As captain of the Welsh Minigolf Club, I (Martyn Williams) am extremely proud of our new Grand Prix series that we brought in for 2020. One of our aims was to provide our players with some regular competitive events away from the BMGA tour to keep them sharp, which we have done. But our primary aim was to introduce competitive minigolf to new players and new courses in Wales, and how we have succeeded in doing so!!
Prior to today (Sunday 6th September 2020), we had played three events at three courses new to competition, and have given no less than 10 players their first experience of competitive play.
Today we were at the new course at Pembrey Country Park, and courses don’t really come newer than this. The guys at UrbanCrazy have done a sensational job in building what is a very unique course in a spectacular location. 15 of us made the trip down to West Wales to play today, with some coming from as far away as Hastings and Manchester.
On the course Laura Skinner was the early leader, with a superb 38 in the first round, closely followed by David Hartley and Simon Brown of Planet Hastings Crazy Golf Club, and some guy called Martyn Williams. This top 4 would remain for the whole event but not in that order. Laura did unfortunately drop to 4th, while I passed her in the last round for 4th. David and Simon matched each other round for round for the whole event, needing a playoff to decide the winner. The playoff was also a tight affair, lasting to a 4th extra hole, which David aced to take the trophy back to Hastings with him!!
The course was the right balance of tricky holes and ace chances. This was reflected very well in the scoring with 91 aces throughout the tournament but not a single round under par. Not only did the course provide our players with a great challenge and playing experience, it is also quite possibly the most aesthetically pleasing course in the country.
The styling around the course is quite simply magnificent. I have NEVER seen another hole anything like the 13th, called Miniature Railway. You play the shot uphill into the back of a miniature steam train, and the ball comes out the front of it onto a track submerged into the putting surface.
James, and the rest of the team at Urban Crazy, have done a perfect job with the course. All the staff at the course couldn’t be more welcoming, and we can’t wait to be back again!!!
