HHH Downunder

[Jim Colton]

It's fitting that on the same day that Ben Cox is graduating from Texas Tech, Hundred Hole Hike is graduating into unchartered territory as well. I'm thrilled to announce that our friend Brett Morrissy is organizing the first Australian Hundred Hole Hike, scheduled for January 24th at 13th Beach at Barwon Heads. If you check out Brett's blog post below, not surprisingly you'll see that Brett has a 'more the merrier' approach to the Hike, so anybody interested in joining them can reach out to Brett or me. Also, if you'd like to organize your own Australian HHH, feel free to PM me or send an e-mail through the link on the website.

  http://www.hundredholehike.com/blogs/hhh-downunder-green-light-6-weeks-go-and-counting

[Brett_Morrissy]

Getting excited about our very first HHH, training has begun!

As Jim says above, if anyone wants to join us, you are most welcome, we have an abundant supply of caddies, food packs, drinks, sunscreen, and will hopefully get some shirts to wear on the day, Karingal have been great in giving us plenty of support to get it rolling locally, if all you guys can spread the word that'd be great, we really want to have a meaningful impact not only those directly impacted by Acquired Brain Injury, but their friends and family who can find it extremely challenging as well.

We would love to hear any advice, tips and thoughts on past hikes and how we can really generate some funds!
Thank you in advance.
Brett

[Sean Walsh]

I'm also one of the participants (masochists) that has signed up for the hike. 

Looking forward with trepidation to Thursday the 24th of January and have commenced whatever training I can fit in the pre-christmas silly season.  I'll be coming from a low base of both fitness and golfing, here's hoping a 6 week crash course gets me through the day.

http://www.hundredholehike.com/golfers/sean-walsh

[Brett_Morrissy]

A call out to any guys who have already done the HHH in the USA, we are just kicking off the promo to generate some interest for our Hike and our cause.

If anyone has any tips for raising awareness, fundraising ideas, etc if you could let us know?

Any Aussies wanting to Hike, there is still time, and if there are any lurkers interested, they can contact 13th Beach Golf Club.

We have tremendous support from our main charity organisation, Karingal, who will be providing support in the form of hydration, sustenance and helpers.

[Sean Walsh]

After a slight hiccup in preparations for the Hundred Hole Hike I am fully on board and scared stiff.

In active promo mode now so please hit the Hundred Hole Hike website and consider pledging.  All your support is appreciated.

Here's my first blog update.

http://www.hundredholehike.com/blogs/full-steam-ahead

[Sven Nilsen]

Good luck to Sean and Brett in this endeavor.  With the temperatures I've seen from your neck of the woods of late, I'm hoping it cools down a bit before the 24th.  Having played with both of you, I already know you're both crazy enough to get through this.

All the best,

Sven

[Sean Walsh]

Thx for the pledge Sven. Have a grand total of 3 pledgers so far, 2 GCA'ers.  Hopefully now I've confirmed participation and ramped up the promo efforts amongst family and friends that number will rise significantly.

I'm sure it was the same with you when you tell people what you're doing but the standard response is "You're nuts."

At this stage the long range forecast has that whole week with a max of between 28-30degrees celsius.  A few degrees lower would be good but I'd take that.

[Brett_Morrissy]

Sven and Eric,

Thanks guys, can't tell you what it means to have your support from so far away!

We are putting together a small comp at the club to raise some extra funds with a bunch of prizes donated, if anyone here in Australia would like to put something up - send me a pm or email.

[Sean Walsh]

36 Holes, Losing your swing and the first HHH fatality.

Following on from Wes' 54 hole practice I got motivated and decided I'd get out and do a quick 36 at Heathcote GC.

Started off reasonably well for me but started to lose my swing on the 2nd 9, 3rd 9 was much in the same vein but thankfully started  to find a groove again heading into the fourth. 

Teed it up on the 30th hole and cracked one straight down the middle, landing 200 metres away.  As anyone that has played Heathcote will know, there is a large mob of roos that inhabit the course.  A pair of these were lazing away their Sunday afternoon in the safest place possible with me on the tee, unfortunately said drive didn't hit terra firma.  I think I heard the thud from the tee.  I thought I might have just knocked it out but closer inspection revealed a more unpleasant result.  Appropriate authorities were called.  You really don't know how disapproving a look can be until you saw how that mob of kangaroos were looking at me.

As a result if we are ever foolish enough to do this again I might have to nominate the RSPCA as my charity.

Hope you all had a better golfing day and if someone locates my somewhat rustic left handed swing please return it ASAP.

[Colin Macqueen]

Sean,

I suspect this could be a first!  I've never heard of a macropod falling foul of a golfball before!
Aye a mob of kangaroos can be pretty disdainful when a mate has been unceremoniously despatched.
In memory of your dastardly deed I have penned a wee bit of doggerel.

Kangaroo Culling

The Hundred Hole Hike has begun
Kangaroos need not fear the gun
With Walshie around
They'd best leap and bound
A golf ball in the head is no fun!


