Well, it's been a while since my last entry.  I had some technical problems which are all sorted out now so I'm looking forward to regurlarly updating this blog so everyone can see what we're all up to in Japan.

This weeks tournament is in Yokohama which is about an hour south of Tokyo at the Totsuka CC.  This is the second time for me to caddy at this course having worked at the ladies Japan Open 3 years ago here.  For wayne it is his first look at the course which I think will suit his game.  The greens have a lot of slope from back to front and are very soft after considerable rain recently.  The 630 yard par5 16th hole is going to play long with course so soft.  Being so close to Tokyo and Yokohama being a big city itself we can expect a big gallery on the weekend.

On Sunday night we found a bar in Yokohama to watch the NRL Grand Final.  Wayne wasn't too happy about the result as you can see from the photo.

 

 

The 2008 season kicks off for us at Clearwater GC in Christchurch for the New Zealand PGA Championship. It's been a long break from tournament golf for Wayne as he makes his 4th visit to Clearwater. For me it's my first visit to New Zealand, so I'm looking to make the most of the opportunity.

The weather hasn't been the best for us so far and as I

write this we are in the midst of a four hour rain delay in the second round. With our second round tee time originally scheduled for 2.20 it doesn't look like we will be playing much golf today. Looks like it might be a day at the movies.

Yesterday was a clear day and after our morning round I had a look around the city of Christchurch. The town has an old English style with the cathedral and the old tourist tram that loops around the city. The Avon River that runs through the city has a 'venice style' gondola.

Hopefully the weather improves so we can get out there and make some birdies.

far the gallery have been well behaved and I think most players have accepted the concept as it creates a bit more atmosphere.  Come Sunday though, when the crowd gets a bit rowdy the players will be fired up if they make birdie but can expect a fair bit of sledging if they make bogey or worse. That said I don't think earmuffs will be required!!  So far the 11^th hole has been kind to us with a birdie in the first round so hopefully it remains that way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Wednesday afternoon I had a chance to look around Sydney and do all the tourist things.   It's not the easiest city to get around during peak hour traffic but the Sydney Harbour is one of the great spots in the world on a clear day.

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Fuji.  The 18^th hole didn't disappoint, with Brendan Jones holing a 40 foot putt for eagle to win and join the likes of Greg Norman and Seve Ballesteros as winners of the Taiheiyo Masters.  It provided another dramatic finish when the course hosted the 2001 World Cup where South Africa defeated New Zealand, Denmark and United States in a playoff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The course condition was fantastic and the greens undulating and fast, running at 13 on the stimpmeter. The international players always comment on how the greens are as good as any in the world.

 

This week we are in Miyazaki for the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament which is the richest tournament on the Japan Tour.  Although Tiger Woods is not playing for the first time in 3 years it is still a strong international field with defending champion Padraig Harrington, Henrik Stenson, Luke Donald and Ian Poulter amongst the starters so it should be an exciting week.  

 

 

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who is not a big motor sport fan it is pretty amazing, there is no cost spared by the car manufacturers in their displays. I think the biggest attraction for the local Japanese men is the models that display the cars rather than the cars themselves.

Next weeks tournament is the Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters. It is one of the premiere events on the Japan tour. With a great location nearby Mt Fuji and one of the best courses in Japan and always a couple of big name invite players, this year Adam Scott and Geoff Ovilvy are playing. It is a Tournament that the players look forward to. It is a crucial time for a lot of players trying to keep their playing rights for next year with just three regular tournaments to play, the fields are smaller and the prize money is higher so it is a chance to make a big move up on the money list. For Wayne it is a chance to play his way into the top 25 on the money list to gain a start in the Japan Series Tour Championship.

Congratulations to Wayne 's brother in law Ryan Haller who won the Queensland Open last week and good luck to him as he tries to qualify for the Japan Tour at the 3^rd stage of Japan Qualifying School next week.

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and part time swing guru at Windsor Park Golf Club).  Tommy showed he's no slouch in the kitchen either cooking up a feast of "yakiniku" ( korean beef),  which we washed down with a few Asahi beers and Lemon Chu-hi (caddies favourite in Japan).  A good time was had by all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This week's tournament is near Kobe City at the A.B.C Golf Club.  Usually our monday's are spent travelling to the next tournament so today we made the trek by train from Kashiwa near Tokyo to Sanda which is where we are staying this week.  Japan's transport system is phenomenal and the trains run like clockwork, you can set your watch off what time the train arrives it is that precise.  Without having to worry about the hassle of going to the airport 1 hour early and checking in luggage,  Japan's Bullet train "shinkansen" is a quick and hassle free way to travel between Tokyo and Osaka/Kobe area which is about a 550km journey, with the shinkansen reaching speeds up to 300 km/h, the journey takes just over 2 hours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the first time for Wayne and myself at the A.B.C tournament so I'm looking forward to seeing the golf course and looking forward to having a good week. 

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fairways and thick rough.  So we got out there on monday afternoon for a few holes just to get a feel for the course.  With the atmosphere of a big tournament,  whilst walking down one of the fairways Wayne said to me he was excited about the week ahead and that he hadn't felt like that so early in the week before a tournament for a long time, which I thought was a good sign.

 

Alot of preperation has gone into the course to make it a real test,  so much so that I saw about 10 groundstaff on one hole raking the rough so that the grain of the grass sits against you when you hit towards the hole. As if the thick rough is not already difficult enough. On Wednesday we headed out for another practice round and Wayne was fortunate to have a practice round with three former winners of the Japan Open,  Craig Parry, David Smail & Paul Sheehan and picked up a few tips on how to win a Japan Open.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the key holes at Sagamihara this week will be the monster par 5 3rd Hole, measuring 660yards. You have to drive on to the narrow fairway so you can place your second shot in the right position for what is still a full shot for your 3rd. An errant tee shot into the thick rough and it could be a four shot hole to get to the green.  Sagamihara is going to be a tough test playing as a par 72, it is played as a par 74 by the members.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This week we are staying in the city of Machida, just outside Tokyo.  We don't get the opportunity to stay in a big city like this very often.  One of the benifits of of travelling on tour is you get to eat out every night and there are plenty of restaurants to choose from here.  We have been to the American restaurant chain T.G.I Fridays twice this week where you are guaranteed to get a big meal.  I think Wayne might have over eaten on tuesday night after finishing his meal he proceeded to clean up everyone else's leftovers at the table,  which might explain why he couldn't complete wednesdays practice round due to severe stomach pain.   He is OK now and ready for a good week.

 

 

 

 

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