Sunday, January 31, 2021

Putt18 World Pro League - Season Two, Week Two

I'll be teeing-off in week two of the Putt18 World Pro League at 6pm on Saturday 6th February.

Putt18 2021 World Pro League

You can watch my rounds live via the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Facebook Page.

Richard Gottfried, Putt18 player

Putt18 World Pro League

A total of 21 players from the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the USA are competing in the seven event series to find the world's best putter on the Putt18 Golf Putting Game System.

Week One Results

After shooting rounds of 71, 74, 80 and 77 for a 72-hole total of 302 I am currently in tied 12th place on 18 points and in tied 10th place in the strokeplay standings. Tom Loftus of the USA shot a 302 for 18 points too.

About Putt18

The Putt18 roll out putting mat allows players to compete on an 18-hole course from their own home - and against other people around the world. Players tee-off from one of six tee boxes and aim at each of the three holes in turn, starting with a par-4, followed by a par-5 and ending on a par-3. They then move to the next tee position and take aim at the holes in turn again.

Visit the Putt18 website for more information.

Boom: Battle Bar opening in Coventry

Coventry will be home to a new Boom: Battle Bar.


A new Boom Battle Bar with an indoor crazy golf course is opening at the Skydome in Coventry

Boom: Battle Bar at the Skydome in Coventry will include a Crazier Golf minigolf layout as well as a number of other competitive socialising activities.

Check out the Boom: Battle Bar Coventry Facebook Page for more information.

Related blog posts:

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Putt18 World Pro League Results - Season Two, Week One

The results are in for the first week of the 2021 Putt18 World Pro League.


Putt18 Golf Putting Game Mat

After shooting rounds of 71, 74, 80 and 77 for a 72-hole total of 302 I am currently in tied 12th place on 18 points and in tied 10th place in the strokeplay standings. Tom Loftus of the USA shot a 302 for 18 points too.

A total of 21 players from the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the USA are competing in the seven event series to find the world's best putter on the Putt18 Golf Putting Game System.

Matt Ansley, NZL leads the way, with Dave Gomm, GBR in second and Josh Mars, AUS in third place.

Check out the Putt18 website for more information.

Puttery mini golf

A new mini golf brand has been created and will launch in the USA this summer.


Puttery Mini Golf from Drive Shack is launching in the USA

Puttery venues will offer high-tech indoor mini golf along with dining and drinking options.

Puttery is being developed by Drive Shack and the minigolf brand will be delivered in partnership with Rory McIlroy.

The first Puttery location will open in Dallas, Texas this summer. A further site is planned for Charlotte, North Carolina with another five Puttery venues opening in 2021. A further ten locations are planned to open in 2022.

Visit the Drive Shack website for more information.

New Crazy Golf course planned for Redcar

The Coatham area of Redcar in Teesside will be home to a new 18-hole Crazy Golf course on the site of the former Coatham Bowl.

The Coatham area of Redcar in Teesside will be home to a new 18-hole Crazy Golf course on the site of the former Coatham Bowl

We've been to Redcar a couple of times on our travels around Teesside and it'll be good to head back to play the new course in the future.

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Results of the Putt18 Battle of the Brits tournament

Play has concluded in the 2021 Battle of the Brits Putt18 competition.


Putt18 Golf Putting Game Mat

The first-ever Putt18 Battle of the Brits tournament has been completed - and I won it!

Richard Gottfried, Putt18 player

I scored a total of 281 over 72-holes - a new personal best four round total. My round of 67 was also a personal best. My scores were good enough for first place in Nett scores and third place in Gross un-handicapped scoring.

Eight players competed in the event. With David Gomm runner-up and Steve Lovell in third place.

Putt18 Battle of the Brits tournament

The Putt18 World Pro League 2021

The 2021 Putt18 World Pro League has teed-off with 22 players from the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the USA competing in rounds using the Putt18 Golf Putting Game Mat between now and April.

Visit the Putt18 website for more information.

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Art Deco in Doncaster

We're big fans of Art Deco style, design and architecture and we've been remembering our trip to Doncaster last year and our stay at the superb Earl of Doncaster Hotel in Bennetthorpe.




Roaring twenties in the 2020s.


We couldn't have asked for a better spot - Art Deco magnificence and the hotel was right next door to a park with a Crazy Golf course in it.

Crazy Golf at Elmfield Park in Doncaster
The Crazy Golf course at Elmfield Park

Danum House was another nice Art Deco building in the town centre.

