World Crazy Golf Championships

Last updated
World Crazy Golf Championships
Crazy Golf, sea front, Hastings - geograph.org.uk - 1051057.jpg
Crazy Golf, sea front, Hastings
Highest governing body The British Minigolf Association (BMGA)
First played2003
Characteristics
ContactNo
Type Golf, Precision sport
Equipment Golf club, Golf ball, Crazy golf course
VenueHastings Adventure Golf

The World Crazy Golf Championships (WCGC) have been staged since 2003 at the Adventure Golf Complex on Crazy Golf Course on the seafront of Hastings, East Sussex. [1] From 2016, the World Crazy Golf Championships has taken place in June each year. The most recent event took place on 6, 7 & 8 June 2025. [2]

Contents

Individual players from across the world contest for the trophy, [3] including England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Finland, Germany, Czech Republic, Portugal and the United States. [4] [5] During the tournament's 23-year history (to 2025), only 7 different players have managed to lift the trophy.

Rules and history of the WCGC

The World Crazy Golf Championships is open to everyone with no age restriction. [6] There are also categories for women, juniors and novices each having their own dedicated trophies. The World Championship Crazy Golf courses at Hastings Adventure Golf on the town's seafront contain many hazards and obstacles over the 18 holes, including a water wheel, a windmill, an obelisk, lighthouse, ramps, bends, twists, bunkers and a cave. [5] [7] The World Crazy Golf Championships is a miniature golf tournament which has its own unique playing rules, such as every player using the same type of ball, [1] thus able to have a world championship competition of its own. [8]

Up to 110 competitors (in 2019) play six qualifying rounds, four on the Saturday and two on Sunday, with just the lowest scoring 18 players making the cut to participate in the final round. Since 2010, the championship has been played on one course, the crazy golf, an Arnold Palmer type course with obstacles. Prior to this, it was played on two different 18 hole courses, the crazy golf and the former mini golf course. The winner now receives £1250 in prize money, and a further £2000 is distributed to the placed players. [3]

In 2013 Czech teenager Olivia Prokopová became the first female winner and also the youngest ever champion at the age of 18. [9]

The World Crazy Golf Championships are affiliated to the British Minigolf Association (BMGA) which is the governing body for minigolf sport, including crazy golf. [5] The event was previously held in October, [10] with the final played on Sunday afternoon, but later moved to the summer. In 2007, the mayor of Hastings watched the final and then presented the prizes and trophies to the winning players. [5]

The course record is 27. This is shared by Andy Exall, Paul Tutt, and Martyn Williams.

