03 Jul 2017 at 14:42 | Published by: PatPenguin | Views: 20099 | News search

Daniel Vicek 2016 WAGM  (Photo by )

While in the Czech Republic taking part in their national Masters competition, Minigolfnews reporter Steve Lovell managed to catch up with one of the rising stars of adventure golf in the world, Daniel Vlcek. He took the time to not only tell us about his career but also how the course he owns in Horni Bezdekov came to be and how they successfully applied for the World Adventure Golf Masters in 2018.

Minigolfnews (MGN): Firstly, thank you for making us feel so welcome here is the Czech Republic, you have been a wonderful host.

Daniel Vlcek (DV): You're welcome.

MGN: When did you build the course and the house, an alpine style chalet?

DV: We built everything between the years 2007 and 2009, when we opened the course to the public.

MGN: Was it always your dream to have your own course and had you been involved in one previously?

DV: We never had a course before but many, many years ago, I would say around the year 2000, we were on holiday in the Canary Islands where we saw the first green course and we really liked it. After another five years, we thought we could do this and it was the beginning of having our own course.

MGN: Have you always lived in Horni Bezdekov?

DV: No. I grew up in Kladno, a town about five miles from here. We wanted to stay in the countryside and the best way was to stay in Horni Bezdekov.

MGN: When did you start playing minigolf?

DV: I started eight years ago in 2009. I specialise in adventure golf. A lot of the other Czech players now I never knew before minigolf.

MGN: Have you played any of the other types of minigolf, such eternit and beton?

DV: No, I have never.

MGN: What do you like about adventure golf?

DV: I like that each course and each hole in the world, wherever you play, is original. When you come to a new course, you start from the beginning. I like that challenge.

MGN: You are now one of the best players of adventure golf. When did you start to feel 'I am getting good at this'?

DV: I would say after my first British Open in 2014 (SL - Daniel impressed many people by finishing 12th using a golf ball only). Since then, I have tried to get better and better and I want to be the best.

MGN: When did you first start using minigolf balls?

DV: I think it was Margate in 2015 for the British Open. I was still using my old club but learning how to play with minigolf balls.

MGN: Over the last few years, you have managed to play in a number of tournaments away from the Czech Republic. Where is your favourite place to play?

DV: I would say Hastings, as it was my first competition outside of the Czech Republic. I am always happy to go back there.

MGN: Next year at Horni Bezdekov, you are hosting the 8th World Adventure Golf Masters. How did you go about applying for the event?

DV: We asked ourselves 'could we host the World Adventure Golf Masters' and we said 'yes of course, why not'. After last year in Kosovo, I was happy playing there and finished second. It was a very good tournament and well organised. I thought that's the way I wanted to run it.

MGN: What can people expect next year when they come to Horni Bezdekov?

DV: They can expect a nice course. We love it. We try to make good food for the visitors (SL – I can confirm the food was great). It is friendly here. We have booked some rooms out at the hotel on the golf course, just a five minute walk from here, for the players.

MGN: Finally, the Czech Masters. How do you think it went?

DV: It was a fantastic tournament but I wanted to be the first but Michal Stach did very well. (SL - Daniel came second at the fourth extra hole in a tense and exciting playoff).

Minigolfnews would like to thank Daniel for his time and his wife, Jitka Vlckova, for translating.

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