Australia Day

My golf scores this week have been all over the chart, up and down. My game Friday was not much different. I started off strong but had a rough finish. I am not discouraged as there we many positives to take away from the day, and I knew I could score better the next day. We teed off early on Saturday and I was cruising throughout the day, but in the middle of the round I hit a rough patch, but persevered and just when I thought I was back on track, on hole number 16 I had a bad lie and took a big number. I was starting to think that it just was not my week, but I then birdied hole 18 and made the cut by one shot! I was disappointed with my day, but I knew I would have another shot on Sunday.

So Saturday just happened to be a huge day in Australia. January 26th is Australia Day, which is is similar to July 4th back in the states! I was really pumped to celebrate! A bunch of us girls scored tickets to a cricket game at the Sydney Olympic Grounds. I was not to thrilled about the cricket game itself, but more excited to see where the Olympics were in 2000. We stayed until the very end. Good thing we did because the most exciting part of the game was the last 10 minutes. Sydney was playing Sri Lanka, but ended up losing unfortunately.

It was pouring by the time I had to be at the course early Sunday, and it continued to rain the entire round. I got off to a bad start, but was able to fight my way back, but yet again the 17th hole would get the best of me. I didn't have a great finish, but I reminded myself of all of the positives from the week and I am very encouraged for the upcoming week of golf.

After returning home to dry off, Aaron(one of the caddies staying with us) and I went to The Hillsong church here in Sydney. This is a very popular church here, and they also have a worship group that travels and sings all around the world. We were pleasantly surprised by the service. The music was terrific and I thoroughly enjoyed the service. One of the friends that I am staying here with works there and was able to give us a tour, giving us some insight on the church and background. Later that night Judy made us an amazing dinner and we had the opportunity to sit and chat and laugh.

Although I am halfway around the world from home, I am so happy to be in the presence of fellow Christians, and more specifically Baptists! : )

Tomorrow morning I am making my way to the Gold Coast. There has been flooding there all week, so I am praying that the cyclones leave by the time I get there! Wish me luck! : )

Getting The Hang of Things

For the almost two weeks that I have been here, just about every day has been action packed, as I have made an effort to experience as much as I possibly can- and let me tell you..there is ALOT to do! 

I woke up Sunday morning and got ready to head to the course, where I was greeted with overcast weather. My team for the day was three older Aussie women, Robin, Renee, and Claire, and we had a great time hanging out and playing together. The most exciting part of the golf day was my strong finish, birdieing three of the last four holes to shoot one under! This finish placed me in the top ten! After I finished, I hopped in the car and was on the move again...

This time I was headed back towards Sydney to a town called Oatlands for the New South Wales Open. I arrived at a lovely house where I met Judy and Chris, my host family for the week. I decided to take that Monday off and go touring with Ginney and Dave. Before we took off, we hit up the gym and did a crazy workout (I am so sore even three days later). After we got our beach bodies, we headed to Manly Beach which turned out to be one of the nicest and most beautiful beaches in the Sydney area.The coolest part was the route to get there. We took a forty minute ferry ride to Circular Quay, the Harbour area where the Sydney Bridge and Opera House are. The Manly Beach town reminded us of a beach in LA- it had a ton of surfer shops as well as boutiques. We even ate at a sushi place that had a rotating sushi bar. After refueling, we headed to the sand. Watching the "life savers" aka life guards practice wasn't a bad view. They were on paddle boards, and would paddle out a mile then turn and paddle back to the shore. They were in super fit shape, and Ginny and I were starting to believe we took up the wrong sport! After staring in awe for a bit, we decided we wanted to go snorkeling, however all of the shops were closed! We were still determined to see some wildlife so took a dip in the ocean. It was sixty degrees and very chilly but warmed up after a while. I have officially swam in the Pacific Ocean! The sun was beginning to set, so we decided to head home to get some rest for our early practice round in the morning.

The two highlights of the practice round day were me holing out from 80 yards and Ginny getting a picture of a Kookabura. After the round I relaxed at the house for the rest of the day. On Wednesday, I decided to do another sightseeing day. We headed to Featherdale, which is a wildlife zoo containing only animals found here in Australia. This was one of my coolest experiences thus far! We were able to feed kangaroos and wallabies as well as pet koala bears. We spent a few hours marveling the uniqueness of these creatures. We also became super excited when we saw a baby joey go in and out of his mama's pouch. I have over a hundred amazing pictures that I can't wait to show all of you when I return! 

After the zoo, we went to the Blue Mountains, which is the Australian version of the Grand Canyon. Rather than being an open canyon with water at the bottom, there were gorgeous trees and plants everywhere. At the mountains, we walked to a place to view the "three sisters," a famous view because the aboriginals believe that one of the masters of the town turned his daughters into stone so they would not be exiled! After we saw the view, we took a gondola down to the bottom and walked around the forest. The views were absolutely incredible! We had a fantastic time and of course took a million photos. I definitely underestimated our trip to "see the mountains"...

