First hole in one...........kinda....sort of......

[need_my_wedge]

I`m away in Japan at the moment, wife`s been meeting up with old friends for a couple of days, leaving me and my son with the in-laws. Fortunately, yesterday we found a local driving range that hires out clubs. Spent a couple of hours there yesterday and was hopeless, today was a different story. They gave me some much better clubs to play with, still largely old, but better than yesterday. Hit the ball so sweet and effortless today, I wish I could do this consistently.

The range is a little expensive, about 1.75 entrance fee, 2.00 per club hire, and 10p per ball - 40 quid gone in two days on two range sessions.....

Anyways, it`s quite a smart range

You can see the "hole in one green" as it`s marked at 90 yds. I hit a nice soft pitching wedge, it pitched about 4ft right of the pin and span sideways straight at the cup, rolling straight in. OK, it`s not on a course, but it`s still a hole in one You can imagine my surprise when alarm bells started ringing and sirens were going off - thought it was an earthquake warning at first until the old boy standing next to me jumped and shouted "haita" (it`s in). He then told me to go to the front desk were I was offered a number of prizes, the best being some ice cold cans of Asahi Superdry beer.

I won something, so I`m counting it

 

[birdieman]

I thought 'Haita' meant 'you jammy bar steward' in Japanese?!

Well done, it's a hole in one but is it really a hole in one?

Love the alarm bells going off thing

 

[Losttheplot]

Nice hole in one but don't think it qualifies.... But if I was you I'd argue the point!!

 

[need_my_wedge]

I`m drinking the beer right now......good enough for me

 

[Bratty]

Congratulations! If they've got alarms going off, they obviously count it as impressive, and so do I.

Well done, sir!

 

[griffgolf]

Its a hole in one of some kind so enjoy that beer..well done

 

[ADB]

Congratulations - better than having to but the beers - everyone wins!!

On a non-golfing point, how are things in Japan at the moment - are you in an earthquake hit zone? Are people nrevous of more and stronger aftershocks or is everyone trying to carry on as normal?

 

[Steviebhoy]

Well done!!

Could just imagine what your face must have been like when the alarm bells started ringing haha that would have killed me if it happened to me

Free beer from it so well done

 

[need_my_wedge]

On a non-golfing point, how are things in Japan at the moment - are you in an earthquake hit zone? Are people nrevous of more and stronger aftershocks or is everyone trying to carry on as normal?

The whole of Japan is one big earthquake zone... my in-laws live in Kobe, which was hit badly in the last big one back in `95. Fortunately, not affected as such this time. As for the folks in Tohoku, I`ve lost count of the number of earthquakes that are hitting them on a daily basis in the two weeks I`ve been here. Two days ago alone, there were at least a dozen alarms flashing up on the TV thoughout the day, still getting hit with magnitude 7 & 6 regularly. It must be a real b@st@rd for those living and trying to clean up there. Today the magnitude has dropped to around 4, but that`s still 4 too much for my liking, and still way too many of them. I`m really impressed with the way that the whole country has joined together in support, nearly every commercial break on every TV channel sees messages of support from celebrities or people from all over Japan. Even the Emperor - who is rarely seen in public, let alone talk to joe public, has been up to the earthquake region with his wife. I`ve seen film of them both (baring in mind that they are both almost 80) on their knees beside many individuals chatting with them and offering support. This is something unheard of and it`s amazing to see, especially since the government hasn`t been near the area....

I know life is still extremely hard in the main hit areas, it will take a long time to clear up, especially the trouble in Fukushima, but I`m amazed and impressed at the resilience of the people.

Just to add, the death total so far is 13,000 with another 14,000 still missing. They will also be declared dead if they are not found with in another two months.....

 

[ADB]

I think the Japanese have been magnificent throughout this horrific period of their history. I think the way they have dealt with adversity and pulled together is admirable and has shown what a proud and patriotic nation they are.

 

[znuffzz]

^ agreed - my wife is japanese and my in-laws ared down in Miyazaki/Kagoshima, so fortunately not affected, however the solidarity the japanese have as a nation is massivley impressive