Ray Sizer's blog
Tiny waves and bobbing about on course
Friday Still
I'm sitting on the 9th floor of our hotel waiting for news of a Tsunami.
The latest is that it has been downgraded to an alert not a warning. An
alert is apparently the lower of the two.
I decided to go down to reception and ask for a map of the Islands to see where it would come from if it did. The receptionist gave me a map and said the warning was for the North Shore.
We are on the other side of the Island. After I knew what was going on Idecided to go to the ABC store and get a bottle of my old friend Mr Early Times. If a wave was going to hit I would need something that will keep me going for a few days. At 5% Bud would not have the stamina or the volume to last the distance. I also bought 8 t-shirts, 3 key rings and a fridge magnet.
Bud and I had an argument before dinner. As my editor had said Bud also thought Paris was a skank and I could do better for myself if I put my mind to it. At dinner I was still annoyed with Bud and decided to introduce myself to Mr Miller from Milwaukee. He was a true gentleman and even though he didn't come in one pint cans I thought I could trust him.
After finishing today Jarrod was told by his father (Scott Mayoh from
London, that's the guy that is twice the man that I am and has a friend
called Sprite, what a gay name) that a dwarf had beaten him. A 16 year old Hawaiian, Tadd Fujikawa had made the cut and he was just 5ft 1". Jarrod is 6 ft 2" and has better chance of of survival if a Tsunami actually hits.
After the threat was over I decided to go out and meet the locals. I headed down the main drag and came across a local hot rod club sitting out the front of the service station. Their group was called the Westside cruisers.
We talked for half an hour about all sorts of things before they took me for a ride around town. They dropped me off back near the hotel where I met a Japanese couple that were on their honeymoon. We found a café and had a couple of red wines and tried to understand each other. Their Japanese was far better than my English especially after Early Times had led me astray.
I got back to the hotel in the early hour of the morning after meeting some fantastic people, locals and tourists.
I poured myself into bed, a little disappointed that Paris was not there to greet me.
Saturday
I woke a little late and found that the Lyles had already left for the golf.
They had tried to wake me with no luck. I was very tied but otherwise
feeling well. I dressed quickly and rushed out the door and court the
trolley to the course. I was going to miss the first few holes.
I headed to the media to get the photographers sticker. I needed sunscreen and went into the mens room to find some. I walked in the door and ran into Nick Faldo. I put out my hand and said G'day I'm Ray from Australia. He didn't seem impressed but shook my hand anyway. I bet he knows my friend Bud as well.
Rushed over to the course and caught up with Jarrod on the fourth hole. He had made a great start with birdies on the 3rd and 4th to get to three under par. The 8th caused him trouble when his drive ended up in the water resulting in his first double bogey on the tour. He followed up with birdie on the par 5 9th. Bogey on the 11th after putting his drive in the greenside bunker but missed the putt. He then had a bad run on 15,16,17 with bogies on all three. Birdie at the last to finish one over for the day and even par for the tournament tied for 54th place.
He was disappointed after the round. He had put himself in a good position after the first three holes but gave them all back on the on the back nine. He is still positive about shooting a low round tomorrow and moving up the leaderboard.
After the round Sally mentioned that she had met a guy who's daughter had just started working at the Shepparton News. I headed out to the fifth to try and find him. His name was Rod Smallwood and with his wife Denise were volunteering with shotlink. A electronic stats measuring system. Rod is a Wing Commander in the Australian Air Force and is over here working. Its amazing who you meet and what connections some of them have.
On the way back to the clubhouse I watched some of the leaders. There was very few people watching them. All the spectators were over watching the local Tadd Fujikawa who was having a great round.
Back at the clubhouse I found some much needed water. Early Times has a lot to answer for.
Back at the hotel I pretended to be working on the computer when in fact I was having a little nap before going out for dinner. We ended up at a restaurant where the average age of the diners was 80. The house special was puree vegetables and sherry. I had the burger and a sprite. I had told my friend Bud and Early Times that they were not allowed out tonight.
I left them in their room and told them not to get into trouble like they did last night when they beat me around the head and stomach.
On the way back from dinner I finally got a lei and it was not even from
Paris who still hasn't turned up to tuck me in. I had to buy a lei for a
friend who ordered one before I left.
I was so excited about getting a lei that I walked across the road looking the wrong way again and nearly got hit yet again.
Back at the hotel Bud and Early were trying to get out of the cupboard that I locked them in. There was no use yelling boys. There was no way I was going to let them out.
Time for bed. Its 8 pm here and its been a tough day at the office.
Back tomorrow for the last time.
Cheers
ray
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