Report from the Surrey Invitational Minigolf Tournament 2016

Results of the second Surrey Invitational Tournament.

On Saturday 14th May five semi-pro minigolfers competed in the second edition of the Surrey Invitational Tournament in a two-round, two-course, 27-hole contest.

The Surrey Invitational Tournament competitors line-up for a shot at the title in Woking Park

The competition was played at the 9-hole Eternit Miniature Golf course at Woking Park, and the 18-hole Swedish Felt B-Run course at Stoke Park in Guildford. The staging of the 2016 event coincided with National Miniature Golf Day.

Inaugural Surrey Invitational Tournament champion Matt 'The Don' Dodd leads out the players on hole 1 at Woking Park

The champion after 27-holes of play was Burpham's Oliver 'The Machine' Florence, who was victorious with a score of 65, having shot rounds of 19 and 46. Luton's 'Squire' Richard Gottfried became a two time S.I.T. runner-up with a total of 74, with Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried picking up the bronze medal with a score of 82.

The new Surrey Invitational Tournament champion Oliver 'The Machine' Florence captured the title and big minigolf trophy at Guildford's Stoke Park

The first stage of the Surrey Invitational Tournament was won by Surrey's Steve 'F1' Gow with a score of 17(-1) on the Woking Park layout. However, the veteran and GB international was unable to maintain the momentum and scored 68 in round two to finish in fourth place.

Steve 'F1' Gow playing the snakey second hole in Woking

Defending champion Matt 'The Don' Dodd scored rounds of 33 and 61 to finish in fifth place.

Ollie on target in Woking

New Surrey Invitational Tournament champion Oliver 'The Machine' Florence said "At the first Surrey Invitational in 2014 I had a prior engagement which meant I had to leave the tournament after the first round and it was really disappointing as I was in the lead. I was a bit worried I was going to have to depart early this year as I was scheduled to attend my mother's birthday tea at 4pm in Weybridge but luckily I managed to get the job done before heading off to enjoy the party."

Oliver in action on hole 6 of the Woking Park Mini Golf course

Florence commented "Among the sandwiches my particular favourites were the mini ham rolls but I also took a shine to the cream cheese and cucumber offerings. After a round of scones, both fruit and plain, with raspberry jam and cream, I partook in a delightful mango cheesecake among other sweet treats."

Florence added "Thanks to Richard and Emily for organising the Surrey Invitational and Matt and Englefield Green's finest Steve for taking part. I look forward to defending the magnificent trophy next time."

The scores and first-round rankings from Woking were:
1. Steve 'F1' Gow - 17
2. Oliver 'The Machine' Florence - 19
3. 'Squire' Richard Gottfried - 24
4. Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried - 28
5. Matt 'The Don' Dodd - 33

'Squire' Richard Gottfried playing the second hole in Woking

Matt tackles the fifth hole

Steve on the seventh

Each round winner of the Surrey Invitational Tournament gets to lift the trophy, but only the overall winner gets to keep it until the next edition of the event.

Steve 'F1' Gow with the Grand Prix - for the first round at least

The scores and second-round rankings from Guildford were:
1. Oliver 'The Machine' Florence - 65
2. 'Squire' Richard Gottfried - 50
3. Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried - 54
4. Matt 'The Don' Dodd - 61
5. Steve 'F1' Gow - 68

Tournament leader Steve Gow tees-off round two at Guildford's Stoke Park

Emily playing the second hole. Quite possibly the most difficult hole in minigolf - all of the players scored a seven on it!

Matt tackling another very difficult hole

Richard has slightly better luck than Matt as Ollie looks on

Steve playing his second shot as Ollie gets ready to tee-off

The final rankings and two-round totals from the Surrey Invitational Tournament 2016 were:
1. Oliver 'The Machine' Florence - 65
2. 'Squire' Richard Gottfried - 74
3. Emily 'Lemony' Gottfried - 82
4. Steve 'F1' Gow - 85
5. Matt 'The Don' Dodd - 94

Surrey Invitational Tournament champion Oliver 'The Machine' Florence playing the Stoke Park loop-di-loop hole. Strangely, the loop is turfed on the outside!

