Saturday, April 30, 2011

Birdie counter: 2 for the day (at Dubai Creek Golf Course)

Had a good day or practice out on the practice green and the range at DCGC. Then off to enjoy the pool and pick up the luggage to go to the airport and get my flight to Bangkok! 

Friday, April 29, 2011

My day off in Dubai...

The plan was to go to Barasti have a BBQ and beach access for the day... but then it dawned on me that it was Royal Wedding Day and the place was packed with wedding watchers, so I sat down at a table with British 6 months old triplets in celebration gear (no, no picture of it... haha, too tacky)

3 bride wannabes

The "official" invitation

View from the beach chair next door at the Westin (where I snuck into to avoid the crowds at the beach in front of the Barasti)

Evening program at Mango Tree to see the beautiful fountains and  then  on to looking for  the shark...

 ... ah here she is!

and claiming that my Khalifa head gear would have made news at the wedding today!

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Dubai Creek Golf Club, 28 April 07:56 - excited about my first ever "canon start".

Playing partner was Mark, a regular player here who is from Dallas, TX and lives in Ryadh now. So, thanks to Mark's course management for me, my line up today was always perfect. My game unfortunately less so. Starting on hole 10, I did not have any decent drives until the we played the front nine (that is too much warming up for my taste). Highlight today: the beautiful course, the pleasant breeze, and that all my short irons are now about 10 yards longer (certainly not complaining about it, but need to still find out why). And, I learned again today, if you are not sure about the break on a put, just try to go straight.
Peppered and seared tuna steak for lunch, and then chilling at the pool until it almost got dark. Well, it actually did get dark on me at the driving range while hitting more short approaches, very good 9 irons and ok drives that would be in play.

TODAY in pictures
Mark is cooling down with his "French legion" look

my 291 yard drive (ok... with a little help from the cart path :); 49 yard to the pin... and I still manage to bogey the hole!)

view of the club house from my pool lounge chair

... and I stayed until they had to turn the lights on!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Thought I was playing by myself... but can you spot my little twin?
April 27, 07:45 @ Emirates Golf Club - The Faldo: Bogeyd the first hole with this 240 yards drive (still can't get and keep my right arm straight in the follow trough though nor complete my turn, and, and, and ...). But, very pleased with my front nine 42, less so with the back nine 50 (which includes 2 triple bogeys on 15 and 18 and 1 quadruple bogey on 17). 3 missed birdie puts (one short) ... and an awful 38 puts in total... Guess I was running out of steam without proper breakfast.
Had a wonderful round by myself and finished in just 2h50. Then off to more practice and then to the club house, accessing free WIFI (that is about the only thing free at the club) and good soup and salad with a lemon cooler. Met up with Rob & Tony again after their round and got my souvenir ball markers from Rob as a present :) and a drive back to the hotel!

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

For those who know me. I am not an early bird. But on the Pinkeagle2011 tour and for my passion golf, I get wake up calls at 05:45... and 10 mins later, I am eating breakfast...
Then my driver doesn't find the course for 45 mins (robbing me essentially of 30 mins sleep as the drive would only be about 15 mins..., wants to charge me 93 AED - and I am being told later that this fare would have taken me to Abu Dhabi almost, so I give him a generous 50 AED and "no, I am not calling him to pick me up in the afternoon - Metro next to the course and next to the hotel will do the job for 6.5 AED) ... I still make it for the practice tee at 07:20 eventually. Tee off at 08:00.

Had a wonderful start to my golfing at the Emirates Golf Club - Majlis. Never mind my score, birdie counter still at 0 ("zero")... oh wait, no there was a birdie... but it was Rob's not mine ;-)

And this is why it was so nice: the company. Thank you Martin, Tony and Rob (in order of appearance) for being such good playing partners on my official start of the tour today...

Fashionable shirt is a birthday gift from my thoughtful work colleagues.



Sunday, April 24, 2011

My first stop: Dubai

Hard to believe I managed to pack for 3 months of golf around the world.
First stop is Dubai, I am planning to play Majlis, The Faldo and Dubai Creek this week. Just arrived today and have a view of Burj Khalifa from my hotel room. 31 degrees outside even at 21:00 when I landed. Thank you Swiss for bringing me here and delivering my luggage.

Check out my trip itinerary posted on April 19.

Paul (97!), Mami & Papi saying good bye...

Andy (doubles partner of my tennis past)... sorry, focusing on golf now, no tennis for a while. But will miss you.

Mythenschloss, April 24, 10:00 CET. Thank you Ilona & Robin for picking me up and giving me a ride to the airport.