Danum House in Doncaster

We're looking forward to getting back out on our travels, exploring new places and revisiting our favourite spots when it's safe to do so in the future.

Putt18 World Pro League 2021

The 2021 Putt18 World Pro League tees-off today with players from the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the USA competing in rounds using the Putt18 Golf Putting Game Mat between now and April.

Putt18 World Pro League 2021

More information can be found on the Putt18 website and the 2021 Putt18 World Pro League Facebook Group.

From 20 to 1 in 2021

This time last year we'd already visited 20 minigolf courses!


What a difference a year makes. By this time last year we'd visited 20 minigolf courses as our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour got off to a flying start.

As it stands today we've been to one course in 2021. And that was just passing by it during a walk on New Year's Day.

Our travels in the first days of 2020 took us to miniature golf venues in Oxford, Birmingham, Manchester, Northwich, Doncaster and Castleford.

Crazy Golf at Sunnybank Gardens in Hatfield, Doncaster
The last new course we played together before the pandemic was the Crazy Golf course at Sunnybank Gardens in Hatfield, Doncaster on the 19th January 2020

Minigolf in the time of coronavirus

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic we were closing in on visiting the final 40 courses of the original 600 we set out to play in 2006. We were also very close to hitting 1,000 course visits overall.

We were still able to visit a total of 46 courses in 2020, including revisits. 15 of them were new layouts to us. We visited eight courses during the pandemic (March to December), playing two of them.

Gator Adventure Golf at Escape Entertainment in Chorley
The last new course we played was the Gator Adventure Golf at Escape Entertainment in Chorley in August

New minigolf courses in the UK

We've continued to research, monitor and promote the game and know about at least another 90 new courses now open, being built, in development or planned to open in the UK. It'll be nice to swing by them when it's safe to get back out on the road again.

Pop-up Crazy Golf at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London
The last pop-up Crazy Golf course I visited was at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London last February

Related blog posts

Putt18 Battle of the Brits competition

Update from the Putt18 Battle of the Brits putting tournament.


I competed in the Putt18 Battle of the Brits putting tournament yesterday evening and scored a total of 281 over 72-holes - a new personal best four round total.

Putt18 Golf Game Putting Mat

My scores were as follows:
  • Round 1 - 68
  • Round 2 - 73
  • Round 3 - 73
  • Round 4 - 67

My round of 67 was also a personal best.


Eight British players are competing in the event during January.


More information on the Battle of the Brits competition can be found on the Putt18 Facebook Group.

The 2021 Putt18 World Pro League tees-off today with players from the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the USA in action over the coming months.

Putt18 2021 World Pro League

Check out the Putt18 website for more information.



Putt18

Minigolfers, golfers and other players from around the world have been playing the Putt18 golf game mat for fun and in competitions during the pandemic.

The roll out putting mat allows players to compete on an 18-hole course from their own home - and against other people around the world. Players tee-off from one of six tee boxes and aim at each of the three holes in turn, starting with a par-4, followed by a par-5 and ending on a par-3. They then move to the next tee position and take aim at the holes in turn again.

Emily and I competed in the first Putt18 Four Nations Cup in May last year and I played in the inaugural Putt18 World Pro League that was completed in October 2020.

The Putt18 World Pro League was a fun and interesting way to keep on putting and compete during the pandemic. It was also a first in terms of getting players from around the world to compete on the same playing surface in a regular league format.

With no end in sight to the coronavirus pandemic and with Stockport in the highest level of restrictions it looks like we'll be doing a lot more putting at home and socialising via competitive isolation activities for some time to come.

Link:


Related blog posts:

What day is it?

Today is Penguin Appreciation Day and National Cheese Lover's Day.



Pat, Mandy & Putt of the Putting Penguin team and guest contributors have reviewed 366 courses on the site since 2001.


Did you know there's a minigolf obstacle called "Käse"?

It can be found on Eternit Miniature Golf courses.


National Cheese Lover's Day is not to be confused with National Cheese Day in June.

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Minigolfing in Doncaster a year ago today

This time last year we were playing Crazy Golf at Sunnybank Gardens & The Yorkshire Ice Cream Farm in Hatfield, Doncaster.


Crazy Golf course at Sunnybank Gardens in Hatfield, Doncaster


Crazy Golf course at Sunnybank Gardens in Hatfield, Doncaster

Little did we know then that it would be the last course we'd play together until we managed a round again in August last year!

