Peaksy' Local Odyssey

[Peaksy68]

Tomorrow I start a 5 day marathon of golf, mostly within 20 minutes of home.  It's for a local Aus golf forum's "National Championship" All 5 courses are rated in Australia's top 100.

Days 3 and 4 are the main event, played over 36 holes, with the other days individual events.  All days are being played as handicap Stableford format, which takes a bit of pressure off.

Day 1

At my home club, Curlewis Golf Club. https://curlewisgolf.com.au/pages/first

I hope local knowledge will give me a bit of an advantage.

Day 2

Barwon Heads Golf Club

One of Australia's oldest high end courses. Very staid, but a lovely course right on the coast. https://www.barwonheads.golf/cms/

Reasonably short, but can be seriously windy. The greens have a reputation for being some of the best in Australia.

Day 3 and 4

13th Beach Golf Club https://www.13thbeachgolf.com/cms/

Beach Course followed by Creek Course. Interestingly (at least to me) the club is named after the adjacent surf beach, which is in turn, named after the 13th hole of Barwon Heads GC next door.

The Beach course runs through some stunning dunes, whilst The Creek is on the inland side of the property. The Beach in particular can be hammered by wind, and both courses have fast and firm greens.

Day 5

A short ferry trip to the other side of Port Philip Bay to Portsea Golf Club https://www.portseagolf.com.au/cms/

Another beautifully conditioned course, with lots of undulating holes.

 

Plenty of social events go along with this, so it all adds up to a great few days.

I'm not sure I'm up to 5 consecutive days of golf, especially walking every day except day 4, but here's hoping I can handle it. I'm still not sure about my swing and body but there was no way I'd miss this one.

[MattF]

Good luck mate! Play your game and you'll be sweet!!

[Peaksy68]

56 minutes ago, MattF said:

Good luck mate! Play your game and you'll be sweet!!

Only problem is, I don't really know what my game is. Hopefully the weather doesn't turn, wet weather gear ruins my main strength of well matched ensembles.

[MattF]

4 hours ago, Peaksy68 said:

Only problem is, I don't really know what my game is. Hopefully the weather doesn't turn, wet weather gear ruins my main strength of well matched ensembles.

You need a hat! 

[Peaksy68]

Day 1 done and dusted. Really tough conditions, wind 20-30 mph, with a few heavy showers to make it even more interesting. Played ok, finished with 32 Stableford points, only 1 behind the winner. Didn't make any putts and made a few mental errors when the rain hit.

Had a really enjoyable day despite the weather, guys I played with all enjoyed my home track, we all had a lot of laughs.

Only had to don the rain jacket and ruin my ensemble a few times.

Hoping for better weather and golf tomorrow.

[Golfspy_CG2]

Sounds fun!! Hope today went better for you. 

[Peaksy68]

Day 2 Wind was even worse than yesterday. My game was either good or awful. The greens were as I expected, as close to perfect putting surfaces as you can get. I managed to duck hook several 5 woods more than 50 yards off line, which was more than a little disconcerting. No rain, so at least I didn't have to dull down my ensemble with wet weather gear.

Highlight of the day was a birdie on the 195 yd 2nd after a 7 iron to 15 feet. A normal 7 iron for me is 155.

 

Despite my play it was still a very enjoyable day, played with 2 very good mates and a guy who could well become one. 

Forecast for tomorrow is more strong wind and maybe some rain. Expecting another tough day at the office, but it's an office I love to be in.

[Peaksy68]

Day 3

A bit late with the report as post round festivities took precedence!

First round of the main event at 13th Beach's Beach course. Extreme winds again and a few rain squalls that made things interesting. Played reasonably well, finished with 32 Stableford points, 4 behind handicap. A couple of mental errors cost me several shots. Getting ambitions and capability mixed up is never good for my score. Didn't putt very well by my normal standards but driver was mostly solid and found some confidence in my 3 wood.

The leader had 36 points which demonstrates how hard the conditions were.

[Peaksy68]

Day 4

Second round of the main event at 13th Beach Creek course.

Much better conditions, only a 2 club breeze blowing, and no rain.

Awful start, chunked my first shot into the water. No warm up is not a great idea when your as rusty as me, particularly after a big night.

Holed a 15 foot bogey putt on the second to get things going. Played solidly all day apart from 2 awful par 3's. One was my starting hole, the next was 125 yards that I managed to double bogey, including my only 3 putt of the day. Putted extremely well, 9 1 putt greens and a couple of long range 2 putts.

Finished with 38 points, my best round in a long time. Ran 5th for the round and finished 4th in the 2 day competition.

 

Had a great time over the last 4 days, on great golf courses with great company. One day to go and I'm still feeling physically ok.

[Peaksy68]

Day 5

Portsea Golf Club. 

After a trip across Port Philip Bay on the ferry I teed it up for my 5th day in a row.

Conditions were much better today, still coolish but the sun came out and there was a gentle breeze at best.

Really solid round. Drove the ball well, fairways and irons were solid. Short game was very good and my putting was excellent. Had a 3 putt after misjudging the speed on a long uphill putt, but had 10x1 putt greens. Some were due to good chips or putts from off the green finishing close, but holed several putts over 10 feet.

Finished with 40 Stableford points which was 4 better than my daily handicap of 9. 76 (5 over) was my best round in well over a year.

I was unsure if playing 5 days straight was going to be a mistake, but I'm incredibly happy with how things have gone. I've been forced to learn what my body (mainly my right shoulder) will let me do in my swing and the repetition has ingrained things a bit. My new swing now feels like my swing.

I had great groups on all 5 days, only played with the same person twice and every one I played with was great company. A really fun social side outside of the golf has made for a seriously enjoyable few days.

I'll try to get a few pictures posted show how stunning these courses have been. I feel privileged to live so close to such great golf courses.

[Peaksy68]

[MattF]

5 hours ago, Peaksy68 said:

And you make fun of my hat...

[tony@CIC]

7 hours ago, Peaksy68 said:

Love those pants

[Kenny B]

11 hours ago, Peaksy68 said:

What were you doing under that tree???

[Peaksy68]

2 hours ago, Kenny B said:

What were you doing under that tree???

The only photo of me on the day and its after my only bad tee shot. I was very lucky to have a shot after it ended up much better than I expected. I'm blaming a long wait on the tee, not a lack of ability

[GolfSpy MPR]

Enjoyed scrolling through your pictures, until I came to the ones with your outfits, which immediately melted the pixels of my laptop screen.