Opening round of 2011

Almost 6 months have passed since our last golf round in Dec.2010.

During the winter months, Isamu and I have been indulging ourselves in backcountry snowboarding.

Now, that spring has come it's golfing time ♪

So, we were very excited for the Golden Week break (Apr.29-May 8). Yes! First round of the year!

I love Appi Kogen Golf Club, particularly at this time of the year when it is cool during day-time, and a little cold at night.

AKGC sits across Mount Iwate and Mount Maemori (where Appi Ski Resort is located), so we can get a luxurious mountaineous view while golfing.

Since it has just opened for the season, we found that some of the bunkers are still covered by snow!!!
AKGC opens from end of April to early December, and is closed during winter months,

giving its ski resort the turn to open.

During a week stay in Appi -besides golfing- we managed to do some balcony-painting to keep the color of the wood fresh and to protect it from rotting away.

It was actually quite fun doing stuff that is away from daily routine.

And of course, yummy barbeque to end the day. yup! lots of meat and veggies to go along with

good wine! this is what i call enjoying life .

*Personal note*

My first round (Apr.30) scored 124 (Ryugamori64/Towada60),

while second round (May 6) scored worse (damn!) 134 (Towada60/Ryugamori74)

My putting reallly sucks .. need to work on it, really .. during one of the long hole (par 5) i ended with a horrible 10 counts and 5 out of it was putting ... :( what a shame!!!

Last golf round of 2010

I was quite excited with the last round of this year.

Isamu's acquaintance, Fukui-san, invited us to play together at Gotemba West, which is one of the best golf courses in Japan.

Lucky!!! （●＾o＾●）

I've never played there, so I was really really excited ♪♪♪

Overlooking Mt.Fuji（富士山）the view was fabulous!!!

Although it was quite cold, we were blessed with a sunny weather ☀

The snow❄covered

Fuji-san

was strikingly beautiful against bright blue sky, surrounded by a neat row of old tall trees, gorgeous!!!

We departed at 6am. (yawn!)

It took about 1&half hour drive from Tokyo. We beat the traffic and arrived quite early, so we had plenty of time for breakfast and a short practice before the round.

The am round (OUT) was tough! My body didn't move the way I wanted. My putt sucked. All the good shots I thought I've mastered during my golf lessons just disappeared.

I finished the first half with a horrible score of 72!!!

After lunch things improved a little. Some of my putts did make way to the holes, earning me 2 PARs and a score of 59 for the pm round (IN).

A total score of 131 ... (sigh) ... still a looooong way to go ...

well, they say "Practice makes better" ...

I vow to make it to 100 by end of 2011. Practice, practice, practice!!!

A golf summer

This summer, apart from tennis, Isamu and I did something new → Golf.

We were quite addicted to it, and couldn't help indulging ourselves to a week-off doing only golf. YES!!!

We usually go to Appi Kogen (Appi highland) in Iwate prefecture during winter season, but this summer

we decided to experience the summer Appi.

It turned out really really great!

Day time was quite hot, easily reaching 30°C, but at night it was freezing that we woke up to get the blanket.

Appi Kogen Golf Club consisted of 4 courses:

1) Iwate-san Course (overlooking Mt. Iwate, looking mysterious surrounded by a ring of cloud)

2) Hachimantai Course

3) Towada Course

4) Ryugamori Course

※1&2 must be accompanied by caddie, while 3&4 is ok w/o caddie

During the week, we were blessed with perfect weather. No rain, a little hot in the midday, but was bearable.

I especially love the Hole 6 of Ryugamori Course, 'cause it's challenging.

The tee up (ladies tee) is right in front of a pond, intimidating but exciting!!!

It's strange how the psychological aspect command oneself ... just because there is a pond right in front of my nose, I got intimidated and lost my swing ... :(

During a week play, I lost only one ball in this hole. The ball plunged right into the pond, earning me a water hazard penalty :(

Isamu scored an

"accidentally"

HOLE-IN-ONE in the Hole 3 of Towada Course.

Lucky fella! :)

Too bad he couldn't replicate the miracle shot

on other days ...

After a whole day of golfing, we were starving and treated ourselves to a BIIIIIGGGG dinner → barbeque!!! yummy!!!

Juicy meat, rich red wine, plenty of veggies ... this is what I call enjoying life :)

The night sky in the Appi highland was really beautiful. The air was cold but clear, full of twinkling stars. Too bad my camera suck, not good enough to take a snapshot of those ★☆★☆★★☆★☆★