Frosty takes on the Nullarbor Links

Wednesday 6th April 2011
Preparation day.

Today was getting organised to play the Nullarbor Links, so off to the Ceduna Golf Club to see what's what.

The procedure is:

Holes 1 and 2 are at Ceduna GC, so go to the Ceduna Tourist Centre, pay $60 for a Nullarbor Links Score Card, go back to the golf club, play holes (number 1 is a par 5 485m and 18 is a par 4 370m). Your scorecard must be stamped at each hole, mine was stamped at the Tourist Centre, so I can write any score in for the first 2 holes. I think that I should at least play some holes, even though I haven't hit a golf ball for over 35 years.
Hole 3 now drive or walk 73kms to Penong roadhouse. More details to come, when I actually get here.

So that should fun. Next stop was back to the Tourist Centre to pay my $60 and get my scorecard. It appears that I may have drama at Kalgoorlie GC, they have dress standards of NO denim, that could be a problem as I ONLY have denim.

So it looks like I may be playing Kalgoorlie GC in my jocks, we will just have to wait and see. We aren't expected into Kalgoorlie for another 8 days.

Thursday 7th April 2011
Ceduna GC - Holes 1 and 2.

I arrived all fresh and relaxed to tame the wilds of the Ceduna GC, I believe that holes 1 and 18 are their most difficult. You wouldn't believe it but they are the 2 holes picked for the Nullarbor Links.

The following is today's hole by hole description of how I tamed the world famous Nullarbor Links Golf Course(s).

Hole 1 is called Oyster Beds and it is a monster par 5 485 meters. With my bag of clubs, well actually only 2 clubs, a 3 iron and a putter and a snap tight plastic bag of used golf balls, that Bazza my neighbour gave me, I walked over to the tee, which just happened to be the ladies. No big deal, everyone has butterflies at facing this monster hole. The scene is set, I am encouraged by the roar of the crowd, well Marg was the only person there and was taking photos of me. I pull out my tee, now this is no ordinary tee, I was told by the lady at the Tourist Centre to cut the top off a coke bottle and use that as a tee, and also tee up on the fairway.

I place my used golf ball on my plastic coke tee, have a few warm up swings and then unleash my awesome power on that little white bastard. My backswing was awesome and follow through just oozed brute force, so much so, that as my 3 iron came through, it sent the plastic coke tee a good 20ft in front of me and missed the little bastard all together, which was still at my feet. Stroke 1. Not to be put off by this slight mistiming, I wander over and picked up my plastic coke tee and placed the white bastard on top. This time there was contact with the little white bastard and it went at least 20 to 30 meters and finished on the gravel of the carpark. Stroke 2. Again not to be deferred I picked up the ball and placed it on the fairway. You will be glad to know that I did make contact with the ball and eventually was on the green for 10 and after some excellent putting, I picked the ball up from the cup after 3 lovely putts.

1st Hole - 13 off the stick. Not a bad effort, I was looking at breaking 200 for 18 holes. Marg and I were quite impressed with my skill and agreed that I really haven't lost any of my previous golf skill. You again may find this extremely hard to believe, but in my lifetime of 58 years, I think that I have played maybe 10 games of golf. In a rather happy state, we walked about 150 meters over to the 18th hole aka Hole 2 Denial Bay.

Hole 2 is called Denial Bay and it is a par 4 370 meters. As we approached the tee, I was a little taken aback, as the first 100 meters was rough as in very bloody rough, I thought that I might have trouble clearing the rough with my drive and I was in two minds, whether to start from the mowed part of the fairwway or go for it and risk losing a couple of balls. I went for it. My plastic coke tee was worst for wear. As it was that buggered, I couldn't use it, so I just rested my ball on a very nice tuff of green stuff. Another warm up/practice swing, and I was ready, this time I didn't stuff it, as such. I did hit it, so that is better than my 1st tee, but I must have winged it as it stopped on the ladies tee, good shot, as I am not in the rough and have nice grass to hit from. My next shot just made it onto the mowed fairway, Marg was that impressed, that she was telling me where to hit it, yeah right. After some unbelieveable great shots that would make even Tiger jealous, I was just off the green, not close enough to use my putter, so I was still using my 3 iron. Anyway, I managed to connect and went straight over the green and finally scrambled home for an 8.

After 2 holes I am 21 or 12 over par with 16 holes to play.

Tomorrow, we will probably loose Internet reception, while we head on to Penong-Hole 3, Nundroo-Hole 4, Nullarbor-Hole 5 staying overnight at Nullarbor Roadhouse.
Saturday, Border Village-Hole 6, Eucla Beach-Hole 7, Mundrabilia-Hole 8, Madura-Hole 9 staying overnight at Madura Roadhouse
Sunday, Cocklebiddy-Hole 10, Caiguna-Hole 11, Balladonia Hole 12, Fraser Range-Hole 13 staying overnight at Fraser Range

Ceduna GC - Hole 1.

