Today it is with a heavy heart that we play our last game of golf on the tour and we end it with the most difficult course in Asia.  It was another hot glorious day and we all woke up jet lagged even though we all had a good nights sleep.

Our caddies were all waiting for us, having identified our bags and got them on the buggy already - the Olazabal's greens had been cored not that we found them to be bad like our corings.  The greens are generally really slow here in China which is hard to get used to after playing the courses in France.

Todays comp was Multiplier skins, so we don't know who our partner is until the end, the mission of the game is not to get a wipe as anything time 0 is 0!  Playing the hardest course in Asia - that is unlikely.  It was quite humid, the caddies looked after us with food and water (even a massage in my case).

The course boasts 151 bunkers And 25 on the 15th alone, yes I happened to find 2 of them and the water hazard!  The course again like yesterdays had great elevations and the fairways had huge mounds, the greens were tricky - so it was nice having a caddy to read the greens for you.

After Lewis's stellar round yesterday, her caddie was utterly disappointed with her performance today.  The putting was off and she managed 30 points.  Lee was the star of the day, plotting her way around the course very neatly and scoring 35 points which included 5 x 3 putts. Stenson was pretty unlucky with some of his bounces and was suffering from fatigue and didn't have a good day on the course today.  Whilst Garcia was striking the ball beautifully but sometime just a little too right for the tight doglegs and unforgiving rough.  Garcia had the second best score with 33 points.

This means that the Missy Missy's well and truly won the Ryder Cup CHANCE leg.  Lee having the best score got to choose her partner (blind draw) and chose Lewis.  This combination netted 11 skins, whereas the Stenson and Garcia combination had 7 skins.

This being the last game the Champion of Champions is concluded, this was won by Lewis with 112 points which rewards her consistency throughout the tour.  This prize of $50 also boosted her into the Rich List for the Tour winning $312.50.  Leaderboards below:

This ends the travel blog for this trip, til next time - please keep well, healthy, fit and take care.  We hope you enjoyed the escapades, tales of woe, excitement and general information.  We loved having you come along on our journey and thank you for all your messages.

After a great nights sleep for Sharon and John and a not so good nights sleep for Jen and Neil - we met at breakfast - ready for our challenge of the day.  Today we are playing the Annika Course which is the first course she designed.  It is set in the hills and has a total elevation of just over 300 metres so there are some spectacular views and also a lot of elevated greens - which make clubbing a little more difficult.

We had caddies (I think they are mandatory), we had Meiling (aka Beauty) who was organised by Kevin and she and the other caddies spoke very good english.  The pack that we got said you need to tip the caddies Ÿ100 ($20) to Ÿ150 ($30) - we were not that impressed with this wondering if we needed caddies etc..  Well I think 2 holes in we were happy to tip them Ÿ200.  They brought us drinks, fruit, snacks and there wasn't anything they wouldn't do for you.  Jen even had a bit of mud on her golf tee after one shot and her caddie insisted on wiping the tee clean.

Jen tried to jump into the cart on one hole and her caddie gestured to her to walk by using her two fingers and making the international walking sign.  The caddies read the greens, clubbed you, showed you where to go and generally organised you which helps you have a very quick game.  It was hot, 32c - we always had ice cold water and when they thought we needed a snack they called down a mandarin and peeled it for us.  Li (Jens caddy) had chopped up some melon and served it to us with tooth picks as if we were at a cocktail party - this was great and just what we felt like until it went in our mouths, I think she sprinkled it with Aloe Juice or something that was so bitter.  Jen wasn't having any of it and quietly spat hers out - I had to make a diversion into the buses so she could get rid of the evidence.  I on the other hand had to eat this bitter arsenic melon (well just the two pieces).  But Jen and I did have a good long belly laugh about this - such a shame that such a nice gesture went so wrong.  I think Li may have tasted the melon because she didn't offer it to us again.

​Jen had something stuck in her teeth and out came a little mirror and a toothpick.  Now that is service and worth a big tip!!

Comp of the day was singles, the goodie bags are not in play.  The caddies were very impressed with Jen and my handicaps and we had out own little groupies - clapping and cheering for shots.  They got so exciting when we were putting for birdies and sad when we didn't get them.  My caddies was telling anyone that would listen that I was 3 over for the day.  It was just so enjoyable and such a unique experience.  The golf course was a surprise, the greens are like Bonville greens with that very broad leaf and they are slow 7.5 on the stimp.

