Showing posts with label Oswestry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oswestry. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 09, 2020

Playing Crazy Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

A revisit to the Cae Glas Park Crazy Golf course in Oswestry, Shropshire.


There aren't too many 'Eternit' Miniature Golf courses here in the UK and some of those that do exist have been modified over the years.

Crazy Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

One of the best examples is at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry.


We first played the course in 2009 and returned to compete on it during the Oswestry Games in 2012. It was the 149th course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Crazy Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

It was nice to have a game on it again earlier this week. Even if it started tipping it down as soon as we teed-off.

Crazy Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

The 18-hole layout is still in great condition and there are some nice ace opportunities.









The course only costs £1.30 for adults / 50p for children to play! Unbelievable value.

Cae Glas Park is a superb setting and right in the town centre.


We're looking forward to playing it more in the future.


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Orange Wednesday

Last Wednesday was a very orange Wednesday.


It was brilliant to spot this old Orange Mobile shop sign while we were in Oswestry last Wednesday. A relic from another time.

Tiny Phones Orange mobile shop in Oswestry

We popped into a charity shop to escape the rain and while browsing spotted this old Orange mobile phone too. I used to sell mobiles from that era when I got my first job at Tandy back in 1996!

Motorola MR20 mobile phone from 1996

Orange launched in 1994 and merged with EE in 2010. The orange brand was continued until 2015 with existing customer plans ceasing in 2019.

Tiny Phones Orange mobile shop in Oswestry

Tiny Phones Orange mobile shop in Oswestry

Other lost and defunct brands

We've seen a number of old shop signs and retro retail remnants on our travels including Tandy in Hitchin; RadioShack in St Annes on the Sea; Toys R Us stores in Ancoats, ManchesterWarringtonHanley, Stoke-on-Trent and PrestonWoolworths Big W in Brunstane, Edinburgh; Woolworths in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent; BHS in Stockport; Kwik Save in Barrow-in-Furness; Cooltrader in Blackpool; Happy Shopper in Preston and Blockbuster Video stores in ManchesterColneOldhamCheadle HulmeMarpleHastingsFelixstowe, Telford, Prescot and Chester.

Monday, August 10, 2020

Medals from the Oswestry Games

A look at medals from the Oswestry Games in 2012.


These are some of the best medals I've ever won playing minigolf. They came from competing in tournaments at the 2012 Oswestry Games in Shropshire.

Medals from the Oswestry Games in 2012

The Gold was from the BMGA & Putterfingers Oswestry Games Minigolf Championship and the Bronze medal was from the BMGA Oswestry Games Pro-Am Minigolf Classic. The silver medal was won by Emily in the Pro-Am team competition.

The Oswestry Games were a superb multi-sports event and festival of sport. They tapped into the Olympic spirit of London 2012.

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Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Mini Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

A look at the Miniature Golf course at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry.


On this day in 2012 we were in Oswestry, Shropshire for The Oswestry Games multi-sports festival.


We first visited the Cae Glas Park Miniature Golf course at the end of our road-trip around Wales in 2009. It was the last course we played on the trip and the first one after crossing the border back into England.

It's one of the few Eternit type of miniature golf courses in the UK.

Miniature Golf course at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

Miniature Golf course at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

We had a brilliant time in the Oswestry as part of the Oslympics. We met some great people, put on some fun coaching sessions and played in two excellent competitions.

The Oswestry Games minigolf team
The Oswestry Games minigolf team - from l-r Emily Gottfried, Ruth Burke, Steve Sturdy, Richard Gottfried, Marc Chapman, John Moore

We were also bronze medalists in the Oswestry Games pub quiz at the Cricket Club.

We're looking forward to revisiting Oswestry and playing the course again in the future.

Friday, June 05, 2020

Miniature Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

A look at the Eternit Miniature Golf course at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry.


Miniature Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

There aren't too many Eternit Miniature Golf courses here in the UK and some of those that do exist have been modified over the years.


One of the best examples is at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry, Shropshire.


We first visited the course at the end of our road-trip around Wales in 2009. It was the last course we played on the trip and the first one after crossing the border back into England.

Miniature Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

We returned in 2012 to run the minigolf events at the Oswestry Games, aka the Oslympics.

Miniature Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

We had a marvellous time in the town as part of the sports festival. We met some great people, delivered some fun coaching sessions and competed in two superb tournaments. We were also bronze medalists in the Oswestry Games pub quiz at the Cricket Club.

When it's safe to do so we'll head over to Oswestry to see what the course is like now.


Photos of the 18-hole Miniature Golf course (2012).


Miniature Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

Miniature Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

Miniature Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

Miniature Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

Miniature Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

Miniature Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

Miniature Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

Miniature Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry
 
Miniature Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

Miniature Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

Miniature Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

Miniature Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

Miniature Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

Miniature Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

Miniature Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

Miniature Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

Miniature Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

Miniature Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

Miniature Golf at Cae Glas Park in Oswestry

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Sunday, August 07, 2016

Memories of the 2012 Oslympic Games

Looking back at the 2012 Oswestry Games multi-sport event in Shropshire.


