Monday 21st April 2014

After yesterday's long trip into the mountains we had a leisurely start.  We played at a nearby course called 'Oceanside'.  Despite the name there were no views of the Pacific!  Whilst the greens were 'quick and true' the rest of the course was not in great condition and Lutterworth would have easily surpassed it from a playing perspective (Oceanside had too many bare lies - both on and off the fairways).  The pictured hole was an elevated par 3 which Liz cleverly got a par.  What can I say - "Ben had an off day".  There is no other way to describe it but I was well and truly thrashed by Liz.  She relentlassly drove straight down the middle followed by equally good fairway shots and putts - I have not done the calculations but I am sure she will have played below her handicap when using the USA slope system.

Liz on the elevated par 3, 13th tee at the Oceanside Course, California

We are very close to the famous 'Torrey Pines' which is a public course.  To get to play there you have to apply to the local municipal authority.  On the offchance we gave them a ring and were dealt with by a very helpful chap called 'Eric'.  The upshot was that 'Eric' has managed to engineer us a tee time of  11.00 am tomorrow on the North Course at Torrey Pines.  We will arrive in good time and hope that the local government process works in our favour -we will report back tomorrow.