Organised by the British Minigolf Association (BMGA), the British Open International Tournament is now in its fifth year. In the past it has attracted players from Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy and Moldova.  The event is held each summer at White Rock Gardens in Hastings, East Sussex -- voted the UK’s best course in a poll of BMGA members. Set in attractive landscaped gardens, the course features Augusta-style sloping greens, as well as rocks, pipes and water hazards to negotiate. The White Rock course is a true test of skill and competition for the top prize is always intense.

Austria’s Heinz Weber -- a finalist at the World Championships in Vaasa -- won the 2001 Open in front of the television cameras after rattling in 19 aces and dropping only four shots. But the top British players are improving all the time and Heinz is expected to face strong competition this year from the likes of John McIver and Tim Davies.

For 2002, the competition is being expanded to run over two days. The event will be held on Saturday 31 August and Sunday 1 September, with free practice on 29 and 30 August. The prize fund is being doubled to £1000 (approximately 1600 Euro), to be shared between the four players who qualify for the Super Final.

Unveiling the new format, BMGA Chairman Peter Parr explained that all competing players will play two rounds on Saturday 31 August. The scores will be used to decide the groups for the Cup Play rounds on Sunday 1 September. The better your score, the easier your passage to the Super Final. All 20 players in Category A (including all overseas players) are guaranteed qualification for the Sunday rounds. They will be joined by the best 4 players in Category B (amateur British players).

For the Quarter Finals, players will be divided into six groups of 4. The best two players in each quarter final group will qualify for the Semi Final stage, with previous rounds’ scores being taken into account in the event of a tie.

The winner of each Semi Final group will qualify for the Super Final, along with one other player who has the best record over rounds 1-4 of the competition. The winner of the Super Final will walk away with £400. There will be consolation prizes of £300, £200 and £100 for the players finishing second, third and fourth.

One attraction of the British Open is the friendly spirit in which it is played. Anyone can enter, and experienced minigolf players could find themselves teeing-off against low-handicap golfers. The British Minigolf Association invites all players to Hastings to participate in what will be its biggest and best tournament yet. Further information is available from BMGA Chairman Peter Parr (e-mail mail@minigolf.org.uk).