Garcia was loving having his very own extra set of eyes, it reminded him of his very good golfing days in South Africa.  Whenever he went right his caddy would produce another ball and tell him to aim further left.  Although Garcia was not happy with the way he hit the ball, he scrambled well and ended the day with 34 points.

Stenson was hitting the ball well today and just couldn't get the pace of the greens leaving several balls on the edge of the cup.  There were some cracking recovery shots and a very respectable 33 points.

Lee and Lewis, decided to wipe the Ryder Cup score from Le Golf National, so the Ryder Cup is still on the go and the Mr Mr's had 67 points.

Lee had a very good front nine and protecting her shoulder and now new injury of tennis elbow - the back 9 was a challenge.  There were some excellent tee shots and some spectacular approach shots.  The putts, much like Stenson's sat on the edge of the hole (if only the metre cheater was in play).  Lee scored 29 points.

Lewis was steady from start to finish, the pace of the greens proving a challenge and her score could have been a lot better.  But she won the day with an excellent 37 points, giving her caddy reason to celebrate with a few birdies.  This gives the Mr Mr's the Ryder Cup Point.

The course was fantastic and it felt like we were on the Jurassic Park set, with towering mountains and forests every where.  There is a lot of damage from the Typhoon that hit Hong Kong, you can see the tree branches and debris in the rough where they are still cleaning it up.

​Some photos of the course below:

After golf Jen, Neil and I visited the local mall (we had to go and get cash for all the tipping - as the hotel had run out of money).  This was a treat, the bus transfer with a total lack of shock absorbers if you are sitting in the back row!  Very efficient and the Mall wasn't much to write home about, we did enter the supermarket just to look and tasted cucumber crisps, which really tasted of cucumber.  Jen liked them a lot.  then it was back home after a strong coffee as we were all struggling to stay awake.

When we got back to the room we had to keep moving as we were going to go to sleep, so we went on an explore of the resort, which included a table tennis match.  Neil is still the scratch player, John was pretty good without his glasses, Jen a very neat player and gets the ball back much to the annoyance of her partner and as for me - I certainly need some practice. I even had to fall to get out of my humiliation, taking a fall across the floor just missing hitting my head on the other ping pong table.

​We found the 3D photo room (as you can see below) and then off to eat and bed.

Today we relocate to China via Honk Kong.  Our flights go to Hong Kong then we have a transfer from Hong Kong Airport to Mission Hills Dongguan.

Mission Hills is the Worlds largest golf club and comprises Shenzen, Dongguan, Mid Valley and Haiku.  The transfer and flights were pretty uneventful, even with the first flight being delayed we had plenty of time for our connection.

I managed to sleep from just after take off for 11 hours, Jen did the next best with about 5 hours and the boys didn't do so well.  When collecting our luggage there was a sign for Jen and Neil to contact baggage services (not a good sign).  Apparently 2 x pieces of their luggage didn't make the flight - they didn't know which 2 pieces until the other 2 had been collected.  It was best that it was the golf clubs and it was our good fortune that it was the clubs that had missed the flight.  Not an issue as they were on the next flight and would be delivered to Mission Hills that evening.  Hopefully before our 9:30am tee off time.

We were being picked up by Kenny, meeting him by Pret-a-Manger.  We were a little late as we had to wait a while for the luggage, the one down side of the A380 nearly 500 passengers luggage to off load.  Then Jen and Neil had to complete the paperwork - that all happened without much hassle.  Kenny - very easy to recognise the blond haired Hong Kong Chinese gentleman.  He was excellent and took us on out nearly 2 hour transfer to Mission Hills.  We travelled across some spectacular bridges as we navigated the islands of Hong Kong then to mainland china.  Shenzen. is the closest Chinese city to Hong Kong and this is where we were going.  You have to exit Hong Kong which is done whilst you are seated in the car, but your passports get taken and reviewed.  Then you cross the bridge of the Shenzen River which forms the border between Hong Kong and China and on the other side you step into the chaos of the border crossing.

We happened to time it at the end of school and there were hundreds of school children crossing, they went in a separate bit to us but their little chatter was quite deafening but a pleasant happy chatter.  We then have to get out of the car, with our suit cases (not the golf bags) and go through Passport control which was fairly standard, then back out and look for our blond haired Asian the other side of the border - reload the car and then off we went.

