AFF Gathering #4, Brisbane, October 22-24, 2010

[MAX_1]

Brisbane golf club today. Just to wet your appetite.

Will post some more pictures hopefully a bit better than this iphone photo.

 

[Flashback]

Brisbane golf club today. Just to wet your appetite.

Isn't it 'whet' ?

 

[JohnK]

Isn't it 'whet' ?

Wet is close enough.

 

[MAX_1]

Isn't it 'whet' ?

Since txt msg bekaim poplr mi spelin has chaingd a litl.

 

[drron]

I have just done the Google form-there is a problem.In Moscow it was in Russian,here in BUD in hungarian but I think I got it.
Definite for golf on Sunday + lunch.Still to decide if we will be down saturday(with mrsdrron)for the dinner-is there a cutoff date for answers?

 

[QF WP]

Hmm, now for a hotel - Hilton or Holiday Inn, hmm....

If you need a MFAS voucher, let me know

 

[anat0l]

I have just done the Google form-there is a problem.In Moscow it was in Russian,here in BUD in hungarian but I think I got it.
Definite for golf on Sunday + lunch.Still to decide if we will be down saturday(with mrsdrron)for the dinner-is there a cutoff date for answers?

No cut off, but earlier is always better. Saturday dinner is not so bad to get 'last minute' (I'll ask for a bigger number than what I think will come), but Friday dinner might be a problem if the numbers are flaky and they ask for a non-refundable deposit in advance.

I can't believe the Google Form was dynamically (or rather not) translated! You filled in the form mostly "right", although on the question about any children under 13 coming you put.... ah, better not say....

As I said, if you change your mind on attendance numbers, just fill in the form again and submit.

 

[QF WP]

Thanks for your assistance Peter.

We can cover most details later but the most important things are

We have 2 tee-offs for 7:05am and 7:12am which is enough for 8 players.

The unaccompanied member guest rate is $70 per player and a cart costs $38 so that makes it $89 per player to play what I believe is a very good golf course. Can't remember what we paid to play Jindalee but Brisbane Golf Club will be much better.

Does anyone who has expressed interest to play have any questions or second thoughts? It would be desirable to have an even number of players to split the cart costs and if we have 6 interested then we can have a group of 4 and a group of 2

Max_1, also appreciate your assistance here. I know a couple of members, but haven't played the course for a while. Was trying to work out on which hole the photo was taken. Life will be tough up in Townsville

My only second thought is that I'd better ring Royal Pines and see if my sand wedge that I left on the course a couple of weeks ago, has been handed in. Won't be very useful for 92% of players - it's a left handed, double gripped Henry Griffits, so wouldn't be a good addition to most bags. Tried playing McLeod last weekend using my wedge instead, which wasn't as successful

 

[drron]

I did wonder what the 13 referred to.Just put her age down as 21!

 

[MAX_1]

Was trying to work out on which hole the photo was taken.

Lindsay, Bris GC is undergoing some reconstruction to a couple of hole. We are lucky that we have 21 holes and the hole that I have shown is the original Hole 12 that is no longer part of the regular 18 holes. It is a great hole and has been fully maintained. It begins with a drive up the hill and once over the hill, the green is dogleg to the right down the hill. The green is well bunkered and behind the green runs a small creek. I always enjoyed playing this hole but many members did not like the blind green.The photo was taken from the top of the hill looking down at the green , but I guess that iphones don't photograph as good as cameras.

 

[JohnK]

It begins with a drive up the hill and once over the hill, the green is dogleg to the right down the hill.

Aren't all holes a dogleg?

The green is well bunkered and behind the green runs a small creek.

And as I end up short most of the time I would not get into trouble behind the green.

 

[serfty]

Thanks Max, I am really looking forward to this.

I will also have a rental car if any need a lift for the golf.

 

[samh004]

My only second thought is that I'd better ring Royal Pines and see if my sand wedge that I left on the course a couple of weeks ago, has been handed in.

I hope you get it back but RPR doesn’t tend to be the most honest course on the coast.

 

[JohnK]

I will also have a rental car if any need a lift for the golf.

Possibly but may not be feasible unless you are coming back to the city.

I hope you get it back but RPR doesn’t tend to be the most honest course on the coast.

Don't mean to be rude (or offensive to club pros) but a lot of golf clubs found on course and handed in to pro shops end being available for sale in the second hand bin if they have not been collected by the owner.

 

[MAX_1]

Brisbane Golf Club (Yeerongpilly, Queensland, Australia) - GOLFSelect Australian Golf Course Database

Some information about Brisbane Golf Club. Includes some photos and also directions to get there. The course is opposite the new Tennis Centre and 8 km from the city centre.

When reading the hole information the second 9 is not as its written as 3 holes are under reconstruction and replaced by 3 holes from the original course. (These are just as good )
The pro shop hands out a layout map.
Brisbane GC has strict dress standards and I am happy to send a copy to all players.PM your email address to me. (worth while to prevent being asked to buy clothes or not being able to play)

 

[serfty]

Possibly but may not be feasible unless you are coming back to the city. ...

