|
My player this week is Maggie Will.
Sunday: Many of the connecting flights out of Toronto were
cancelled due to the Halifax airport's ability to land aircraft in
the fog being foiled by repairs. Players were being told that the earliest
Air Canada could get them to their destination was Wednesday! Ergo,
necessity being the mother of invention, The Amazing Race to Halifax was
born. The Amazing Race deserves a page to itself. Look for a link on my home
page shortly.
-
Repeated emails to the BMO transportation chairman assured us that
there wouldn't be transportation for caddies from the airport or
hotels unless a players was also in the car. This necessitated a
change in our hotel arrangements. Tour caddie, Pete Smith, found
alternative lodging in the dorms of Dalhousie University which was
only a 25 minute hike from my player's hotel the Delta Halifax. The
kicker was that it also would be saving us about $300 each! Done deal.
I gave them a call and we were set. If you ever plan to visit Halifax
in the Summer ,and want to save your money for other things, give
Dalhousie a try. Just ask for a room in Risley Hall. It's the most
modern dorm on campus.
Monday: Flew out of Columbus and our connection in Toronto
picked up a few stragglers from Sunday's cancelled flights. We touched
down in Halifax around 1:00 PM and all the consternation concerning transportation
was for naught. As usual, the Canadian welcome wagon was in full
force and Woody, Thane and I had our own driver. We packed up the mini-van
and headed out. Our first stop was the Maritime Motel, Thane's abode for
the week. Woody and I considered staying there until we found the
University and I'm glad we didn't. Their website depicted a quaint mom and
pop style motel with each room having a balcony with a view of the water.
Maybe at one time but not now. Not in the best of condition either.
Thane dropped off his luggage and took a ride with us to the
University. Woody and I checked in and headed for the course. Thane had
left his wallet in the room, but did stuff the TV remote control in his
pocket, so we returned to the Maritime to swap them out. Finally made it
to the course and without a peep of complaint from our driver Jeremy. In
fact, he was well over his quitting time for the day but was gracious as
could be. We did fill him in on which players to avoid or pick up if he
had his choice.
Walked the front nine in between the split of the qualifiers and called
it a day.
- Due to the absence of participants, the pro-am was short of players
and a few had to drop back between groups to make sure everyone at
least played with a pro for a few holes. A rare thunderstorm shortened
what was left of this event so the qualifiers could tee it up in the
afternoon. It was an open qualifier which allowed just about anyone to
participate. They went off both tees and the original four spots were
stretched to eleven because players were withdrawing at a rate faster
then rats jumping off a sinking ship, which is quite an apropos
analogy. Lack of support has sunk this tournament.
- Many of the player's clubs arrived in locals other than Halifax and
no one knew if they would ever make it at all. Heard there were some
still going around the carousel in Bangor Main!
- With some caddies having to pay their own way to Halifax, or just
wanting to have their car in Canada after the tournament, driving was
the choice of transport. Upstate Jay was one of the latter. His choice
was to drive from his home in New York and utilize the ferry from Main
to Nova Scotia. Unfortunately, he wasn't planning on the drug sniffing
dog at customs detecting the trace of cocaine in his car! Purchasing
the alleged crime scene, just a few weeks ago due to his own vehicle
being totaled, was his excuse du jour. It worked and he was free to
go. By the way, the white residue from the carpet cleaner he used
didn't help matters much.
- The locals like to relate a bit of history while driving you to your
destination and on one such trip from the airport an old cemetery was
passed. This prompted the female driver to remark "This is where
many of the survivors of the Titanic are buried". She didn't take
it lightly when corrected by one of the caddies that you don't bury
survivors.
Tuesday: Maggie arrived around one o'clock but it wasn't till
almost three before we teed off. Exhausted from The Great Race, we scraped
it around the front nine just enough to get a general lay of the land. A
tired swing didn't produce much useful info but at least she saw a few
holes. We were done around six, but a nap for Maggie, before her mom
arrived, and a tour of Alexander Keith's Brewery for me was on tap.
- The brewery tour was a gas! It was held at the site of the original
structure, now a restaurant, which was constructed back in 1863. It
was closer to a theater production than a tour with all the guides remaining
in character for that period. Stories, songs and of course unlimited
sampling of their finest brew capped off the evening. Had a great
time.
