Posted on: 25 November
It’s been a little over month and in that time I have managed to visit or pass through 8 different countries. As they say, no rest for the wicked! I must be running out of pages in my passport.
After a break of 3 weeks, it was back on the road for the long trip back to Italy. The tournament was in southern Italy at San Domenico GC which is located on the Adriatic coast. To get there it was via London and Geneva and after about 34 hours I arrived at the venue. I stayed in Fasano, which is a beautiful Italian town just 10 mins from the course, and enjoyed the late summer evenings eating at the local eateries with good friends from my playing days in America who made the trip to see me play. 7 under on the final day capped off the week nicely.
After Italy I had a week off. Luckily for me I was able to return to Newmarket, England to spend a relaxing week withfriends Andrew and Paula. Plenty of time telling tall tales from our time playing on the Australian Tour many, many years ago. To cap the week off it was down to London to watch the All Blacks take on England at the home of English rugby, Twickenham. Watching the All Blacks live is great but made all the more enjoyable as we won………..and I was sitting with a bunch of English supporters!
From England it was to the south of Spain and a chance to get back to the sunshine and play the European Senior Masters. This is the third time the tournament has been staged at La Manga so I know the course and area well
which makes the week a lot less stressful. A very slow start (5 bogeys in my first 8 holes) but I settled down after that and had a solid week.
The next tournament was in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; a logistical nightmare to get from Spain to Mexico and then back to Perth after the event. Unfortunately, my flight was late leaving Heathrow and then coupled with an excruciating 2 hours to clear US Customs I missed my connecting flight to Mexico City. By 5 minutes! Anyway, best laid plans and all that. So after an exciting unscheduled night in an airport hotel I was on my way to Puerto Vallarta. But once there it was worth it. We played at Punta Mita Golf Course (1 hour from Puerto Vallarta) and our host Jean Van Velde made the experience of playing in the inaugural Mexico Legends an event that will not easily be forgotten. Great course. Great food. Great hospitality. My golf was solid but for a poor final 9 holes meant I finished middle of the field.
With the tournament finished it was back on the “big bird” back to Perth……….. sounds simple enough! Connecting through Atlanta again it was another delay – this time a hydraulic problem. The 2 and a half hour delay meant another missed connection……………. which resulted in an extra 8 hours waiting in Heathrow. It’s crazy to think that all year I’vepretty much had uninterrupted flying and then in the space of 7 days I have two major disruptions. I’m getting too old for this!!!!
I now have a week off before I head to Mauritius for the Tour Championship and then……………… Christmas! My lesson diary will be open again from the 16th of December and I’m looking forward to putting the suitcase away for a couple of months and catching up with everyone.
As always good golfing.