The next morning I had to be up early for a pro-am tournament. I ended up having a great group composed of my new friends, Mick, Raff, and Davy. After a great round with the guys, I headed home to "chill." Judy has been making some amazing meals every night that I look forward to, and we also have been watching the Australian Open tennis tournament. I tee off tomorrow afternoon and am ready for an exciting tournament ahead! 

Shoo fly, don't bother me!

Since I wrote last, I feel like I have spent more time swatting flies then ever in my life! They are so annoying! They were not too bad at the Vintage, but everywhere else I have been, they have been horrible.

After I accepted my team award at the Vintage, I drove 3 hours southwest to a town called Picton- a very small town without much going on. I was exhausted when I arrived, so after I was greeted by my house family, Marie and Greg, I hit the hay and passed out! They next morning I woke up quite early to play another practice round with Ginny and Dave at Anitill Park. If you have seen the news about the record setting heat in Australia, I can attest that it is the truth! It was such a scorcher that we played as fast as we could. Later that day at the shoot out, I almost won, but another girl hit it within a foot of the pin and took the W. 

Afterwards, we picked up some ingredients for chicken bruschetta and sweet potatoes, and cooked and chatted about how nice it was to experience Australia as the the average Australian would.  Because we have been in the country so long, we feel as if we are here as locals, not on "holiday". The next morning I was able to sleep in because I did not tee off until 12. I played well through another intensely hot day, but I boogied the last two holes. I finished three over for the day, but I have the feeling that things are definitely falling into place!  I then followed Ginny and Dave as we drove to our next location. We headed about an hour southeast to a town called Bowrai. We were hungry and decided to pull into a random restaurant. It was an interesting experience as my dish did not turn out right, and I felt as if my waitress was from the move Twilight. 

After dinner I headed to my next host family, Alan and Robyn's house. It was a beautiful house and I could tell I would get a good rest there. I went to bed early because my new motto for the 6 weeks has been "beat the heat," which I was going to do by teeing off early in the morning. By 8:30 in the morning the heat was brutal, and the flies were UNBEARABLE... They flew up in my nose, in my ear, and the best part, in my mouth. Luckily, we were able to ride in carts all day and we escaped them sometimes. For lunch, we went to a great local cafe, and I had a delicious chicken pot pie. Then we went home and washed up and headed out for some sightseeing around town. Alan and Robyn took all of us to a nice winery, and also showed us to the oldest "pub"(hotel) in Berrima that is in Australia.  Bowralis is also the hometown of the Cricket hall of fame. Alan and Robyn then treated me and the other billet who is staying with us to a nice dinner. I went to bed early yet again because I had a 7:20 tee time.

I woke up at the crack of dawn and headed to the course. Experiencing some of the craziest weather I have ever seen, I woke up to 60 degree and misting when just the day before it was over 100 degrees. Although the weather was not great, I had the best round of golf since I have been here. I had a great group and I also shot 1 under. I relaxed the rest of the day until I had to go back to the shootout. After heading home, Robyn made us a great chicken and pasta dish for dinner with a passion fruit dessert. Passion fruit is something new that I found out I loved! I am excited to play in the morning and hope to report back with some good news!

Mission Accomplished

On this beautiful Sunday morning I decided to get a few extra holes in before I started my tournament on Monday, so Helen and I woke up at the  crack of dawn to play with a few of her friends. I went out to eat breakfast and saw several hot air balloons rides flying right over the house. They were so close we were able to chat to the people. We had a nice time and were finished playing by nine and I had the of the day to just "kick it". For some unbeknownst reason, the jet-lag decided to finally catch up to me today which made it a perfect excuse for a lazy Sunday. I was able to hang around my host family's amazing house and watch some American football, reminding me of that life I used to live back in the states : ) The only difference being the kangaroos jumping outside the window! After watching football for a while, I read a funny book about Australia that Helen gave me a book called, "A Sunburned Country". I read while enjoying the fabulous sun and light breeze, until I had to go back to the clubhouse.

The reason I had to go back to the clubhouse, was because all the players had to take place in a shootout. This means that all of the girls line up, and we place closet to the pin. Talk about nerve-wracking! I know I love attention, but not everyone staring at me! Afterwards, there was a gathering for the players and the sponsors. Ginny, Dave, and I were about to leave when we made a crazy connection. Out of the group of about ten guys we were chatting with, the head pro said his wife is from South Carolina. We got to talk about my favorite southern topics for a little while..you know, Chick-Fil-A....Chick-Fil-A.... and last but not least Chick-Fil-A... ; ) We also learning that a few of the guys own "pubs" in Sydney except pub in Australia means hotel. After chatting for a while, we all headed to dinner at their hotel's restaurant and it was of course delicious!

