Last Pre-Season Minigolf Challenge Matches - at Tea Green Golf, Luton

Before the start of the 2010 BMGA Tour I played my final two pre-season warm-up Challenge Matches today at the Minigolf course at Tea Green Golf.

I faced-off against my old Tea Green rivals Lester Coles and Scott Holmes in two 18-hole/two-round matches.

Match one vs. Lester Coles:
Richard won with - 17 + 16 = 33(-3)
Lester - 18 +17 = 35(-1)

Match two vs. Scott Holmes:
Richard won with - 19 + 18 = 37 (+1)
Scott - 22 + 16 = 38 (+2)

Some great fun and competitive minigolf practice ahead of the new BMGA Tour season.

Many thanks to Lester and Scott for providing the opposition.

30 seconds in Ireland!

Driving through rural Bedfordshire this afternoon we found ourselves in Ireland!?

The Green Man Country Inn - Gluten Free (but no Crazy Golf anymore)

After finding out earlier this week that The Green Man Pub in Stanford, Bedfordshire now serves Gluten Free menu options for Coeliacs I couldn't wait until the planned Beds & Herts Coeliac Group meal in February to try the food out, so we headed there today.

I was also keen to see what the area where the old Crazy Golf course used to be would look like now.



Though the Crazy Golf has gone I would highly recommend the food in the restaurant, as not only can they cater for Coeliacs but the food tastes great and is such good value!

I opted for the Green Man Special Roast Dinner - this came with two huge Rib Eye Steaks! Can't wait to go back for more!

Check out the menu and pub at http://www.greenmanstanford.co.uk/

From the archives - Crazy Golf at The Green Man Pub, Stanford, Bedfordshire

I found out today (15th January 2010) that the Crazy Golf course at The Green Man Pub, Stanford, Bedfordshire has been removed! I will be visiting the pub in February (for a Gluten Free meal!) so will be able to see what remains, or what has taken its place.

The course was the 11th minigolf course visit on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and took place even before we joined the British Minigolf Association (BMGA) and so the rules we were using were not 'Official' - note the non-movement of the ball from the borders to allow backswing for example (much like our first ever course visits on the Tour at the Adventure Golf in Southsea).

Videos of Minigolfers 'Squire' Richard Gottfried* and Emily 'Coach' Gottfried playing the 9-hole Crazy Golf course on the 29th December 2006 on one of the first course visits on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.







Photos that I took of the course as it was back at the end of 2006 can be found at the excellent MiniatureGolfer.com website Green Man Pub course entry.

In the 9-hole round played at the course (which counted towards half the score in the 2006 Irregular Mini Golf Tour Christmas Challenge tournament) I scored a 41 to beat Emily by one-shot. The other course played as part of the competition was another public house course at the Horse & Harrow in West Hagbourne, Oxon.

For the full list and links to other courses visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour please visit - http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/12/crazy-world-of-minigolf-tour-courses.html

* Prior to my BMGA Tour debut (and after some terrible shots on the course at The Green Man pub) my minigolf nickname was almost Richard 'Hole in Two, or Eight' Gottfried!

Despite the course closing the The Green Man Pub itself continues to operate, and now offers Gluten Free menu options for Coeliacs - excellent news! I look forward to returning, but am sad that the Crazy Golf has gone!

Snow Crazy Golf at Tea Green Golf, Luton

Attempting to play Minigolf on a snowed under Crazy Golf course.


We headed up to Tea Green Golf near Luton this afternoon to hit the driving range and attempt to play the 9-hole Minigolf course (despite the heavy snow and ice covering the course).

Video: Attempting to play Crazy Golf in the snow at Tea Green Golf, Luton.


After getting a 5 on hole one and a 3 on hole four (bypassing holes 2 & 3) the round was abandoned due to the adverse weather conditions - it was impossible to play and I was some way off beating the course record of 13(-5), needing 5 shots in seven holes. It was great fun putting through the snow and ice, and attempting to find the actual holes!?




The Putting Course


The BIG Golf Putting Area

The Driving Range

Looking forward to another round or two soon, hopefully in better conditions!