Nice bum.

It was a practice shot. True.

That appears to be another practice shot..

After a severe talking to you, the ball is ready to be hit..

3rd Stroke and I am in the car park..

Beautiful position in the middle of the fairway.

Another shot full of poise and charm.

In the middle of the fairway.

I think that I now have perfected the stance.

Time to visit the scrubbery, I was sick of playing the middle of the fairway.

A beautiful chip shot coming up.

Actually, it took 2 shots to get here from the previous photo.

I am putting pressure on the hole.

I think this is a gimme. A very handy 13.

After conquering Hole 1 it is time for the 2nd..

The path leading to Hole 2.

2nd Hole.

2nd hole - par 4 370m. A walkover.

Another copybook drive.

It's a pity that it only went to the Ladies tee.

2nd stroke coming up.

A confident swagger, if I have ever seen one..

That's the green, I believe.

Mid fairway for 4, looking really good.

Through the green for 5.

Here for 6.

In for a sensational 8.

Friday 8th April 2011
Penong & Nundroo - Holes 3 and 4.

We headed towards Penong and the 3rd hole. The wind had built up to gale force and the top soil was blowing across the road and at some stages you could not see the road, it was like pea soup fog. We arrived at Penong and found the 3rd hole and then onto Nundroo and finally onto Nullarbor Roadhouse for 5th hole.

The following is today's hole by hole description of how I tamed the world famous Nullarbor Links Golf Course(s).

Hole 3 is called Windmills at Penong and it is a par 4 260 meters. With the wind blowing around 50 to 70kph, we took photos and got my scorecard stamped and headed off to the 4th hole.

Hole 4 is called Wombat Hole at Nundroo and it is a par 5 520 meters. With the wind still blowing like buggery, we tried to take a photo and got my scorecard stamped.

Penong's wind blown Hole 3.

Nundroo's wind blown Hole 4.

Saturday 9th April 2011
Nullarbor RH, Border Village, Mundrabilia & Madura - Holes 5 to 9.

The wind was up and starting to blow, I played my 3rd hole which was the 5th hole of the Nullarbor Links, to date I have not played 2 holes due to the gale force conditions. See below for in depth description on the Dingo's Den Par 5 538 meters.

The following is today's hole by hole description of how I tamed the world famous Nullarbor Links Golf Course(s).

Hole 5 is called Dingo's Den at Nullarbor Roadhouse an unbelieveable Par 5 538 meters. We were buggered by the time, we arrived at the tee, the green is next to the Caravan Park and you guessed it the tee is 538 meter due North (away from CP). After seeing 2 rabbits on our way to the tee, we finally got there. After my photo beside the sign, it was time to play, now 538 m is a long way to play but by now, the wind was probably about 20kph and directly in our face. I unleashed my monstrous drive, it went about 20 feet, again I must be winging it, after some excellent stroke play I am about halfway to the green and on 5 strokes, looking real good. I finally made it past the green and managed to on the green for 11 after visiting various rabbit holes and various other wildlife. Luckily, my putting is my strength and after 4 putts from 15 feet, I sink it for a score of 15. Another brilliant round.

Hole 6 is called Border Kangaroo at Border Village and it is a tidy par 3 160 meters. BUT it is cut amongst scrub upto 3 meters high and the fairway is only 10 meters wide. So after consulting with my caddie, Marg, we decided that I would lose too many balls, so we ate lunch and then went through Quarantine checkpoint. No Dramas.
I got my scorecard stamped.

Hole 7 is called Nullarbor Nymph at Eucla and it is a par 4 315 meters. At the Roadhouse I asked for directions, the guy behind the desk told me that it is down the road turn right, then left and then 4kms away, you can't miss it. As I have missed a few holes, we couldn't be stuffed going out of our way to find it.
I got my scorecard stamped.

Hole 8 is called Watering Hole at Mundrabilia Roadhouse and it is a par 4 330 meters. The flies were about and the urge to play every hole has well and truly left me, so we took the photo and got my scorecard stamped and drove onto Madura.

Hole 9 is called Brumby's Run at Madura Pass Roadhouse and it is a par 3 125 meters. I didn't feel like playing hole, so we took the photo and got my scorecard stamped and walked back to camp and had happy hour with Chris and Jenny.

Hole 10 is at the Cocklebiddy Roadhouse, we will stop and get my scorecard stamped, but if I hit a ball, we will have to wait and see.

After the 3 holes that I have played, I am 36 or 22 over par. Not bad for a hack.

Nullarbor RoadHouse - Hole 5 - A monster par 5 538m.

The fairway similar to Royal Melbourne.

Poetry in motion.

Threatening weather but I soldiered on.

There's my ball, in perfect position, naturally.

This time, not the most perfect position, but close to it.

