Monday October 12 – Sydney
Golf in Oz
We’re at sea level and the yardage is actually meterage. Add 10% and then subtract your IQ. Then hit it into the trees anyway. An inauspicious start to the World Masters Games golf competition (shoot 96; finish middle of the pack for the day) is the small part of the story.
The better part is the dramatic coastline setting of the Mona Vale Golf Course and the very friendly and fun Aussies that I played with today. Ken – financier from Sydney; Gerard (“call me Jed”) – property developer from Mebin (apparently, Melbourne); and Bruce – who works in the coal mining industry in Newcastle (honest!) and, yes, he knows what a stereotype that is.
The tournament is actually a series of 1-day tournaments played over 3 rounds of golf at 3 different courses. The winners of each daily tournament receive medals and will play a 4th “Champions” round on Friday. I will have Friday off.
There are some VERY good golfers here. The Spaniard who played 10 years on the European tour and shot 3 under would be one of them. Lucky for me, this is a 2-part tournament. Gross (raw) score and Stableford (handicap) score. Under the Stableford system, points are awarded on each hole for net bogey or less. In English, this means that everyone has an equal chance to screw up.
After today’s round, Bruce shouted me for a pint. I think that means he paid for my beer. It helped me sleep on the bus back to the Central Terminal, a short 10-minute walk back to our hotel. It’s fun walking through the busy downtown streets with golf clubs strapped to your back. Kind of like driving a big semi-trailer truck; I always win in encounters with unwary pedestrians.
Elaine accompanied Pat to caddy for him for his opening round in his age division at the Pymble Golf Course. He reported similar results to mine; middle of the road golf; no broken clubs; no lost balls; fun Aussie golf mates.
While I was golfing, Debbie, without anything to guide her other than a street map, ON HER VERY OWN!, ventured out into the unknown wilds of George Street; Pitt Street; Liverpool Street; Hyde Park; and other very British places.
 Sydney Town Hall |
She continued training for her event at the Victoria Shopping Centre, the most upscale of the upscale malls, located in a spectacularly renovated old building. She says she just ‘stumbled’ across it. Yeah, right!
 Queen Victoria Building & Shopping Mall |
 Stained Glass Windows at West Edmonton Q... |
She enjoys the juxtaposition of the old buildings from the early 1800’s hard up against modern skyscrapers. They make for some great photos.
 Chess in Hyde Park |
 Hyde Park |
She also visited the outside of the Great Synagogue and obtained information about the opening times for tours of the interior in the time-honoured fashion; by taking a photo of the sign outlining the times for tours. I would like to take that tour as my kippah is sitting in my backpack and I know how to use it.
 The Sydney Great Synagogue |
 Synagogue Detail |
 Chinese Gardens |
We swapped stories of our days over dinner at Scruffy McMurphy’s pub. $9.95 for dinner so long as you buy a drink. We complied. I foresee many more pub dinners in my future.
 Pub Patrons at Scruffy McMurphy's |
I was in bed by 10pm and out like a light by 10:05pm. Tomorrow is an early round.
Note on Birds: There are some very beautiful birds here. A flock of lorikeets followed us around the course most of the day, flashing brilliant green & pink & red. My favourite bird is the one that presumably stopped my ball from going into the water on the 16th hole. There is no other explanation as to how it came to rest 2 inches from the water and why the bird was standing guard over it when I came to fetch it. Unless maybe the ball resembles its baby?
