It was a bit of a mammoth journey to get to Hong Kong and with the few hours extra delays we eventually arrived at the hotel around 1am Tuesday morning!
But with a sleep on the 1st flight, and then a battle to stay awake on the 2nd flight, that set me up for a good sleep in the hotel!
And I woke up feeling pretty good, just not sure what day it was! I polished off a decent breakfast and a really good gym session and was ready for the 10.30am bus to the course which was 30 minutes away!
I had heard the course was decent, a bit old school, tight, very tree lined and you don’t need to hit driver much.
They were right…
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- Looking back down 18
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- 3rd Tee Shot
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- Busy range
And after completing my practice round, I soon decided it’s one of my fave course layouts of the year!! The condition was fantastic, the definition was first class and the way it’s cut out through the trees was fantastic!
The whole set up of the event felt great!
We actually played it as a ‘hybrid’ course, meaning they mix in some holes off the other course to make the tournament course, and what a good job they have done, you really couldn’t tell!!
It was nice to have my Wednesday practice day back this week, as I always have my check list of tasks to complete, and with the greens being very different to last week due to the grain, I pencilled in a bit more time on the short stuff!
So all was set for another week and the second event of the year!
GOLF ROUND UP
There wasn’t much to ’round up’ this week, I only played two rounds and I played both of them pretty poorly!
Off the tee I was solid, my stats had me in position to take advantage of a shorter course…but I didn’t come close to taking much advantage of my good play from the tee.
My proximity from the hole on 2nd shots was below average and from long distance on greens you really couldn’t get to grips, which made it tough!!
From probably my best week on the greens in SA to one of my worst in HK this week, it just shows the difference in the conditions and how I’m really not used to playing in Asia on grainy greens!!
I guess it’s just something you learn more about the more you play, it’s definitely a challenge I’m ready to tackle head on!!
There is one thing I know for certain, the poor result didn’t come from lack of effort; I put some hard work in this week and teeing it up Thursday I felt I had done everything to be ready!!
But a three putt on the first from 18ft didn’t get me off to the best start and straight away rattled my confidence with the pace of the greens.
Until anyone plays on very grainy greens it’s tricky to explain exactly how it changes putting…all I can say is, it’s very different!
Thankfully after my early exit this week I managed to get my flight changed and get in the air Friday night, which then got me home Saturday morning which was fantastic!!
So home sweet home, and the last flight of the year done!
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- Hong Kong
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- Bedroom view
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- Welcome
It wasn’t the end to 2016 I wanted on the golf course, but I can’t let that overshadow the fantastic year I have had and the achievement of keeping my card for 2017!
It’s now time for some quality family time, and to enjoy what’s going to be a crazy Christmas now that Olivia too is expecting that man in the red suit to arrive!
Golf wise, I’m sure the weather will not be too conducive to good practice, but I will keep working away at my game in Woodsome’s fantastic indoor facilities and down on the range!
I have some club testing to do, the new Titleist Pro V1 to try, and also I need to send my clubs off for an MOT!!
It’s also great to have this 4-week period over Christmas to keep up my strength and conditioning gains and start the 2017 in South Africa stronger than ever!
What an exciting year ahead…
UP & COMING…
South African Open
HSBC Abu Dhabi
Qatar Masters
Dubai Desert Classic
…I can’t wait to share the journey with you all again!!!