Within no time we were at Dongguan which is next to Shenzen and the Hotel.  I have to say that the service at this hotel has been exceptional.  I know that Kevin, who organised the trip for us had called ahead and warned about the lost bags, we had Jing our personal guide and helper - who sorted everything out from adjoining rooms to a tour of the hotel and our massages.  We first went to our rooms which are mini palaces, they are spacious and very very comfortable with gorgeous views over the Olazabal Course and Lake. 

Then back downstairs to meet Jing for our tour, Mission Hills Dongguan is very big and it is about a 5 minute walk to the club house and pro shop (a double storey pro shop) with its own kids section!  Jens eyes nearly popped out of her head - that was until she saw the prices.  We then had a beer and went for our 90 minute massages, which were heavenly.

It was an early night after receiving the good news that Jen and Neil's golf bags had arrived.  All was good.

Below are some pictures of our rooms and view from the room.

​

Today is the big day, we play Albatros course at Le Golf National which is the same course that the  Ryder Cup was played on, they have also kindly left the pin placing as they were in the singles. We have decided on no goodie bags so that we can see how few points we score.  They have left the rough and course in the same condition as it was and we are the lucky few who get to experience it today.

Comp of the day is Better ball matchplay,  it is a revenge match of the battle of the spouses, and Ryder Cup is in play with a must win for the Mr Mr’s.
It is a shot gun start and we are starting on hole 9 which is one of the holes we watched the most.   We were all nervous, I think that we had seen so many difficult holes and heard so much about the course that we let ourselves get too intimidated by the “beast” as she is affectionately known.  

I was playing off 7, kaching! Jen off 13 and Neil off 30 and poor old John only got 3 extra shots.  They use the new handicapping system where they add the difference of the course rating to par onto your handicap.
Garcia bravely stood up and nailed one off the tee and continued that form throughout the day, his wedge play exceptional and if he hadn’t waiting 10 holes to get the pace of the greens he would have been on fire.  On 15th Garcia put his approach shot into the water, so plays his approach from the dropping zone and nearly holed out leaving himself a tap in 5 for 3 points.  He finished with a very very respectable 34 points.

Stenson, struggled with the driver and let me tell you if you are not hitting the ball off the tee well the. You are in the deep poo.  He persevered and righted the ship to score some points on the home stretch.  As you may or may not know, we watched the final singles matches go through the 11th green and we would have seen at least 20 putts from 3 to 10 foot past the pin.  Only one of these putts was made, well let’s make that 2!  Stenson read the green, stood up to the putt and respectfully let it dribble down to the hole and into the cup.

Lee was going really well, driving straight down the middle.  A beautiful tee shot onto 16 and a good putt notched her first birdie. Playing the 3rd, Lee had played a beautiful drive, superb second only to catch the tree and drop into the bunker.  Her bunker shot was good by normal course standards, but on Le Golf National after Ryder Cup with greens running at 12 on the stump metre it just rolled off.  She let her playing partners know that she really really wanted to par this hole, asked for the flag to be left out and proceeded to chip in.  Unfortunately she injured her shoulder which was doing so well and the day went from bad to worse for her.  Not only was the shoulder sore, the golf deteriorated as well. But being the trooper she is and not wanting to let her partners down she soldiered on to a well earned 26 points.
Lewis started off very well leaving herself a short chip in on the 9th and managed to right royally stuff it up.  She then gave herself a stern talking to and pulled it together getting 19 points on the back 9, ending up with a winning 35 points.  After a very near hole in one on 16 she left herself with a tap in birdie, and her dream hole to birdie was the 18th which she managed.  Chicken dinner for Lewis, wining wine and golf towel in the ladies Comp.

The consensus in the group was that the course was tough but fair.  The greens true, the water carries not unreasonable, overall a fitting end to our French leg of the tour.

We also were hosted in the USA pavilion, so saw their dressing rooms and relaxation areas and the facilities that they had.  I have to say that there is t. UCL that they want for.  Even the walls were decorated with past winning imagery.  Whilst we were playing they were still dismantling the stands , TV towers and villages.  The work that goes into setting that up is just incredible.

A truly spectacular day.

Lee hits third onto the 1st hole - spectacular camera work I think, just about as good as the shot itself.

Comp of the day was battle of the spouses, Lee and Garcia were 1up playing the last hole which is the par 3 8th.  Stenson won the hole to bring the battle of the sexes to a very friendly tie, all sharing the prize money.

