Gordon and Carol Fell's trip to 2012 Masters in Augusta with their good friends Bobby and Helen Faulds . Their first week of the holiday is in Myrtle Beach playing golf followed with the visit to Augusta
We are off on our holiday on Monday 26th March 2012
The Flight, Airport, Car Hire and Journey to Myrtle Beach
Delta Flight leaves on time at 10:20 am on time and takes 9 hours. Arrive to find our car has been cancelled. Total stress but give my credit card details so we can get one. Takes 3 hours to get out of the airport. We then have about a 6 hour drive to get Myrtle Beach with getting lost on a few occasions since it is now dark. Get to Myrtlewood Villas at about 1 am their time.
Very nice apartment.
Very nice apartment.
DAY 1 Checking out Myrtle Beach
Went to the Sea Captain's House for breakfast down by the sea. Got wifi connected and sent emails to out travel agent to sort out the carhire mess. Then relaxed and went for a drive to find our first golf course that we will play tomorrow. Got to River Golf Club to find all our golf tee times did not agree with what we had ! Yet another little problem. Hopefully all will be ok from now on.
Went for a meal at the Chinese Buffet. Not great !
Day 2 - Golf at The River Club
Sun shining and off we go to the Sea Captain's House for breakfast again. Excellent . We then went to play the River Club. Boys v the Girls .
I hit my first I hit of a ball after a 6 week lay off after a ligament tear on my left knee.
Didn't help Helen much and we were gubbed 6 and 4 by the boys. Gordon played well and I was pleased to make it round and got better as the game went on.
We then stopped at Flo's Place - a fish restaurant at Murrels Inlet--- Very Good.
Back to our Myrtlewood Villa for a wee glass of wine and watch the golf on the TV.
Day 3 Round at Litchfield Country Club
Played at Litchfield Country Club this morning. The Girls got beaten again 6&4.
My golf pretty awful. Gordon played well.
We then went to a Mall . Gordon got shorts and a tee shirt. Ice Creams afterwards and then a meal back at the villa.
Day 4 Golf at Willowbrook Plantation Golf Club
Have another hot dog after the round and then go to T J Max. Buy a tee shirt. Back to the Villa and a wee gin and tonic and a salad again.
Get news that Jim Breckenridge (Good friend of Helen and Bobby) has died
Day 5 - Golf at Kings North.
Overcast this morning when we went to Kings North. Remained so for the first nine holes and then the sun came out. Carol and Helen beaten again, this time by one hole. Fourth defeat in a row.
Plenty of water and sand on this course. The Gamblers hole was bad for us all. However Carol didn't gamble and made it with a 7 !!!
Day 6 Golf at the West Course Myrtle Beach National
Played our final round today at Myrtle Beach -This time over the West Course at Myrtle Beach National. Pretty hot - got up to 31 degrees later in the round. Helen and lost again - this time 3 & 2.
We just seemed to fail on the putting greens. So that was that - played 5 and lost 5.
Never mind a good time was had by all. Mind you we were all exhausted. Helen and I went to Martins Golf store and I got a long sleeved top to wear at Augusta and Helen got trousers and a top.
Had our meal in and bed fairly early !!
Off the Augusta on Tuesday 3rd April 2012
Drove to Augusta to stay with Big Al and Barbara Kowalski who live at 3237 Carnoustie Drive .
We find our way there ok and have a lovely meal at the West Lakes Golf and Country Club. we ask the price of a round of golf for the 4 of us to be told that it would be 1400 dollars for a four ball ! Decided to give it a miss.
Practice Day and Par 3 Competition at Augusta National - Wednesday
However in the afternoon there is a weather warning and we have to all leave the course.
Takes about 1 and half hours to get out as we have to pick up all our stored buys.
We go to a Waffle House for our evening meal -- All exhausted !!
Golf Report for the Day - The Masters -- 04/04/2012
Harrington wins par-3 as storms hit
Ireland's Padraig Harrington shared victory in the par-3 tournament at Augusta, the traditional curtain-raiser for The Masters.
The three-times Major winner shot a five-under-par 22 on the picturesque course, and was originally handed the title on his own when a thunderstorm hit Augusta and forced play to be abandoned.
