"currently battling with my dear friend, the Silverstripe CMS" - 18 hours ago
"is thoroughly relaxed at another Irish farmhouse B&B, this time one run by a character and a half, Sharon Moore.... http://fb.me/Fd1zVe5z" - 1 day ago
"Is this the Nellie bunker you were talking about mate? Safely avoided I'm pleased to report http://fb.me/EHAvCmyU" - 2 days ago
After a rather frustrating afternoon I have finally sat down to pen a blog on the magestic National Old course. My new Mac has dropped dead, barely four months into its life, just as I was finishing off a video blog that is nothing short of stunning. Bugger. It is at moments like these you realise how dependent you are on technology.
The National Old course left puregolf2010 rather awestruck yesterday. Joined by our cameraman and supposed member of the Phoenix Foundation, Jirv, we were blessed with a day made for golf. Not a breath of wind and not a cloud in the sky – clichéd stuff but just what we had hoped for at the National. Last time we visited this golfing haven we weren’t blessed with the weather and the now infamous Melbourne storms made the day memorable for all the wrong reasons. That day Jamie blogged about the opulent clubhouse and facilities so I wont repeat the dose, but second time around it was just as impressive.
So to the golf course itself. What a cracker. A stunning beast of a course that you just love to hate. The Old course has been around for at least a decade longer than the newer tracks at the Nash and is that bit more mature. It is also much more penal in that every hole is cut from ti tree and native Aussie bush. If you hit it wide on any hole you are in snake country. As an example, today I missed 4 fairways and played those four holes in 7 over par. Miracle recovery shots just don’t happen at the Old course.
The third hole
The course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr and it is a design that he would be very happy with. The set of par fives are excellent. Three of them are doglegs left and with a good drawing drive over the corner they are reachable in two despite measuring over 500m off the tips (which of course we had to play today). But if the driver is not dialed in on any of these holes it is an automatic reload. So with a two-out-of-three success rate with the big stick I hit 4 iron for my second into two of them, and reloaded from the tee on the other. The other par five, the 8th, begins from a stunning tee block perched high up on the course overlooking the ocean where a blind tee shot is required down a hill to what looks like a 20m wide fairway. Of course it is wider than that but runs out at about 270m from the tee so taking driver is actually nothing short of negligent. Lesson learnt the hard way! From where the fairway runs out there is about 70m of scrub before the short grass resumes on a raised plateau (which is the lay up zone). The tale goes that John Daly managed to carry his drive 340m onto the top level from the tee and hit a mere wedge into the green! But save for John, even long hitters are forced to take it easy on this hole and play it like a real three shot hole.
Looking back down the par 5 5th hole
The front nine is pretty awe inspiring stuff as the holes meander through the scrub. You must have no fear on the tee, trust your swing and ignore the trouble all around. Most holes have million dollar views down across the peninsula and towards the ocean in the distance. And then all of a sudden, after winding through a cart path you find yourself on the 7th tee and the dramatic view takes your breath away. In terms of WOW factor, this is 5 star. As good as it gets. We have seen some sights this year, but standing on the 7th tee got my heart beating just a bit quicker. The hole itself is a cracker. At 130m is a beauty of a short par three (of which I am a huge fan of despite them being a dying breed in new courses) but it is horribly exposed to the wind and surrounded short left and back by a huge ravine. So it is far from easy. I could imagine some fairly handy golfers walking off this hole with a double digit score – although they would still be pretty content after taking in that view. In the calm weather today it was a pleasure for both JP and I to hit a wee 9 iron into the clear blue sky and calmly two putt for a regulation par. The entire set of par threes are brilliant in terms of design and variety: the 4th requires a downhill 165m shot over water (again all whilst trying to take in stunning views across the peninsula); the 13this a 198m monster to a green surrounded by cavernous bunkers; and the 16th measures 175m to a gnarly green that extends to a blind left segment where the pin can only be seen from the tee courtesy of its 15 foot height. Fortunately my irons were on song today and I managed a couple of 2’s and a couple of 3’s.
the 7th - WOW
The course also is blessed by a variety of short par fours, from the drivable 12th to the terrifyingly tight 18th. It also has some stern par fours which can't really be any longer than the 420m they are because as they face south, even in an ever so light sea breeze they would be almost unreachable in 2!
late in the day on the 18th
For the front nine we were joined by the father and son duo of Jim and Paul who have recently shifted to Mount Eliza from Philadelphia and have taken up membership at the National. They were great company and gave us some interesting insights into the course and the club atmosphere. For the back 9 it was just me, Jamie and our cameraman-come-learnerdriver Jirv so we zipped around in about an hour and a half. Jirv started to fade after the euphoric views of the front nine and probably as a result of our late night out but he hung in there to provide us with some great camerawork right through to the 18th.
