A day away from the Open

As the golfers started their weekend work we stayed in London to take in a few more sights. The golf plan was a practice round, cut day and the final round. It is a long day when travelling by train about 4 hours to and from Royal St. George's and watching a few hours of golf.

Today we took in Westminster Abbey

The Tower of London

London Bridge

And Harrod's

We ate dinner at a local bistro called Sandy's - the food was mediocre and not as good as the Bonfire Bistro.

Tomorrow we are back to Royal St. George's to watch the golf and take in some of the details described in an article at http://www.golf365.co.za/

"The course is not a traditional out and back layout. There is nothing artificial about Royal St George's; there is a natural look and feel to the course that blends beautifully into the surroundings, with wild flowers, dune grasses and the sweet song of the lark. Commanding views over Pegwell Bay and the white cliffs of Dover ensure an amazing experience.

All the holes are very different and memorable, a true sign of a great golf course.

Royal St George's also has some unique features; thatched roof shelters, the red cross of St George on their flags, and that astonishing bunker on the 4th hole that has been cut into a huge dune.

It's the UK's tallest and deepest bunker. If you can carry that famous bunker on this 470-yard par four, then you can enjoy the peace of the fairway beyond, called the 'Elysian Fields".

The par three 6 is called the 'Maiden'. Let Bernard Darwin explain why: "There stands the 'Maiden' steep, sandy and terrible, with her face scarred and seamed with black timbers, but alas! we no longer have to drive over her crown: we hardly do more than skirt the fringe of her garment.

'Suez Canal' is the 14th - so called, according to Darwin, because; "many a second shot have found a watery grave".

The 15 is considered architecturally to be one of the most impressive in golf because the fairway bunkers are virtually symmetrical."

This trip is winding down with only 3 days remaining - 2 for golf and one day to pick up some trinkets, treats and take in Jersey Boys.