Webb Simpson and Jonathan Byrd were both still out on the course at four under par with a chance to catch Harrington when play was abandoned. Byrd, however, had played to the final green and had a two foot birdie putt, which organisers later allowed him to hole to share the trophy with the Irishman.
It is a record third victory in the par-3 contest for Harrington following his wins in 2003 - when he shared the title with David Toms, again after weather prevented a play-off - and 2004.
It will also give Harrington another chance to break the jinx that has stopped the par-3 contest winner from ever going on to win the main tournament. The closest anybody has ever got since the first par-3 tournament in 1960 was Raymond Floyd, who led for most of the 1990 Masters before losing in a play-off to Nick Faldo.
Mark Wilson and Denmark's Thomas Bjorn both delighted the galleries with holes in one, at the fourth and ninth holes respectively.
Bad weather had already affected the build-up to the opening Major of the year, with an overnight storm on Tuesday forcing organisers to delay spectator entry to Augusta National as course staff cleared up debris for the final day of practice rounds at the Masters.
The Augusta area was hit with thunder, lightning, heavy rain and hail overnight while gusty winds sent twigs and pine needles on to the course.
"We lost several trees around the golf course, none of which were significant in the context that they will impact the competition," said Augusta National chairman Billy Payne.
"Debris was all around; took hours and hours, and the cleanup remains ongoing."
Spectators were allowed into the course Wednesday after a 40-minute delay.
"We had 1.4 inches of rain on the course. We have currently extremely wet conditions. We had our restroom at number 16 tee struck by a falling tree, significant damage. We hope to have it rebuilt and up and running by the end of the day," said Payne.
"Several of our bunkers were completely washed out. We expect them to be fully restored to competitive conditions by the end of the day."
Tiger Woods, the bookmakers' favourite for the title, had to walk through some of the debris during his practice session.
The weather forecast for Thursday's opening round predicts a 70 percent chance of rain with thunderstorms likely, especially in the afternoon and evening.
With some players, including Woods, complaining about muddy balls and wet conditions likely for some of the April 5-8 event, the organisers have the option of allowing players to 'lift, clean and place' their ball.
But Payne said Augusta National would be reluctant to go down that path.
"We surely would not want to have to do that. That would be a decision very difficult to make," said Payne. "However, we are also bright enough to know that weather conditions can have an impact on that, and possibly cause us to change our minds on that issue."
Reuters - Eurosport
Day 1 of the Masters and Helen and Bobby's Ruby Wedding Anniversary
Walked the 1st nine and Followed Paul Lawrie a lot. He has a great round of 69 to be well up the leader board. Then went to Amen Corner. No Cameras are allowed so unable to take any.
In the evening we meet Stewart and Moira Bannerman at the Doubletree Hilton Hotel for a drink and then go to an Italian restaurant - Giuseppe's to celebrate Bobby and Helen's Ruby Wedding Anniversary. Bobby treats us all to celebrate the occasion
Day 2 of the Masters -- Friday
Up early again We spend about 12 hours today on the course. Do the back nine, sit at the 16th green Watch at the practice ground and follow Pawl Lawrie down 16, 17 and 18 where he has birdies at all three holes. Go to the Waffle House again.
Day 3 of the Masters - Saturday
Crack of Dawn again. Breakfast on the course. wander round again . See fantastic play and go to the practice ground again. Sit at the 16th and watch lots of games going through. Boy are we tired though.
Leave the Golf Course and the traffic is directed away from where we want to go. However we find an IHOP Restaurant on Washinton Road and have lovely pancakes etc.
Back to Big Al and Barabara's home for a chat and refreshment.
Leave the Golf Course and the traffic is directed away from where we want to go. However we find an IHOP Restaurant on Washinton Road and have lovely pancakes etc.
Back to Big Al and Barabara's home for a chat and refreshment.
Last Day at the Masters - Sunday - Bubba Watson wins in a play off
What a fantastic final day at the Masters. Such excitement right down to the end. We all place our seats at the 16th hole and are able to watch the 15th green and the 6th green as well.
See Adam Scot get a hole in One at the 16th. Phil Michelson's fantastic lob shot at the 15th and numerous birdies at the 16th. Bubba Watson birdies the 15th and 16th and finishes 10 under to tie with Oosthuizen. They have a play off down 18 and then hole 10 where Bubba plays the most brilliant shot out of he trees onto the green and goes onto win. the crowds were cheering. We only managed to get onto the 17th stand to see then tee off in the play off.