- A few golf bags showed up but a good dozen or more players were
still without clubs. They were taking out rental sets or just
walking the course with their caddie. We heard many bags were in
Ottawa waiting approval by the Customs Authority.
- Jennifer Rosales withdrew and so did her caddie Donna, so to speak.
Upon receiving notification from J-Ro of her decision, Donna was said
to reply "That's OK, we can't find the airport anyway!" The
we was Donna and her driver Flipper and the airport was DTW (Detroit)
one of the easiest to find in the country. I'll stop here.
Wednesday: Played the back nine prior to the pro-am so at least
we got in one full practice round. Practiced for a bit and the rest of the
day was scheduled for sightseeing. Maggie, along with her mom and a few
others, headed for Peggy's Cove while I took a stroll along the
waterfront.
- Eleven sets of clubs arrived late in the day but at least they got
here.
- Sherrie, Preston, Pete and I had dinner at a local establishment
known as The Thirsty Duck. A two for one special of fish and chips
along with a few pints of the local brew hit the spot. We also sampled
a concoction of beef and mushrooms in a Burgundy gravy topped with
mashed potatoes. Once the alcohol loosened our tongues, stories of
Ellie Gibson, Lorie Garbacz, Dotty Pepper and Ellie Gibson, among
others, highlighted the conversation. And that's all I'm going to say
about that.
Thursday: Played to a score of even for the day but was
highlighted by an ace on the par 3 seventh hole. Maggie canned a five iron
from 158 yards into a stiff wind. Afterwards, she confessed that the only
shot she really felt comfortable over was the one she knocked in the agua
on fourteen going for the par five with a five wood. Go figure.
Friday: Shot +2 to make the cut but it wasn't without a lot of
hard work. Bogied seventeen and eighteen (teed off the back) to put us at
two over and the twenty minute wait at the turn sure didn't help. Trippled
number one and now it's crunch time. Maggie hung in though, and the putts
started to fall. We get to play the weekend.
- The yardage book provided this week had quite a few mistakes
especially the green depths. In fact, on the fifth hole, if you used
the green depth along with the depth of the pin provided on the pin
sheet the hole was one yard over the green! There was actually five
more yards behind the pin but the combination of short paces by the
rules official and the mistake in the book could be confusing if you
didn't do your homework. This is why we check the next day's pin
positions when time permits.
- Made a bee line to the lobster boil and steak cookout. My choice was
steak. Too many merlots prevented me from snapping any photos.
- The lobster boil was just one festivity planned for us this week.
There was a fly fishing derby Tuesday morning and later that day a
tall ship cruise on Halifax Harbour. Many other tours were offered and
the transportation people were more than willing to accommodate are
every wish. It is truly a black eye for the LPGA with it's dismal
support for The BMO. Why would any new sponsor get on board. Hope the
new commissioner takes note. THESE GIRLS ROCK! If they show up.
Saturday: Shot even to remain at +2 for the event but managed to
climb up the leader board a bit.
- I've taken plenty of pics of Halifax but this old laptop won't open
them all. Can't figure out why but I'll keep trying. My "fixer
upper" still has not returned. It was sent directly to the Compaq
repair facility in Dallas. No idea when I'll see it again.
Sunday: Just too many bogies and too few birds put us way
down the list. The trip was worth it though. We were probably part of the
last LPGA event to held in Canada for awhile.
- Not a good week for caddies.
Doug Wilbur quit Katherine Hull after Friday's round and finished
the week with Stephanie Loudon's husband on the bag. They had a
falling out last week but patched things up. That seems to never work
out. Katherine finished second by the way!
A. J. Eathorne fired her looper during the second round.
Aree Song's caddie, Rick Wynn, showed up on the second hole today
with the excuse of over sleeping. Don't know the aftermath of that
one.
- Seems there still are airline problems out of Halifax. A flight
to Newark which connected to one bound for Evian was cancelled. I know
Meg Mallon's cadero, John Kaleen, was on it and probably Meg also. She
didn't look very pleased jamming clubs into her bag.
- Heard last week was Anna Acker's swan song. Packed it in for her career.
- Talk on the range today focused on the new commissioner officially
taking the reins this week and I casually ask if anyone knew her name.
We went 0-6 asking players. One caddie knew it.
- It was nice to eat in the hospitality area with the players this
week. I actually watched the end of a golf tournament from the primo
balcony overlooking the eighteenth green.
|
|
