Leicestershire town aims to host crazy golf British Open

A town is setting its sights on holding the British Open – for crazy golf.

The Melton Town Estate charity is aiming to put the town on the sporting map with an 18-hole course ready to host leading international crazy golfers.

Work will start over the winter converting a nine-hole course at its town centre sports ground in Leicester Road into an 18-hole course ready for national and international competition.

The long-term aim is to put in a bid to host the British Open.

Local businessman John Southerington, a town estate trustee, said: "There are several courses around the country and a UK tournament is held, leading on to international tournaments in Europe and America. It is taken extremely seriously.

"Work will be carried out over the winter months to replace the old course so the new one will be ready for the spring.

"The golf will be up to international standards and Melton will host international finals."

Richard Sage, senior town warden, said: "The crazy golf network is getting bigger and the idea is Melton will be part of the European circuit.

"Finalists will play here before moving on to the American courses. Our ultimate aim is to host the British Open."

International crazy golf is a growing sport with prize money in the thousands of pounds in the big tournaments, the US Masters, US Open, British Open, Irish Open and the World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings.

Minigolf, or miniature golf, is a miniature version of golf. While the international sports organization World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) prefers to use the name minigolf, it is also known in different countries as miniature golf, mini-golf, midget golf, goofy golf, shorties, extreme golf, crazy golf, adventure golf and mini-putt.

John McIver, tournament officer with the British Mini Golf Association, said: "The British Open at Margate this weekend has the largest foreign field so far, with competitors from Sweden, the Czech Republic, Finland and Germany.

"There is a £500 prize for the winner and, at the World Crazy Golf Championships on October 24 and 25, the top prize is £1,000. It's not the sort of money Ernie Els would get out of bed for, but it's not bad.

"Although a lot of people play it, the number who play it competitively is quite small. Just as with any sport, you can be as professional towards it as you want. You only have one club but a variety of different balls for the different courses.

"German players use laser pens to map out the contours of different holes.

"A lot of people say it's luck but you wouldn't think that when you see top players in action."