Links:
- Tea Green Golf website
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

More Snow - Sledging & Crazy Golf

After the snow a few short weeks ago in December another great flurry has meant that the time is right for more sledging action - and hunting out snow covered Crazy Golf courses in Luton.




Back in March 2008 the course in Wardown Park had a dusting of snow, but nothing like the covering it got earlier this week.


Here's what hole one looks like in better weather.

The slopes in Luton.

Luton's second best Sledging Team.

'Best of 5 Pro Spirit Challenge Tour'

Following the two BIG Golf Challenge Matches between me and fellow Minigolfer Jon 'The Stance' Angel (at Tea Green Golf near Luton, and at Stanmore & Edgware Golf Club) the venues for the final three matches in the 'Best of 5 Pro Spirit Challenge Tour' have been agreed and will be played as follows:

1 Stockwood Park, Luton
2 Northwick Park, Harrow
3 Finale: West Park, Chelmsford

'Mini Majors' Adventure Golf at Northwick Park in Harrow

A revisit and replay of the Miniature Golf course at Northwick Park, Harrow.

Following my BIG Golf match win at Stanmore & Edgware Golf Club Emily and I headed to Northwick Park in nearby Harrow to play the 9-hole 'Mini Majors' Adventure Golf Course.

Emily won the Northwick Park Challenge competition as part of the Irregular Mini Golf Tour with a cracking score of 59 over two rounds (including a 24) on the tough course (which contains many long and winding holes). I scored a total of 66, after rounds of 35 and 31.



Emily also won the Matchplay contest with a hole-in-one on the last hole of the match to win 2-Up.

The conditions were very cold, with all of the water features frozen!








We had previously visited the course on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in July 2008 when it was the 59th Minigolf course we played.

While at Northwick Park I also had a play on the TopPutt machine - scoring a pitiful 101!

Related Blog Posts:

- Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses in and around London

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- London

Links:
- Playgolf London Northwick Park
- Playgolf London Northwick Park Adventure Golf

Like the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on Facebook, check out our YouTube channel and follow me and Emily on Twitter.

Putting Green at Stanmore & Edgware Golf Club

The latest course played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour was the 9-hole Putting course at Stanmore & Edgware Golf Club yesterday - 158th Minigolf course played since September 2006!

Related Blog Posts:

- Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses in and around London

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- London

Not a Minigolf course, nor a Minigolf hole

Spotted in the bushes at Stanmore & Edgware Golf Club yesterday.



But it did look like a bit of an old derelict course (I've seen worse on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour!).

Related Blog Posts:

- Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses in and around London

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- London

BIG Golf Challenge - Re-match at Stanmore & Edgware GC

Back in July Minigolfers 'Squire' Richard Gottfried and Jon 'The Stance' Angel competed in a round of 'Big' Golf at the Par-3 course at Tea Green, near Luton. In that match Richard came out on top, winning by one-shot.

Yesterday they competed in a re-match, this time on Jon's 'home' turf at the 9-hole Par-3 course at the Stanmore & Edgware Golf Club.

Also joining Jon 'El Pato' Angel and 'Hot Streak' Richard Gottfried was Dan '5-star' Angel, another regular on the greens at Stanmore & Edgware GC.

After some great action in the very cold and icy conditions (preceded by a warm-up at the Driving Range at Northwick Park - who's own course was closed due to frozen greens, and on the 9-hole Putting Course at Stanmore) it was Richard who again won (and again by one-shot) in a close fought contest, with a total of 41(+14), to Jon's 42(+15) and Dan's 43(+16).






Due to demand, the BIG Golf/Pitch & Putt Series has now been extended to a best-of 5 match series.

Related Blog Posts:

- Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses in and around London

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- London

2010 Luton Invitational Minigolf Tournament - New Year's Day at Woodside Animal Farm

Results of the 2010 Luton Invitational Minigolf Tournament at Woodside Animal Farm, Slip End Village near Luton.



The first Minigolf Competition to be held in 2010 took place today at the 18-hole Crazy Golf Course at Woodside Animal Farm, Slip End Village, near Luton.