Back in the summer of 2012 we were proud to be a part of the Oswestry Games. The festival of sport in Shropshire saw the sport of minigolf included in a multi-sport games event in the UK for the first time.

The Oswestry Games, or 'Oslympics' as they became known, were a mammoth undertaking for the organisers at the Oswestry Sports Council and it was a real pleasure and honour for Emily and I to organise the minigolf events along with other coaches and players from the national tour.

The coaches and competitors in the Pro-Am minigolf tournament at Cae Glas Park

The Oswestry Games consisted of more than 50 sports and cultural events held over ten-days in July 2012.

Minigolfing at the Oswestry Games

Things got off to a great start on our first night in the town - not only were we recognised while on our way to the sporting quiz night at the town's cricket club, but we also won the bronze medal in the quiz itself.

The bronze medal winning quizzing minigolfers

The Saturday morning of the Games saw us organise coaching sessions for locals youth and adult players on the 18-hole 'Eternit' miniature golf course in Cae Glas Park in the town centre. This was followed by the BMGA Oswestry Games Pro-Am Minigolf Classic team tournament in the afternoon - won by Marc 'The Force' Chapman, Steve Sturdy and Chris Powell.

On the tricky Cae Glas Park miniature golf course

Sunday was the closing day of the Games and a large number of clubs, regional organisations and national governing bodies gathered at the Leisure Centre for a jam-packed day of sporting fun, games and competition.

Playing the Putterfingers Crazy Golf course at the Oswestry Games

With a Putterfingers modular Crazy Golf course we took centre stage and had a large number of the public, athletes and competitors from other events joining us for a round on the 9-hole course.

We scooped Gold, Silver and Bronze medals at the Games - and what very fine medals they are too

We ended our trip to the Oslympics by contesting the BMGA & Putterfingers Oswestry Games Minigolf Championship - which I won!

The podium for the pro-tournament - Marc Chapman, me and John Moore

Did you know - Miniature Golf was once played during the actual Olympic Games! While it was not officially part of the Games programme, the participants in the Golf tournament at the 1904 Olympic Games held in St Louis, USA also competed in a Putting Championship on a specially built miniature golf course at the Glen Echo Country Club.

It'd be great to see miniature golf become an Olympic sport one day. And we'd also like to see the Oswestry Games return once more. Perhaps when the UK next hosts the Olympics, minigolf will be an event, and Oswestry will host their Games again.

The future for the sport of miniature golf looks bright, with the international governing body - the World Minigolf Sport Federation - gaining further recognition on the global stage all the time. The WMF is a member of SportAccord and an organisation called AIMS (the Alliance of Independent Members of SportAccord) - who's goal it is to achieve International Olympic Committee recognition for its members.

Back in 1989 the sport (Bahn Golf) was a demonstration event in the IWGA World Games in Karlsruhe, Germany. The WMF is also hoping to have minigolf included in other multi-sport events in the future.

As the umbrella organisation of minigolf sports association's worldwide and continental associations in Asia, Europe and America the WMF has 55 members. The sport is played on an organised level in Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, China, Chinese Taipai, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Kenya, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, USA and Vietnam.

There are more than 38,000 competitive minigolf players registered with the WMF via the 55 member nations, with 900-plus clubs between them. Over 1,000 courses are approved for official competitions and around 1,500 minigolf tournaments are held each year.

Aside from the March 2011 list Emily and I have been in the sport's international rankings since November 2008 following our debut for the Great Britain team at that year's Nations Cup championships in Tampere, Finland.


We're hoping to one day visit the Olimpiapark Munchen too as the venue has an eternit miniature golf course that was set-up in the Athletes Village for the 1972 Olympic Games. That'd be a great course to play on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Related blog posts:
- The Oswestry Games
- Miniature Golf and the Olympic Games

Links:
- Oswestry Sports Forum
- The Oswestry Games 2012
- World Minigolf Sport Federation
- Minigolf Report from the 2012 Oswestry Games Multi-Sport Event

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Thursday, July 19, 2012

Minigolf Report - Gottfrieds win at the Oswestry Games in Shropshire

17th July 2012
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report from the Oswestry Games ‘Oslympics’ in Shropshire

Luton Minigolfers Richard and Emily Gottfried competed in two Minigolf tournaments as part of the Oswestry Games multi-sport event on the 14th and 15th July. Richard won the BMGA & Putterfingers Oswestry Games Minigolf Championship on Sunday, while Emily collected a silver medal in the BMGA Oswestry Games Pro-Am Minigolf Classic team event on Saturday.

