PLAYING WITH THE KINGS

Keen golfers Andrew and Megan King visited and stayed with us on September 13th and 14th Sept. We had two most enjoyable rounds at The Hyatt Coolum. On day one Megan and JT each hit a 35 stableford with Megan getting 2nd in the days club competition on a count back from JT. On day two JT had a great round with a 36 stableford getting 2nd in the days combined male-female event (losing to a 12 year old boy Sam). John really struggled on day 2 as Andrew started to get it together and hit those long straight drives of his. Megan had some great highs but like John the occasional "wipe".

Our guests left to continue their break in Brisbane. John went out on Saturday and had a blinder getting 39 points and 2nd in the men's event. First again was 12 year old Sam with 42 points after shooting par on the 1st 9.
Megan hits a stunning tee shot to the par 3, 11th.

Andrew hits a monster over the green on the par 3, 11th.

JT on the tee at the par 4, 9th.

John on the tee at the par 5, 8th.

Megan and JT with the 18th fairway in the background.
Andrew on the 18th.

After an enjoyable dinner at the surf club a compulsory stop at Gelato Mio on the way home.

A friendly visitor near the 9th tee.

COOLUM BEACH

COOLUM BEACH (NEAR SURF CLUB)

COOLUM BEACH TO SUNSHINE BEACH (NOOSA)

THE BAYS (COOLUM BEACH-PT PERRY)

POINT PERRY

HOME AT COOLUM BEACH
HOME AT COOLUM BEACH

MAIN STREET-COOLUM BEACH


ANOTHER DAY ENDS (STILL 20 DEGREES)
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EATING OUT AT COOLUM BEACH
Because Coolum Beach is a tourist town we are blessed with over 20 good restaurants and coffee bars within less than 10 minutes walk of our apartment. In our view the best are;

THE COFFEE CLUB
Within 50 metres from our apartment-excellent for both snacks and full dinner.

THE COOLUM BEACH SLSC
About 3 minutes walk-fantastic views of beach and excellent for both lunch and dinner. Sports bar with multi-tv screens for all the golf, union, league and AFL action. Pokies galore and regular live bands.

GELATO MIO
50 METRES FROM OUR APARTMENT-HOME MADE ITALIAN ICE CREAM TO DIE FOR!!!
HARVEST
Probably the best food on the coast. This up-market fine dining restaurant is excellent; and again just 50 metres from our apartment.

SUN AT LAST

JT at the par 3, 10th. (JT 4 for 2, John 3 for 3)

Overnight the rains stopped and we woke up to blue sky and Coolum was back to its normal warm sunny weather. We went to the Hyatt Golf course and teamed up with a Melbourne couple for 15 holes of golf (three holes still being closed because of flooding).

The kangaroos continue to ignore us; here is one on the 18th fairway, totally oblivious to our efforts to hit this difficult green!

Back in our apartment after the round of golf we were treated to the afternoon ritual of the Blue-faced Honeyeater birds diving into the water feature off our deck to "cool off and clean". It is a thrilling sight.

THE ROOS HAVE THE GOLF COURSE TO THEMSELVES.
TWO OF THEM ON THE 9th FAIRWAY.


It is now Friday night (Sept 7) and the continuous rain has been here at Coolum since Tuesday afternoon. The area is experiencing its highest August/September rain fall on record. We cancelled our Friday golf and hit the gym instead: it was packed!

After Gym we went to the pro-shop to make some bookings and had the opportunity to look at the waterlogged 18th green. The bunkers were GUR!


The usually busy 18th fairway was empty of golfers and stunningly green.

We just watched The Warriors losing to Parramatta. Losing was bad enough but worse was the Channel 9 coverage. A half hour delayed and the most awful reception; plus many advert breaks in the game. Free to Air TV is not the place for major sport (in our view). It should be live and advert free. We would rather pay to get the game we want than suffer the outdated free to air model. We envy our friends and family back in NZ getting the game live on Sky-We prefer our depression in real time not after the add break!

