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Puji

Easter 2011 - NSW Golf Adventure part 1.

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Over the recent Easter break I had taken some well earnt time off and decided to go up with my partner to Sydney to explore some of the courses in the enemy state.

After doing a bit of research we had booked the following courses for play including carts;

Long Reef Golf Club
Riverside Oaks Golf Club
Newcastle Golf Club
Pacific Dunes Golf Club
Vintage Golf Club
Mount Broughton Golf & Country Club.

Closer to leaving for Sydney the weather forecast was not looking good. there was rain or showers predicted on every day whilst we were in Sydney. This did not inspire any confidence. To compound matters, the weather in Melbourne was forecast to be perfectly clear, mild and sunny. Despite this we decided to carry on with our intended plans.

The day after arriving in Sydney after an entertaining 9 hour drive, we had a our first round booked at Long Reef Golf Club. THe course was a solid hour from our accommodation in Castle Hill, and during our drive the heavens opened up to remind us of the forecast. We arrived at Long Reef and we were very much looking forward to the round. However a consistent light drizzle was dampening our spirits.

Wearing a polo and regular golf pants, I realised that if we were to persist an investment in some raingear would be necessary. Luckily for me the pro shop was having a special on niblick gear and I dropped some coin on a pants + jacket set.

We tee'd off 10 minutes late - in an attempt to wait for the rain to pass, despite the clouds looking threatening for as far as the eye could see. The opening par 5 was great. A dogleg right uphill with a creek intersecting the fairway 280m in. despite the drizzle I played a safe high cut onto the left hand side of the fairway and continued to make par on the opening hole. Unfortunately things just got worse.

On the next hole a crow stole my new Srixon Z Star yellow, the drizzle became a shower and a shower became rain. No wet weather gear was to salvage this round as my Golf Pride grips were no match for the downpour that was on this day. We soldiered on through 8 holes but called it quits after reaching the clubhouse. This was a shame as I was looking forward to playing the outer holes that neighbour the ocean.

I wanted to continue but casual water was building on the fairways and the greens. The holes themselves were already flooded and the winds had picked up. Time to go home.

Deflated, we headed home, expecting this to be the weather to expect for our entire trip. Luckily this was not the case.

The next morning we woke up to pleasant skies, forecast at 22c and a 30% of rain. Today we were booked into Riverside Oaks Country Club. This was a fantastic course. Very well manicured. Relatively flat course with some elevation from the tee on some holes. Fairways were true, albeit a bit soft. Greens were very quick but consistent in the set of 18.

I remembering my playing partners putting 2 balls within 1 foot of the short par 3 on the front 9 with the extremely elevated tee shot. Again, throughly enjoyed my round at the course, played well but was unable to convert GIR's to birdy attempts.

Aside from the golf, everything about the club was fantastic. comprehensive Pro shop, nice carts, nice putting and pitching greens. THe location seems to be a but far from the hustle and bustle, but we enjoyed this. The course was very quiet.

The weather had decided we had been punished enough the day prior and had decided to play nice at Riverside Oaks. We even managed to experience a bit of blue sky. My hopes were up - knowing that Sydney's forecast can be at times as confusing and misleading as the melbourne bureau's forecasts.

continued part 2 (to be uploaded soon)
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