Tuesday, May 13, 2008

We join the Intergolf Tour of The Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas

After a couple of excellent weeks of weather and golf at Coolum, JT and I ventured south to a wintry Victoria to join The Intergolf Tour of the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas. The group consisted of 17 golfers, mostly from New Zealand, but with an Australian and three Aussie based Kiwis. Organised by John and Helen Croskery the 10 day adventure was a wonderful golfing and social event.

Our first hotel was in Geelong and from there we played the Barwon Heads and 13th Beach courses on The Bellarine.

Ian Song from the Titirangi Golf club with an "unplayable" at Barwon Heads.
JT tees off at a par 3 at Barwon Heads.
JT pitches to the 18th at Barwon Heads
JT, watched by partners John Croskery and Bev Moor, putts on Barwon Heads 18th (above and below)
The 1st fairway at Barwon Heads.
Rachel Lewis from Auckland Golf Club
JT on Barwon Heads 1st tee (rugged up for a cold rainy day). Helen Croskery on 1st tee at Barwon Heads
Jeanette Hanna, Auckland Golf Club, on 1st tee at 13th Beach
Annette Laing, Auckland Golf Club on 1st at 13th Beach
JT at 13th Beach; again dressed for the cold conditions.

Barrie Robertson, expat Kiwi from Noosa Springs Country Club at 13th Beach.
Tony Lewis from Auckland Golf Club at 13th Beach.
Ian Song, Titirangi, at 13th Beach.
Judy Burrows from Auckland Golf Club at 13th Beach.
Cathy Song, Titirangi, at 13th Beach.
Cathy Song experiences the"delights" of the links bunkers; this one at 13th Beach.
Bev Moor and Jeanette Hanna enjoy a tea after a cold day at 13th Beach.
Jeanette Hanna, Helen Croskery and Annette Laing check their scores at 13th Beach.
John at rest before his tee shot at 13th Beach 1st.
John strikes a pose on an easy par three at 13th Beach. The shot sliced and the ball was never found.
Robyn McElroy of The Auckland Golf Club on the same par 3 with a shot that hit the green for a subsequent par.
After two rounds at Barwon Heads and two at 13th Beach we left The Ballarine for The Mornington Peninsula. Above Robyn and Barrie Robertson from Noosa Springs and JT enjoy the ferry trip; below our destination Sorrento.
Our five days at Sorrento were at the Sorrento Hotel; an old world pub with attached modern comfortable accommodation.

Our 1st game here was at The Dunes. Above is the 1st fairway.
Helen Croskery at The Dunes Course
Robyn Robertson (Noosa Springs) on the 1st at The Dunes.
Judy Burrows tees off.
Robyn McElroy at The Dunes
Bev Moore at The Dunes
JT played a great tee shot on the 1st at The Dunes and here takes her 2nd from a good position well up the fairway.
John Lockington from Auckland Golf Club on the 1st at The Dunes.
Tony Lewis at The Dunes 1st.
Annette Laing with Rachel Lewis looking on.
Jeanette Hanna, Auckland Golf Club.
Ian Song in a very difficult bunker on a par 5 at The Dunes.
Helen Croskery, JT and Robyn Robertson relax in The Dunes club house after a cold day on the course.
Judy Burrows hits a great tee shot on a par three at The Legends course.
The Legends 1st fairway.
JT plays a good tee shot on a difficult par 3 on The National. This was our last day and for the first time JT and John paired up together. We played as a team with Ian and Cathy Song and we won that days team competition. All four of us had a good day but JT really hit form with the best stableford score of the day.
Cathy Song on the same par 3. Cathy hit that right bunker and had an impossible shot as her ball was imbedded under the bunker lip.
The bus ride back to Sorrento from The National. From left, Robyn, Barrie, Jeanette (obscured), Robyn McElroy, John Lockington, Annette and Bev.
In front Cathy and Ian; behind JT then Robyn and Barrie and behind them Jeanette.