And it rained, and rained and rained.
On Tuesday (4th) at 1.30pm we were rained out at golf, only getting 10 holes played. It is now Thursday 5.30pm and it is still coming down in broad sheets. Welcome to THE NOT SO SUNSHINE COAST.

So it was a good time to read and relax or "blog" on the computer.



Gilli and Dale "blog out"

JT copies off some of Chef Gilli's recipes.

All good thing must come to an end; Gilli and Dale left us today to return to New Zealand. What great fun they were; we shall miss their company, not to mention Chef Gilli's wonderful meals. We were living in the best restaurant on the coast for those nine days.

Gilli and Dale off to Brisbane in the shuttle.

Coolum in the sun and in the rain

JT outside the Hyatt Coolum after a rainy 10 holes of golf.

JT and Mal (one of the excellent staff at The Hyatt Coolum golf club)

JT just before the rains came

John at the par 3, 6th hole with Mt Coolum in the background.

John teeing off at the 6th (JT 4 for 2 John 5 for one; bu..er)

JT crossing the main road (to the Surf Club) at Coolum Beach

The Bays at Coolum Beach

News from Coolum

JT and Gilli (The Happy Chefs

We have now been in our Coolum Beach apartment for five weeks; five weeks of non-stop fun.

Our first visitors were Sean, his partner, the lovely Vivian and our grandson George. They stayed in a bach on the shores at the beautiful Lake Weyba (towards Noosa). We shared a delightful meal at the Coolum Beach Surf Club and enjoyed early evening cocktails at their bach overlooking Lake Weyba as the sun set in blazing orange. Too soon they left us to return to their busy Auckland life.

2nd visitors and 1st to stay with us were fellow Parc residents and Gulf Harbour Country Club members Larry and Nicki Williams. Whilst Larry, John and JT played cards into the early hours Nicki read and hit bed early. The enjoyable evenings were followed by three excellent games of golf; two at the wonderful Hyatt Coolum and one at Twin Waters. We all played well but with Larry having the best results with a gross 77 at both Twin Waters and The Hyatt: outstanding! It was great to enjoy their company.

During the William's visit we had one unusual rainy day where golf was not the preferred option. As Larry and Nicki boarded their flight to Auckand the heaven's opened and The Sunshine Coast had a tropical storm that lasted for four days, bringing the heaviest August rainfall on record. Noosa was flooded, roads closed for days, including the main road from Coolum to Noosa (which only opened yesterday September 1st). A good time to stay indoors and read.

During the height of the storm Sandy and Barbara Imrie arrived in Coolum to stay with long time friends Dean and Raoul, former owners of the Jervois Road framing and art shop and who are now firmly settled in Coolum Beach. Despite the endless rain and wind we shared an enjoyable meal at Dean and Raoul's house, which is not far from our apartment. The Imrie's then left to take a cruise boat from Brisbane. We were delighted the weather cleared on their 2nd day of the cruise.

With the storm subsiding Dale and Gilli Wrightson arrived from Auckland to become our 4th Kiwi visitors and the 2nd couple to stay with us. We have now had the pleasure of their company for a week; a week of stunning sunny days. Our days usually begin with either a gym session (for all) or golf (for JT and John) followed by a wonderful meal prepared by Gilli with top assistant chef JT. The wine flows and it is not long then until Dale and John move to snooze mode. Last night we watched the Warriors struggle to put away Penrith then we watched an excellent Billy Joel solo concert on Austar (Sky equivalent here)

Dale at the fridge (where are you mine fine wine)

This morning (Sunday) being a rest day from Gym or Golf we shopped at Noosa and then the brilliant Chef Gilli prepared a lunch of European Bento Box. Fantastic, especially when accompanied with a fine Rose. It is now rest time; reading and relaxing before we view Australian Idol tonight

European Bento Box

MONDAY Sept 3

After all had a good sleep a later start for the day eventually saw JT, Gilli and John off to the Hyatt Coolum Gym for a good solid hours workout.

This was followed by another one of those great lunches prepared by Chef Gilli; Zucchini Fritters with Tomato Salsa (washed down with chilled French Rose).