The British Open: Tournament Preview
The British Open, one of the flagship events of the British Minigolf Association season, returns on the weekend of 27th and 28th September to the iconic Pirate Course at Hastings Adventure Golf. The seaside venue, long regarded as the home of UK minigolf, will once again welcome a massive field of domestic and international talent in what promises to be a thrilling competition.
The defending champion is Michael Smith, a nine-time British Open winner and one of the sport’s all-time greats. His record at the event is remarkable and places him at the top of an illustrious roll of honour that also includes multiple victories for Heinz Weber, Thomas Zeininger, Jouni Valkjarvi and Adam Kelly. Other former winners such as Christian Zimmerman, Thierry Cruybeeck, Seve Kukielka and Andy Exall also highlight the tournament’s rich history and its ability to attract the very best in British and European minigolf.
Team honours also play a role in the narrative of British minigolf. Strokes Adventure Golf are the current club champions, having secured the title in 2022, 2023 and 2024. With many of their players entered this weekend, the club will be aiming to maintain its dominance while also taking on the challenge of a highly competitive field.
The Pirate Course itself remains one of the sport’s sternest tests, though it has also seen moments of brilliance. The course record of 24 strokes is jointly held by Adam Kelly, Michael Smith, Sean Homer, Oleg Klassen, Karsten Hein and Gerrit Below. With so many top players in form, there is every chance that record could be challenged once again under tournament pressure.
A particular highlight this year is the strength of the international presence. Competitors are travelling from Sweden, Austria, Germany and Hungary, adding both quality and variety to the field. Among them are two World Adventure Golf Masters winners, Patrick Reiner and reigning WAGM champion Erik Hjalmarsson, underlining the British Open’s prestige on the global stage and ensuring a fascinating clash of styles between homegrown players and overseas challengers.
The 2025 British Open boasts one of the largest and deepest fields in recent memory, with dozens of registered competitors ranging from established stars to enthusiastic newcomers. Familiar names such as Adam Kelly, Karsten Hein and Seve Kukielka join defending champion Michael Smith in what looks set to be a highly competitive contest. With such strength in depth, the outcome is far from certain, and the prospect of a new champion emerging cannot be ruled out.
In addition to claiming the British Open title, the winner will earn automatic qualification for the World Adventure Golf Tour final, adding extra incentive for players to raise their game over the weekend.
As the tournament approaches, the storylines are compelling. Can Michael Smith extend his incredible tally to ten British Open titles? Or will another challenger dethrone him at the course he has been so dominant at over the years? Could one of the international stars claim the crown for their country? And will the Pirate Course record of 24 finally fall once more in the heat of competition?
With history, prestige and international bragging rights all on the line, the 2025 British Open at Hastings promises drama and world-class putting action across two days of fierce competition. Whether it is a familiar champion lifting the trophy again or a new name being etched into the history books, the stage is set for another classic chapter in British minigolf.
