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??