Tuesday = Golf

So I stayed up til like 6am listening to Matt Clark, King, and Emma doing prank calls to 2SM last night and was not entirely ready for the 1045am wakeup call from Watts; but he meant well. We had decided to get a round of golf in before he plays the $3000 HORSE at 5pm.

Watts ended up having to go and drop Tony at the Rio and pick up his dry cleaning, and after the jokes about his subservitude had ceased, we booked a tee time at Royal Links for 120pm.

Royal Links is a Nicklaus designed course which puts together his favourite 18 holes from the entire rotation of British Open golf courses. The clubhouse seemed to fit the theme:



All of the surroundings were re-created faithfully, and I was surprised at how many features I recalled from years of Open telecasts. I regret not having taken a photo of the stone bridge that crosses the creek (famous shot of Greg Norman etc) but meh; I'll get them to send me a postcard if I decide that I really require the memento.

The day started very poorly on the practice range, I dont recall hitting a single clean shot, so I can only suggest that the spirit of Open champions in the past were with me on the first tee, as I crushed my drive right down the centre. I made par and took a good outlook to the rest of the front nine, which I traversed in +3.

The back nine starts with the famed "Road Hole" from St. Andrews. Below is a very poor photograph of it, which I am certain will give virtually no perspective as to the re-creation of the hole. I personally blame the weather and the quality of my camera for this, as I am certain that I rival Ansell Adams in terms of raw photographical flair.



I was delighted to have made par there and on the 11th, however my round became unstuck at the 12th with a poor second shot from 210yds leading to a double. This was compounded with more bogeys in the following holes and missing a 4-footer on 17 scrapped any chance I had of breaking 80. I was a little miffed that after hitting Driver, 3-iron to the Par-5 18th green my ball rolled over the back and I took 5 for a final score of 81 (+9).

All in all delighted with the day, shot a good score in difficult conditions and got to play a superb course.

We dropped Watts off at the rio so he could crush some fools in the $3000 HORSE and I registered for tomorrow's $1500NL Triple Shootout. We then passed Jay's table in the $2500NL 6max and saw that he was well-placed with 50 or so left in the tournament. Hopefully he continues on this run and actually cashes in something for the house as we're all failing at the moment.

Hope all is well back home.