Flight more brutal than even feared. Played #3, #13, and #86 so far. Courses are wonderful and as expected my game does not travel well. St. Andrews Beach was right off the plane and shot 89. Royal Melbourne West an 82, and Kingston Heath an 86. Only one set of tees out, all about 6,500 + yards. Too, much for an old man.

 

Anything over 6,000 is too much for me any more Ask Bengal Maniac. Heck, ask anybody.

Just played the best course ever in Cape Wickham on King Island, Australia. Most beautiful golf course ever with 18 spectacular holes. This was simply golfer’s heaven. Wish I new how to post pictures on BGP, so others could enjoy.

Flight more brutal than even feared.

 

This is the difference between us oldsters and the youngsters.

 

All the youngsters can think about is playing the courses under ideal conditions, and enjoying the vacation aspects of the trip.

 

All I'd be able to think about was the torture of the getting there and getting back home, and how bad my lower back was going to feel, to say nothing of the imprisonment of an airline cabin for the 16 hours both ways.

Today is Friday (Thanksgiving at home) and finally have wifi access. Playing Barnbougle Dunes #11 (Doak) and Barnbougle Lost Farm #26 (Coors-Crenshaw). Have learned that our American parkland courses just don't measure up to the true beauty and majesty of the links/dunes courses I have experienced this week. Hoping to survive 36 hoofing holes with less than 170 strokes. That would be a perfect golfing Thanksgiving to celebrate.

Well I survived the 36 hole Barndougle day and missed my goal by 1 stroke. Played Barndougle Dunes (Doak) in the morning. Beyond fantastic course and opened with a fighting 90. The winds were strong and traps punitive. The afternoon was the beautiful Barnbougle Lost Farm #26 (Coors/Crenshaw) course with even stronger winds (30-40 mph). Shot a very pleasing 81 and a terrible shank cost me from breaking into the 70s.

 

Great courses beyond anything in the states. Only thing I know close would be Bandon Dunes in Oregon and Streamsong in Florida. Old duffer at 72 survived walking and lives to play our last round, New South Wales in Sydney today.

Thanks for the reports!

 

Have enjoyed following along with you on this epic golfing journey.

6500 would not be enjoyable, just too much, especially, if there is any carry.

Finished our tour at New South Wales Golf Club (#18) in Sydney. Mistakenly left it out of my count as we actually played 8 of the Top 100 courses on this short trip. As mentioned earlier my game doesn't travel well on very tight fairways, hard/fast greens, and tons of run-up shots I have not mastered. Finished with another struggling 88 on a spectacular course. Blisters will heel, but memories will last. Just a wonderful once-n-a-lifetime trip. Now for that short 24 hour hop home!