Golfing on Moorea

Gaby's return journey is not without complications. That's what you get when you book through third-party providers. The so-called cheap flight cost €1600 including insurance and handling fees. However, the third-party provider does not cover any costs for flight cancellations or missed connecting flights. Even the check-in from Frankfurt to San Francisco, which the organizer wanted to take care of, had to be done by Gaby herself in the end. In San Francisco, the airline, French Bee, didn't want to take Gaby at all because she didn't have a return ticket. Although she had an official crew list copied by me with her, it was not recognized. Only when I, as skipper, was able to make it clear that she was a crew member of the Katinka was the return ticket, which she had bought in the meantime, canceled. Finally, she arrived in Papeete two hours late after 38 hours. In the end, it was a horror trip that she will not soon forget.

Gaby happy again

In the meantime, we have planned a two-day trip to Moorea with SY Freya and SY Tuvalu. Helmut and Babsy play golf and I let myself be persuaded over dinner to join them for a round. I ignore the fact that Gaby and I haven't held a club in our hands for five years. So we quickly organize a second bungalow. We arrive the day before, as our tee time is at 8 a.m., and use the beautiful evening for a barbecue. We end the evening on the beach with guitar music and singing. While one group of us takes a trip around the island by car, our flight of four is at the first tee at 8:00 a.m. on the dot. 

Moorea Green Pearl Golf Course

The equipment I had ordered the day before was already waiting in the pro shop. After five years of abstinence from golf, my doubts about hitting a ball at all had increased, so I stood on the first tee and tried to place the ball on the tee with trembling hands. I step back once more to get a feel for the direction. To keep away from the water to the side, I aim for a palm tree to the left of the fairway. The weather is kind to me, a cloud provides the necessary shade. After all, it's already 28 °C at 8:00 in the morning. I position myself for the tee shot and recall the tee shot sequences from deep in my memory. Foot position, heel of the front foot level with the ball. Swing loosely, under no circumstances with force. Grip the club with your fingertips and fold your hands as you swing through. Keep your glove arm extended. Exhale deeply once more. Ping! That ping that makes golf an addiction. Every golfer knows what I mean. A shot that you hit cleanly and a ball that flies far in an optimal trajectory. So Ping does it and the ball flies with a slight left turn towards the flag. Playing golf is like riding a bike, you never forget how to do it. 

Moorea Golf Course Green Pearl

Nevertheless, you also learn humility when playing golf, because even with a lot of practice, there is no continuous game of golf. That's what makes the game so interesting. Gaby also copes well with the course, although there are a few water hazards in the way. We play along the sea, with a fantastic backdrop of Tahiti. The course then becomes hillier. The most beautiful hole for us is hole 16, par 5, 517 meters. It leads down the hill in front of a fascinating mountain backdrop, with green wooded slopes and a view of the sea. 

Loch 16 Par5, 517m

Although the round was not cheap, we enjoyed the day. Hungry and exhausted, we arrived at the clubhouse and were impressed by the professional management of the club. The food is excellent and the loss of fluids is amply compensated for. In the evening, we met up with the rest of our group again and took the last ferry to Tahiti. We had two wonderful vacation days without thinking about sailing again and again. 

Moorea Golfcar with Gaby (The green one is the car)

But everyday life is catching up with us again. The sails I ordered are still not ready and so I have to take care of them again next week. If the delivery is delayed any further, we probably won't be able to get to New Zealand this year. So we will stay in French Polynesia and visit the Society Islands. Papeete should then be the place where we wait out the next hurricane season. As always, not planned, but you're used to that from us. But it wouldn't be very smart to skip the islands and possibly miss out on Fiji. But of course this is also part of the planning and can change at any time. Anyway, despite the round of golf, we don't wish you a great game, but fair winds and keep a stiff upper lip.