Jirv and JP on the 7th
The golf ended as a clean sweep and with Jamie as the crab. I had one of my best days of the year shooting 76 off the tips thanks to four birdies. But to do that I was pretty quiet during the round – with very little sleep and such a gnarly course, it was a day that required quite a concerted effort to score well! No wonder I slept like a log last night.
M
With our days on the Peninsula numbered, Mike and I have been reflecting on what a diverse golfing experience this magnificent area offers. Most of the clubs are in their infancy – relatively speaking – but one or two have been around for quite some time. Sorrento, where we played this morning, is one such beast (the others including Flinders and Portsea, as I understand).
Sorrento township is tucked away towards the sou’ west corner of this great finger of golfing nirvana – only the uber elite Portsea lies closer to the point. Sitting up in Hotel Sorrento the other day we had gorgeous views over the bay up to Melbourne and across to Geelong. Go there if you’re in the neighbourhood. One other thing that strikes you strolling around Sorrento is the affluence. This be Old Money Territory. Apparently the Melbourne upper crust colonised these parts some time ago; you’re as likely to see the descendant of an industrialist or media baron ‘round here as you are Skippy The Bush Kangaroo. Incidentally I saw a bunch of ‘roos last night – at last – while wandering through the Nepean National Park down Flinders way. Having eluded me for the past 21 days or so I unearthed their hiding spot (where they were having that AGM I speculated about a week or so ago) and ambushed the critters. Boy did they hop. JP 1 : Kangaroos NIL.
Back to Sorrento. Lovely little village / town / settlement / place to spend your last days on Earth. Goldy and I haven’t yet had time to sample local cuisine or have a stab at the nightlife, but with a mate arriving on the ferry from Geelong tonight for a short stay we may yet see it in its full glory. Better warn ‘em that JIRV is coming (Jirv – otherwise known to those that haven’t yet come across this tornado of a man as John Irvine – is a character with a capital C, and will double as friend and cameraman tomorrow at The National...better warn ‘em too). Somehow someone at Deakin Universtiy in Geelong admitted Jirv to study medicine, making it possible that one day down the track some poor unsuspecting human will come to Johnny Boy and depend on him to save their health. God help that human. I’m only joking of course; John is a very clever rooster, a nice man generally, and I expect a fine cameraman too. But I digress, as I’m prone to doing.
Sorrento Golf Club has a wonderful Old World atmosphere. When you find it. (The road sign had been taken down for maintenance, leaving Michael and I at the mercy of the mercurial and oft unreliable Google Maps iPhone application). Maybe they don’t want people finding it; if it was my golf club I probably wouldn’t. Upon arrival in what sticks in my mind as one of the most grand clubhouses we’ve come across in 2010 we were warmly greeted by John and Matt (the pro & his assistant). John was an absolute gentleman and made no fuss about our late arrival. In fact he put as completely at ease, jacked us up with a cart, proffered some advice about the course (including a handy yardage book with nice pictures and stories) and then escorted us to the 11th tee, where we wouldn’t be bothered / held up by the rest of the field. As I said, an absolute gentleman. Shame he couldn’t join us for the round, but some people have to work.
The golf course itself was the most parkland-like layout on the Peninsula, certainly that we’ve played. Where most of the tracks down here dish up tight lies, ti tree and vicious bunkers, Sorrento plays more like a sleepy country club in the Lake District (or somewhere equally quaint and lush). Peaceful. The club’s been around for over a century, which might explain the Old World mood. Greens felt settled; trees were mature; and the magpies were bolder than, well, your average magpie (they’re probably the upper crust of the magpie race, and probably reckon they can get away with anything, just like Packer & Co). One nicked my complimentary Moonah Links cookie right out of the cup holder in our cart – after Mike had already shoo’d it away while I was putting. The cheek! I’ve got the rascal on film (Mike will put up a vid in due course) and put the local police on the case, so I’m confident he’ll be brought to justice. If the Australian Justice System fails me I might take matters into my own hands and engage in some vigilante activity to add flavour to our Mornington Peninsula Experience before heading to the City. Oh stop being so silly Jamie.
