Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships 2009 Preview

Listed in 2008 Castle Golf World Crazy Golf ranking order

Top 10 and selected others

1. Tim 'Ace Man' Davies [WALES] (2) British number 2, Co author of Nutters with Putters, current World Champion. Captain of the Smeeth Cup winning Planet Hastings Crazy Golf Club team. Is there anyone out there as good as him? Knows the courses better than anyone and has the best notes, best scores on crazy, 32 and mini, 33. Best seven round score 238. [1,1,1,1,11,1]
Evens: Unlike his temperament

2. John 'Big Top Ted' McIver [SCOTLAND & PHCGC] (9), Mighty Prince of Dorkness and fashion icon. Co author of Nutters with Putters, winner in the BMGA Doubles. Runner-up in this competition for the first two years, lack lustre performances since, seventh last year. For some inexplicable reason isn't going on holiday just prior to the event. My mistake, he's gone to Ukraine. Very good best scores on crazy, 32 and mini, 34. Best seven round score 251. [2,2,10, 11, 7,7]
5-1 : A real no-hoper really

3. Ruth 'Plate Thrower' Bullin [ENGLAND & LMGC] (8), A local, ex-British Womens Minigolf Champion and ex-Womens World Crazy Golf Champion. Missed out on the finals last time out. Best seven round score 262. [15,7,9,8,5,21]
50-1 : Probably third in the Ladies this year

4. Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd [ENGLAND & LMGC] (7), Captain of the all-something London Minigolf Club team. Didn't make the final last year. 3rd in 2007 & 2008. Excellent best scores on crazy, 28 (a BMGA record) and mini, 34. Best seven round score 258. [-,5,16,3,3,19=]
15-1 : You never know??

5. Peter Emmerson [SEALAND & PHCGC] (5). Excellent performances in the British Open and British Championships. Excellent best scores on crazy, 33 and mini, 31 (a BMGA record) . Best seven round score 259 [-,3,13,15,9,9]
2-1 : The man most likely to

6. John 'Thighs' Moore [ENGLAND & MMGC] (11). The croqueteer, distance runner and ex-British Champion. Now a member of the League of Mediocrity? Best seven round score 261. [-,15,22, 4,6,6]
10-1 : If he's well enough, one to watch out for.

7. Andy Exall [ENGLAND & KMGC] (1), Hasn't been the same since the Smeeth Cup defeat. Excellent best scores on crazy, 32 and mini, 31 (a BMGA record) Best seven round score 254 [-, -,14,2,2,3].
5-2 : Is this going to be his first major?

8. Bill Bullin [ENGLAND & LMGC] (10) Missed out on the finals last time out. Best seven round score 261 [18,25,11,9,4,19=]
50-1 : No comment.

10. Philip Exall [ENGLAND & KMGC] () was the top Exall in this competition when playing in 2003 & 2005 with a best seven round score of 262. [6,-,4,7,21,13].
8-1 : Should make the final

11. Sean Homer [ENGLAND & KMGC] (6) BMGA President progressively improving.  Best seven round score 259 [-,-,20,16,13,8].
15-1 : should be in the mix.  I prophecy a top 6 finish.

12. Olivia Prokopova (CZECH REPUBLIC & PHCGC) A definite finalist. This year's PPA "Putting Queen" Best seven round score 260. [3,16,2,6,16,-]
3-1 : A decent bet and most likely to scoop the Ladies prize.

15. Keith Kellard [ENGLAND & LMGC] (15) Very impressive win in the BMGA British Championships on the Hastings Seafront mini golf course earlier this year using minigolf balls. And this year not saddled with organising the event! Best seven round score 263 . [20,4,6,-,10 ,11]
3-1 : Another possible winner.

18. Anthony Pope [SEALAND & PHCGC] Yet to reach the finals. The finest player on show in the Smeeth Cup along with Peter Emmerson, few players ever receive a standing ovation as they leave a course. They did! Best seven round score - [-,-,32,23,36,28]
57-1 : Should be looking at making the finals.

21. Denis Exall [ENGLAND & PHCGC] Erm, still a lovely bloke. Showing great improvement. Best seven round score - [-,-,43,38,24]
100-1 : Will he make the finals?

27. Chris Harding [ENGLAND & MMGC] (3) The vagaries of a ranking system! A class act, 2007 World Champion and the only other player to have gone sub 250 in this competition. Best seven round score 248 [-,-,-,-,1,2]
2-1 : Definitely top 5.

33. Nick 'Top Hole' Chitty [ENGLAND & PHCGC] (4) Excellent best scores on crazy, 29 and mini, 31. Best seven round score 257. [-,-,-,-,17,6]
5-2 : Top 10 guaranteed.

36. Jo 'Cup Cake' Williamson [ENGLAND & PHCGC] (13) Current Ladies World Crazy Golf Champion. Best seven round score 256. [-,-,-,-,22,5]
5-1 : A definite finalist, will be fighting it out with Olivia for the Ladies prize.

39. Terry 'The Gift' Exall [ENGLAND & PHCGC] Best seven round score 269 [12,-,-,-,23,18]
15-1 : A decent outside bet

45. Richard 'Squire' Gottfried [ENGLAND & MMGC] (14) Best seven round score 269 [-,-,-,-,39,17]
75-1 : Two 2nd places prior to this event.

- . Dave Gomm [ENGLAND & PHCGC] First outing in the BMGA British Championships showed promise.
500-1 : A long long shot

- . John Mittler (FINLAND). A virgin.  Never played crazy golf in the UK. 5th in the Irish Open 2007.  Hard acts to follow in Jouni Valkjärvi and Pasi Aho.
5-1 : Will be there or thereabouts.

Family Feuds

The Robertsons [ENGLAND & SCOTLAND] , 26.Trevor, 51.Martin, 59.Janette  [58. Debs not playing]

Mart and shocking Tammy won last year, Trevor (Trevino Smeethino) should be looking for revenge. Janette may have other plans, I think she'll beat them both.  If Debs was playing there'd only be one winner!

The Kukielkas [WALES]  114.Jas, 193.Leo & 211.Cindy  [78.Seve  – Absent.]

Cindy shocked the Welsh crazy golfing World beating Jas & Leo in Margate in the British Open.  Last year Jas' back gave way, I think it was more likely that he realised he was going to be beaten by the rest of the family.  It's between Cindy & Leo.  Jas may have an outside chance if he watches the Nutters with Putters DVD.

Current BMGA ranking in brackets ( ).
[ ] figures in square brackets denote last six finish positions.

PHCGC – Planet Hastings Crazy Golf Club

LMGC – London Mini Golf Club

MMGC – Midlands Mini Golf Club

KMGC – Kent Mini Golf Club

Notable absentees, Pasi Aho (FINLAND) ranked 9 in the Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Rankings, the marmite has finally got to him and 17. Trevor Exall, best seven round score of 264 when 7th in 2005 [8,17,7,14,-,23]. 

The League of Mediocrity are Jas Kukielka, Steve Gow, (Alan Norman – not playing, Paul Johnson – not playing), Anthony Pope, Scott Lancley, John Moore & Richard Gottfried.

A toss up between John Moore & Anthony Pope.

Previous results: 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008  2009

Pictures of the courses: Crazy Golf Mini Golf