolf Championship held on the 18-hole Miniature Golf course at Dunton Hills Family Golf Centre in West Horndon, near Brentwood on Saturday 10th October.

Photo of the players at the Cambridgeshire and Essex Open Minigolf Championship
The competitors in the CEMGC Open minigolf tournament

The tournament was won by Oxford’s Michael Smith with a total of 123(+15). Sussex’s Steve Lovell was runner-up with 129(+21), with Portugal’s Nuno Cunha finishing in third-place on 132(+24) after defeating Essex’s Mark Wood at the fifth hole of a sudden-death play-off.

Photo of Nuno Cunha at the Cambridgeshire and Essex Open Minigolf Championship
Portugal's Nuno Cunha in action at the CEMGC Open

The three-round competition was organised by the Cambridgeshire & Essex Mini Golf Club, and co-tournament organiser Emily Gottfried said “The Dunton Hills course is unique and a real test for the pro players as it’s so different to other courses we play on the tour. We received a wonderful welcome from the team at Dunton Hills Family Golf Centre and the CEMGC really enjoyed organising and taking part in the event. We hope to come back soon.”

Photo of Champion Michael Smith at the Cambridgeshire and Essex Open Minigolf Championship
CEMGC Open Champion Michael Smith sinking the final putt of the tournament

Players from four other club teams, including Planet Hastings, The Midlands, Sussex Wasps and Kent made the journey to take part CEMGC Open and compete for the variety of cash and spot prizes on offer.

Full results of the Cambridgeshire and Essex Open Minigolf Championship can be found here.

For more information on the Cambridgeshire and Essex Mini Golf Club (CEMGC) please visit the club's Facebook page.

Further information on the Dunton Hills Family Golf Centre can be found on the course website.

Many of the competitors will be in action at the 13th annual World Crazy Golf Championships that will be held on the Arnold Palmer Putting Course at Hastings Adventure Golf on the 24th and 25th October.

CEMCGC / Dunton Hills Hall of Fame:
• CEMGC Invitational Tournament, Dec 2014 - Emily Gottfried won a two-round event with 99
• Dunton Hills Invitational, Feb 2015 - Richard Gottfried won a three-round event with 140
• Dunton Hills Invitational II, Aug 2015 - Steve Lovell won a three-round event with 140
• Cambridgeshire and Essex Open, Oct 2015 - Michael Smith won a three-round event with 123
• Cambridgeshire & Essex Mini Golf Club Championship, Oct 2015 – Mark Wood won a two-round event with 85

World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings

The 2015 World Crazy Golf Championships are fast approaching.


Photo of Emily Gottfried at the World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings
Emily playing the classic windmill obstacle in last year's event


The 13th annual World Crazy Golf Championships will be taking place on the 24th and 25th October in Hastings, East Sussex. The town has hosted the event since its first staging in 2003.


Photo of Richard Gottfried at the World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings
A crowd gathers to watch the Hole-in-One Shootout


Emily and I have competed in the tournament since 2007 - back when it was played out over two courses - and we'll be back for another crack at the world title again this year.


Photo of Richard Gottfried at the World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings
Playing in the final of the 2009 World Crazy Golf Championships

The Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course in Hastings was the 39th we played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and we've played countless rounds on the links course since 2007.


Photo of Richard Gottfried at the World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings
Playing hole 4 in the 2014 event


If you fancy having a crack at being the next World Crazy Golf Champion you can still sign-up to enter.

Simon Tompkins of Hastings Adventure Golf, said “We always look forward to this competition. There are players of all abilities, from top flight to complete novices, some crazy outfits and always a great spirit of fun over the whole weekend.”

Hastings Adventure Golf has been dubbed the ‘spiritual home of crazy golf’and the competition will see last year’s winner and three-time World Crazy Golf Champion, Chris Harding from Birmingham defending his title against a competitive field of players. You can follow the results live online and if you'd like to enter contact the BMGA.

There's a top prize of £1,000, with runner-up prizes of £750, £500, £200 and £100. For a shot at the title competitors must beat the windmill and water mill as well as negotiate the bends, twists and ramps on the traditional seaside course. Not to mention the British seaside weather in late October!

All entrants benefit from a free practice session on Friday 23rd October.

Links:
- Hastings Adventure Golf
- British Minigolf Association
- World Crazy Golf Championship blog posts

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Wednesday, October 07, 2015

Officially Britain’s Craziest Golfer

Richard named ‘Officially Britain’s Craziest Golfer’ by Today’s Golfer magazine!

Photo of Crazy Golfer Richard Gottfried minigolfing on the Adventure Golf course in Littlehampton
Crazy Golfer Richard Gottfried minigolfing on the Adventure Golf course in Littlehampton

What that makes Emily we don’t know.

You can read the interview about the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in the November 2015 edition of Today’s Golfer.

The story is now also up on the Today's Golfer website at "This bloke has played 640 crazy golf courses. Just one question... why???"

Link:
- Today's Golfer magazine

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Richard Gottfried's Minigolf Player Profile

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter. You can also sign-up to receive our newsletter.