On the way out to the tee John pointed out to Mike and I where changes to the course were planned, or already under way. Reckon the local gentry wouldn’t take too kindly to excessive tinkering with Their Course – their great great grandfathers having probably laid it down between Pimms & Ginger Ales in the Year of Our Lord 1863 – but the tinkering John spoke of appeared to make sense, and in my humble estimation is often a good thing (when done tastefully) to bring old courses into the new era. At least it keeps a few people in a job.
After several scores of indifferent golf strokes each we finally reached the 10th hole – our 18th for the day – and made our way contently to the clubhouse, to thank Andrew the manager. Another very nice chap – the place is full of ‘em. Sorrento had been a distinctly different experience to the rest of the pack down here, a fact that hadn’t escaped our attention. A nice insight into a traditional club that will probably be around here for another century or three.
Avo has been spent on logistics and media engagements (had a chat with Scott from ABC Queensland, which should air in the coming week); although of course I had time for a dip in the salt water pool at Moonah, and even managed a spot of wine tasting at Ten Minutes by Tractor up on Red Hill. Lovely flinty chardonnay, but the pinot wasn’t my cup of tea.
Tomorrow we’re off to The Dunes for a shoot with Sunrise (Breakfast TV equivalent, for you Kiwis out there). And some golf. On the 14th ranked course in ‘Straya. Super.
Three thoughts for the day:
1 - Portsea GC. Stunning piece of golfing real estate right at the tip of the Mornington Peninsula. Another mature track which the newer resort style courses have used for inspiration. The course is naturally shaped around the rolling hills and through the ti tree. It is peaceful. Any yet very challenging in places. Very few, if any, holes allow you to thoughtlessly stand up and just smash it. It is a sure sign of a good course when you need to stop and think about every shot you are about to hit. Two short par fours are the icing on the cake, in particular the 13th which is a cracker of a short hole where you could walk away from anything between a 2 and a 6. Portsea is surrounded by opulent houses which in no way detract from the ambience and atmosphere of the course. Lastly, and very importantly, the greenstaff at Portsea are to be congratulated as the course was in superb nick and the greens today were sublime - probably the best we have played on all year. Have a look at the video below for our impression of the course - bare in mind that we had had very little sleep after a most uncomfortable night sleeping in the car.
2 - For those new readers there is a cause underlying the madness of puregolf2010. That is to raise money for The First Tee NZ. All money that is raised for The First Tee is going directly to them - none goes towards our expenses for this trip. So Jamie and I encourage anyone who is inspired by our challenge to donate to The First Tee - and you can do so by using the donate icon at the top of the website.
3 - Lastly, Jamie and I encourage any interaction or suggestions from our audience. Whether that be suggestions on where to play, or if you want to come out and have a game of golf with us please feel free to contact us. Some of the best days this year have been when we have been joined by readers of the blog for a round of golf, or a beer in the pub, so please get in touch. We have also had fantastic support from the wider golfing community, from golf courses to the PGA and to the blokes running golf radio stations who get us on for a chat - all of which is one of the most humbling parts about this year so far.
Flinders is one of the older courses on the Mornington peninsula and today was a pure example of an old fashioned course that was built before golf clubs that resembled spaceships were invented but has withstood the test of time. Admittedly in Flinders GC’s favour today was a very stiff breeze – probably the second windiest day of puregolf – but when you build a golf course right on the ocean what can you expect. Flinders spat us out. Remarkable when you look at the card and see some seemingly meek mild and red-tee-esque lengths to the holes. All the yardages went flying out the window courtesy of the easterly that wipped up over the beach (which had a fair surf crashing onto it) and across the small peninsula of land on which Flinders sits.
Upon arrival we were looked after by Gav and Scott - the pro and trainee pro respectively. Gav hailed from Scotland and he and Jamie quickly started sharing football and golfing stories from the homeland - a quick coffee later we decided it was time to face the music and stepped up to the easy going first hole (a 235m par 4 playing across the wind). Scott joined us to make up a three-ball which allowed us to endulge in a wee split sixes competition and learn from some of his local knowledge.
