Jinxed Hole turns out to be a Birdie Hole @ Clearwater Bay, Hong Kong
The 8th hole at Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club, Hong Kong is normally where our nightmares begin. This Par 4 hole repeatedly had given us problems off the tee, regardless of whether we were playing from the whites or the blues. This time, for the 2011 BMW Golf Cup International, we were playing as guests in the social category (we won last year) so there was no pressure. Playing off the whites (320 yards), we took a 3-hybrid and cut the Tiger line to leave 120 yards to the pin. With the green slightly uphill and wind against us, we took an 8-iron to make sure we reached the green. Hit perfectly, I flew directly towards the flag and landed just two feet past the hole. The downhill putt was no problem for a nice Birdie. Let’s keep this thought the next time we play this hole.
111021 Clearwater Bay, Hole #8 (Par 4)
Missed Eagle Chip for a Birdie @ Discovery Bay, Hong Kong
We were playing off the yellow tees today so there was an advantage. Nevertheless, our drive on the 4th hole on the Diamond Course at Discovery Bay (a 445 yard Par 5) was spot on and I managed to run down the slope leaving 170 yards to the hole. Slightly uphill and with the pin in the front left, we didn’t want to risk ending up in the greenside bunker. So we took the 4-hybrid but pulled it left a bit…still in play. Turned out to be just off the green almost pin high for a relatively easy Eagle chip. Unfortunately, we under-read the left to right break and missed, leaving a six inch tap in Birdie. A Birdie nonetheless.
111019 Discovery Bay, Diamond #4 (Par 5)
Final Leg of Shui On Land’s China Golf Challenge @ Caesars Golf Macau
We were invited by Marc Boggia to witness the final two holes of the Shui On Land China Golf Challenge at Caesars Golf, Macau. This unique event had Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy and China’s Liang Wen-chong play 18 holes in seven cities in China over seven days, playing two to three holes at eight different courses. Their last two holes were played on the 16th (par 3) and 18th (par 4) holes of Caesars Golf in Macau. Entering this stage, Liang and Westwood were tied at -2, Poulter at even par and McIlroy way back at six over. Everyone parred the 16th as well as the 18th, except for Poulter, who’s birdie on the 18th wasn’t enough to catch the leaders. So it was sudden death for Liang and Westwood to be battled out on the 18th until a winner emerged. Westwood’s 12 foot birdie putt sealed the deal as Liang’s chip from off the back of the green failed to find the hole.
The best part was the use of juniors as the stars’ caddies. Especially enthusiastic was Westwood’s caddie, 10 year old Nathan Han from Hong Kong. He was very serious when reading the break on the greens and played the part to the fullest. Maybe that’s how Westwood won…beware Billy Foster (his full time caddie).
This concept is wild, and it was all filmed by IMG with the players’ conversations recorded for the TV coverage coming soon to a station near you. Stay tuned.
111016 ChinaGChallenge - Billboard
111016 ChinaGChallenge - TV crew getting ready
111016 ChinaGChallenge - Fashionable Poulter
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Amazing Birdie @ Discovery Bay, Hong Kong
During the home game at Discovery Bay for the Intra-Club Championship with Clearwater Bay, on the Par 4 Diamond 9, we cut the Tiger line and ended up 86 yards to the pin but in the left rough on a severe down slope. Without our 56° wedge, we only had the 52° with us. This normally would be too much club, but adjusting for the slope, choking down and opening the clubface we executed the perfect shot. Went straight for the flag, and I ended up six inches from the hole. Very sweet…so sweet we forgot to take a picture :-p
Lone Birdie @ Deep Water Bay, Hong Kong
On this 9-hole executive course, we managed only one Birdie. It happened on the Par 3 10th hole (actually the 1st played the second time around). At 89 yards, our 56° wedge got below the hole for an easy 6 footer. The greens are small and several Par 3s are over 180 yards, one even registering 241! So this is no easy course. Great short game practice though.
111007 Deep Water Bay, Hole #10 (Par 3)