WCGC results 2003 to present

EventYearEntrantsWinnerScore2ndScore3rdScore4thScore5thScoreRef
22nd2025106 Flag of England.svg Marc Chapman222 Flag of England.svg Murray Thompson223 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Seve Kukielka223 Flag of England.svg Adam Kelly225 Flag of England.svg James Rutherford226 [11]
21st202492 Flag of England.svg Marc Chapman217 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Stephen Skinner224 Flag of England.svg Adam Kelly224 Flag of England.svg Paul Tutt225 Flag of England.svg Martin Greenhead226 [12] [13] [14]
20th202387 Flag of England.svg Adam Kelly217 Flag of the United States.svg Frank Bisesi222 Flag of England.svg Ed Pope224 Flag of England.svg Rocky Bullin226 Flag of England.svg Callan McHugh226 [15]
19th202281 Flag of England.svg Adam Kelly217 Flag of England.svg Marc Chapman219 Flag of England.svg Ed Pope222 Flag of England.svg Michael Smith223 Flag of the United States.svg Frank Bisesi223 [16]
18th202174 Flag of England.svg Marc Chapman224 Flag of England.svg Ed Pope228 Flag of England.svg Adam Kelly231 Flag of England.svg Michael Smith234 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Seve Kukielka238 [17]
2020 Event cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic)
17th2019110 Flag of England.svg Marc Chapman235 Flag of England.svg Adam Kelly237 Flag of England.svg Michael Smith243 Flag of England.svg Martin Greenhead248 Flag of England.svg Steve Lovell251 [18] [19]
16th201896 Flag of England.svg Marc Chapman226 Flag of England.svg Adam Kelly227 Flag of England.svg Michael Smith228 Flag of Portugal (official).svg Nuno Cunha229 Flag of England.svg Ed Pope230 [20]
15th201758 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Olivia Prokopová235 Flag of England.svg Steve Lovell240 Flag of England.svg Will Donnelly241 Flag of England.svg Chris Harding241 Flag of England.svg Adam Kelly242 [21] [22]
14th201671 Flag of England.svg Michael Smith233 Flag of England.svg Sean Homer237 Flag of England.svg Mark Wood238 Flag of Germany.svg Thomas Giebenhein238 Flag of England.svg Derek Bentall239 [23]
13th201575 Flag of England.svg Michael Smith221 Flag of Finland.svg Pasi Aho234 Flag of England.svg Chris Harding235 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Olivia Prokopová236 Flag of England.svg Marc Chapman237 [24]
12th201462 Flag of England.svg Chris Harding229 Flag of Portugal (official).svg Nuno Cunha236 Flag of England.svg Adam Kelly238 Flag of England.svg Marc Chapman238 Flag of Finland.svg Pasi Aho238 [25]
11th201378 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Olivia Prokopová250 Flag of England.svg Sean Homer271 Flag of Finland.svg Pasi Aho273 Flag of England.svg Marc Chapman275 Flag of England.svg Michael Smith275 [26]
10th201253 Flag of England.svg Michael Smith245 Flag of England.svg James Rutherford251 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Olivia Prokopová253 Flag of England.svg Adam Kelly255 Flag of England.svg Sean Homer256 [5]
9th201174 Flag of England.svg Michael Smith230 Flag of England.svg Andy Exall230 Flag of England.svg James Rutherford230 Flag of England.svg Adam Kelly (jr)231 Flag of England.svg Tony Kelly231 [27]
8th201054 Flag of England.svg Chris Harding222 Flag of England.svg Peter Emmerson223 Flag of England.svg Michael Smith226 Flag of England.svg Marc Chapman231 Flag of Finland.svg Pasi Aho233 [28]
7th200983 Flag of England.svg Keith Kellard247 Flag of England.svg Peter Emmerson252 Flag of Finland.svg John Mittler253 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Tim Davies254 Flag of England.svg Sean Homer254 [29]
6th200868 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Tim Davies250 Flag of England.svg Chris Harding252 Flag of England.svg Andy Exall254 Flag of Finland.svg Pasi Aho255 Flag of England.svg Jo Williamson256 [30]
5th200777 Flag of England.svg Chris Harding248 Flag of England.svg Andy Exall257 Flag of England.svg Brad Shepherd258 Flag of England.svg Bill Bullin261 Flag of England.svg Ruth Bullin262 [31]
4th200687 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Tim Davies253 Flag of England.svg Andy Exall256 Flag of England.svg Brad Shepherd260 Flag of England.svg John Moore261 Flag of Finland.svg Pasi Aho261 [32]
3rd2005102 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Tim Davies258 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Olivia Prokopová260 Flag of Finland.svg Pasi Aho261 Flag of England.svg Philip Exall262 Flag of England.svg Jon Angel262 [32]
2nd200449 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Tim Davies238 Flag of Scotland.svg John McIver251 Flag of England.svg Peter Emmerson270 Flag of England.svg Peter Emmerson270 Flag of England.svg Brad Shepherd278 [32]
1st200325 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Tim Davies272 Flag of Scotland.svg John McIver278 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Olivia Prokopová279 Flag of England.svg Michael Webb283 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Katerina Kulhankova286 [32]

WCGC Roll of Honour - Champions 2003 - present

WinsWinnerYears won
5 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Tim Davies2003 ·2004 ·2005 ·2006 ·2008
5 Flag of England.svg Marc Chapman2018 ·2019 ·2021 ·2024 ·2025
4 Flag of England.svg Michael Smith2011 ·2012 ·2015 ·2016
3 Flag of England.svg Chris Harding2007 ·2010 ·2014
2 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Olivia Prokopová2013 ·2017
2 Flag of England.svg Adam Kelly2022 ·2023
1 Flag of England.svg Keith Kellard2009

