Today I woke up feeling much better and just as well as it was the scheduled morning for the playing of the Lanzarote 2024 Open. Karen had told me not to try and win as she didn’t want to have to take the mammoth trophy home again.
I managed another 10 hours sleep which must have helped and without me disturbing her Karen slept on until 9.15am as well. We were on time for the 10.30am meet in Reception for the short walk to the Mini Golf Course. The weather was lovely and perfect playing conditions.
Before we started, I felt I was likely to be hampered as my putter was designed for a giant to use and I was not convinced my well used ball was perfectly round either. I was getting my excuses in early.
With 8 entrants for this year’s contest, we played out each hole in age order and then moved the age on for the hole. I mused in my head that with the course only having 15 holes that this could prove advantageous for someone – how right that was to prove. As ever there was an advantage in not going first on a hole to learn from others mistakes.
I was consistent most of the way round and had a 2 shot lead going to the last. It was then though my turn to go first again (mathematicians will be able to work out where I was in age order of players). There was what looked like a difficult route or an easier one. I decided to play safe and went for the easy option. Bad choice as the easier looking route was in fact twice as difficult as the harder looking one. I ended up taking 6. Everyone else took the more difficult looking route which was much easier and I think everyone made up at least 2 shots on me. In the end I tied with Glenn for the championship. It was a real laugh all the way round and took us 90 minutes to complete. As Neil says though it’s not the taking part that matters – it’s the winning!
As joint winner I joined Glenn in buying a couple of large jugs of sangria for everyone at Spoons to celebrate on the way back to the apartments. It was lovely to be able to sit in the sun enjoying them reliving the highs and lows of the rounds.
Back in the apartment we boiled some eggs for our lunch which I ate on the balcony just as the rain started. What we thought was going to be a short shower lasted a good couple of hours, enough for us to watch ‘Death on the Nile’ on TV whilst pottering also around inside.
As soon as the rain had passed we walked down to Dos Mil to get Karen some much needed caffeine and watched as people slowly emerged out again in the sunshine onto the promenade.
For our meal tonight we went to one of the Trattoria and were sat at a good round table where Bill regaled us of stories of his various motoring escapades. The food was fresh and good even if the service was somewhat fierce at times.
The others headed in a taxi to the old town to find a music bar whilst Karen & I wandered over to La Ola for another drink. There was a guy playing a saxophone to backing tracks who was good. He was interacting with the crowd on the dancefloor and it all had a good vibe. One more drink was enough for us though and we headed back for the night.
Sunday morning saw us up at a reasonable time. The weather forecast was for showers during the day and so as soon as shower had passed over and we had blue sky we headed out for a walk to Matagorda (turning left). We headed to O’Sheas which is about 2 ¼ miles away. The weather was beautiful even if it was still wet underfoot.
We got a prime table outside at the front and settled into having a hot breakfast with some hot drinks. It was lovely sitting there in the sun chatting and making plans. For the first time this trip I felt as though I was properly on holiday. In fact, our lazy brunch here is always one of the highlights of our trips to Lanzarote for me. Silly I know, but to me it makes the trip worthwhile.
