Golf on Day 147 was always going to be a low key affair. At 3pm on Day 146 we rolled out of Phoenix and onto the 10 Freeway heading east...towards Dallas. Google Maps clocks the journey at 1068 miles. It felt longer.
Add to the mixer a hint of uncertainty - over Dodgy's long haul capabilities - and you have an interesting episode in the saga that is puregolf2010. Against all the odds it was quite an enjoyable 22 hours. Travelling in Dodgy is like travelling business class on a long haul flight, in some ways. There's plenty room; a bed to lay your head on; a built in chilly bin (in this case stocked full of Starbucks espresso cans, red bulls, powerades and anything else that might keep us awake); and a quality stereo. The engine purred gracefully too, masking Dodgy's true...longevity.
Outside the tinted windows were cacti rising 30 feet into the air, boulders the size of shopping malls and wide open expanses of Not Much. Everything's huge in these parts (including the trucks that do their best to block every road sign from view).
Anyway we arrived in Dallas early afternoon, and did a brief interview (scroll to "Norm Golfer" segment, on Thursday) with the local radio kingpin, Norm Hitzges (who by fortunate coincidence loves all things Kiwi and is pals with Phil T). A good yarn it was too, even though I nearly keeled over half way through from the suffocating heat within a parked Dodgy oven.
Relief was the overwhelming emotion when we reached Phil??s place ?? after getting lost in the labyrinth that is the golf complex he lives in (we were looking for ??eagle street?; found ??par street?; assumed the next street would be ??birdie street? so drove straight on and missed the turn (there was no "birdie street" - no logic to the street naming system here). Both of us were pretty delirious, and probably not much chop on the conversation front when we arrived ?? but after years on the road Phil and wife Mel could relate to our plight and so were very understanding. And welcoming.
We met son Kahu (9 years old) and daughter Talia (a few years his younger). Lovely kids. Kahu??s going to be a real ladies man, and he??s got a bit of sporting prowess about him too (not surprising when you look at mum and dad). As soon as the bags were unloaded from Dodgy we got out into the yard and shot some hoops with Kahu. With a 180 dunk (to an 8 foot rim) in my arsenal, I may as well have been Michael Jordan (at 5 foot 10 inches Phil can't reach the basket unless he uses a stepladder...). Then there was a bit of table tennis on the back patio; then a few putts struck on Phil??s practice putting green. This would??ve been my dream house as a kid.
Golf was the last thing I felt like doing ?? in 40 degree heat ?? but...well, you know...we sort of have to! Phil tentatively hopped in the driver??s seat of Dodgy and zipped us down to Lake Park Executive, a little 9 hole municipal course in Dallas proper. The course wasn??t much to write home about, but it was perfect for our needs. Because it was a par 3 course it was also great for Kahu to showcase his dynamite short game (which ended up being the decisive factor in bringing victory honours upon him and yours truly). The wee fella had his best 9 hole round ever, with 41 (previous PB 46) ?? despite a disappointing 8 on the final hole, which he was visibly gutted with. He??s got his father??s competitive streak.
Father and son took turns at caddying for the other on each hole. Father gave son a few tips. Son wasn??t particularly receptive, but desperately wanted to impress Father. The episode reminded me a lot of my early playing days with my dad out at Lundin Links in Fife, Scotland. I never listened to a word he said, and got hopelessly frustrated if things weren??t going my way. All part of growing up.
Back at Tataurangi base camp we fired up the BBQ and grilled a few steaks ?? well, Phil did, and he did it like a seasoned chef too. More than just a pretty face. One beer; one steak; and a couple of veges was bliss and enough to send me to sleep. It was gutting, initially, to learn there was only one bed (it was Goldy??s turn), but the sofa proved to be more comfortable than a King Size at The Ritz ?? and being as shattered as I was, I would??ve slept like a log on a bed of nails.
A long day. And a very warm welcome by a Kiwi family. Day 147...
JP
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Hey whanau,
Kahu - you are looking pretty styling with those flash braces. Tatiana's will be off by the time you get home.
We are really proud of you - shooting a 41! STAR! And I am really glad to see you looked after the boys so well. Give big hugs to everyone. Miss you and love you heaps xxxx Aunty Kez
Posted by Keri Tataurangi, 12/06/2010 11:43am (3 years ago)
Lovely to see half the whanau...cheer up KJ!
Posted by Nanny, 02/06/2010 11:10pm (3 years ago)
Chisholm Park
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