The 2010 Luton Invitational Tournament featured four players, who braved Arctic-cold conditions on New Year's Day over the 18-hole round.

The winner was 'Squire' Richard Gottfried, with '?' and Emily 'Coach' Gottfried tied for second place. Simon 'The Ice Man' Hall finished in fourth place, but impressed with two holes-in-one in his debut on the Irregular Mini Golf Tour.

2010 Luton Invitational Results:
1. Richard Gottfried - 46 (+10)
2T. Emily Gottfried - 54 (+18)
2T. Mystery Player - 54 (+18)
4. Simon Hall - 57 (+21)

The results from the event count towards the 2009/10 Irregular Mini Golf Tour Rankings.

Photos from the 2010 Luton Invitational.









The Luton Invitational was last held in 2006 when Ipswich's Jo Tubby won, with Luton's Emily Gottfried second, and Richard Gottfried third.

2006 Luton Invitational Results*:
1. Jo Tubby - 54 (par)
2. Emily Gottfried - 56 (+2)
3. Richard Gottfried - 62 (+8)
* Note: Par used was 'Course Par' of 3 shots per hole, rather than 'BMGA Par' of 2 shots per hole.

In results from the Minigolf Doubles Match also held on the 1st January 2010 at the course:
Richard Gottfried & Emily Gottfried defeated Simon Hall and his Mystery Partner 5&3.

The Crazy Golf course at Woodside Animal Farm was the fourth course visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back on the 27th October 2006.

Photos from the trip to Woodside Animal Farm.





The visit to Woodside Animal Farm was part of the Farm's New Year's Day Party that was raising money for the charities Grove House & Keech Cottage Children's Hospice.

2009 - Ham & Egger Files - The Year in Review

2009 has been a great year for both me and Emily, with some excellent finishes on the British Minigolf Association (BMGA) Tour, stacks of crazy golf courses visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, and lots of competition on the Irregular Mini Golf Tour.

Below is a month by month run down of the highs (and lows) of 2009 as documented here on the Ham & Egger Files.

January
- BMGA Tour 2009 Season Begins (my third year on the Tour and Emily's second)
- 24th place finish in the Star City Open minigolf tournament in Birmingham
- 8th place in the Nayland Classic

February
- A quiet month, with no minigolf or crazy golf events, but one which saw me buy a new sledge

March
- Minigolf course visits 79, 80 and 81 on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour are made
- 6th place finish in the New Malden Invitational minigolf tournament
- 5th place in the Motspur Park Classic competition

April
- Minigolf course visits 82 & 83 on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour take place in the USA at Boondocks Fun Center in Northglenn, Denver, Colorado
- Won the Manchester Mini Masters tournament at Championship MiniatureGolf, Emily is 6th
- Ham & Eggers Ten Pin Bowling Team win the Macmillan Annual Bowling Challenge
- 23rd place in the BMGA British Masters minigolf tournament
- 2nd place finish in the Double-I Double-O (IIOO) competition
- First round win in the BMGA British Matchplay Championships against Phil Exall in Southend
- 4th place in the Luton Sports Network Luton Sports Awards for 2008

May
- Won the Tampere Reunion Classic competition at Wroxham Barns, Norfolk
- Played the 88th course on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour at the Lost World Adventure Golf in Hemsby
- 16th place finish in the BMGA English Open
- Visited the 100th course overall on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour at Pops Meadow Putting Green in Gorleston-on-Seait was closed
- Minigolf Tour of Glasgow
- 5th place finish in the Midlands Invitational Tournament in Stratford-Upon-Avon, 7th place for Emily
- Ham & Eggers Team play in the F.U.N. Charity Ten Pin Bowling Competition
- Help set a new Guinness World Record for "The Largest Picnic across multiple venues" at the picnic in Wardown Park, Luton
- 99th minigolf course played in Windsor

June
- Visit and play minigolf course 100 on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour at Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf at South Shields, Tyneside
- 2nd place in the Newcastle Invitational Tournament, Emily 3rd
- Won the Second Division Play-offs at the BMGA British Doubles at Boscombe Chine with new Minigolf Doubles Partner Kevin Moseley
- 10th place in the Midland Open minigolf tournament

