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January 24, 2005

Photos

Sharky (Team JK) and head of Ottawa Kayak School, and
member of the Canadian Freestyle Kayak Team, organized a round of golf
with a friend of his from Renfrew, who is now general manager of one of
the oldest and the most prestigious golf clubs, NSW Golf Club right on
the Tasman Sea, not more than 15 minutes from Sydney. Rounding out the
group of 4, Sharky invited Joe Kowalski, owner of Wilderness Tours and
Ottawa Kayak School, also the head organizer of the 2006 World Freestyle
Championships on the Buseater Wave at the Ottawa River. Luckily for me,
Sharky invited me as well.

I had no idea what I was getting into until we arrived
at the course at 7:45 am for our 7:30 tee time, oops. Luckily for us we
were scheduled to go off the back nine. We had nothing, but Dave took
great care of us putting us in shoes and clubs.

The course is unbelievable, just walking around it
puts you in awe with the beauty of the landscape, the ocean front layout,
and the near perfect fairways, tee boxes, and greens. We walked the first
nine, making the turn with out taking a break. One of the proshop people
drove two carts out to us, along with drinks and snacks for the second
nine, awesome.

I was happy with how I played, even though I never
saw my final score. The Tee shots left no margin for error, the greens
were always small to medium and usually surrounded by bunkers that were
taller than you are, or there was an ocean ready to take your ball if
it ran off the green. I birdied the 4th hole with a sweet tee shot, a
big 5 iron, and a really long put from the edge of the green on a long
par 4. That was my highlight. I missed a number of pars by three putting
with inches to go. My driver was a "Great Big Bertha" but I
still managed to tee it up too high twice and shot the ball up like it
was hit by a sand wedge.

After the round which took a full five hours, Dave
took us back to the 19th hole where we had lunch, and I had a couple of
"Toughey’s Old" black ales to wash it down. Sharky drove us
back to our houses at Nepean Shores, while I slept in the back seat.

No paddling today. Tomorrow is the last day of training
before the Prelim rounds of the 2005 World Freestyle Kayak Championships
starts, oh yea!

Tonight is more first class action with a civic reception
for all world champions and IFC members, like Kristine. The mayor, city
council, sponsors, etc. will all be there for the shin dig. Food and drinks
complimentary, it says… cool beans.

🙂 EJ

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