Some shots at Flinders GC can be pretty tricky. Take the second hole which has a green barely three metres wide with bunkers on either side. In a cross wind like today where the ball wont even stay still on the green it is tough work hitting a chip shot onto the green let alone a full wedge… Or the fourth which infamously has two 'coffin' like gully's between the tee and the seemingly reachable green. The coffins are some of the more unpleasant places to try and get out of - although today they were sheltered from the wind and from down there you are very close to the stunning beach - silver lining I guess.. And then a couple of beastly holes follow which play into the wind and uphill and require two (or three) clean strikes to get anywhere near the green. The par threes were immense – three of them playing into the teeth of the wind which meant Jamie had to hit a driver on one of them – big girl. To be fair at least he hit a number of them in regulation – more than can be said for me! (NB he hit all the par threes in reg yesterday and did pretty well again today…)
The course spat all three of us out and our scoring was poor. A par 69 and only Scott (barely) managed to break 80. Three birdies (all on downwind holes) coming home gave me the split sixes win and the honour of writing today’s blog.
After golf we went to the Flinders hotel where we eagerly sat and watched our wee story on the Fox Sports Golf Channel. It is pretty strange watching yourself on tele! After our big screen performance we headed around the corner where a friend – Nigel Bruce (who we previously had caught up with in Rotorua) and his golfing mates from Rotorua are currently staying. They are on a boys golfing week away and are playing the best courses around the Mornington peninsula. Judging by last nights antics they are having a pretty good week! We had a stunning meal, a couple of irish single malts, and plenty of good conversation.
So I have crafted this blog and the video below at 4am after barely a few hours sleep – in the car. Hope you enjoy it. It’s fair to say that sleeping in the car is a far cry from our big screen performance a few hours ago. I guess that’s life on the road and on a shoestring budget. To be continued…
Our internet has just run out. So whilst I type this blog late on Wednesday, it may not be possible to post until we have sorted our mobile broadband connection with our supplier, Optus. If anyone from Optus is reading this – please sponsor us. And also please get one of your customer service guys to answer our call as we have had the irritating ‘on call’ music playing so long it will haunt me in my sleep tonight. Whilst telecommunications is cheaper in Aussie than it is in NZ it’s still a drain on funds.
Speaking of funds, I need to clarify for some readers that JP and I are funding this trip ourselves and with the help of some of our sponsors – huge thanks to Westfield and Perry Aggregates. We are scrapping away each day (like paupers) to get by and kind individuals such as the people at the Rosebud caravan park and their generosity of spirit is winning the day so far. But we’re always on the hunt for more sponsors so if there are any suggestions out there in the wide world of the web please drop me a line. In the ideal world we would have matching puregolf2010 golf bags sponsored by both a golf company and another worldwide conglomerate (so if you are reading Nike and Coke please come to the party). So far we are out of luck – but touch wood. Meanwhile all of the money we are raising for The First Tee NZ is going directly to them via fundraiseonline. None of the ‘walknz’ expenses issues here.
So, today we played our 62nd consecutive round of golf at Rosebud Country Club on their South course. As we are playing the North course tomorrow, it is best to leave most of the golfing review until the next installment of puregolf2010. Today we did manage to play with a local by the name of Walter who has retired on the Mornington Peninsula. Walt immigrated to Australia from Liverpool back in the 70’s and provided good company throughout the round. But Walter did not have a flash day on the course, and so could relate with Jamie who battled through 18 long holes today. Actually Jim played the first five perfectly with straight pars but then the wheels (and dare I say motivation) fell off.
Rosebud CC South was not the most difficult course we have played all year and with wide open fairways and inviting greens it was a day for scoring low. But when you play golf every day sometimes scoring is not the name of the game and Jamie seemed not so bothered to lose the fairways, greens and putts competition to love today. It was rather fortunate that his putting punishment of ten four footers in a row only took him about 4 minutes to complete as by that stage in the day he was pretty keen to retire to the caravan park. My golf was juxtaposed against the excitement of yesterday – I had 13 regulation pars and a few bogeys for a 78.
After the golf we went for a reccy down towards the south of the Mornington Peninsula. Now this area was impressive and I think even our tourist guide understated the affluence here in saying “the millionaire’s mansions along the clifftops of Portsea and Sorrento are the stuff of local legend.” We stopped in for a lazy beer – a quality aussie drop called James Squires - at the Portsea Hotel which is the iconic feature of the township. Perched a top the jetty and water, I can imagine this place really hums certain nights of the year. Lastly, we stopped in at the Sorrento pub a huge old limestone building also overlooking the bay and watched the kiwis sneak home (again) against the Aussies. Great work boys.
Shinnecock
auckland dodgy donald ross links mackenzie melbourne mornington mornington peninsula new york queensland rain royal sandbelt scotland sunshine coast sydney the first tee tpc us open wow