I headed home to get some sleep for the big day. I did not tee off until the afternoon so I was able to sleep in and enjoy a big breakfast. The round started great, and I played well for 15 holes...I do not even want to think about the rest :-/ 

That evening, Ginny, Dave, and I, along with some other members were invited to one of the pros houses for dinner. We had a great time swapping stories and just hanging out. 

I teed off around 12 the next day. There was not anything too exciting about the day, as I played about the same as Monday, but my team came in 2nd! However I did get to see something really cool- I saw a kangaroo with a "joey" in it's pouch! It was so cute!! After accepting the award, it was time to drive about 3 hours southwest towards Picton. I will miss everyone in The Vintage and look forward seeing them soon. I plan on playing a practice round tomorrow! I am already itching to play again!

Hopefully I can spot some more 'roos! 

G'night mate!

Kangaroo?

After about five days of being "down under" I am starting to pick up on the "g'days" and "no worries" of the Australian accent quite well. After my day at the futuristic host family house and a good nights sleep, I woke up refreshed and ready to get my golf game on! Helen and Graham took me out to play on The Vintage, which is the same course my tournament is to be played on. Our early tee time was eased by the delicious breakfast that Helen made us. The course was a Greg Norman design and is also called Chateau Elan. The same vineyard that is in Georgia is also a partner to this course ironically. Even at warm-ups, I was excited to play this course because the views were incredible! My excitement was also heightened due to a birdie of the first hole : ) Then, to further add to my excitement levels, I saw some kangaroos on the third hole! From then on out, I tried my best to spot more. Before the back nine, I ended up not only seeing, but catching a whole family of kangaroos hop across the cart path right in front of me!

It was really fun to play with my host family. They were able to show me the ins and outs of the course, and I gave them a few tips as well ( which ended up proving fruitful for Graham as he went out and won a club competition the next day!). After the round, when Ginny and Dave arrived and we all enjoyed lunch. We then decided to go on some wine tours.

We visited two gorgeous vineyards, where we were educated on the different types of wine and how and under what conditions they are grown. I can't wait to get back to the states and be able to one up everyone on my wine knowledge.

We all then went back to the house and hung out by the pool. Later, Helen apparently had time to hunt our friends from the course, KANGAROO! Just kidding on our golf "buddies", but she did seriously cook kangaroo! I have to say, it was awesome and tasted like good 'ol American steak.

The next morning, Ginny and Dave and I went out to play another round of golf. During our warm up, we were greeted by about thirty kangaroos laying in the shade off to the side of the range. It was around 100 degrees outside, so we decided to just stick to nine holes and take it easy for the day. After our golf outing we went to an olive tasting, which were the best olives of my life ( easy victory since they were the first olives I have ever had haha). We also did a chocolate tasting and toured a few more vineyards. Topping off the evening we ate at a Japanese restaurant connected to one of the wineries. I decided to call it a night after the meal and headed back home where I was greeted by another player that was going to be staying with us. We had a quick chat about the fact that Australia has 80% of the worlds most killer animals in it. So we made rule: if you see something/anything moving, run in the other direction asap!

I better not see any spiders near my bed or I will FREAK!

Goodnight!

Wonderful Wine Country

Here ya go guys! : )

The first day in Australia was quite the whirlwind....Little did I know upon waking, day two was going to be another exciting day down under! I woke up bright and early to an empty house as my housing family works for a Christian group in Sydney called Hillsong, and they were away on their "holiday". Eager to start of the day, I drove back into Sydney to meet up with my friends, Ginny and Dave. We decided to head to the coast and embark on the "coastal walk", which is about a three mile walk between Bondi and Coogee Beach. I have spent many a vacations at the beach in my lifetime, so I had pretty average expectations for the trek. Well, was I in for a surprise when I literally wore my camera battery out because I wanted to capture all of the amazing scenery that ensued! We walked along five different beaches separated by beautiful rocks and cliffs. The most picturesque part was beneath a cove in an area called "the baths". We took stairs to the bottom, and once there you could swim in water surrounded by rocks and view all kinds of wildlife! That was my first lesson in underestimating something in Australia!

We then shopped around Bondi for a bit, but could not delay as we had a cricket game to attend! I have been to plenty of sporting events, but I was excited because cricket was a new sport to experience! We were all confused about the rules until a few locals noted our struggle and decided to help us out and give us the cliff notes! After much discussion, we concluded it is similar to baseball...haha.

Our next landmark of the evening was the Opera House Bar! After a short fiasco of trying to run down an out of service bus, we hailed a cab to take us there. Once again, the views were incredible! We made the clutch decision to get "take-out" dinner from the bar, and sat outside with the Opera House to our backs, and the Harbour Bridge in front of us across the bay. Again, we all could not believe how blessed we were to be able to experience these views! We hung out for a few hours and then called it a night!