Top 9 WCGC best scores of all time

OrderPlayerScoreyearFinishing position
1 Flag of England.svg Adam Kelly2172022Won [16]
2 Flag of England.svg Adam Kelly2172023Won [15]
3 Flag of England.svg Marc Chapman2172024Won [14]
4 Flag of England.svg Marc Chapman21920222nd [16]
5 Flag of England.svg Michael Smith2212015Won [24]
6 Flag of England.svg Ed Pope22220223rd [16]
7 Flag of the United States.svg Frank Bisesi22220232nd [15]
8 Flag of England.svg Chris Harding2222010Won [28]
9 Flag of England.svg Marc Chapman2222025Won [11]
Last updated: 05.07.2023

WCGC Video History

References

  1. 1 2 "I competed in the World Crazy Golf Championships". Telegraph. 2015.
  2. "2025 World Crazy Golf Championships". hastingsadventuregolf.com. 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Keith Kellard wins Castle Golf World Crazy Golf Championships 2009". minigolf.org.uk. 2009. Archived from the original on 18 November 2016.
  4. "Olivia Prokopová wins the World Crazy Golf Championships at Hastings seafront 2013". minigolf.org.uk. 2013. Archived from the original on 7 May 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "England's Michael Smith wins the 2012 World Crazy Golf Championships in Hastings". sportcal.com. 1 November 2012. Archived from the original on 2016-11-18.
  6. "James Trubridge crazy golf feature". BBC. 2007.
  7. "Things to do - Hastings Adventure and Crazy Golf". visit1066country.com. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  8. "Legends fall at the World Crazy Golf Championships 2007". minigolfnews.com. 2007.
  9. "World Crazy Golf Championship's first female winner of miniature golf, Hastings". The Guardian. 2013.
  10. "Hastings World Crazy Golf Championships". calendarcustoms.com. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
  11. 1 2 "WCGCs 2024 Main Event Day 2". crazychamps.hastingsadventuregolf.com. 2025-06-08.
  12. "Tiger Woods Of Crazy Golf' Marc Chapman Claims Fourth World Title In 6 Years". msn.com. 14 June 2024.
  13. Andy Hemsley (11 June 2024). "In 15 pictures: Sussex town hosts World Crazy Golf Championship". sussexexpress.co.uk.
  14. 1 2 "WCGCs 2024 Main Event Day 2". crazychamps.hastingsadventuregolf.com. 12 June 2024.
  15. 1 2 3 "2023 World Crazy Golf Championships". hastingsadventuregolf.com. 11 June 2023.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "2022 World Crazy Golf Championships". hastingsadventuregolf.com. 13 June 2022.
  17. "2021 World Crazy Golf Championships". hastingsadventuregolf.com. 12 September 2021.
  18. "2019 World Crazy Golf Championships". hastingsadventuregolf.com. 2019. Archived from the original on 4 June 2019.
  19. "How's your mini golf? The World Crazy Golf Championships are happening". lonelyplanet.com. February 7, 2020.
  20. "2018 World Crazy Golf Championships". hastingsadventuregolf.com. 2018. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018.
  21. "World Crazy Golf Championship 2017 Result". minigolf.org.uk. 2017. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.
  22. "WCGC Result 2017". BGMA. 11 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-09-02.
  23. "WCGC Result 2016". BGMA. 12 June 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-11-18.
  24. 1 2 "WCGC Result 2015". BGMA. 25 October 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-10-29.
  25. "WCGC Result 2014". BGMA. 28 October 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-11-01.
  26. "WCGC Result 2013". BGMA. 29 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-11-07.
  27. "WCGC Result 2011, 29-30 October (Top fifty players)" (PDF). minigolfresults.weebly.com. 30 October 2011.
  28. 1 2 "WCGC Result 2010". BGMA. 2010.
  29. "WCGC Result 2009". BGMA. 2009.
  30. "World Crazy Golf Championship 2008". worldcrazygolf.co.uk. 31 October 2008. Archived from the original on 2009-02-27.
  31. "World Crazy Golf Championship 2007". worldcrazygolf.co.uk. 28 October 2007. Archived from the original on 2011-06-25.
  32. 1 2 3 4 "BMGA Newsletter (October 2007)" (PDF). BMGA. 10 October 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-07-25.

50°51′18″N0°35′13″E / 50.855°N 0.587°E / 50.855; 0.587