So the Chance Ryder Cup has been won by the Missy Missy’s but we may have to think of another challenge for China.  The leaderboards are as follows

A lovely farewell dinner at our local favourite Brasserie and a twinkle from the tower.

Accuweather was forecasting for rain, this will be the first bit of rain since we have been on holiday (21 days).  Joyenval is a very posh club just outside of Paris, it has 2 courses Marly and Retz and we played Retz.  Another bus trip around Paris, Fashion Week is on, so there are lots of events on and as a consequence lots of traffic (we are always late for were we are supposed to be).

Joyenval is an exclusive private club who like us at Avondale doesn't have the need for reserving tee-times given total membership is restricted to 550 players.

Some photos below of some of the sights we saw today, Army Museum, Grand Palais and Petit Palais side by side.

The course designed by Trent Jones Snr was interesting, it was up and down and greens very well protected by sculpted bunkers.  The course has issues with and then makes a feature of wild boar digging up the course - you will see in the photos huge patches of turf dug up (like its under construction) - this is all over the place except greens and tees and this is because the wild boar don't like some chemical that is used on greens and tees.

The course is set amongst a forest, there are also many fruit trees, we did pick and eat an apple which was somewhat tart but delicious.  There was an ancient stone wall running through the property it was in tact in places and a ruin in others, all adding to the old world historical charm of the place.

There were oak trees with acorns dropping and chestnuts with these lethal pods. Not sure if you know this but chestnuts are housed in this nice looking green furry outer shell.  Well don”t be fooled these are the land version of sea urchins, or the plant version of the porcupine.  I gently went to grab one and it pricked the hell out of me.  I then went to play a shot under a chestnut tree and I felt like I was about to be stoned, these lethal prickly land urchins were dropping all around me, naturally I hit a bad shot.

We were off the first, no goodie bags in play and individual skins $5 per hole was the comp of the day.  Stenson was on fire with 21 points on the front nine.  Garcia, still very good with his wedge play was struggling with the pace of the greens and a few well connected but wayward drives saw him in trouble.  Lewis and Lee were mediocre on the front nine but improved on the back 9. All played had won at least 1 skin on the front 9 with Garcia leading the skins.  Then there was a tightly fought battle as the skins were being halved and eventually the totally getting to 5 skins on the 16th, which is a short right angled dogleg par 5 with wild boar dug up fairway.  Lewis who was halving skins all day was not the favourite to win the skin as Garcia and Stenson both got a shot and Lee being the more accurate player.  Garcia's perfectly struck drive found the water, Stenson's second found the water, Lee was straight up the middle and her approach conservatively played left to avoid the water in front of the green.  There was nothing to lose for Lewis who opted for the brave shot and took out her 3 wood and carried the water onto the green - leaving herself 12 footer for eagle.  Garcia, Lee and Stenson were all safely on the green, an Eagle would be enough to secure the 5 skins for Lewis.  She paces out the put, does her signature plumb bob read, a little Aim Point (after all there is $25 bucks on this hole), she steps top to the put and gets it rolling on the line - the pace looks good but has she got the read right.  The ball keeps tracking for the hole, it is looking good, damn good and in she goes!  5 Skins Lewis...

The last 2 skins were halved so go on the drinks tab, as there was no time for drinks - it was shared.  Stenson's front 9 of 21 was matched with a 14 point back 9 with his driving letting him down.  Garcia was "de-feeted" in his own words with the mountainous walk proving very painful for his tender ankles.  Lewis in her post match interview was very pleased with how her and Lee ground out the Ryder Cup point after the Mens Blue tees were at the same position as ladies and their slope rating was 127 and the ladies was 125!  Lewis and Lee getting 64 points which was enough to take the point for the Missy Missy's.

​Some photos of the course below

We went to a wine museum and wine tasting dinner, this was really interesting as we had a brief introduction to the wine areas and how the pricing works for certain chateaux/appellations.  Wine making and selling was started by the monks, champagne happened by accident as the French started this extra fermentation process and thought it was a disaster that it had bubbles.  Lucky for them the English loved bubbles and so the Champagne trade was started.  They did give the English the credit for coming up with the thicker Champagne bottles as the pressure in the bottles kept bursting the thinner walled bottles.  We sat with a father and son from Preston and we had so many laughs my belly aches this morning (so did my head).