RESERVATIONS

Today will be a return trip to La Reserva for the goats and I, but first time out for John and Monica.  We played it way back in week one of the trip, and aside from some “SLOW PLAY”, we found it to be a very good golf course, and a nice facility.  It doesn’t appear busy today, and one of the staff confirms just 60 players on the tee sheet. 

We are third and fourth in line to tee off for the guest rounds following member play in the morning and already I am getting a bad feeling.  Two foursomes in front, followed by a very speedy twosome (Cos and I), followed by an equally quick threesome with horns. 

Somehow that just doesn’t make sense, and sure enough, we are waiting on every f$%#@ing shot.  JC calls the pro shop and out comes a young guy who says he will talk to the groups in front, but they are actually on schedule………maybe for a funeral, but never for a round of golf……..he points out the sign attached to the back of the golf carts which states that 4:40 is an acceptable pace of play………nothing we can do……..hmmmmm.

  At the turn, I tell the friendly marshall that we are going to start playing as a fivesome because there is nobody behind us and we can keep up with this crew in front no problem.  He doesn’t like that, and actually shadows us for 3-4 holes until we caught the group in front and were waiting all over again………..let’s be clear, we are not trying to race around the golf course, but just play at a good pace without any jacking around.  We are happy as a 5, and really enjoy playing together on the back 9.  Really good golf course, one that is on Johnnie Walkers premium list, and part of the Golden Triangle with Valderrama and Sotogrande.  A full service club with racquet and water sports, a full marina, equestrian centre with polo, and a unique inland lagoon offering even more fun on the water.  Word has it that over the next few years there might be an upgrade in the works for this operation taking it up even one notch further.  

Jutta has been scoping out new restaurants for us to try, and has come up with one called Olivia in old town, that has huge good marks on every site you look at…….reservation made online, we are good to go.  Until we get there later on that evening …….Olivia is closed…….whaaaat?  Quick Look around for an alternate, and decide our best option is to head back a few blocks to Jutta’s Hotel…….Hotel Pilar in the Plaza de las Flores……and give them yet another go.  No question, old dependable comes through once again and we are sufficiently fed and watered.