Day 51 - puregolf2010 hits Sydney!

Posted by Jamie on 20 February 2010 | 0 Comments | Tags: Sydney, Australia, Matt Cleary, Eastlakes

This morning we crossed the ditch, taking puregolf2010 to the shores of Australia.  Sydney!  What a thrill.  Up at the crack of dawn for the redeye flight, it's fair to say we had a slow start; and when we struck a logjam in the check-in queue at Auckland airport, the nerves began to jitter (notwithstanding the calming influence of our new friend, and Auckland host, Roy, who kindly saw us through to the departure gate).  Our sweat glands continued to work over time when we were faced with the prospect of paying $200 excess baggage charges (just about more than the flights themselves cost).  But somehow we managed to talk our way down to $80 with the first airline official, and down again to zero with the second.  A narrow escape.  

Just when we thought all drama had passed us, I then got into a bit of a disagreement with an Indian security official in the baggage collection area - for horsing around with the video camera.  The earnest chap didn't like me filming (apparently it's against "The Rools"); I was told in no uncertain terms to delete whatever footage I had taken, and to behave myself.  So I did.  The lovely Hispanic lady on the Customs Desk was far more pleasant; she asked curiously, with a broad smile, about the stated occupation on my passenger arrival card ("ADVENTURER").  When I told her about puregolf2010, she appeared disappointed; her idea of an adventurer, the charming lady volunteered, was someone who jumps out of a helicopter, as opposed to punters who spend their mundane days playing golf.  I can see how it would sound boring to some people.

The flight itself was a breeze, although the chap perched next to me could do with a year at finishing school - he coughed and spluttered on my left shoulder for 3 hours, without once covering his mouth or offering an apologetic gesture.  Some people...  Mike put together a nice wee compilation vid of the last 50 days, which will go up shortly.  Looking back we've had a lot of great experiences in a relatively short space of time.  It's forward we're looking now, to the exciting Australian leg ahead.  

Matt Cleary - a Sydney journo who last year undertook The Great Lap, a golfing adventure around the perimeter of this great big country (an adventure that obviously shares a bit in common with our own) - kindly met us at the airport, and took us back to his pad to gather ourselves.  Matt's a top bloke whom we have been in touch with for weeks now, and after a few banterous emails we were looking forward to meeting him in person.  Hilarious lad.  And after 10 days of mediocre Auckland weather it was revitalising to feel the sun on our backs in what I always remember as a sunny city.  (I spent a summer here in 2005/2006).  

We got straight into the Aussie groove before golf, by shooting down to Coogee Beach for a dip.  Matt lives a stone's throw away, which is handy to say the least.  What a gorgeous beach, packed with gorgeous people.  A bit of body surfing was just the thing to dust away any cobwebs left behind by the redeye flight, and to ready us for battle in The Coogee Plate.

The Plate (itself something of a piece of art) has been played for annually by a good bunch of locals for 4 years now.  The $40 entry fee got us a round of golf and a good spread at the Coogee Bay Hotel in the evening - plus the opportunity to win a prize or two.  Eastlakes GC was our venue: a nice public track in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs.  It's probably the poor cousin of 3 courses plonked more or less side by side (the other two being the more elite Bonnie Doon and The Lakes) - but I thought it stood up well, particularly when the wind got up.  The front 9 was pretty benign (and short), but stopping your ball on the greens proved tricky as the sunbaked turf played more like concrete than grass.  On the back 9 (and along the latter few holes of the front) were stronger tests; a climbing par 3 surrounded by scrub was especially daunting, and on the par 3 17th I was forced to take the undignified action of pulling driver.  Big girl's blouse.  

Some good golf was played, most prolifically by the 4th member of our group, an amazing chap by the name of Cass.  The man's in his early sixties, but is fitter than most people could ever hope to be in their 20s.  Growing up in South Africa, had it not been for apartheid-related obstacles Cass would have competed in the Olympics as a whippit 1500 metre runner.  He's run a 4:03 mile.  Each morning Cass rises at 5am for a brisk gallop and a dip at Coogee.  A pretty amazing guy, as I said.  Anyway his golf was impressive, unfortunately for The Kiwis.  (We took on the Aussies in a best ball match, for a beer).  Par after par after par sunk our hopes of clinching the Bledisloe, which we lost 1 down.  His 81, combined with a few good pars by partner Matt (who sunk a downhill, breaking 15 footer on the last for the match) proved too good - although I managed a 78, which wasn't bad.  Poor Mike battled with himself for an 88, winning him the Weetbix.

The fixture migrated to the Coogee Bay Hotel, for the after match do.  For those that haven't heard of it, the CBH is an Aussie icon (although sometimes for the wrong reasons).  A massive pub.  Prizes were dished out for closest to the pin, longest drive and, of course, for The Plate itself.  Matt took out the best scratch trophy (rightfully awarded to locals, to encourage a continuing culture of participation across the years) - an honour that won him an Ebenezer of good Aussie shiraz.  A couple of ceremonial words were said, then good natured banter took over, as the more social end of the day took hold.  Good clean fun.  I got chatting to a few blokes from my part of the world (an Irishman, an Englishman and a Scot - which sounds like the first line of a bad joke), who had played in the golf and who had a few good stories to tell.  Like many before them these boys had come out on their OE some 15 years or so ago, and got stuck.  Coogee will do that. 

A great day all round; a magic way to get under way in Aussie.  Eastlakes was no Augusta, but it was the social dimension of the day - and the occasion of playing in The Plate - that made Day 51 stand out.  We're staying with Matt tonight, and will play at The Coast tomorrow (probably after a refreshing morning dip down the road).  Aussie Aussie Aussie; Oi Oi Oi!