The Podium at the BMGA & Putterfingers Oswestry Games Minigolf Championship - Richard Gottfried (Gold), John Moore (Silver), Marc Chapman (Bronze)

The Saturday BMGA Oswestry Games Pro-Am Minigolf Classic team competition was contested at the 18-hole Eternit-style Miniature Golf course in Oswestry’s Cae Glas Park and saw Emily and her team mates Ruth Burke and Christian Urbano end as runners-up to the team of Marc Chapman, Steve Sturdy and Chris Powell. Richard teamed up with John Moore and Ed Odametey and finished in third place.

The field of players at the BMGA Oswestry Games Pro-Am Minigolf Classic at Cae Glas Park

BMGA Oswestry Games Pro-Am Minigolf Classic Silver Medallist - Emily Gottfried
Richard Gottfried practicing the 'Middle Hill' obstacle at Cae Glas Park's Minigolf Course
In the elite player competition on Sunday seven players competed over 36-holes on a Putterfingers 9-hole portable Crazy Golf course at Oswestry Leisure Centre. Richard won the BMGA & Putterfingers Oswestry Games Minigolf Championship with a total of 73(+1) after rounds of 40(+4) and a course record 33(-3). Newcastle’s John Moore was runner-up with a total of 77(+5) and Canterbury’s Marc Chapman was third with 78(+6). Emily finished in 6th place with a score of 89(+17).

Richard Gottfried playing hole 1 of the Putterfingers Mini Golf course
Richard said “We had a wonderful three days in Oswestry and two great days of coaching events and competitions. I’m incredibly happy to have won an Oslympics gold medal in the BMGA and Putterfingers elite player contest. John Moore and Marc Chapman had a good lead over me heading into the second round but I was able to score nice and consistently on the tricky layout to set the course record and pick up a BMGA Tour victory. I’d like to thank the Oswestry Games organisers for including Minigolf in the programme of events at the Oslympics."

Richard Gottfried playing hole 2 of the Putterfingers Mini Golf course

Emily said “The Oswestry Games was a fantastic event and I’m really happy that I was able to take part, as well as to come away with a couple of medals! The games, the park, the courses and the people in Oswestry were all very nice and welcoming and I enjoyed the whole weekend. The Minigolf tournaments were well organised and great fun, and it was nice to meet, advise and play Minigolf with local players and novices.”

Richard Gottfried playing hole 4 of the Putterfingers Mini Golf course

The Minigolf competitions were part of a ten-day festival of sports and culture which saw over fifty events in 33 sports take place at the Oswestry Games. Richard and Emily were part of the coaching team delivering Minigolf training sessions with the British Minigolf Association. On Friday 13th July the BMGA team also took part in the Oslympics Open Quiz and won the bronze medal in a 14-team contest.

Ends

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

A Sport and Arts Exhibition - Peg Dollies 2012 at Qube Oswestry

Creating a Crazy Minigolfer for the Qube Oswestry Sports & Arts Exhibition.

At the 2012 Oswestry Games Fun Day on Sunday 15th July the British Minigolf Association (BMGA) & Putterfingers Minigolf course was set-up at Oswestry Leisure Centre. One of the stalls next to the course was a display and 'have-a-go' activity from Qube – a charity based in Oswestry that serves the local community through a number of services including Community Transport, Arts and health, Volunteering Care and Community Facilities.

The "Peg Dollies 2012" Stand at the Oswestry Games Fun Day

The latest exhibition at the Qube Gallery is entitled ‘Peg Dollies 2012’ and will see thousands of Peg Dollies created with a sporting theme to ‘gather’ and ‘perform’ in an Opening Ceremony at Qube. I was told that a previous exhibition of Peg Dollies was made when the Qube centre opened ten years ago and that these creations will be returning as spectators in August! There will be a full crowd of Pegs Dollies created and displayed in the Qube Art Gallery in Oswestry, Shropshire between the 2nd of August and the 8th of September 2012.

Our Peg Dolly Kit

While we were at the Oslympic Fun Day our group of Minigolfers didn’t have time to create a Minigolfer on a Crazy Golf course for the exhibit, we did however get given a sporting Peg Dolly Kit to work with. And so Emily and I tried our hand at creating a Great Britain International Minigolfer.

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The completed sporting Peg Dolly GB Minigolfer on his Crazy Golf course (with Oswestry Games Gold Medal) - hi-res photo

Another view of the Great Britain Peg Dolly Minigolfer - hi-res photo

I’m looking forward to seeing photos from the exhibition at Qube Oswestry. The Peg Dolly athletes we saw at the Oswestry Games looked brilliant – there were loads of different sporting activities depicted, with a great fencing duel taking place, athletics, a boxing match and a group of synchronised swimmers!

Last October I also did a bit of Art & Craft for the Putter King Miniature Golf Scavenger Hunt when I created a Putter King Wobblehead Mascot!

Links: