Written With a Heavy Heart

I'm sure you must all be thinking what on earth has happened when you read the title of tonight's post?  There is an explanation but one that is given with a truly heavy heart.

Last Saturday in the early hours of the morning, I lost a great friend, Bryan, to cancer.  

Our friendship with Bryan and his wonderful family started over thirty years ago and in all that time he only ever brought sunshine into our lives.  I can never remember one single occasion when a meeting with him would not end in laughter.  He was kind, warm and so very friendly and without hesitation would do anything to help other people. The world needs more people like Bryan.  It's going to be a much sadder place without him.

As a consequence of his passing, I am coming home from Dubai early for his funeral on Monday and so this is my last post.

Today has been yet another one to add to the heaps of enjoyment I have had this week although it got off to a chaotic start this morning!  I had been told my tee off times earlier in the week and was expecting to be out with one of the top three pairs today.  However this seemingly changed when the formal list was circulated last night and I found myself with a very early time instead?  I did e-mail the head of scoring immediately to then receive an apology and confirmation that the original time stood.

Imagine my surprise this morning when I made my usual early morning report to find the change hadn't been made!  Those words regarding a party in a brewery came to mind!  As it happened I went out even earlier because someone had not reported in and so I found myself in the company of Messrs Quesne and Broberg.

I have to comment on Swede Broberg who was the antithesis of Henrik Stenson.  Scruffy and terribly bad tempered when he played a poor shot.  This was highlighted on one hole where after hooking a ball he proceeded to take a huge divot from the hallowed turf!  If a course official had been present, then a fine would have been inevitable.

However, the pair played some glorious golf and recorded two of the best scores of the day and I smiled wryly to myself leaving the 17th green after a Broberg birdie when he patted me on the back, gave a huge smile and said, "I thought I'd missed it!".  Fickle things these golfers.

The only other thing of note today was a lovely chat with Ivor Robson, the official starter, on the first tee.  Golfers know this name well as he has been the face but more probably  the voice of golf for nearly 42 years.  His dulcet tones are known the world over but this is his last tournament before retirement.  He really seemed to appreciate the fact that I went to see him very early on the tee this morning before the action started and to wish him a very long and happy retirement.  Exactly the sort of thing my friend Bryan would have done.

And so my involvement in the DP World Tour Championship and the Blog come to an end tonight.  I hope that you might have enjoyed "some of what I wrote" and that you may be tempted to consider the volunteering role in future?  It really has been fun.

My Golf Is Just Like Henrik's!

After the heady heights of scoring the number one match on day one, today I was awarded the worst two players from yesterday - none other than Swede, Henrik Stenson and a very much up and coming talent from England, Tommy Fleetwood.

It was amazing to see Henrik in this position!  For the past two years he has been the tournament champion adding huge amounts of cash to his bank balance and enhancing an already superb reputation.  As soon as he sets foot on a Dubai golf course, there is an expectation that he will always be a front runner.

Perhaps it was their respective positions at the bottom of the leaderboard that brought them onto the first tee at 0730 in the most jovial of moods and giving very bright and breezy hellos and handshakes to myself and student Danny.  Being in the position that they were, their tournament was already over and this perhaps explains the very casual way that they applied themselves to the first six holes.  This approach resulted in them both moving to +9 and they appeared to be revelling in each other's disasters? 

It was on hole three where the similarities in mine and Henrik's game became apparent.  Firstly, he hit a long pitch all of six feet and then after hitting the green side bunker with his next shot, proceeded to rifle it from there right over the back of the green into an almost impossible position!  It was wonderful to see that he possessed identical golfing frailties to my own.  I felt a certain empathy.  However, that's where the comparison ended because somehow or other, a lightswich was flicked and he proceeded to play like the God he is.  He shot six birdies in the next seven holes and there should have been more.  Truly awesome.

The thing that really impressed me however is the temperament that he displayed throughout his round.  He must have ice running through his veins because he never showed any emotion when things were going so wrong and for me is a truly great role model for young people wishing to make a career in golf or indeed any sport.  Tommy Fleetwood wasn't bad either but his golf never really improved.

The other thing that impressed me today was the time it took to play 18 holes.  Golf has a terrible reputation for five hour rounds at a professional level and players are often warned for slow play.  There was no warning today other than that they were 24 minutes ahead of the clock.  Henrik looked at Tommy, winked and then turned to the referee and said, "it'll be 45 by the end"!  He was right and proved what golfers can do if they just try.

I could write endlessly about this experience and I am sorry to the non-golfers amongst you who must find their eyelids drooping heavily as they read some of my output?  Possibly golfers get the same condition?

I assume that anyone reading this blog will have detected that I am having a rather enjoyable time.  Great weather, lots of walking and new friendships formed.  This is a terrific event on which to volunteer your services and if anyone out there might be interested in doing it next year, ask me any questions you like.