Cheers Col

[Sean Walsh]

Col,

A genuine chuckle from Kangaroo Culling, thanks.

Only 3 days to go now.  Trying to delude myself into thinking I'm actually prepared for this.  Anyone still thinking of pledging please go to the website.

www.hundredholehike.com/cause/karingal/2514

$2500 worth of prizes for those that pledge.  Also a great competition being run to guess the total over par for our 7 hikers (although I think we're up to 8 hikers now.) Prizes include rounds of golf at RM and other sandbelt courses, Oakley sunglasses and more.  $50 a guess or 3 for $100.  All money to a great cause.  I'd suggest a DM to me or Brett Morrissy to enter the competition.

[Sean Walsh]

Latest Blog post. 

http://www.hundredholehike.com/blogs/checklist

Also read Brett's  blog piece there are some great prizes to be won. 

[Howard Riefs]

Best of luck to the HHH Downunder group on Thursday.

Key tips to success:
5.   Hit it straight
4.   Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
3.   Change socks every round
2.   Have fun
1.   Apply BodyGlide liberally (http://amzn.to/HwvKWr)

[Chris_Hufnagel]

Best of luck to the HHH Downunder group on Thursday.

Key tips to success:
5.   Hit it straight
4.   Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
3.   Change socks every round
2.   Have fun
1.   Apply BodyGlide liberally (http://amzn.to/HwvKWr)

Howard hits the highlights above...a couple I would add...

1. Pay attention to what you eat (drink) the night before.
2. Regarding hydrating - start as soon as you get up and don't stop - do not wait until you are thirsty!
3. Don't carry a full set - I think I carried just 8 clubs - you won't miss the ones you don't have.  Your bag will be lighter, you won't care about yardages, and you will be forced to play a variety of shots - which makes the day much more fun (at least in my opinion).
4. Have a blast.  The HHH was one of my favorite days in all of 2012 and I am already looking forward to 2013...

Good luck!

[Sean Walsh]

Thanks Chris and Howard. 

Will be trying to take all that advice on board.  Especially no. 1 from Howard.

Plan is to carry about 5-6 clubs. 3W 4i 7i PW Putter. Might go 3W, 4i 6i 8i PW Putter for some of the rounds as well.  I'll have a caddy for most if not all my rounds so apart from looking after them weight isn't a huge issue.  The primary issue for me is making decision making a lot easier by having decent yardage gaps.

Had never heard of Body Glide before but now have a pack and will be using it liberally.  I did work out that it doesn't work on the places you forget to apply it

[Ben Jarvis]

36 degrees (Celsius) forecasted down here on Thursday - stay HYDRATED!!

[Wyatt Halliday]

Best of luck to the HHH Downunder group on Thursday.

Key tips to success:
5.   Hit it straight
4.   Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
3.   Change socks every round
2.   Have fun
1.   Apply BodyGlide liberally (http://amzn.to/HwvKWr)

DO NOT SHARE BODY GLIDE WITH OTHER PARTICIPANTS

Best of luck.

[Matthew Delahunty]

Fortunately it was a cool morning so the boys won't be cooking just yet - 10am and only 20 degrees celsius.  And the temperatures won't climb to quite as severe temperatures as earlier predicted (maybe only low 30s down at Barwon Heards).

[Ben Jarvis]

It is now 5pm here and the guys are well on their way to achieving 100+ holes, with all having 18-27 holes remaining.

It got quite hot after midday, but the breeze switched around and has provided some respite.

Below is a photo with six of the eight guys (Craig Fagan and Wes King) after their third round.

From Left: Murray Gregg, Brad Quinn, Dave Thomas, Sean Walsh, Brett Morrissy, David Board)




Here are their scores after round 4.

[Sean Walsh]

As you can all see the hacker community was well represented at the bottom there.

That 4th rd hurt A LOT.

Done now,  very satisfying. Managed to come back with a sub 100 5th rd.

The support we had from 13th beach and Karingal was amazing. Day ran like clockwork. Great job by Brett getting this off the ground and through to a successful conclusion. I know how much was involved in just being a participant, let alone being responsible for making it work. Karingal was a great choice of charity, both for the worthy cause they represent but also for how much they bought in to what we were trying to achieve.

Great job all.

[Brett_Morrissy]

Hello everyone, especially all the Aussies.

We have set the date for our next HHH - Thursday, 23rd January, 2014.

as always - the more the merrier - we will have info and registration packs in the next week or so, and hope to bigger and better than the last - we raised over $28,000 for Acquired Brain Injury - today Karingal launched the first ever ABI "Clubhouse" drop in place that has been funded by the money we raised, with an eye to build a brand new "Clubhouse" begining in April next year.

We will again have caddies, and sustenance organised for everyone, and if you need accomodation - we are sure we can arrange this also. we will have some practice events at 13th Beach - and possibly in Melbourne also - just the details for that sorted.

So, with about 3 months to go - plenty of time to get in the mood - drop me a pm and we can get you sorted.

Cheers
Brett