A lazy 400+ meters from the hole.

Notice my ball on the left of the photo.

Properly positioning the ball, is everything.

This has to be the best photo that Marg took, It encapsulates everything of my golf skill.

Again repositioning my ball.

On the green for a lot. Finishing with a handy 15.

Border Village - Hole 6.

Mundrabilia - Hole 8.

Mundrabilia - Hole 8 fairway.

Madura - Hole 9.

Madura - Hole 9 fairway.

Sunday 10th April 2011
Cocklebiddy, Caiguna, Balladonia and Fraser Range - Holes 10 to 13.

The following is today's hole by hole description of how I 'tamed' the world famous Nullarbor Links Golf Course(s). Ok, I have wimped out about playing every hole.

Hole 10 is called Eagle's Nest at Cocklebiddy and it is a par 4 347 meters. We took a photo and got my scorecard stamped.

Hole 11 is called 90 Mile Straight at Caiguna and it is a par 4 310 meters. We took a photo and got my scorecard stamped.

Hole 12 is called Skylab at Balladonia Roadhouse and it is a par 3 175 meters. We took a photo and got my scorecard stamped.

Hole 13 is called Sheep's Back at Fraser Range Station and it is a par 3 141 meters. We took a photo and got my scorecard stamped.

Hole 10 is called Eagle's Nest at Cocklebiddy.

the Fairway.

Hole 11 is called 90 Mile Straight at Caiguna.

The fairway.

Hole 12 is called Skylab at Balladonia Roadhouse.

The fairway.

Hole 13 is called Sheep's Back at Fraser Range Station.

Tuesday 12th April 2011
Norseman - Holes 14 & 15.

The following is today's hole by hole description of how I 'tamed' the world famous Nullarbor Links Golf Course(s). Ok, I have wimped out about playing every hole.

The following is today's hole by hole description of how I tamed the world famous Nullarbor Links Golf Course(s). Well, I am now thinking that Golf may not be my new sport.

Hole 14 is called Golden Horse at Norseman and it is a par 4 436 meters. It was a beautiful sunny day with a light breeze. Just a brief summary, I am in the middle of my 1st swing when my mobile rang. It was Dad, he wanted Luke's address, no drama. About 4 strokes later and 150 meters from the tee, my mobile rang again, it was Luke telling me, that Grandpa had rung him, but he couldn't hear Luke, so he wanted to know if Grandpa can read SMS, I said yes. Back to the golf, after a couple of putts, I finish the hole with a comfortable 14. Not bad considering all the interruptions.

Hole 15 is called Ngadju at Norseman and it is a par 4 354 meters. After a magnificent tee shot, well it passed the ladies tee, just, so it was a magnificent shot for me. I am about 200 meters from the tee for about 5 strokes, so not bad. My mobile rings again, this time it was Jay, he wanted Grandpa's mobile number. Shit.. What's with all these phone calls, I never receive any and now I have had 3 calls in 10 minutes. The only one who hasn't called me is Marg and she is with me. After a couple of strokes later, my bloody mobile rings again. You have to be joking. It was Marg, she said that she felt left out, so she rang me. I am on the green for 8 and looking good for a 10. The green is a bit fast so after I had 6 good putts, I leave the hole with a steady 14.

Hole 16 is at Kambalda - tomorrow.
Hole 17 is at Kalgoorlie.
Hole 18 is at Kalgoorlie.

I never did get to play the final 2 holes at Kalgoorlie.

Hole 14 is called Ngadju at Norseman.

Addressing the ball.

What a beautiful laid out fairway.

Beautiul greens. A golfer's paradise.

Beautiful manicured fairways. Yep, that blue stuff is stone.

A beautiful approach shot.

In for a steady 14.

The old pro. Nice hat though.

Hole 15 is called Golden Horse at Norseman.

All poise and grace.

Down the middle of the fairway.

Another magic Marg photo. Of course, the subject is tops.

There for 10.

There for 11.

There for 12.

Nearly there for 13.

In for 14. Another magic hole.

Thursday 14th April 2011
Kamabalda, Kalgoorlie - Holes 16 to 18.

On the way to Kalgoorlie, we stopped at the Kambalda GC for the 16th Hole and my last hole of the Nullarbor Links.

The following is today's hole description of how I ripped the Kambalda GC apart.

Hole 16 is called Silver Lake at Kambalda and it is a par 4 392 meters. Typical, bloody typical, the only time Marg didn't follow me to the green, I absolutely ripped the hole apart. First stroke goes about 100 meters plus into the rough on the right, but I find my ball and hit another 100 meters plus. Here I am about 100 meters off the green for 2, absolutely brilliant. Then something happens, I am on the green for 5, so my first putt was just to tap it near the hole. I am 12 inches off the hole for 6, still brilliant, only 2 more putts, I have finished this hole for 8. A magnificent score.