Today we woke up with another blip on our radar. We had nowhere to play and we are in Holland: things could go very wrong.
Peter Borren was making noises about a par three course near the Amsterdam Arena. Like, right beside it. So without delay we jumped in the car and went a?? cruising. Boz??s blood pressure rose and rose as he became increasingly anxious about having a hand in The End of puregolf2010. We drove around the Arena and were not having any luck. Momo became increasing pessimistic. So we pulled into the service station to ask for help and directions. Luckily the lady in the line knew what we were talking about and let us know we were two blocks away from the Dorchland course, kindly pointing out that we had obviously driven past it a couple of times. Dutch humor is quite to the point.
The lads were met by a very beautiful Dutch woman (there are a lot of them) at the desk who hearing the story welcomed the boys onto the course at the relief of The Dutch Captain who by this stage had single handedly kept the tobacco business alive for another year.
The course, consisted of all par 3??s with the longest hole (4th/13th) being 140m and the shortest being 64m. It lined an urban set driving range where tat the golf school the local dutch folk can come and sit the test to get there ??golf license?. Yup, in Holland you need a license to get onto the local courses.
Although short, the greens were small and there was some good bunkering and mounding around the greens which punished an wayward shot. Jamie and I faced up Pete and Michael and after 9 we were convincingly 3 up and looking dominant. Jamie was shooting down the flag and I managed to help on a couple of holes. The back nine was another story. Coming to the 13th hole we had exchanged holes on 11 and 12 staying 3 up but we were shaky. Jamie and I both pulled 8 iron to knock it close to the back right corner of the of an angled green with a swamp hazard guarding the mid right side of the green and a canal running all along the left side of the tee all the way up to the green. Jamie stood up, confidently, and proceeded to hit a hook straight into the canal. I stand up and proceed to block my shot into the swamp. PB hits his wedge into the canal and then Michael gets onto the tee and puts it short of the green making up and down to take the whole. The 14thand second longest hole on the course at 130m was halved with 3s. 15th hole, Goldy stands up and stiffs it making a 2 and taking the hole. 16 is halved with 3s and with the momentum having been well and truly swung we approach the 17th with a 1up lead. Slightly nervous (as there is no way I want to lose to Mongit and Michael) I watch their tee shots on 17, a 66m straightforward hole. Boz smokes his wedge (same club he hit off every tee - animal) long over the back; Michael hit his to 30 feet with a winding down hiller ahead. Jamie stands up, confidently, puts a good swing on the shot and knocks his ball to 8ft behind the hole. I am given some relief by this and stand up to strike the ball. My swing is ok, I feel it go left, but it is not so bad and I am pin high with 10 feet to the hole. Michaels putt slips by and he takes a 3. I stand over my put which has a little left to right and have it slide by the left edge, gutting. But then Jamie stands over his put, he has the putting stroke the caliber of Stewart Cink, calmly rolls it in taking the match! Victory and bragging rights for the night ahead in Amsterdam goes to the good guys.
A big thank you from the boys goes out to the Amstelborgh Dorchland golf course for hosting them on such short notice and a thank you to Pete for turning up and participating?unsuccessfully.
Dag,
Bart
Michael here. Sorry Boz for being a rubbish partner in our match and thus subjecting you to Bart's banter on the blog. JP's blogging for tomorrow at Noordvijk where we'll have a rematch, so I'll share a couple of words now. Pete has been a cracking host in Amsterdam and it's been great to stay with an old mate from back home in NZ. We've had some serious fun on and off the golf course - a bit like the old days playing cricket together. Bpz and I played cricket and hockey together at school and for various clubs and we had a very good time. We were competitive as well, although now I leave the serious cricket to Pete who is a professional captaining the Dutch team whilst I've opted for a slightly different sport for a year... Pete has now joined us at 2 different times during puregolf2010. Which, 12 months ago, we would not have foreseen. Pete was on my couch in Wellington for a couple of nights and we were talking about 'the future'. I told him about puregolf. He laughed. You're dreaming mate. 12 months have passed now and looking back , 12 months ago I thought he was right - it is remarkable how this year has played out. Pete, and the wider Borren clan in NZ and abroad have been a big part of our year & Pete could go down as one of the MVPs of the year. Enough of that - but thanks again to Pete and Beth for having us all stay for a few nights. And Rendall - we'll see you in a few weeks back in NZ!!
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