Today I played at the Flinders Golf Club Charity Day with a couple of other ladies from my club as well as representatives from over ten different clubs around Melbourne.

What a gloriously sunny day as we couldn’t have asked for a nicer day.

Heaps of sunshine, no wind and spectacular views of the rugged coastline of West Head at Flinders was the order of the day.

When we arrived, we had a lovely welcome from the ladies of Flinders who directed us to our holes. Thankfully, I started at the first hole with a shotgun start at 8:30. I played with a lady from Portsea Golf Club and another lady from my old Navy base, Cerberus Golf Club.

At around the third hole, I was DUMBFOUNDED.

West Head Gunnery Range was directly behind the third hole. I could see the gates: the gates to a Gunnery Range where I spent many a freezing evening with duty sailors walking the perimeter of that fence line overnight to protect the armaments there. I had only ever been this place at night – and it was pitch black – except for the sounds of crashing waves nearby. By early morning, I was always knackered and would sleep on the bus that would take us back to the navy base, Cerberus.

Only today, 32 years later, I saw that the Range was on this golf course!

I was only 23-25 years old at the time I spent there. Here I am 32 years later, in my mid-50s, a lot more pudgy and grey, now on the OUTSIDE of the gates playing golf.

Who would have thought! 🤣

I would NEVER have thought that I’d be in this position being back at West Head but if I think about it, I’m thankful I’m still alive and enjoying what life has to offer.

Also, it was wonderful to play with someone who could update me on what was happening across the pond at HMAS Cerberus. I spent four years of my Navy life there plus more every time I had to go there for other Navy work or training so I feel a fondness for the place. I’m thinking I might go and have a game there as an ex-Navy person. Hopefully, they’ll allow me to play.

The funniest thing was this lady kept saying to me to, “Carry on”.

That’s a typical naval saying instead of saying, “please go ahead” or “after you”. I chuckled and told her that I hadn’t heard this saying in many years. It brought back memories. You can always tell Navy people by the way they speak to you. It was just so typical Navyspeak. 🤣

Overall though, I found the course exceptionally difficult with its ditches, water hazards and hills. I didn’t take a cart this time so I was pushing my buggy up and down hills.

There was a Hole they called “The Coffin” which was a tall ditch and luckily I hit my driver over it and another one on Hole 11 which you had to hit down a hill completely clueless as to where the ball would land. Miss, it would end up in a lake. Lots of obstacles and Par 4s.

Although we didn’t win any trophies, the couple of friends from Woodlands and I got around 27 points each which isn’t bad. Ultimately though we enjoyed the day, the spectacular scenery and the wonderful food (the dessert of pannacotta and pistachio ice cream was delicious) that the Flinders ladies put on for us visitors.

I’m thankful for starting and now playing golf.

It’s been a great sport that builds a new skill, gets me out and about in fresh air, has me playing some superb courses around Melbourne with beautiful stunning vistas and also meeting so many other people.

It’s going to be part of my life for a long time.