Golf. Drinking. More Golf

Wow! 5am driving to work and I'm wearing sunglasses! that's how bright it was Saturday morning on my way to work. I am still amazed on how amazing the sunrises are here! The sun is up just before 5am and going down around 9ish? I'm writing this blog thinking about the people who would be reading this and wondering what you're doing. Having breakfast and reading this (Tina and Phe), or even just at work and wondering what I'm up too. Thank you anyway for your time! I love the fact that you enjoy what I'm up to!

This week has consisted with golf, work, pub, and more golf. I played golf on Wednesday at the Castle course and what a amazing course that is! One of my favorites I have ever played. It's one of those hard courses but you walk off the 18th green still feeling happy and just stoked that you just played such a spectacular golf course. Although I have played it before it impresses me every time. Thursday I went out of with the flatmates to the pub to meet one of Alley (Alley is another greenkeeper) mates. The night ended up with the most drunk I have been in a very long time! the most drunk I've been since I've been away put it that way! I was in bed by 8pm which was probably one of the best decisions I have ever made. I guess finishing work at 1.30-2pm gives us a early start and it wasn't until I was walking home with my flat mates and I realised how drunk I was! I wasn't to bad Friday morning but still thought to myself I'm not touching a alcoholic drink for a while....

So I thought...

Friday comes around, I have a half day at work, go and play golf at the Jubilee and after that we go out for a few more pints! one thing lead to another and I got home at 2am with work at 5.30am! DAMMIT! But Saturday I was in bed by 8pm and had the best sleep ever! Work again at 5.30am but I was feeling on top of the world! Oh and my giant connect 4 arrived on Friday! Woo hoo!



Playing golf this week is the very first time I experienced what it's like to play to the reputable St Andrews links windy conditions! I couldn't believe how windy it was, and how much it made the ball move in the air (and no I wasn't hitting the ball bad) You have to play golf entirely different to how you would your average golf game. It's really a thinking game when it comes to links golf. A lot of running the ball onto the green a pose to just hitting a clean shot in as close to the pin as you can. The greens are so undulated that any shot close to the pin would just run away from it and the greens are so firm it's hard to pitch the shots. Although there are some VERY large greens here at St Andrews. One of the greens on the old course (the course where the British open is held) is near 1.5 hectors! that would be the size of some golf courses all 18 greens all in just one huge green. The wind was just hammering into us and made the course so much longer. I played the Jubilee course - If I haven't told you St Andrews links is made up of 7 golf courses. The Old course, The Jubilee, The New course, the Eden, The Balgove, The Strathtyrum and the Castle course. But in St Andrews there is a total of about 14 golf courses! So many golf courses for such a little town. Imagine a town probably twice the size of Devonport, but with 14 golf courses around it.

9th at the Jubilee (That's me)


8th at the Jubilee - look how beachside the course is.


The Old course, Jubilee, The New course and the Castle course are all in the top 100 golf courses of the world. So you imagine the standard of golf course they are. It's amazing being here, thinking just this week I played 2 of top 100 golf courses - The Castle course and the Jubilee. And being able to do this on a weekly basis. I think if I was really serious about golf and not greenkeeping, this would be the place I would love to be at as the lifestyle is simply orientated around golf. Lucky I love golf, as if I wasn't, I"m sure my Monday to Fridays would be pretty boring.

I'm still pinching myself that I'm here. I been talking to a few of the Elmwood collage graduates (One of the best greenkeeping collages in the world) who I met at the pub the other night and they were saying how hard it is to get a job at St Andrews Links. They have been trying for since they graduated and they just can't get a job with them. Talking to my boss about it, He was saying that they could be more qualified as a lot of people but just don't have the practical experience. So I'm just wrapped that I got the job out of what I thought was 150 people that applied but now finding out at the last induction day it was out of 450 people!

I'm really leaning towards moving to Canada after my season here is done and perhaps coming back next year? else greenkeeping in Canada too. Though in Summer 2011 it looks like I'll be moving to Melbourne for 6 months as I'm looking at working at Royal Melbourne - why not when it's the number course in Australia and I've been offered a job there?? Also the Presidents cup is on there which another big tournament. Plus I'll only be stones throw from New Zealand so I can visit you all! It just means I'll be away from home a little longer then first anticipated.

I"m going to Edinburgh again this weekend so I'm sure I'll have some kind of story for you! I hope you all enjoyed Candice's leaving party. I'm looking forward to meeting her in Paris, and thanks Emily for the places I should go see! they are noted! I've got a question though... Do you think they call French toast just "toast" in France?
And another question - When Candice gets here will she make her own blog or will I change the name of my blog to Joe and Candice blogs? just doesn't have the same bell to it does it... What do you think Candice?

Till next week :-)

P.S. I'm all for sending postcards at the moment so feel free to send me your address so I can post you one!