Posted on: 21 March
Playing the Long Game
After a long break and with the borders coming down it is time to get back to playing some golf. The last European event for 2021 was in Italy at the beginning of November so as you can probably guess I was keen to get going again. The first set of events was supposed to be a 19 day stint playing the Sparms Legends Tour in Victoria and NSW. Unfortunately, due to the unprecedented rain, the events in NSW got cancelled. The Melbourne events were productive; 7 events where I won two, and finished top 10 in all but one event.
Rather than take you through all the events I’ll focus on the first of my two victories – Mandalay Bay.
8am – Up and about having breakfast, cleaning golf shoes, ironing clothes, replying to emails etc and getting myself ready to leave at10:00am. Professional golfers are also professional time wasters – easily managing to fill in a few spare hours. Despite that, the last 10 minutes before I leave always seems a bit rushed.
11:30am – We arrive at the golf course at 11:30 to find out the tee time has changed to 1:30pm. Who hadn’t checked their emails properly? So I get to do what I’m quite good at – more time wasting. I sit back, chat and sip a coffee (decaf as I already have enough adrenaline going through my body). A lunch bag is provided around 12pm and so before you know it it’s time to warm up.
12:45pm – I start warming up. There is no range, only nets, and a putting green. A warm up routine has to be adaptable depending on the facilities.
1:30pm – I meet my playing partners for the day on the 5th tee (shotgun start)and we get going. The 5th is a longish par 4 with a wide fairway so it’s not a tough hole to start on. I get off to a great start by birding my second and third holes (a par 4 and 5). I then birdie my 6th hole so 3 under after 6. My first bogey comes on my 8th hole, where my 6 iron finds a deep, green side bunker on a par 3. I play a good shot out to 10 feet but I fail to make the putt. From there I play a lot of good shots, two putting for a birdie on my 13th hole (par 5). On my 16th hole I hole a 20 footer for my final birdie. I scramble a par on my 17th and lip out for birdie from 20 feet on my last hole a to finish with a 68.
6:00pm – Finished and now it’s back to the clubhouse. My playing partners ask if I think a 68 is good enough. I don’t know but it has to be close.
6:30pm – Cards are in and my score is good enough for a win! Dinner consists of beef burgers and some salad. Nice!
7:15pm – Prize-giving starts. The pros are last to be recognised and I add my thank yous and appreciation to all of those involved. A lot of effort goes into running golf events and just hope that the organisers know how grateful we are.
7:45pm – Back in the car and the 75 min drive back home. It’s a long day but wins make it all worthwhile.