July
- Minigolf course visit 111 was right under our noses in Luton, at Tea Green Golf at Wandon End
- Lost to John 'Big Top Ted' McIver by one-hole in the second-round of the BMGA British Matchplay Championships in Hastings
- 25th place in the BMGA British Championships
- Gottfrieds finish first and second in the Manchester Miniature Open tournament
- Appeared on BBC2 Quiz Show 'Eggheads' as Captain of the Crazy Golf Team - Nutters with Putters

August
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Tour of Wales takes place with 28 Crazy Golf (Golff Gwyllt) courses played in a week
- 2nd place in the Boules Invitational Tournament at The Mumbles in Swansea (Abertawe)
- 2nd place finish in the first-ever Cystadleuaeth Minigolff Cymraeg (Welsh Minigolf Tournament) in Swansea (Abertawe)
- Entered the Crystal Maze near Narbeth, Wales

September
- Visited and played my 150th minigolf course on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour at the Arnold Palmer Crazee Golf in Southport
- Won the Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open minigolf tournament
- Set a new BMGA and all-time Course Record of 24 (par) during the Blackpool Pleasure Beach Open, beating Emily's old BMGA record by three shots
- 21st place in the BMGA Players Championships in Margate
- 25th place finish in the BMGA British Open

October
- Won the Johnson's Scrap Iron Cup in Sandbanks
- Captain of the defending BMGA British Club Champions - the Midlands Minigolf Club
- 7th place finish in the BMGA British Club Championships
- 2nd place in the London Open minigolf competition
- 2nd place finish in the Weymouth Open tournament
- Set a new BMGA course record of 41(+5) at the Weymouth Sealife Pirate Adventure Golf Course at Lodmoor Country Park during the Weymouth Open
- Retains the Scrap Iron Cup in Weymouth
- 3rd place in the "www.miniaturegolfer.com 'Nine Best' Crazy Golf Championship"
- Represented England for the third time at the Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings, finished 17th, Emily 45th

November
- 8th place finish in the Kent Open minigolf tournament in Margate
- BMGA Tour 2009 Season Ends
- Ranked 8th in the BMGA Season-only Rankings, Emily 37th
- Ranked 16th in the BMGA Order of Merit Rankings, Emily 39th
- Ranked 418th in the World Minigolfsport Federation Mens Rankings, Emily 130th in the Womens Rankings List
- Ranked 31st in the Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Rankings, Emily 50th
- Ranked 1st in the Irregular Mini Golf Tour Rankings for 2008-2009, Emily 2nd
- Ranked 2nd within the Midlands Minigolf Club (based on 2009 BMGA Season-only Rankings), Emily 10th
- Ranked 3rd within the Midlands Minigolf Club (based on 2008-2009 BMGA Order of Merit Rankings), Emily 6th

December
- 5th place finish in the 2009 Christmas Crazy Golf Challenge minigolf competition, Emily ties for 9th spot
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour course visit number 200 overall is at the 9-hole Crazy Golf Course at the Kingsway Golf Centre in Melbourn, Cambridgeshire
- Used the sledge I bought in February for the first time
- An attempt to break the Guinness World Record for "How many Brussels Sprouts can you eat in one minute" fails
- The Ham & Egger Files Blog celebrates its third birthday

A peek ahead at 2010?
Who knows what will happen, or where we'll be going on our various minigolf, crazy golf and other strange sporting adventures in 2010 - what is known is that a lot of fun will be had on the way!

Happy Third Birthday Ham & Egger Files!

Today is the third Birthday of the Ham & Egger Files website!

Over the past three years me and Emily's Adventures on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour (and in other sports and games) have been logged through 536 posts here at the Ham & Egger Files website.

We've travelled the UK playing in Minigolf and Crazy Golf Tournaments (winning a fair few on the way), visited over 200 Miniature Golf courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour, represented Great Britain at Minigolf Sport, Finger Jousted our way to victory, competed in Ten Pin Bowling Tournaments and even attempted to break a couple of Guinness World Records!

Here's to the next year (and more) of sporting fun!