From Those Overseas............

I encourage those of you who wish to contribute to this section or any other to drop me an e-mail and I will up load it to the Blog. This week we have had three reports from members who are or were golfing overseas.

Firstly Glenn Bongartz was in Sofitel, Fiji for the wedding of former club member and now professional golfer Carl Brooking. Glenn is able to report Carl is now married to the lovely Janelle and that playing his last round as a single man was beaten off stick by Glenn who shot a 1 over 73 at the Denarau Golf & Racquets Club. Glenn also reports that the Manager of the club collects old clubs to cut them down for the local children and would appreciate any donations from visitors.

Next Andrew Hopkins is currently sunning himself at Andalucia on the Costa del Sol and playing golf at the Robert Trent Jones snr. Olivos golf course. Andrew shot an 80, tells me that soon he will play the adjoining Los Lagos course, the fees are reasonable, you can pull a trundler and that the course is watered with desalinated water. It appears Andrew spends the rest of the time by the pool drinking beer in 34 degree temperatures. If you want to further investigate these courses go to www.mijasgolf.org and turn the volume up because there is some nice music.

Finally Richard Peate is undertaking a tour of Scottish Golf Course but stopped in the States on the way over his report is attached:


I hear winter has set in so glad I'm in warmer climes. We have just finished our second game of golf at Brora in the northern highlands of Scotland. The first was at the famous Baltusrol course just south of New York. Both very special but contrasting experiences. Anne and I were lucky to be the guests of a good friend who is one of the 534 golfing members at this famous course (they have hosted 7 US Opens over the years). They have 2 18 hole courses and they are exclusive to members and their guests only. I hate to think what my friend paid to host us as guests, including on-course lunch and post game drinks, but I manfully dug into my pocket to pay the two mandatory caddies USD70 each! It's a parkland style course with the best presentation I've ever seen. For example, the bluegrass rough is cut to 3 inches and is as even in texture, coverage and colour as an expensive carpet! Money is no object and only the best will do for all areas of the luxurious facilities.

Brora was recommended to me some years ago by Peter Thompson as one of the best examples of a natural links course. Hardly any tourist golfers make it that far north in Scotland so the local members enjoy a superb layout without the frills that money can buy. The course runs out north then south beside the beach with the terrain not dissimilar to the sand hills at our Brighton beach. Several blind tee shots, few flat lies, unwatered fast narrow fairways, little deep pot bunkers, and greens with humps and swales that will penalise pitch shots and reward a cunning chip and run. We absolutely loved it - carried our bags, guessed the distances (no distance markers anywhere) hit trick shots into and across the fresh sea breeze. SO- both very special experiences-one made by money, and the other by nature. Take your pick! Regards to all. Richard