Crazy Golf course at Sunnybank Gardens in Hatfield, Doncaster

Crazy Golf course at Sunnybank Gardens in Hatfield, Doncaster



Visit Sunnybank Gardens & The Yorkshire Ice Cream Farm on Facebook for more information.


The trip to Doncaster was our last holiday too and while exploring the town we found a Crazy Golf course at Elmfield Park in Bennetthorpe and a layout at Hexthorpe Flatts Park.

Join our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour enewsletter mailing list

Monday, January 18, 2021

Crazy Golf at Vickersway Park in Northwich

A look at the Crazy Golf course at Vickersway Park in Northwich, Cheshire. January 2020.


Crazy Golf at Vickersway Park in Northwich


We've now been to 956 courses since September 2006.

American Golf National Adventure Golf Championship

A look back at the American Golf National Adventure Golf Championship at The Belfry.

The American Golf National Adventure Golf Championship is on YouTube (from 26m 55s).

American Golf Adventure Golf Championships at The Belfry

It was brilliant to compete in the event alongside Peter Jones at The Belfry Hotel & Resort in 2017 and showcase tournament miniature golf to a national TV audience.

American Golf National Adventure Golf Championship at The Belfry
Peter Jones in action in our semi-final match-up

I'm looking forward to playing in minigolf competitions again in the future.

Richard Gottfried playing hole 3 of the Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry
Playing hole 3 of the Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry

Saturday, January 16, 2021

The nation's 'craziest' putting couple

Check out the new issue of Today's Golfer magazine (March issue, number 409) to see a minigolf feature on us!

North Bay Crazy Golf in Scarborough

In October 2015 Richard was named 'Officially Britain’s Craziest Golfer' by Today's Golfer magazine and we were both named 'Britain's Barmiest Golfers' by the magazine in November 2016.

It's nice to have now been named as 'The nation's 'craziest' putting couple' too!

Friday, January 15, 2021

The retailtainment and minigolf boom

A look at the retail entertainment and minigolf boom.

Minigolf is a big part of the retailtainment boom, with courses opening as standalone entertainment activities, or as part of large shoppingtainment leisure offerings in malls, high streets and retail parks.

Retailtainment

Some of these retailtainment activities are permanent, while others are pop-ups catering to a mix of audiences, from children and families, to adults looking for competitive socialising fun.

Miniature Golf has grown in popularity in the last decade and has moved from only being a traditional outdoor seaside summer activity to become a year-round game that can be played indoors, outdoors and at pretty much any time of the day.

A number of high streets, retail parks and shopping malls are now home to minigolf courses, with more new venues planned to open.

Minigolf is also a popular addition to boost footfall, create awareness and attract people to a location. Businesses also use portable and temporary minigolf layouts for product launches and promotions.

New minigolf courses in the UK

In 2020 we found out about a lot of new minigolf courses opening in the UK and already this year we've heard about four new locations in planning and development.

New minigolf courses in the UK

We know of 91 new miniature golf courses opening, in planning or under construction since the pandemic hit the UK.

Check out the new courses page for more information.

Thursday, January 14, 2021

New minigolf courses in the UK

In 2020 we found out about a lot of new minigolf courses opening in the UK and already this year we've heard about four new locations in planning and development.

New minigolf courses in the UK

We know of 91 new miniature golf courses opening, in planning or under construction since the pandemic hit the UK.

Check out the new courses page for more information.

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

A Couple of Putts see in the New Year

Many thanks to our friends Tom & Robin at A Couple of Putts for sending us this ace new miniature golf postcard.

A Couple of Putts Happy Holidays postcard 2020

The minigolfing duo are seeing in the New Year by posting a hole-in-one video from a different course each day throughout January to #Make2021aHoleInOne.

Happy New Year! We’re feeling hopeful about 2021 and we’re kicking it off with some fun. Let’s have an ace of a new year!

Check out the A Couple of Putts website for more information.

The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing

While there is some down time in lockdown why not check out my minigolf marketing ebook - The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing.

The Minigolfer's Guide to Marketing

Created after years of playing, promoting and consulting the book gives players, courses, federations, associations and clubs a guide to the world of marketing.

You can buy the ebook from Amazon and Kobo.

Miniature Golf Day 2021

Miniature Golf Day is always on the 21st September. This year that will be a Tuesday.

Miniature Golf Day is always on the 21st September