PDC International 2012

“How many degrees did you say?” I asked in some astonishment as Doc, John and I sat at Melbourne airport waiting for the remainder of the Brisbane chaps to arrive on their delayed Jetstar flight.

“Two”, said Doc. “Up from one a little while ago”.

Two degrees was the Apparent Temperature at Frankston. Just as well I packed a jumper, I thought, especially since it was the last thing I threw in the suitcase. The day before it had been 34 degrees - welcome to Melbourne and the 6^th annual PDC International.

A few hours later we were all on the 1^st tee of the North Course at Peninsula Golf Club, in howling wind, wearing as many layers of clothes as possible, including team hats – red or blue, another aspect of Tom’s superb organisation of this year’s tourney.

Craw led the field away, a cracking drive over the right hand fairway bunker. Superb! Pity he never saw the ball again, a victim of unknown or unseen fairway contours. Such is life on a course you have never laid eyes on. And what a great course it was – beautifully maintained fairways, true greens and lots of interesting, undulating and attractive holes, especially on the front nine. Favourites for me were the slight dog leg left, up the hill par 4 6^th; the daunting and long par 4 12^th, played into a wicked left-right wind; and the beaut little par 4 13^th, only 284 metres but played straight into the breeze and a very tight green as a target.

Some footage here of Doc and Barnsey on the par 3, 16^th, and here of me.

Round 1 was followed by a traditional debrief with beers as the sun dipped and disappeared and groups progressively finished their rounds. I love this part of the PDC – slouching in a chair after the first day, cold beer, discussing holes and shots, and life, with old mates. It’s basic, but it’s precious stuff.

Another dimension of Peninsula then kicked in as the ‘hospitality’ phase started. Wow! A tremendous array of food, wine and service was provided. I don’t remember what time we staggered the 20 steps from the dining table to the billiard table, nor do I remember what exact wines Jeff cracked for the snooker games, nor what cheese was supplied as an accompaniment, but do I remember relaxing to an almost slumber-like state with contentment. Or perhaps I was just tired. Which wouldn’t be surprising since it took about a fucking hour to finish a single snooker game! Which I think Timmy and I lost to some miracle shot from someone else. Jaysus! The lack of skill was special.

On Friday it was off to Moonah Links about an hour south of our base at Peninsula, first to the Open Course, followed by Legends Course in the afternoon. The day started cold, overcast and a bit blowy but cleared to a lovely afternoon. Highlights of the morning round was a ding-dong match between Schnapper and me versus Craw and Shirls. I don’t recall any brilliant golf, although I think they were a few birdies in the last few holes. Schnapper’s bunker play was a memorable highlight – dead as dead can be!

Some footage of the afternoon groups tonking off the 1^st including Doc, Matt, Schnapper and Tommy HERE; Jeff, Bellringer, Barnsey and Craw HERE; and Wardie, Shaun, John and I bringing up the field HERE. Where’s Shirls? He retired after the first 18 with a ‘bad back’, to a massage table and happy ending.

I think I enjoyed the Legends course a bit more, although my form was pretty rubbish. The Open seemed long, long, long and I lost count of how many times I had 4-wood in my hand for my second, third (and sometime fourth!) shot. On the Legends I liked the short par 4 11^th (perhaps it was because I had about 40 minutes to appreciate it as Wardie took a phone call from a client while searching for his ball, which, mind you, he hit about 120 metres right, fuck that was wide. Actually, I think that was the first one, the second was only about 100 metres right. And then I think Shaun hit is even further right, down near the 9^th tee. Mysterious…); and also the dogleg par 4 15^th.

Another fab dinner and wine that evening – I didn’t even make it to the snooker table.

The last round was on the even more superb South course. As usual in the PDC my form gets worse by the shot and this year was no exception. Fortunately, I got some beaut tips from Jeff as we spent hours chipping around greens waiting for the groups in front to clear off. (hey Jeff, many thanks for the ‘keeping the left side firmer’ tip, I’m still using that!) 

Schnapper got some nature footage also.  

I took a swag of photos but they seem to have disappeared from my phone, bugger it, so you’ll just have to view pics from the club site if you are inclined. Pity, because the images really don’t do the course justice – I thought it was excellent.

Many thanks to Tom for his amazing organisation of the event. And to Jeff for delivering a typically super array of wines. To first timer Matt for the wine and selections on night two, and Wardie for the car hire. And to everyone for just being good mates and nice to spend time with.

Until next time

Fergus

PS, Sydney gets my vote for 2013, if that’s worth anything…

A visit to Arkers

It was an unusually cool 15 degrees, overcast with a touch of rain, as we hit off from RQ on the Queen’s Birthday (God bless the Queen, I say, for providing two public holidays in one year – what a woman!?). It was my first tonk at Arkers in 15 – 20 years and I was really impressed with the ‘new’ layout, an 8+ out of 10 rating from me, for what it’s worth. Jeff, Craw and I led off, followed by Bellringer, TC and new dad Shirls.

I especially liked that the look and feel of the course was consistent throughout, something that Indooroopilly lacks, regrettably. Tee blocks are flat and broad; fairways are wide and well grassed with few tricks; bunkers are universally excellent, good grainy sand, and well placed, including on the fairways; and the greens are terrific, really well grassed, and with lots of humps and bumps which make shot selection important. ‘Don’t be long’, Jeff informed me, several times, but it still didn’t sink in. It’s definitely a mantra worth remembering it next time!

Best holes for me are the par 5, 7^th and the short par 4, 12^th (see pic). The par 3, 17^th is a little beauty too – some footage HERE and HERE. I’d love to have another game on a warm, sunny and breezy day.

Thanks to Wardy, Tim and Jeff for making all of the arrangements. I look forward to another RQ instalment at some point, and of course to reuniting at the PDC International in a month.

A tonk at the bend in the river - March 2012

It has been a while between games of golf for me, the last full round being way back in November 2011 as part of the PDC International. So there much excitement leading up to a tonk on Saturday at the ‘Pilly with the some of the chaps. I thought the course was in really good condition and it was great to see so many big trees around the place, much taller and denser that I recall. The result is that many holes feel like a separate space, sort of isolated from nearby holes, both visually and physically. I like this feeling, it is one of the distinguishing features of Kooyonga, scene of the PDC International 2010, and also many of the holes at Lost Farm.

Doc and I had a ding-dong battle with Schnapper and Craw with birdies galore on the Gold 9, six in total I think. We eventually lost the match on the 17^th. I strolled in with 35 pts (although I think I was actually 34 when I calculated again on the bike this arvo, oops, double bogey on the 4th), Schnapper 33 or so. The second nine holes was a bit tedious with steady rain – so much for the forecast ‘shower or two’, but the company was excellent. I hope it will not be so long again before the next hit. 

The shit weather limited photo opportunities but there is some footage from Gold 5.

Other sporting highlights from the weekend include a victory to Simon Gerrans in the Milano - San Remo race, the longest race of the season - a mere 298 km (!), and one of the oldest, 100+ years – with a very nasty climb in the last 10km. Gerrans showed amazing endurance and stamina and great tactics to pull off a sprint win. There is some 'backstage' footage from Green Edge, soon to be renamed 'Team Potty Mouth..' And then there was Jack smashing me around the cricket nets at UQ on Sunday morning. The kid has so much more talent than me it’s ridiculous. He’s a pretty handy bowler too. Plus today the Bulls won the Sheffield Shield versus Tasmania at the ‘Gabba in a cracking match.