2003 British MiniGolf Club Championship

London Minigolf Club win

In the second year of this competition London Minigolf Club beat Planet Hastings Crazy Golf Club by six shots.  To rub it in they presented the trophy for a second time at the BMGA Christmas party, because it hadn't been officially presented - yeah right!!  Look for the trophy to be presented at every subsequent event this year when PHCGC romp home!!

Jon Angel receiving the trophy from Ted Skelton

London Minigolf Club claw it back

London MC                    Total: 237 + 220 = 457

Planet Hastings CGC   Total: 235 + 228 = 463

Second Leg (British Open) - Clambers, Hastings September 13th (results)

The Battle of Hastings

This year's club competition culminated in a spectacular finale at the 2003 British Open.

It would see Hastings - the Real Madrid of UK minigolf - take on a raw but immensely gifted team from the mean streets of London. This year, the Hastings "Galacticos" would face the greatest challenge of their dominance of the sport. The hallowed turf of Clambers, with its luxurious carpeting, mysterious breaks and runs and spectacular views of the adjacent bowls green, would witness the 2003 cup final.

After the first leg there were only ever two teams in the reckoning. Hastings had fielded just three players and yet, despite this self-imposed handicap, had returned from London with a two point lead. Pure class. But the home side had recently also been rocked by some devastating news. On a fateful stein-fuelled afternoon at the World Championships in Germany, the David Beckham of the British team, Peter Parr, stunned his team mates by announcing his withdrawal from the Hastings side. The team was forced to reorganise, drafting in Stephen Garton and Vicky Sweeting for the final match.

London, by contrast, could not have been better prepared. Led by an inspirational captain, Jon "Mara-golfer" Angel, the team included that notoriously skilful hoodlum of the international circuit Michael "Bad Boy" Webb, Graham "The Guvner" Southern and the instinctive talent that is William "Two Putts" Eagar, a promising young pugilist from the mean streets of Kew. The side could even boast strength in the reserves with Lionel "The Spoon" Bender on the bench and Will "Top Cat" Knight hoping to eventually break into the first team, perhaps through injury to other players.

The crowds gathered around Clambers as the sides sharpened their putters for battle. Most had come to see the local favourites, Tim "Ace Man" Davies and his long-time sparring partner Ted "Big Top" McGiver.

Davies set about his task in awesome fashion. He grabbed the course by the scruff of its neck and began mercilessly pummelling it into submission. Ace after ace had the crowds roaring and the all-too-familiar sound of "Grrr" ringing in his opponents' ears. Davies nonchalantly left the field with a staggering 32.

McGiver - arguably the most naturally gifted and certainly the most flamboyant minigolfer of his generation - also unleashed his inner winner. But, having made a four on the first hole he was unable to keep up with Davies, shooting a modest-by-his-standards 37. The team's two newcomers, Garton and Sweeting may have been unprepared for such intense minigolf combat. They each recorded 46.

London smelt blood and Angel, as ever, led by example. He lashed out with a most tasty 34. In between mouthfuls of jellied eels he rallied his fellow Londoners to stick the boot in and Webb produced some devastating putts to score 33 and stay within acing distance of The Ace Man himself.

Eagar had arrived with barely time stroll around the course before the start, but played the only way he knows how: with mind-boggling skill. He shot 39 on his very first round. And Southern, the fourth member of London's putting elite, matched the Eager-meister with a 39 of his own. The Londoner's trade-mark salute of "'ave-it" echoed around Clambers.

The fist round, then, saw London claw back nine shots to go seven ahead of Hastings.

But the Galacticos would not relinquish their crown without a fight. In the final round Davies did his best to rescue the situation single-handed. Like a shabbily-dressed minigolfing King Arthur, he wielded his Excali-putter with a terrible vengeance to score another 32. Davies had again shown why in European minigolf circles he is know as "Monsieur L'Ace". McGuiver also showed flashes of genius during a second round of razzle-dazzle and panache. He scored a free-n-easy 37 and this time Garton pitched in with a sturdy 44 to give Hastings a fighting chance.

Unfortunately however, London's earlier bombardment had done lasting damage.  Angel put the London minigolf juggernaut into top gear and crashed it through the winning podium and into the sea. He scored a solid 38 in the second round and Webb played another blinder to record 35. Eagar found the course more demanding on his second try but still managed to notch up 41.  Hastings bettered their enemies by a single point in the final round. It was not enough. London had won.

The club trophy is now safely locked up in the Tower of London. But, at their winter training camp, Davies and McGuiver are plotting a comeback.  They will prepare for the 2004 season safe in the knowledge that revenge is a dish best served with an ace.

Words: Top Cat

Emboldened scores count towards the team scores

Red scores sub 36, Black scores over 35.

Best three scores selected from each side for each round

Planet Hastings CGC   Total: 228

    Round 1: 32 + 37 + 46 = 115

    Round 2: 32 + 37 + 44 = 113

London MC                    Total: 220

    Round 1: 33 + 34 + 39 = 106

    Round 2: 35 + 38 + 41 = 114

First Leg (London Open) – Broomfield Park, London  June 14th (results)

Planet Hastings romped to a two stroke lead after the first leg

* Equalled BMGA record

Emboldened scores count towards the team scores

Red scores from 36-40, Black scores over 40.

Best three scores selected from each side for each round

Planet Hastings CGC   Total: 235

    Round 1: 37 + 36 + 43 = 116

    Round 2: 38 + 44 + 37 = 119

London MC                    Total: 237

    Round 1: 41 + 36 + 40 = 117

    Round 2: 37 + 42 + 41 = 120

Welwyn Garden CGC    Total: 255

    Round 1: 42 + 42 + 45 = 129

    Round 2: 39 + 41 + 46 = 126

The first 2 rounds in each of the above competitions will count towards the British MiniGolf Club Championship.

If you wish to be considered for any of the above teams:

PHCGC - Contact Tim Davies

LMC - Contact Jon Angel

WGCCGC - Contact Steve Vallory

Rules:

Standard BMGA rules apply.

3 or 4 player names per team must be submitted prior to the beginning of any round.

The best three scores of each team in each round will count towards the British MiniGolf Club Championship.

The team with the lowest aggregate score over the four rounds will be crowned British MiniGolf Club Champions.

Results for Club Championships  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006