Surrey Invitational Tournament Hall of Fame
2016 - Oliver 'The Machine' Florence
2014 - Matt 'The Don' Dodd

National Miniature Golf Day Tournament Hall of Fame
2016 - Oliver 'The Machine' Florence
2015 - Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd

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World Crazy Golf Championships 2016 in Hastings

Are you crazy enough to be championship material?

Entry is now open to anyone who fancies their chances in the 2016 World Crazy Golf Championships. The tournament returns to Hastings, East Sussex - but this year the event is taking place in a new slot in the calendar on the 11th and 12th June, rather than the traditional date in late October.

Emily Gottfried playing hole 1 at Hastings Crazy Golf

The World Crazy Golf Championships are played on the 18-hole Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course at Hastings Adventure Golf and uniquely attracts complete novices and top international players. Everyone is competing for a slice of the £4,500 prize fund - the biggest ever in the competition's history. This year there is a £1,500 prize pot exclusively for novice players.

Richard Gottfried teeing off on the tough second hole at Hastings Crazy Golf

For a shot at the title competitors must beat the windmill and watermill as well as negotiate the bends, twists and ramps on the traditional seaside course.

Emily tackling the traditional Arnold Palmer windmill obstacle in Hastings

Simon Tompkins, of Hastings Adventure Golf, said “The World Crazy Golf Championships are a real highlight in Hastings. Of course there’s fierce competition but it is also a lot of fun – and great for spectators too.”

The overall winner picks up £1,000 and there’s an additional £2,000 prize fund for the top players.

Oxford's Michael Smith, was crowned 2015 champion with an incredible 31 under par result, while the youngest player in last year’s competition was Jessica Pilgrim, aged 10. The Czech Republic’s Olivia Prokopova claimed fourth place and was the only female in the final round.

Check out the video below for action from the last hole in the final of the two-day 2015 World Crazy Golf Championships held on the 18-hole Crazy Golf course at Hastings Adventure Golf on the seafront.



Finland’s Pasi Aho, Sport Director of the World Minigolf Sport Federation, who took second place in 2015 said: “This is one of the key tournaments in the international minigolf calendar. It attracts the attention of major players, but it also provides a platform for rising stars to cut their teeth.”

There are four rounds on Saturday and a further two rounds on Sunday for all players. The final round on Sunday will be contested amongst the top 18 players.

For an entry form please visit the British Minigolf Association website and for more information on the course visit Hastings Adventure Golf's website.

Related blog posts:
- Videos from the 2015 World Crazy Golf Championships
- A look at the Crazy Golf course in Hastings, East Sussex
- Report from the World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings
- World Crazy Golf Championship blog posts

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Crazy Golf Adventure at Lakeside Shopping Village in Doncaster

Playing a new Crazy Golf course in Doncaster, Yorkshire.

The Lakeside Village Crazy Golf course 

On the way home from our very nice short break in brilliant Bridlington we swung by the Lakeside Shopping Village in Doncaster for a round on their new Crazy Golf Adventure course that has been set up for the summer.

We had a great time on the course

The 9-hole Minigolf course is FREE to play! Marvellous news.

It's brilliant the course is free of charge

You just need to head to the DOMO shop at the outlet shopping mall and away you go.

Monkeying around

The layout looks brilliant and plays very well indeed. Be warned though - the last hole is very difficult to complete!

Neither of us were lucky on the last hole

We both shot dreaded sevens!

The Lakeside Shopping Village Crazy Golf course became the 397th played and 678th visited overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since 2006.

The course is unique and definitely gets the thumbs up from us

In our match-up we tied having both scored 28.

Emily on hole 5

Teeing-off on hole 5

Playing the angles on hole 6

Hole 8 was really nice to play - even though it's got a small plateau / volcano!

