Czech Open 2011

Honza & Olivia have told me it's on the first weekend in July next year, so as not to clash with any big Tournaments. Once the dates are confirmed I'll see if anyone's interested in a semi organised trip. Flights via Stansted are cheap & they have a hotel 5km from the course & said it's £12 a night - bargain! Hire a car between four of you inPrague & it's quite a reasonable cost.
It was a fine weekend this year, dust off your golf putter (or buy one in my case) & get over there, you will enjoy it!
Czech Sausage roast & lager here I come again!

Just had an email from Honza, the date is the same weekend as last year, ie 27th+28th August.
Bad timing with the WC's & more importantly for me , my wife's birthday!
So it looks like I'm not going now, if anyone else is thinking about it - go, you'll have a great time!

I've received another email from Honza, this week they opened a new course near Prague which is hosting the 2012 Czech Open, the hotel attached to the course is (quote) very cheap & the course looks like it'll be a putters course with few or no rebounds. The competition is scheduled for the last week of June or first week in July 2012. I very much hope to go. I'm still gutted I'm not going this year.

Just as well that I never played in this year's Czech Open, as I found out via Brad that I'd actually served a ban for playing last year. I am the outlaw!
Extremely juvenile stuff but par for the course with the ridiculous WMF but it would've been nice to have been told I had a ban, especially as I wanted to play this year & I've already told Honza I will play next July, I assume now that I would be banned again so will possibly (but not definitely) have to reverse that decision.

Mr X wrote:Just as well that I never played in this year's Czech Open, as I found out via Brad that I'd actually served a ban for playing last year. I am the outlaw!
Extremely juvenile stuff but par for the course with the ridiculous WMF but it would've been nice to have been told I had a ban, especially as I wanted to play this year & I've already told Honza I will play next July, I assume now that I would be banned again so will possibly (but not definitely) have to reverse that decision.

Such a joke! - Not sure if it really matters Andy...sod 'em, just go and play!

The Force wrote:

Mr X wrote:Just as well that I never played in this year's Czech Open, as I found out via Brad that I'd actually served a ban for playing last year. I am the outlaw!
Extremely juvenile stuff but par for the course with the ridiculous WMF but it would've been nice to have been told I had a ban, especially as I wanted to play this year & I've already told Honza I will play next July, I assume now that I would be banned again so will possibly (but not definitely) have to reverse that decision.

Such a joke! - Not sure if it really matters Andy...sod 'em, just go and play!

I probably will Marc, and of course I'll quote you when I appeal against another ban.

Lol - mind you, with the way Olivia's played so far this year, it could be a czech thrashing...we'll have to crush her at the WCGC's instead!

There was never a formal ban - its been somewhat overstated by the sounds of it.

The Honza linked Czech organisatiuo is effectively at odds and in opposition to the official Czech association. The WMF can only recognise one national body for minigolf so there is currently a bit of a stalemate over this. In realituy, players that attend the unofficial events could face a ban from their official body or said body could face sanctions from WMF - worse case scenario international exclusion but more relevant our Open would be unlicensed and the Internationals who currently give the event a certain feel wouldn't come due to possible bans etc.

The answer, if needed, would be for the BMGA to 'ban' a player to ensure we don't end up in limbo - myself and Keith discussed this at the time and the solution would be to enforce a ban during the off season to satisfy the WMF without screwing up a players season. A reasonable solution but as it was, it was never required. So a ban could have been put in place but common sense won out.

The issue may well raise its head again next year but it may not - a lot depends on the relationship with the WMF and the Czechs. I would always look for a sensible and reasonable solution but I'm not the WMF (and at least it won't be my concern in 2012 anyway). To be honest if you could use your own putter I would probably come with you!!!

Foot note: due to the length of this post you may realise that sitting in a departure lounge is not the most exciting thing in the Birds world!!!

Freebird wrote:There was never a formal ban - its been somewhat overstated by the sounds of it.

The Honza linked Czech organisatiuo is effectively at odds and in opposition to the official Czech association. The WMF can only recognise one national body for minigolf so there is currently a bit of a stalemate over this. In realituy, players that attend the unofficial events could face a ban from their official body or said body could face sanctions from WMF - worse case scenario international exclusion but more relevant our Open would be unlicensed and the Internationals who currently give the event a certain feel wouldn't come due to possible bans etc.

The answer, if needed, would be for the BMGA to 'ban' a player to ensure we don't end up in limbo - myself and Keith discussed this at the time and the solution would be to enforce a ban during the off season to satisfy the WMF without screwing up a players season. A reasonable solution but as it was, it was never required. So a ban could have been put in place but common sense won out.

The issue may well raise its head again next year but it may not - a lot depends on the relationship with the WMF and the Czechs. I would always look for a sensible and reasonable solution but I'm not the WMF (and at least it won't be my concern in 2012 anyway). To be honest if you could use your own putter I would probably come with you!!!

Foot note: due to the length of this post you may realise that sitting in a departure lounge is not the most exciting thing in the Birds world!!!

Haha, cheers Sean, it really is a good place to go & play, to be honest it's a crying shame that there needs to be official & unofficial events & only one is acceptable for foreign players to play in.
I certainly would not like to see it but Olivia's participation in the BMGA (under the WMF umbrella) organised WCGC's must surely go against that grain then? But, I want her to play!
I'd like to know before I arrange anything for next year but I struggle to cope with the pettyness of it all really.
Anyway, enough of that tripe, have a great holiday, I hope you both get to wear those shades!

Cheers Andy. Think we may see a spot of sun on our travels.

As I'm still waiting for a gate to open here's a few more musings...

Olivia and the WCGC is an internal CzEch thing but with the arrival of the WAGM the heat that was coming to us for the WCGC's has passed so that's one less thing to worry about.

The other unfortunate issue is the whole American tour and the WMF - they are in the same stalemate they have been for years and it is a more high profile squabble than anything with the Czechs. It means that any players from recognised national bodies taking part would also be the subject of bans - and the WMF wouldn't turn a blind eye to this. Which is a real shame as I reckon a few of us could clean up over in the US!

Perhaps its time for the English Minigolf Federation to appear!

Anyway I have a plane to catch - DT & FB are off!!

Olivia seems to span everything then, playing in the USA, Czech Open & BMGA events too, that's how it should be. And you're right, the yanks wouldn't get near the prizes if UK players went over.

Perhaps its time for the English Minigolf Federation to appear!

Now you're talking! Have a good 'un!