We left Barbados flying to Miami then off to Atlanta, then Savannah in Georgia USA. We met our group from Victoria golf club in Harbour Town, to play golf there for the next two days. Our accommodation was a very nice luxury hotel on the Atlantic coast, with miles of white sandy beaches.
There are24 in the golf group, all competitive players. After playing our two rounds of golf here, we moved onto Kiawah Island, three hours bus ride north, again very sumptuous accommodation. We played three rounds of golf here including the very good ocean and turtle point courses. Both Hilton Head and Kiawah courses are prolific with wildlife. There are many beautiful waterbirds and many large and small Alligators sunning themselves on the banks of the lagoons. There are also many turtles living in the waterways around the courses. In a couple of instances we had some fear of being attacked by the large Alligators, but they seemed happy to sit quietly in the sun.
We have a few free hours in the afternoon we visited the nearby historic town of Charleston. We took a guided horse and buggy ride through the old part of the city with the Grand southern homes with rocking chairs on the porches.
We then bussed up to Augusta in Georgia to spend three days at 'The Masters', in which four Australians are playing: Adam Scott, Jason Day, Mark Leishman and John Senden.
Wednesday the 10 th was practice day at The Masters. You are able to take a camera on this day and walk around getting the feel of this unbelievably picturesque golf course.
The Masters is an amazing event invented in the 1930's by Bobby Jones and Cliff Roberts, who wanted to attract the worlds best golfers. It is very programmed disciplined and generally well run without any advertising associated with it, which makes it a joy to be there. It is easy to see everything as the land is contoured so you have banks and hills to sit on with good views. We got close to world number 1 Tiger Woods, also Rory Mcilroy and other top world golfers.
Thursday was the first round of play which finished with Mark Leishman leading the field and two other Aussies finishing in the top 20.
Day two, Friday it rained for part of the day. By the end it finished with three Aussies in the top ten, along with Tiger Woods.
We found a great place to eat in Augusta 'Bone Fish', recommended by our good friend Bernie Woodland. We ate there every night as it had good fish and fresh vegetables and nothing deep fried.
Saturday the 13 th we bussed up to Pinehurst in North Carolina. Pinehurst is famous for its 8 golf courses, especially number 2 which will hold the 2014 US open. We stay at the historic Holly Inn (built in 1895 ).
Pinehurst is a designed holiday town (1895), it has a lot of atmosphere including a small village and the Carolina Hotel. The golf courses are fantastic, all different, quiet long and challenging.
In the early days people came from the North to play and stay here. There was also entertainment such as Annie Oakley teaching shooting on the gun range which is now golf course number 7.
We played numbers 8,2,7 and 4. At this stage we were all pretty tired and golfed out.
Sunday afternoon after playing golf was so exciting as we watch the final day of The Masters, with three Aussies in the top five. our entire group were ecstatic when Adam Scott had to play off against Angel Cabrera. Adam Scott eventually took the green jacket with much shouting and jumping from Adam and our group. well done Scottie!
Our group is made up of mainly men and two other couples beside us the James' and the Mowlems'. The men want to live it up at night and their golf suffers the next day. We are playing our Caribbean Cup 2013 along with our groups daily comps. JB is not on her best game and leaves MB with a large lead of 7-1.
We have our final dinner and trophy night ( none for us ).
The next day we head off to Raleigh, too late to see the town which has four major universities including the renowned 'Duke'. We have dinner at an amazing restaurant 'Angus Barn'. The barn is built over an extraordinary wine collection of some 50,000 bottles from all parts of the world. Inside, the barn is decorated with memorabilia from the Wild West including a huge gun collection on display.
Wednesday 17th, we are off again to the Caribbean where BP is in St. Lucia.
JB and Mick