We're bananas about Crazy Golf so the course was perfect for us

Hole 1

Hole 2

Shooting on the 7th

The Crazy Golf Adventure has a very nice scorecard

As big fans of the comedy show Bottom for years we've been led to believe that Bridlington is only 25 minutes from Doncaster. By car. Not true! It took us an hour and a half to get there. It was well worth the journey though as the Crazy Golf course was very good fun and the Lakeside Shopping Village was a nice spot for a bit of a wander. We bought some nice chocolates there too.

Lakeside Village is well worth a visit

Check out the Lakeside Shopping Village website for more details of how to play the course and opening times.

The Lakeside Village Crazy Golf course is open throughout the summer of 2016

Link:
- Lakeside Shopping Village

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Yorkshire
- Shopping Centre

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LilliPutt indoor Mini Golf in Singapore

A visit to the LilliPutt indoor Miniature Golf course in Singapore.

LilliPutt Mini Golf course - Funtastic Singapore in 18-holes

Emily was recently on business in South East Asia and during her trip to Singapore managed to fit in a game of Miniature Golf at the indoor LilliPutt Mini Golf course on East Coast Parkway.

Emily playing at the 677th course on our tour

The LilliPutt Mini Golf course became the 677th course visited and 393rd played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006. Singapore is now the twelfth country we've played the game in!

LilliPutt is on the third floor of the former Splash Park building in Singapore

The course looks absolutely amazing and it's a must-visit attraction if you're a fan of the game. Check out the video below for one of the many holes that uses moving parts - hole 5 and the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)!



Emily was amazed at how detailed and well built the LilliPutt layout was. On all our travels we've never seen a minigolf course quite like it!

Upon arrival at LilliPutt you depart from Changi Airport on your minigolf adventures around Singapore in miniature

The LilliPutt Mini Golf course has been designed to show Singapore in 18 'Funtastic' holes. They've certainly delivered on that promise.

Hole 2 - the Discovery Centre features a loop-di-loop with a plane on top. And a tank you putt through!

Once again Emily faced-off against her long-time minigolf rival and fellow international traveller Janie Peace. In the contest Emily secured the victory 76 to 84.

Janie playing hole 7, the Bird Park

The course has a par of 65 - and you can see why when you look at how tricky some of the intricately detailed holes are.

Hole 3 - the Turf Club racecourse - and hole 2 beyond shows the Discovery Centre

Hole 6 is the Fountain of Wealth

Hole 5 is an amazing layout of the Singapore Mass Rapid Transit system!

Instructions on how to play the hole

Another view of the MRT hole

 

Hole 8 depicts Singapore Port 

Hole 9 is a Science Centre - that features a Ski Slope!

A trip to the Zoo on hole 10

An Alligator, or Crocodile, lurking on the 10th

 

Hole 11 is a Food Centre!

Hole 15 - Boat Quay

A look at hole 16 - the Botanic Gardens - and beyond

 

You can also follow a brown tourist sign to find the course

For more info, opening times and prices check out the LilliPutt indoor Mini Golf course website.

They've got very nice scorecards and tickets at the LilliPutt Mini Golf course

Link:
- LilliPutt indoor Mini Golf course website

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Emily Gottfried
- Janie Peace
- Indoor Mini, Crazy and Adventure Golf courses

Videos:
- LilliPutt Mini Golf course in Singapore 1 of 6
- LilliPutt Mini Golf course in Singapore 2 of 6
- LilliPutt Mini Golf course in Singapore 3 of 6
- LilliPutt Mini Golf course in Singapore 4 of 6
- LilliPutt Mini Golf course in Singapore 5 of 6
- LilliPutt Mini Golf course in Singapore 6 of 6

Give the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a Like on Facebook, watch our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter @putting_gott and @Ems_Lems.

You can also now sign-up to receive our miniature golf newsletter.