Putting Course at the Macdonald Elmers Court Hotel and Resort in Lymington

A look at the Putting Course at the Macdonald Elmers Court Hotel in Lymington, Hampshire.

While we were down in Lymington to play the New Forest Adventure Golf course at Lymington Golf Centre in May we popped over the road to the Macdonald Elmers Court Hotel and Resort as our friend and minigolf rival Ollie Florence had told us there was a Putting Course there.

A nice view

Minigolf report from the Surrey Invitational Tournament

David Hartley wins the 2019 Surrey Invitational Minigolf Tournament.

The field of competitors at the 2019 Surrey Invitational Tournament

Planet Hastings Crazy Golf Club member David Hartley was victorious in the 2019 Surrey Invitational Tournament played at the New Forest Adventure Golf course in Hampshire on Sunday 5th May.

The 2019 Surrey Invitational Tournament champion David Hartley

Eight players were in action over two rounds on the 18-hole New Forest Adventure Golf course at Lymington Golf Centre.

The competitors at the New Forest Adventure Golf course

The title race was incredibly close and required a sudden-death play-off to decide the winner as defending champion Oliver 'The Machine' Florence and David Hartley had tied with scores of 105 after 36-holes. Interim champion 'Squire' Richard Gottfried missed out on the play-off by one-shot and had to settle for third place.

New Surrey Invitational Tournament champion David Hartley in action

The play-off began on hole 10 and saw David hit a two, which Oliver couldn't match or beat, meaning David took the victory.

David Hartley looks on as Oliver plays his tee-shot in the sudden-death play-off

Speaking after his win, new Surrey Invitational Tournament champion David Hartley said "I’m absolutely chuffed to nine pence as I now have three trophies adorning my top shelf. Maz and I play for the enjoyment of the sport and for the friendship and camaraderie. Prizes and trophies don’t often come our way so when they do, it is very gratifying. It was a great tournament, with excellent colleagues, played on a beautiful, well designed and well maintained course."

Results:
1. David Hartley – 54 + 51 = 105*
2. Oliver Florence – 56 + 49 = 105
3. Richard Gottfried – 50 + 56 = 106
4. Dave Gomm – 58 + 52 = 110
5. Matt Dodd – 57 + 59 = 116
5. Emily Gottfried – 61 + 55 = 116
7. Marion Hartley – 59 + 60 = 119
8. Emily Dodd – 90 + DNF = DNF

* won play-off at first extra-hole

The New Forest Adventure Golf course is an incredibly tricky layout and holes-in-one are scarce. Three players managed to score an ace, with David Hartley getting an ace on hole 9 in round 1, Marion Hartley on hole 13 in round 1 and Oliver Florence on hole 4 in round 2. This meant a play-off was required to decide the event's Aces Champion.

Oliver Florence in action

All three players scored twos on hole 1, with Oliver's ball ending incredibly close to the hole. On hole 2 Marion shot a 4, David followed with a 3 and Oliver couldn't match or beat the 3, which meant that David won the Aces title and trophy to go with his overall championship at the event.

The Surrey Invitational Tournament trophy and Aces crystal ball

Surrey Invitational Tournament Roll of Honour:
2019 – David Hartley
2016 – Oliver Florence
2014 – Matt Dodd

New Surrey Invitational Tournament Champion David Hartley and former winners Matt Dodd and Oliver Florence

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 staging of the event.

Interim champion after round 1 - Richard Gottfried

Interim champion after round 2 - Oliver Florence

Interim Champions:
2019 – Oliver 'The Machine' Florence at New Forest Adventure Golf in Lymington
2019 – 'Squire' Richard Gottfried at New Forest Adventure Golf in Lymington
2016 – Oliver 'The Machine' Florence at Stoke Park, Guildford
2016 – Steve 'F1' Gow at Woking Leisure Centre
2014 – 'Squire' Richard Gottfried at Horton Park Golf Club, Epsom
2014 – Oliver 'The Machine' Florence at Hoebridge Golf Centre, Woking

Photo gallery from the event:

The first shot of the S.I.T. by Richard Gottfried

Dave Gomm in action

Oliver Florence putting

Emily Gottfried playing hole 1

Matt Dodd playing the hardest hole on the course

A trip to the Isle of Wight

Marion Hartley teeing-off in the Aces championship play-off

As close to an ace as you could get on the first hole

Marion Hartley playing hole 2 in the Aces title play-off

Mini Golf at Sandown Park Golf Centre in Surrey

A look at the new Adventure Golf course at Sandown Park Golf Centre in Surrey.

Many thanks to my mate, minigolf rival and blogger Oliver 'The Machine' Florence for these snaps of the horse-themed Adventure Golf course at Sandown Park Golf Centre, taken during a round against Richard 'Michael Skaggs' Skeggs.

I've never seen a tee-off area like this before!

I'm looking forward to playing a round there on my Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

What a huge minigolf loop-di-loop

The minigolf course at Sandown Park Golf Centre looks like it'd be a nice spot to play the biannual Surrey Invitational Tournament on.

Dragon Miniature Railway at the Wyevale Garden Centre in Marple

Visiting the Dragon Miniature Railway at Marple Garden Centre.

Driving from the Brookside Miniature Railway in Poynton to Werneth Low to take a look at the spectacular view over the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport and beyond we passed through Marple and spotted another miniature railway! So we had to call in for a ride on the little train.

The Western Champion engine waits at Otterspool Junction

The Dragon Miniature Railway can be found at the Marple Wyevale Garden Centre in Otterspool, Stockport.

The Flying Dragon engine

Heading into a tunnel

At only £1 a ride it was marvellous value, and we got to sit in enclosed carriages for our fare too.

Classy carriages

About to get underway

Links:
- Wyevale Garden Centre, Marple
- Miniature Railway World

Related blog posts:
- Miniature Railways

Brookside Miniature Railway in Poynton

A visit to the Brookside Miniature Railway in Poynton, Stockport.

Since moving north we've spotted a few miniature railways on our travels around our new local area. The first of these - the Brookside Miniature Railway in Poynton - was randomly found en route to Macclesfield last month.

The Brookside Miniature Railway is located at the Brookside Garden Centre in Poynton, near Hazel Grove and is well worth a visit. We spotted the sign from the road outside and had to call in for a visit.

Full steam ahead

We enjoyed our ride on the train so much that we took our friend, and fellow fan of miniature golf and railways, Oliver Florence there on his recent stay with us in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport.

Ollie and Richard on the train

Squire Richard with the Sir Richard engine

New locals of Cheadle

The "Greatest little railway in Cheshire". Not my words, the words of Phil Collins

A view of an engine

On our first visit fares were £1.80 for adults. As the route was shortened on our second visit tickets were £1.50

A long Stockport bench

As there is some building work going on through the winter the route of travel has been truncated. Luckily our first visit coincided with the last weekend of steam until next summer.

The closed section of line. Luckily we got to travel that way the week before our second visit

Check out the links below for more information on the Brookside Miniature Railway, as well as other miniature railways in the UK. Visiting them could become a new tickable list activity like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour...

Like Land of the Giants

Links:
- Brookside Miniature Railway in Poynton
- Brookside Garden Centre
- Miniature Railway World

Related blog posts:
- Miniature Railways

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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