Off to New Zealand - half way around the world, more than half into my trip :)

So, this is exciting: It is 11/6/11 today, and got a free upgrade to room 11 on the floor 11 (only a city view, not the harbor, but Sydney Opera could not be topped just now anyways). My friend Cat - who I will be visiting in Dallas later and leaving on 11/7/11 for my last destination of golf heaven "Myrtle Beach" - I am sure, will tell me what this all means. For now, I am happy to have arrived in a warmer city with a beautiful country side (... but there seems to be a bit of a front moving in... and there is an ash cloud coming our way from the Chilean volcano too).


Lynn's brother Ric picked me up from the airport, takes me to the hotel and then dinner at a Mongolian BBQ where we do a little planning for the coming days and review my challenges in golf.



A good and easy travel day (thank you Qantas for transporting my golf clubs at the bargain of AUD 20).

Moore Park Golf Course Sydney

What drives me...? Hmm, it is so cold here and yet I am scheduled to tee off at 7.59 in Moore Park Golf Course. Weather forecast is not really to my liking and we did get about half a hole worth of drizzle. Otherwise a bit of sun and sometimes very strong winds. No excuses though. After warming up a bit the second nine I played only 8 over with 14 putts. Indeed, this finally feels a bit like golf again.

Tom and Tony were good good company and although, it does not look pretty, I will share with you my "oh-my-god-I-am-cold-and-wearing-everything-I-have-look".

A quick checking into my bank's offices here in Sydney to pick up Greg (a former American sales colleague in Zurich) for a drink and a Wagyu beef burger at the Sofitel bar, before I took a last stroll around the harbor.

everyone is taking pictures...

Balmain, Sky Tower, Museum of Sydney and Bondi

I am not a sweet-tooth, but have followed Ryan's advice to go check out Adriano Zumbo in Balmain. On the way, this includes excellent views of the city from the ferry. If you are a sweet-tooth and in Sydney, YOU MUST GO TO ZUMBO. The patisserie is to die for (have not tried the macarons, but imagine they must be a treat too).

Up on the Sky Tower, the beauty of Sydney and the suburbs can be seen on a clear day. Water and trees everywhere. Wow, this must really be a nice place in summer. Maybe I am lucky enough to come back one day (and not be wearing my blue woolen sweater and pink down vest that I practically live in now...).

On the way to the Museum of Sydney, I hugged a big tree :) The history of Sydney is beautifully put on display in this museum, can really recommend this at the start of a visit of the city.

After meeting up with a nice crowd of Tom's English friends in the city, we ventured of to Bondi for a gig: Good vibes and good times!

Vivid Sydney

I got a first row seat on the flight to Sydney on the right side of the plane. Next to foto-enthusiasts Gary and Peter (see his amazing pictures at www.petersimages.com)  and was lucky that it was a clear day and we were flying in a circle around the city to get to the airport. So, I had a chance to see the Opera House in all its glory today.

from the sky

from my room at the hotel

from up close

from the other side of Circular Quay
in the lights of VividSydney show

The black swan and other black creatures chasing me...

Ron asked me to join a round of golf with him and his pro today at Colonial Golf Club, a par 73 course with water on every hole but 2 of them. There was a lot of water on some of the fairways too and one could not expect any roll on the drives. Today I have played my 500th hole on this trip :) Putting was ok today and my short game - especially the 9 irons were very accurate.  The real highlight though was seeing a black swan on the course here! So, again, I am chasing birdies with my camera more than with my score card: none today, just 3 pars and a rather lousy unpostable score... Oh, and if you chose to come here and play, beware, do not eat the lunch special... it is like a cheap TV dinner that wasn't even zapped long enough in the microwave.

After golf, I headed over to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary to feed the kangaroos and enchant an Emu who courted me and would not leave me alone until I left his habitat...

Robina Woods Golf Club

Starting off on my own, I passed a couple flights on my way until I caught up with Ron and Grant who I joined for the remaining 7 holes, where I shot 4 pars and impressed them with my suddenly straight and long drives and inspired putting. Haha, this is golf. Misery of a hacker and then glorious shots and ball striking. Before that, I struggled quite a bit on this well established course with a lot of tree lined and narrow fairway holes that play very long in those wet conditions we had on the course. I can understand why someone might drive their cart into the lake :)

Coolangatta Tweed Heads Golf Club

Waking up to warmer temperatures. What a treat:  I can leave my blue woolen sweater in the closet for the first time in days. At breakfast, it feels like this Outrigger Twin Town hotel I am staying at is in the middle of Florida and all those 75-85 year old seniors have flocked in like the snowbirds for their winter season. In many other ways this feels a bit like Florida here too. Nice long white sandy beaches, good surf and a beach bum atmosphere in the air.

I played at the West course of Coolangatta today. The round was very slow as the course was busy. So, I got to enjoy my hunt for birdies with the camera (pictured is a Kookaburra... did not shoot any birdie scores though today... 36 putts again - have not bought that new putter yet ;-) - and shooting 8 over my HCP...). All the par 3 holes on this course are "mandatory call holes". Not sure this adds anything to the speed of play, maybe it even slows it down?

I do not understand why they put flights of 4 people on this intertwined and back and forth course on every 8 minutes on a sunny sunday when everyone gets out to play. But as said, the temperatures where so enjoyable it was shirt and shorts time and I just enjoyed the views.


The sun now sets at 5pm here and I made my way over to Point Danger to watch the surfers and get the sunset over the bay at Gold Coast. For dinner I had a spicy vindaloo chicken at a local Indian restaurant where the cook came to check whether I was able to eat my "please make it spicy" order.