All tne news that's fit to print, and of course a golf report

December 29 - All the news that’s fit to print

The morning newspaper in Sydney is not so different from the US. Their politicians are behaving badly, cars are wrecked, spouses are battered, and rains have flooded parts of the country while other parts are too dry. However cricket news is generally ignored in the Fort Worth Star Telegram.

Here the Australia vs. England cricket match is a front page story, plus a special section. Australia is in mourning because the Brits have kicked their asses for the first time on their home court in 34 years and did it in convincing fashion. The Aussies lost by 159 runs, but it could have been worse. They were behind 444 to 5 after the first inning. It took three more days until they officially lost. I guess cricket does have the 10 run rule. Heck, they must not even have a 100 run rule.  It seems cruel if a team is behind by almost 400 runs after the first inning that they should have to finish the match. Just go to the pub and get over your licking.

Another story in today’s Sydney paper was about a female minister in who was arrested as she was climbing out a broken window of her neighbor’s home in the Dallas suburb of Oak Cliff (Mike’s birthplace), while carrying two fur coats. A lap top computer and several purses where found in the minster’s car that was parked in the driveway. Her explanation was, “I used poor judgment.” What are the odds a story about a petty crime in Oak Cliff would run on the day I am reading the paper in Sydney? Pretty sure it was a first time mention for Oak Cliff in the Sydney Morning Herald.

New South Wales Golf Club was founded in 1928. It is listed in the top 10 courses worldwide. We played it today in brilliant sunshine. The course is a combination of St. Andrews in Scotland and Pebble Beach in California. It has links style fairways bordered by heather and deep pot bunkers in the fairways and surrounding the greens like Scotland. Its layout along steep rock cliffs that fall straight down into the Pacific makes you think of Northern California. .


No pars on this hole

Our playing partner was a NSWGC member who is a retired partner with PWC, who went back to law school and is now also a barrister. Good thing he was with us because about half the holes are not open shots. You absolutely need course knowledge on this golf course. If you hit into the brush, your ball is history. Put a ball in a bunker and the only way out is backwards. We saw one woman take six shots to get out of a greenside trap. Wonderful golf course. On a windy day it would eat you up.



Back to town after golf and took a stroll through the business district down to Chinatown. Great Chinese food at Marigolds.

I have an idea for new business to share with each of you. Since it is already tomorrow in Australia, I am officially a time traveler. Here’s the business plan.  Each of you sends me $1,000 and I’ll buy lottery tickets for today. Since the drawing has already happened, we can’t lose. This plan is foolproof.  What could possible go wrong with this plan? Trust me.

Tomorrow we play Australia Club! Cheers.