Given that it's at Yeerongpilly it should be quite the simple thing to do!

The Brisbane Golf Club to Brisbane Airport, Queensland - Google Maps

 

[anat0l]

Inside the Organisers' Minds.... (part 1 of 3)

An update on what's been happening with the organisational sides of things..... this has all been posted in the interests of information and creating an open dialogue...

Firstly, to everyone who has registered their interest via the sign-up form, thank you very much. That gives us some indicative numbers to work with.

The other day I walked around the city and paid a visit to Oyama restaurant and Bar Soma to scope out the places in person, as well as get some indicative prices.

Oyama is a small-ish restaurant but has two teppanyaki tables and the remaining tables are set up for a la carte dining. Their largest teppanyaki table can accommodate up to 25 people.

Here's a Wikipedia article for those of you not familiar with teppanyaki.

The chef I talked to that day was of Chinese origin, not Japanese, although this seems like an increasing trend these days, except in the more expensive establishments. They are pretty easy going (no doubt helped by the fact that they were very quiet on Tuesday night, and the chef was sipping on a red wine). They do not have menus online, but they let me have photocopies of their menu. Here are the options:

Teppanyaki Set Menu

• Sakura set ($45 pp)
  • Salad
  • Miso Soup
  • Chicken Teriyaki
  • Eye Fillet Steak
  • Prawn
  • Stir Fried Vegetables
  • Fried Rice
  • Fruits
• Plum set ($55 pp)
  • Same as Sakura set, but instead of Eye Fillet Steak, insert Moreton Bay Bug

There are two other more expensive sets, but I think most people will want to stick with one of the above selections.

They also have a la carte set menus; there are 3 of them, but this one appears to be the best value IMO:

• $56 pp
  • Sashimi - raw fish served with soy sauce and wasabi
  • Vegetable Salad
  • Dobinmushi - clear soup with seafood and vegetables served in a teapot
  • Tempura - fresh seafood and vegetables friend in light batter
  • Main Course - a choice of...
    • Sukiyaki - vegetables, bean curd and sliced beef in sukiyaki sauce all cooked in an iron pan at the table
    • Shabu shabu - sliced beef, bean curd and vegetables cooked in broth at the table; a more savoury variant of sukiyaki
  • Rice
  • Dessert - choice of ice-cream or fruit

Vegetarians and allergies can be accommodated (through substitution of dishes), but the chef needs to be informed in advance.

Now a booking at Oyama requires a non-refundable deposit of $15 pp. This is taken at the time of booking and is used as credit against the final bill settled after the meal. None of the above meal sets includes drinks. To make things simpler for us and them, we should only select one set meal for everyone (barring substitutions for special dietary needs). For Friday nights, they have sitting times at 6pm and 8pm; if we make a booking, most likely we will select the 8pm time slot for maximum flexibility.

 

[anat0l]

Inside the Organisers' Minds.... (part 2 of 3)

It took me a bit to find Bar Soma, which is located opposite the small complex of luxury car dealerships at the "Northern" fringe of Fortitude Valley. Bar Soma is about a 900m straight line walk away from Oyama. Great for working off some pre-dinner alcohol....

Bar Soma has quite a laid back attitude and look to it. The bar is a three level affair - the second level is where the fine bar sits. The first level (ground) is furnished with artworks, of which I am told are rotated depending on what is being featured. As I was there in the evening after the sun had gone to bed, the lighting near the bar is only subtle, with candlelight illuminating the impressive shelves of spirits.

A generous coughtail selection for those who wish to partake, but not to be outdone is a fairly good selection of wines by the glass. Prices are on the high end, as to be expected in the city and indeed pretty much on par with every good looking bar in the city (including those inside hotels). The beer prices were not printed in the bar menu and I didn't ask for one. But for most part when I was checking out bars, the price you'll pay for bottled beers is about $5 per bottle; about $7ish for imports. Wine by the glass starts at about $8 per glass.

The barman told me that it doesn't get very busy at 5pm, even on Fridays, and they're just opening then. The place doesn't take off until late into the night, so even without a reservation we should be able to do well with respect to being able to hear each other.

 

[QF WP]

Oh, I remmber that hole (it was the only one I could think of with a RTL slope)...nothing worse than not making the brow of the hill with your drive from the tee and having to take a sighter using the trees and trust your instincts with your distance control (and accuracy) of your club. Then the little par 3 after it

There are two holes I particularly like - both have drives from the tee flanked by water [one used to be over (2nd hole), the other a dog leg around to the left (5th)]. After reviewing the holes, I can picture most of the Holes on the front 9.

 

[NM]

Given that it's at Yeerongpilly it should be quite the simple thing to do!

The Brisbane Golf Club to Brisbane Airport, Queensland - Google Maps

Forget the SE Freeway and through the city. If heading to Breaky Creek or the airport, stick to Ipswich road -> Main St -> Storey Bridge and follow the airport signs to McLachlan St, James St, Wickham St, Breakfast Creek Rd