Gottfrieds compete in World Crazy Golf Championships

Richard was making his seventh appearance and Emily her fifth in the 11th annual event. Tough weather conditions, with winds of over 30mph, affected the exposed seafront course. Richard finished in 21st place in the 78-player, 18-hole tournament on the Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course, with Emily 51st.

Richard scored rounds of 45, 37, 35, 41, 44 and 42 for a total of 244 (+28), an average of 40.7 shots per round.

He said: “I was happy to be making a return to action on the British Minigolf Association Tour and the World Championships after being sidelined with a back injury for much of the season.

“I was pleased with my play on day two in the very windy conditions, but I let myself down on day one with only one under-par round. As ever the event was fun and certainly interesting with the weather to contend with.”

Emily scored rounds of 45, 43, 39, 45, 41 and 54 for a total of 267 (+51), an average of 44.5 per rounds.

She said: “Despite the terrible conditions, and some very poor scoring on my part, I enjoyed the tournament, and wasn’t too disappointed with my 51st place. I’m also really pleased for Olivia to be the first female winner. She played exceptionally well and deserved the victory. I can’t wait to play again next year.”

The overall winner of the Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships was Olivia Prokopová from the Czech Republic with an average of 35.7 shots per round.

Richard will be competing at the Kent Open tournament in Sidcup, and the pair will both next be in action at the BMGA British Club Championship at Basingstoke Golf Centre in November.

They will be lining up against each other in the tournament as Richard plays for the 2008 National champions, the Midlands Minigolf Club, while Emily is a member of the Cambridgeshire Mini Golf Club.