NEW HOME COURSE

Today is a return engagement with Santa Clara GC just outside Marbella……an extra round we booked after playing it last week, when we just loved the course.  It is not on the premier list our agent sent us a few months ago, but it sure brings a lot to the table, and we were able to book our round at 8:10am which is a huge plus.  They do have options here to buy blocks of rounds 5-10-20-30 with the price going down the more you buy, and the rounds are shareable with friends and family……..worth considering if we are back this way. All but one of the rounds we have played starting at noon or later have been well over 4hrs, and as a threesome that is pretty tedious……..I keep thinking that we are playing too fast, but in reality the courses are full, and marshaling just doesn’t seem to happen over here anyway.  This morning we are first group on the course, and we meet Thomas first of all getting our carts from the yard, and then again when he comes down to be the starter for the day………a very nice man, and when I compliment his service to the caddie master Rae and ask if Thomas is Jamaican, she says no, he is from Nigeria, and we love him here………she adds, he won a million euros in the lottery last year…….he used to have two jobs, this one, and he delivered food for an Indian restaurant at night……..there was so much he wanted to do for his family, there is an autistic child, he still works here but gave up the delivery job.  

It is cart path only today…..crap…..hate that…….but still some soggy fairways from the few days of rain we had.  The course is challenging and a lot of fun to play……..even more on the back nine when Thomas sees me struggle a little with the leg at the turn and tells me I can drive on the fairways……I like that.  Just another great round at Santa Clara and one more to go with the Cosgrove’s when they get here……..we stayed for a drink and a snack in the restaurant here……..are you kidding me!!!!!……one of the best taco’s, ever……..I swear, and I have eaten a shitload of taco’s…….that doesn’t sound good, but you know what I mean……..incredible custom made tortilla, wrapping prawns, w/salad, w/sauce, w/toppings, amazingly good, and doesn’t belong anywhere on a golf course menu……..J&S  had the beef carpaccio with fried avocado……..are you kidding me………same dealio……….yeah, beats the hell out of burger and fries eh!…….I have become so European you won’t even recognize me when I get home.

Jutta has to return/exchange a blouse at designer store Marcelliimmo Duuttiimuttii (SP?) in La Canada on the way home, so the plan is to eat at the condo tonight……….. shop at the supermarket in the mall for supplies………..I will spare you the pictures of the frozen lasagna, but scored some fantastico bread and a few bottles of red……..we already have the olive oil and the iberico ham, so all is good.

Sorry, but one further washroom comment….everyone in Spain take note…….it’s called a “comfort height toilet”. Aside from being quite European on my return, I will also have thighs of steel.