Photos tonight are many and varied and include the delightful Henrik, Andy Sullivan who is the leader going into the weekend and Chief Marshal, Jenni Hoskins.  Oh!  And I also quite like the one with the Emirates crew.  Sorry Sarah!

A Small Tribute To Ankur

What a strange title for tonight's post from the desert?  What does it mean?  Is the heat getting to the old boy?  Is it the drink?  Well no actually, it isn't and I have had a particularly good day today although have put something of a dampener on it tonight by accidentally wiping off the photos that I had intended to upload!  Aaaaggghhhhh...!  A senior moment I'm afraid and these appear to be accelerating in their frequency and number!  Early onset dementia perhaps?  Stupidity actually.

Back to the story and the luck I had today in acting as scorer on the number one pairing of the day - a certain Rory Mcilroy and a feisty Yorkshireman, Danny Willett.  I had never previously scored a pairing of this stature, a pairing that is that also drew the largest crowds of the day.  

When you are scoring, you work with a partner in the form of a local student from a Dubai school who carries the mobile scoreboard, updating it after every hole.

I was rewarded today with a delightful young man by the name of Ankur.  The last time I had worked with a similar young man on this tournament, I turned around on one hole to find him sitting and resting in the middle of the fairway!  There was to be no such behaviour from Ankur, in fact absolutely the opposite but more of that shortly.

It wasn't long, in fact the third fairway, before Rory turned to me and said, "please will you call for a referee?"  He needed a ruling on a particular issue.  In my best Yorkshire accent I called control and asked for the referee.  No response?  I called once more and yet again the airwaves were silent.  With the eyes of the golfing world on me and panic starting to well, my earpiece burst into sound with the words, "on his way".  Phew!  I tried to very discreetly wipe the beads of perspiration from my forehead whilst at the same time keeping my confident and authoritative gait.  I think I failed.

I did have to call control only once more during the round and it took them a little by surprise.  You see these poor students have to carry what amounts to a scaffolding pole for nearly four hours in temperatures of 30C plus. It genuinely isn't easy and in Ankur's case, the result was a couple of extremely painful blisters!  He didn't grumble or take me up on my offer of getting a replacement but did accept my call to get some plasters sent out to the course.  They didn't ease the pain an awful lot but he battled through the remaining few holes, kept a smile on his face and gets my award today for showing true grit on the golf course.  Well done Ankur.

A great day with both Rory and Danny well in the mix at -4.  And that was achieved without either playing particularly well.  What might tomorrow bring for them?

I did take photos of Ankur's battered hands to post here tonight in order that you would understand his suffering.  Instead I am including a few which might give you a feel for the place and the tournament.

How Much More Fun Can I Have?

Today was a little bit different!

For starters, I didn't have my surrogate mum, host and guardian, Linda, watching over my every move!  This was because I have never worked on the Wednesday of the tournament before, a day for the players to practice as much or as little as they wish - some on course and some on the range.  Only a couple of volunteers are required, specifically to ferry the players wherever they wish to go and hence I left the apartment this morning on my own and without Linda to organise the taxi and the trip to the somewhat isolated Earth Course.

You may all think this a touch pathetic but if you haven't experienced the Dubai road network and even more tellingly Dubai taxi drivers then you would perhaps understand my nervousness and reticence in venturing out alone! The first thing you have to do when you flag a taxi down here is ask the inevitable Indian driver if he actually knows how to get to where you want to go?  If he answers with confidence then get in.  If there's hesitation flag another one down!  It was very funny yesterday morning when we went through our daily routine, hopped in the taxi and the driver set off in a direction Linda thought was completely inappropriate.  I can't repeat her choice language to the driver but I smiled inwardly.

However the joke was on us because he got us to the golf course in record time!  We both ate some very humble pie and gave him an extra big tip to make ourselves feel better.  He seemed pleased at the reward although I think he was smiling more about the great wedges of pie on our respective faces?

Oh yes!  Today.  I did get to the course and met my fellow volunteer for the day, Phil, who is from Edinburgh.  Phil was to be my charge for the day, we were to work as a co-ordinated unit but I was to pass on the full benefit of my knowledge and experience!  This started with us walking down to the caddy shack to collect our respective six seater machines to be used during the day.  I jumped on the first machine which needed to be reversed out of its space but forgot to put it in reverse!  I went straight over the bedding plants and a bush before coming to a halt against the caddy shack wall! Phil looked most impressed.

Things got decidedly better though as we ferried players from tee to green to clubhouse during the day.  Phil proved to be far more popular than me, perhaps because word had spread rapidly amongst the Pros and caddies that the boring Yorkshireman was driving again!  I'm sure they all love me really.

Talking of Yorkshiremen, my first photo tonight is of one I came across today and had a chat with.  The first person to e-mail me his name gets a prize.

The serious stuff starts tomorrow and it doesn't get more serious than me acting as scorer on the top match!  Are the PGA officials mad??

