Back to School

With Sam out of the British Boys, we took some time for tourism. We visited the famed Canterbury Cathedral. We lounged on the stony beaches. And on the final day before returning to Brussels, we played together another stunning links called Royal Cinque Ports. Like Royal St. Georges, it also has held the Open and under a brilliant sunshine it was easy to see why as we moved out among the dunes and along the shimmering English Channel. We played with the wind the first nine holes and were lulled into believing the course was not too difficult until we hit into the wind on the back nine and I needed three shots to reach par fours. Even Sam required a three wood to reach a par four in regulation.

The rest of August was taken up with much regular work for me and more doctor appointments for me. Sam participated in more golf tournaments, playing well in a few (minus two and fourth highest amateur in a Belgian pro tournament) but poorly in others as he became worn down (missing the cut at the Total junior championship). Then he went back to school and began concentrating on his studies.

The season had confirmed Sam's talent - but left him a little hungry. He never had quite finished off what he began. He failed to finish in the top five in a major tournament. He always seemed to fade at the end. He never shot quite as low as he hoped. He gave himself many birdie opportunities, but all too often his putting let him down. But he had learned that he could play equal with the best golfers in Belgium - and the best juniors in all of Europe. He had kept his passion for the game and vowed to undergo a tough physical training regime in the upcoming year.

I underwent an operation on September 10 - this explains the long absence in blogging - and am only now getting back to normal.