The next day, I figured I should probably play some golf...since I AM here for golf...right?....riiight! Ginny, Dave, and I played a course called Bonnie Doon. The course was in great shape, but that did not help the strong winds! At times we had to aim on the other side of the green because the wind was so strong! After we played, we had lunch at a nice cafe in Surry Hills. Interestingly I have found myself to be quite the coffee drinker here throughout the day even because it is so tasty!

Then, life or death moment #.....haha just kidding.. but seriously, I had to make a two hour drive to Hunter Vally for my next location of residence with my host family. Hunter Vally is one of the oldest area for vineyards. With over 150 vineyards it draws comparison to Napa Vally. Driving up to my house I had the biggest smile on my face - it was sick! It was a modern style house overlooking vineyards and also the golf course that I will be playing on! I chatted with my "host parents" Helen and Graham for a while before having DUCK for dinner. Luckily my dad had been expanding my palate at home recently so I was prepared to try it for the first time! It was great!

Tomorrow I am golfing with Helen and Graham, and am excited for what the day has in store! Hole-in-ones and more duck please! ; )

Lacey Agnew

May The Odds Ever Be In Your Favor

I began this seemingly never-ending journey from my hometown of Atlanta, to my replacement home for the next six weeks, Sydney Australia with a pit-stop in LA. Thankfully, I had the company of my good friend Seth on that portion to keep me awake. Upon arrival, Seth's sister Rachel picked us up and swung us through In-N-Out Burger for a quick but delicious meal before I had to leave she and Seth, and journey fifteen hours across the Pacific!

Stepping onto the plane took my breathe away! Although I was riding in coach, I felt as if I was getting first class treatment. There was no shortage of room at my seat, and I had a personal entertainment system with access to any movie, television show, or game I could imagine. Before I knew it they served me with a surprisingly tasty chicken and rice dinner, which I used as a pre-sleep meal. I fell asleep shortly after and the next thing I know I was being served waffles! I guess I slept until breakfast! I then squeezed in one more movie before it was time to land. That flight wasn't too bad after all!

After the customs agents meticulously checked every speck of dirt from my golf clubs and cleaned my golf shoes, (well, they did need it) it was on to the rental cars! eeek! I had a slight hiccup first because the phone I planned to used wasn't working, so I had to buy a new one in the airport. After I had working communication, I called my fellow golfer and friend Ginny and her boyfriend, Dave, who told me me to drive over to their apartment as they were headed to the Sydney aquarium that day. I had to very quickly adapt to driving on the other side of the road, which was super frightening. Let's just say my first drive did not go flawless, as I ran up the curb about two minutes in! Hopefully the rental car agents are forgiving about rim scratches! I finally made it to Ginny's apartment, and the three of us walked to the aquarium. We started reflecting and we both couldn't believe we were in AUSTRALIA together!

Strolling around Australia seemed like I was in a big city in America, the only difference being the amazing accents, as well as record-setting temperatures of 104 degrees Fahrenheit! I guess I won't be wearing that jacket I packed! We spent about two hours in the aquarium, and my favorite part was this underground tunnel where you could see all kinds of sharks, manatees, stingrays, and large fish! Ginny and Dave had to leave for golf after the aquarium, and I was left on my own to explore Sydney. Since my goal all day was to stay up all day so I could sleep well that night, I decided to keep touring the city. I decided to take the ferry across Sydney Harbor to get to the Taronga Zoo. On the ferry ride I was able to see the infamous and breathtaking Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge! Upon completion of the ferry ridge, I took a gondola up to the top of the zoo. The view was beautiful, as it is overlooking Darling Harbour. I then braved the 104 degree heat and toured the zoo, with the best part being the ability to see giraffes, gorillas, elephants, and last but not least, the kangaroos! After the zoo, my feet were killing me! When I arrived back to Darling Harbour I went to a local Starbucks to pass some time before heading home. Then my driving skills had an opportunity to redeem themselves.....but unfortunately they didn't! I pulled out of the parking deck and drove the WRONG WAY down the street! After correcting that first faulty move, it took me about thirty minutes to find my way onto the freeway, where I still was not sure if I was going the right way! Talk about scary! Luckily it was so hot outside that the radio was playing a song (three times to be exact) that I could jam along to: Nelly's "Hot in Herre". After a terrifying 45 minute drive, I finally made it home where I could relax, have a quick bite to eat, and head to bed! I will be surprised if my dreams are not filled with planes, Australian roadways, kangaroos, and sharks!

I am so thankful to be here in Australia! I hope you enjoy my blog and thank you for your support from wherever you may be!