Quite a few years ago, I played in a tournament south of here. I really can’t remember where the course was, but we were playing for the exclusive Longwood trophy, rarely seen down these parts.
I remember it was a course I had never played at before, it had great ocean views with green rolling hills. The sun was shining, it was a warm autumn afternoon amongst the fallen leaves.
The clubhouse was an extravagant structure, like a colosseum sitting on top of the hill.
Inside, it was awe-inspiring, with the crystal chandeliers, the gold fittings, the butlers and the maids.
We were treated like kings… it was a special day and we felt special.
We were the third group to tee off, a par 4 downhill towards Puysegur.
I started strongly, scoring a birdie on the first, everyone thought I was the powerhouse, and the one to beat that afternoon. I followed that up with a couple of pars, and an eagle; things were looking too good to be true.
Unfortunately, my game deteriorated quickly as it has done in the past, as I began to lose my cool.
It can be a frustrating game on the best of days, a good walk ruined by a little white ball. I often slice it one way or hook it the other, and zigzag myself around a straight fairway.
I have lost way too many balls in the rough, they are usually unplayable when they are a metre up the tree when my direction is slightly off.
I scored 42 on first 9, hoping I would score better on the back 9.
It had been an amazing day weather wise for the time of year with the sun on our backs, but the weather turned and a storm was brewing, east winds can be really cold.
We headed towards Cassino, I found the gap between the trees before bechers brook… surprising myself as I scored my first and only hole in one. Celebrations all round, I honestly couldn’t believe what I had just witnessed.
I had a better 2nd half and finished with what I thought would be an unbeatable score of 77.
I watched the other players behind me finish their round, it soon became clear that I was going to win my first ever tournament, I had never a won anything before, especially not a solid gold trophy, my best ever game of golf, I was the champion.
We celebrated back at the colosseum, being waited on with free champagne and oysters, we definitely were kings today.
A few too many drinks, requiring the waterloo a few times to relieve myself…
And then I woke up, it was all a dream… surprisingly, I dreamt of a new geocache…