Rain Rain Rain

We got the two major groups out of here on Friday. The evening group left in pouring rain. They had to load luggage on the bus in the rain. I am afraid some of them got very wet. We have a large low pressure area just off the coast and it has not moved for a few days. We continue to get heavy rainfall. The courses are closed as well as the beaches. Our beach has serious damage caused by the high surf and tides.

At Currumbin there was a large crowd watching the surf at Elephant Rock. The surf club parking lot is under water at times and covered in sand. The club is still open but you have to walk across the water to get in.

The pro surfing championship has been postponed until the conditions improve.

The temperature fell to a low of 19 last night with a day time high of 24. It feels cold and winter like.

The outdoor restaurants have their plastic wind Shields down. We went to Sage in Broadbeach last night for a very good steak dinner. It was a little cold at first. I still had shorts on while everyone else was in long pants.

Royal Pines

What a contrast from Kooralbyne to the Royal Pines.

Kooralbyne has the more interesting lay out but was in such poor shape. Royal Pines is the home to the LPGA February stop. The course was in great shape and also very forgiving. The fairways were large and the greens were fast. The total package at this resort is outstanding. The tennis, hotel, golf, marina and practice areas are among the top resorts in Queensland. The price for golf was $79 with our corporate membership.

Rain threatened all day but never came. The course was wet and carts had to stay to cart paths. This is the third wet course this week. The courses are saturated with water. Right now there is a large low pressure off the coast that is producing rain and showers. South of here in New South Wales some areas have had over 30 cm of rain in the last few days and flood warnings have been issued.

Yesterday we played Banora and got rained out on the 12 hole. This course also is water logged and carts were not permitted on the course.

Today the majority of golfers depart and with the weather they will be happy to leave the rain. The locals were saying that this past few days have been like a bad winter day even though it is only the first day of autumn.

24 golfers are taking their cars to the local airport this AM for a flight to Sydney. Another 18 are departing tonight at 8PM from Gold Coast Car Rental for Brisbane and home via Singapore.

The other night we stopped in Manly for dinner before taking clients to the airport. We had a meal at Wilson's Boat Shed. Good location but at night you could not see anything as it is right on the water. It would be a good spot for lunch on hot summer day. The food was expensive and not all that good. I will use the hotel and the yautch club for future stops.

Manly is worth taking a side trip to as it has interesting shops, restaurants and is on the ocean.

Last night took a quick trip to Kingscliff to help the Vancouver ladies carry their suitcases to the car for their departure today.