Australia Day and Qatar Masters Golf

  Doha, Qatar
Sunday, January 28, 2007

Australia Day

Australia Day in Doha was pretty busy. Went to the Qatar Masters Golf in the morning/afternoon and then went to Rydges for a pizza dinner and a dance and rink at the Legends Bar.

The bar area at the golf was decked out in Australian flags, umbrellas, etc. Fosters, VB and Crownies were on tap and in bottles and cans. Reasonaly prices for Doha - $5-$7 AUD for a can or a pint. Also Jacob's Creek wines. Aussie music playing - Paul Kelly was on.

Rydges
Had Hardy's Notting Hill shiraz with our pizzas.

Danced to Barnsey - Khe San, Men at Work, Powderfinger, Blisters on the Sun etc. at Legends on the 11th floor. Chauffeur home!! Heard that Rydges only has about 6 week s left. The big boss (Emir) doesn't like it because it overlooks the Palace. Might be modified or pulled down!! Let\s hope we can do the same somewhere else.

Golf

Magic. There were about 2-300 of use walking around on Sunday the final day. Less on the Friday when we went. Great field, many Aussies. You stood right next to them on the tee. Maximum 2-3000 people ther on the Sunday - most were drinking in the entertainment areas and watching it on TV.

We followed Appleby for a while and then I perched myself on a rock on the 16th green. Could see the tee shots, approaches etc, plus the 17th green (par 3). The names just kept coming. Goosen, Els, Campbell, O'Hern, Appleby, Green, O'Malley....

Goosen won with an eagle three on the 18th hole. O'Hern had led most of the day. Great trophy - Pearl and gold shell.

I am sure I was on TV as I was in a direct line with the camera and the flag. I drapped my Aussie flag over the rock. I was also wearing my Plainsman hat - only one like it in Doha. Also wore mt Ashes t-shirt just to remind the poms.

Very few Qataris - only there for the photos. It was like a biyt of Eurpoe, AusNZ, Nth America in the middle of Doha.

I haven't played the course yet but I will have one game - too hard for me. I would also wreck my clubs - get off the green grass and you are on rock.. I would need to take many drops.

Enjoy the photos.

More detail here.
http://www.qatar-masters.com/home.php