I'm not sure I'm going to leave my house to get to the course this week, too much like paradise for my liking!!
I have been very blessed to have a great house to stay in this week with that lovely pool and a fridge full of cold drinks too!! This certainly makes it tougher to get the golf clothes on and head up to the course to play. The course is one of the more hilly places you will find too, so with the warm temps will certainly be a solid physical test. All of that was probably a reason why my kidney dramas started here last year, before they ruined my summer!!
I am hydrating heavily and trying my best to avoid such drama here this yr!! This year I was invited to come over a little earlier up play in a Porshe Pro Am prior to the tournament week. This was a 2 man team event with a few of the Aussie teams of pros up against the best New Cal could offer from both the pro and amateur ranks!! I was teamed up with Henry Epstein, known as "The King" for the 18 hole format! We were playing a 2 man Ambrose and for the non folders that might be reading that means we hit a ball each off the tee, choose the best one then both hit from there, choose the best one then both hit from there etc etc til the ball is in the hole.
It was a great afternoon and the locals who had played a pro am in the morning all came out on the course to watch and cheer on the five groups of us competing. It was an awesome atmosphere of fun out there with regular high fiving and yahooing every time a birdie or eagle was made. We were invited to put on a show for the sponsors and locals and so that is what the King and I did!! We shot a 59 off the stick which was 13 under and good enough to finish in a tie for first! What a great concept and a superb way to engage the community into the event!!
Today I practiced on course and it felt like I had a 100 after shooting the 59 on Saturday, even though I played quite well. Tonight we had the official welcome and opening of the week by the Major down at the City Hall. My French is a little rusty so I can only assume he said he was happy to have us all here and good luck for the week!!
Tomorrow I have another pro am to play in which will be another opportunity to see the course and also meet some great new people!! This is one of my favorite weeks of the year and I certainly new to bring Rachel and the kids one year!!