The Melbourne Open

A fleeting visit to Melbourne for the weekend to see Tiger Woods play in the "JB Were Masters" at Kingston Heath.

We stayed at our usual Accor Holiday Apartments in Flinders Lane - always a perfect location to stay. Having arrived on the Friday afternoon we ventured over the river to our favourite haunt at the Crown Casino and proceeded to waste our money on the machines again! But, we have fun!

Had dinner at 'Number 8" - a dining experience in itself with staff being extremely polite (as we would expect at that price!) with the Somelier??? certainly knowing his wine stuff.

Saturday we headed on out to Kingston Heath with 25,000 others. Took the train from Flinders St to Morrabbin where there was a fleet of buses waiting to transport us out to the course.

Arrived on course - the day was hot, although not 'too' bad, but very dusty as well. Wandered our way over to the 6th hole where we set ourselves in under a tree and very close to the ropes for the all important Tiger Woods to come through.

Turned out to be a good spot though as it was a dog-leg right hole and the players all made to right in front of us basically, if not almost on top of us, where we watched their almost perfect up and down shots onto the green. Only wish we could play ours like that!!

Managed to see much of the top players come through that hole as well as Tiger when he did. Perfect spot on the ropes though as he played through. Once he had, the crowd suddenly massed around the green to watch the putting. We headed back across the next hole and just after we did they closed the cross-over ropes so there were hundreds of people on one side and just a few of us on the side we somehow manage to meander across to. Got a couple of great photos of Tiger from that spot after he had tee'd off.

Headed back to the 'shop' and food after that - it was too hot to wander much further, then headed back to town before the thousands of others descended.

Thoroughly enjoyed the day and we were pleased we went.

Had dinner at a little Italian restaurant in Degraves Street - also our breakfast haunt whilst in Melbourne - seems to be breakfast alley, that one!

Sunday Kemm read the paper and I went shopping!! Dangerous pastime for me nowadays but only cam back with a couple of books! I did well.

Dinner at the 'Waterfront' seafood restaurant in the Crown complex again - actually managed to pay our way for some of our dinner this time!

Headed back to Brisbane for Monday early afternoon.