However, we couldn't have asked for a better days play as it was so exciting right to the end.
To read all about it go the the Masters Website where you will see Adam Scotts hole in one that we saw.
Back to IHOP again for our meal.
Leave Augusta to drive to Atlanta -9th April 2012
We now leave West Lakes (Carnoustie Drive) and thank Big Al and Barbara for their hospitality. Bobby has his last doughnut for breakfast !!
On arrival at the Hilton Airport Hotel we find that we have no booking (another Peter Filix disaster). I email Peter again. However we do check into 2 lovely large rooms -- very comfortable.
We decide to check out Wolfcreek Golf Club which we plan to play tomorrow only to discover that have not been paid -- Another email to Peter.We drive out to Wolfcreek GC and speak to the assistant manager AJ Aaron Jones -- He is very helpful and phone Golf Travel.
Helen and Bobby then go and buy themselves a new case -- too much stuff to take home !!
Have an lovely meal out at Ruby Tuesdays which is within walking distance from the Hilton Hotel
Play Golf at Wolfcreek
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| Gordon, Bobby and Helen |
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| Gordon Bobby and Carol |
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| Oh No another little mishap |
Play our round of golf at Wolfcreek GC. By the time we get there Peter Felix has sorted out the payment. Course extremely difficult and yet again the girls are beaten. Bobby and Helen's Cart breaks dow at he 3rd and Carol uses her phone to get Aaron to bring out another one.
In the evening we go to Malones for a very nice meal which is also near the Hilton Hotel
Last Day in Atlanta
Play the first nine holes at Wolfcreek. The Girls still lose !!-- Played 7 Lost 7
Go back to Hotel which through various emails to Peter Felix the bill is now paid.
Get the final packing done the Helen and I take the car back to the Dollar Car Rental. Take the new voucher that we have but still have to pay 230 dollars for cover that apparently was not on the voucher. Will need to look at and sort when we get home.
When we get back to the hotel we have a couple of hours sitting out at the poolside with a nice beer to relax all our stresses.
We the all get the shuttle bus to the Atlanta Airport. Excellent check in this time. Plane on time and we fly out at 7:30pm
Go back to Hotel which through various emails to Peter Felix the bill is now paid.
Get the final packing done the Helen and I take the car back to the Dollar Car Rental. Take the new voucher that we have but still have to pay 230 dollars for cover that apparently was not on the voucher. Will need to look at and sort when we get home.
We the all get the shuttle bus to the Atlanta Airport. Excellent check in this time. Plane on time and we fly out at 7:30pm
Arrive back in the UK - 12th April 2012
Flight very good. Took 7and a half hours. We arrived back in Manchester about 8:10am local time. I had little sleep despite taking a sleeping pill. We got collected by a bus and taken to my car at APH car parking. Managed to put all our luggage in despite having an extra large case to put in. My Citreon C4 was excellent for handling 2 cases , 4 sets of golf clubs and 4 hand luggage and 4 people !!
I drove back to Glasgow and had to stop 3 times for coffee to keep me going.
Arrived back in Glasgow about 3pm
I drove back to Glasgow and had to stop 3 times for coffee to keep me going.
Arrived back in Glasgow about 3pm
BACK HOME FROM AUGUSTA AND BACK TO GOLF IN SCOTLAND
Back to Golf in Scotland with some of my Masters Gear !! -- On the 1st Tee at Erskine Golf Club on The Renfrewshire County Championship Finals Day on the 20th April 2012 --- Website --- www.rlcga.co.uk
OUTING TO MAR HALL HOTEL IN ERSKINE
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| Mar Hall Hotel and Bobby, Carol, Helen and Gordon at Il Posto Ristorante |
This was taken on Sunday 23rd and Monday 24th September -- The weather was fine on the Sunday, however we were only able to play 9 holes on the Monday due to the deteriorating weather.
The Boys won against the Girls again !!
We had a very nice meal on the Sunday evening at the onsite Il Posto Ristorante which is located on the grounds of the Earl of Mar Estate.
After the 9 holes of golf on the Monday we finished off our outing with coffee and cake at Erskine Garden Centre.
Click Here to see all the photographs
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