Design Your Own Golf Course in Argentina

Its all very well sitting here watching Satanta Golf classics, mucking about on the brown greens of Fajara golf club or looking at images of the Portugal or Dubai green, green courses. I have never claimed I could design a golf course, even though I question how much real input designer pros have in their courses, but now may be my chance to prove myself-if only the property just outside Buenos Aires had not included the Polo Club I would have given it a go.But I am just not that keen on horses and we are now officially in recession so perhaps you want to have a look?

Hailstorm Stops Play in the Desert

The first round of the European Golf Tour, the Abu Dhabi Championship was halted today due to a hail storm. I was listening to BBC Radio 5 Live this morning and the commentator had unpacked his skiing gear(packed for the follow on holiday after this job)to cover the days golf. On the course web site there is a "Weather Today In Abu Dhabi" which one might have sniggered at not so long ago.

The Abu Dhabi course itself is carved out of the desert and it is the most luxurious golf resort in the world. The radio said that a coffee bought during the storm cost £11. It must be just amazing!Then there is the outstretched falcon shaped clubhouse; yes someone has been paid for that idea and design, yet no ones has put their name to it? While I chortled at the falcon shaped clubhouse I do applaud the designers for at least using symbols related to the Gulf as its plans. Its good to see, and if you were to go their you would have something to talk about, and distinguish the visit from any other Gulf Golf Resort. The only distinguishing features there are the names of the golf pro designer courses.A bit like how you know where your room is at the Belfry. Am I in Tony Jacklin or Nick Faldo this time?

I have been browsing to find the weathermans explanation for this strange event, but with no luck. I found that last May Abu Dhabi and some parts of Dubai had unseasonal dark clouds and showers of rain following experiments by scientists in the gulf to create rainfall.Perhaps this was a more succesful test.

WARNING;What I did find in my meteorogical research on the BBC was the latest health risk to golfers; the sonic boom from the new, thin faced titanium drivers can cause permenant damage to hearing.Wear ear plugs or wrap some foam to them before use please.

Golf Premier Event; Fajara Golf Club, Palm Wine Tasting in The Gambia

Forget the Beaujolais run, or the Ryder cup. A trip to the Gambia's premier Golf Club at Fajara will give you stories to dine out on at any golf club event. Excuse the jumpy footage, but it is short and its worth a view and I reckon this footage will do more to sell Fajara Golf Club to the avid golfer than any pro name attached to the design of the course. The course itself is 'testing' but the caddys and club pros are excellent value. My 3 boys all had private lessons and much fun with their partners.

Its a bit like going to a dry slope before going skiing; if you can start stop and stay on your feet on the dry slope you will be doing slalem on your second day on the real snow. Likewise with golf at Fajara; There will be none of this frustration and smashing of expensive clubs against trees with my boys. Golf is great when you hit a ball well and it all comes together for you, but in between we will chat and laugh with Gambian friends and have a good time. Nothing too serious. We can all be who we want-"I'm Tiger Woods" " I'm not going to be Payne Stewart" etc How many people can say they learned how to play golf at West Africas premier Golf course.

After a pleasant morning on the course and before a drink in the club house (or dip in the pool for the boys) you go to the bottom of the course to where the palm wine collectors are. There you can sample the wine, have a go at climbing the palm to collect your own and have a running commentary as you go. I have edited out our go..its not as easy as it looks.