Play 9 at the 2017 Emirates Australian Open!

What a thrill - this weekend I was lucky enough to play nine-holes at the Australian Open in Sydney.

I still can't believe it.

Golf Australia are promoting nine-hole golf to attract and retain time-poor people to the great game.  I was fortunate to qualify to play at the inaugural promotional event.

I practiced on the driving range with the pros! Unbelievable!

After Jason Day made a birdie on the 18th on Saturday afternoon and play was finished for the day, club golfers from around Australia were poised to tee off on the back nine.  When the siren sounded for a shotgun start we walked up to the tee blocks.  It was over-whelming!  But I actually came runner up in the women's comp. I'm still pinching myself.

Jason Day made a birdie putt on the fifteen on Friday

Players on the par three fifteen. (I actually parred this hole when I played it!)

Jordan Spieth walking to the green on the second. I was sorry he wasn't able to be in the leading group.

All in all, a great weekend, topped off by attending my friend Deb's 60th birthday party. Life is good.

Wakefield Press to publish the Rebecca Keith Murder Mystery Series

Wakefield Press is to publish the Rebecca Keith Murder Mysteries novels.

They will publish the second edition of The Popeye Murder and the second novel in the series, A Royal Murder.

The Royal Adelaide Golf Course and the Australian Women's Golf Open are pivotal to the storyline in A Royal Murder and as such it will be launched in the week leading up to the next Women's Open in February 2018.  Both books will be available in bookstores around Australia and online as ebooks.

The next book in the series, A Festival of Murders, will be available in time for Christmas 2018.

What fun!

Stay tuned for launch details.

The Banyan Tree - Bintan Indonesia

High on a hill in a rainforest overlooking the Singapore Strait, 

we stayed in a magical treehouse.

The Banyan Tree resort is on the Indonesian Island of Bintan, 

an hour's ferry ride from Singapore.

The island is 80 per cent rainforest, with some of the remaining 

20 per cent host to beautiful golf courses.

I was lucky enough to spend a few days on this enchanting island a 

couple of months ago.

Under a full moon, we boated out to a traditional fishing hut, 

where we gorged on an Indonesian feast. 

The huts had there own balconies, spa pool and lounges.

Inside was a haven of air-conditioned tranquility 

 However, I enjoyed the steamy warmth and the natural breezes.

Breakfast at the restaurant, under the shade of rainforest trees.

A blue themed dinner on our balcony.  Unusually, there isn't one of 

the 800 a day freighters passing by on the horizon when I took this shot.

Dinner under a full moon. It was practically daylight.

 A touching birthday greeting surprised me on my return home that night. 

Amazing towel art, don't you think? I wonder if there is a course

you can do?

A rainforest view outside our villa window.

Can you imagine the nerves teeing off on this par 3? 

Beachside sand bunkers everywhere. 

You don't want to overshoot this green.

I actually hit the huge boulder on the left and my ball ricocheted onto the green. :)

I highly recommend the Banyan Tree.  

It was a gorgeous place and the people are beautiful.

I was very lucky.

the Banyan Tree, Bintan