The Action Begins

Tuesday 17th November - Pro-Am Day.  Very interesting in so many ways but also a great day to see the professionals in very relaxed mood around the course.  Lots of interaction with spectators and marshals alike and always it seems, a willingness to be photographed as long as the sponsors hat stays on and the golf bag is in the background!  These boys are Professional with a big P, always remembering their commitment to sponsors but in this frame of mind they are a delight to be with.

Mind you I did have one moment with Ross Fisher today who I had always believed to be one of the nicest gentlemen on and off the golf course?  Having given him a lift from the 9th green to the 10th tee, I politely asked him, "would it be possible to get a quick photo before teeing off?" He walked straight past me with a terribly cold stare and said "no".  Even I was lost for words and more so when two paces past me he turned with a huge smile on his face and said, "only kidding my friend, of course you can have a photo."  He got me hook, line and sinker and so the photo with Ross takes pride of place as number one in tonight's collection.  My faith restored and my opinion of Ross only enhanced.

It has genuinely been a joy and a pleasure working with them today as my job has involved in the morning ferrying them from 9th green to 10th tee and in the afternoon from the 18th green to the 1st tee.  We are talking about quite a distance and so for a short while you have your golfing heroes captive.  It's brilliant and without fail today, every one of my professional charges has been happy to chat about topics as diverse as holidays in Bali, changing nappies on a new baby and Ernie Els' vineyard in Stellenbosch, South Africa.  Justin Rose was happy to talk about British Airways, his sponsor and was particularly delighted to learn that they would be starting to fly the 777 into Nassau next year. (Sarah, I hope you are right on this because he said to introduce yourself to him if your paths ever cross on this route). He does by the way live in the Bahamas.

I could write and write about the fun today but should perhaps let the photos tell some of the story of the day.  I will be adding more each day from now but just hope that you don't get too irritated by my smug, self satisfied grin? 

One final comment, an afterthought really, is about the last photo tonight which features an American player who had the temerity to go sshhhhhhh to the British crowd at the last Ryder Cup when he sank a putt to win a hole.  It incensed spectators at the time but in retrospect you really had to respect his passion, style and determination.  In fact he could be an American Ian Poulter.  But face to face what a truly engaging guy he is and is actually one of my tips to do well this week.

Safely Here and Ready For Action

I left you last night with a standby ticket and no confirmation that I was going to Dubai!  Well I am happy to report from the comfort of my 34th floor bedroom, overlooking the Dubai Marina, that I arrived safely, courtesy of a wonderful flight out and more importantly, landing by Sarah this morning.  I didn't even know we had touched down.
The flight started off so incredibly well as out of nowhere, I found myself seated at the pointy end of the plane with an extremely nice person making up my flat bed!  Oh how I wish that I had a bottomless purse and could travel this way by choice on every occasion.
My host Linda and I met up with Sarah for a couple of hours at lunchtime and had a wander around the Creek area which was effectively the birth place of the sprawling metropolis which is now Dubai.  Google it to see and understand the history.  It's quite fascinating.
And so we said our goodbyes to Sarah and headed directly to the Earth Course where a meeting for scorers was scheduled - yet again traffic proved to be a real obstacle and we made our meeting with five minutes to spare or so I thought?  Then Linda apprised me of "Dubai Time" which in essence means add a further 15 minutes onto the planned time!  She was right.
So a run through of various things took place, shirts, hats and all area passes were handed out and questions were asked of those who had done this job before.  I feel like a veteran at the event now and approach the tournament with a confidence that I didn't quite have last year.  I hope that I don't live to regret that statement!
Tomorrow is an early start of 6am (2am UK time) to the course ready for a 7am Pro-Am shotgun start.  The weather is set fair for the week and I am looking forward to a brilliant event.
Photos below from today include the view from my window.

The Wait Begins!

I said that I would post an update from Heathrow and here it is, timeline 2010 on Sunday evening.

We drove down tonight and what a terrible journey it was.  Heavy traffic, stop start and at one point a slight worry that Sarah would only just make her reporting time!  As it was however, we arrived in plenty of time and I am happy to report that I am now sitting airside and have been told to make my way to Gate B36.

This doesn't however mean that I have a seat and if you look at the attached photo of my boarding card, notice the letters SBY.  Yes, that does indeed mean that I am on standby 90 minutes before departure and without a guaranteed seat.  The one consolation is that my daughter is second in control of this busy flight and assures me that the Captain will release a cabin jump seat to me in the eventuality that there isn't a normal passenger seat left after everyone has boarded.  I find it all very exciting and am grateful that I have a pretty strong ticker.

I absolutely love the sense of anticipation when sitting airside in any airport.  It means I'm going somewhere and at the moment as that anticipation builds, I am comforted by a good cup of tea and a double berry muffin.  I find the latter calms me far more than a couple of Mogadon although doesn't particularly contribute to a slim waste.

Time to move onto B36. If you get another post after 2145, you will know that a night in a Heathrow hotel beckons.  Ever the optimist, I believe that my next post will be tomorrow morning from Linda and John's wonderful apartment overlooking Dubai Marina. 

Next stop Dubai?