04/25/24
September 24, 2005
Now That's a Desert Classic: The first golf tournament in 26 years was held in Afghanistan, drawing 28 entrants to a nine-hole course that features "blacks" instead of greens -- sand smoothed down with oil. One player ran into a tricky rules situation: "Do you think we are allowed to move the ball off the grave?"
Playing the oil courses are a blast! I played one in Washington state back in the 50's after I was discharged from Korea. At that time I think it was the only such course in the US. Talk about slow greens!
posted by God of Thunder at 09:33 AM on September 24, 2005
I am all about efficiency and I see a real chance to kill two birds with one stone. OJ could look for the killer and Bin Ladin.
posted by Turbo at 09:48 AM on September 24, 2005
Wow- neat link...I have heard of "oiled greens" before, but I havent heard of an course that currantly had them. I have also heard of "dirt" greens. great story it almost like out of the show "MASH".
posted by daddisamm at 10:39 AM on September 24, 2005
I wonder what happens if a ball hits an unexploded mine?
posted by daddisamm at 10:42 AM on September 24, 2005
"I wonder what happens if a ball hits an unexploded mine?" Two-stroke penalty for lost ball.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 11:03 AM on September 24, 2005
Sun City, South Africa: The Lost City golf course in this ritzy resort has an open pit of crocodiles on the 13th green. I've hit one of the crocodiles. It was most inconvenient. It's only a water hazard and my ball was clearly playable, but I wasn't quite brave enough to flout the advice to "Under no circumstances enter the crocodile pit" I wonder what happens if a ball hits an unexploded mine? Reminds me of that line from Blackadder Goes Forth: George: What exactly do we do if we do step on a mine, sir? Blackadder: Well, George, I believe normal procedure is to jump two hundred feet into the air and then scatter yourself over a wide area.
posted by JJ at 11:53 AM on September 24, 2005
This made me giggle for some reason: Pyongyang, North Korea: Kim Jong Il, the Stalinist leader, has played only once at the sole golf course in the country’s capital. He claimed to have hit a 36 under par, with five holes-in-one.
posted by chicobangs at 01:51 PM on September 24, 2005
The great leader is quite an accomplished golfer, chico. I've hit one of the crocodiles. It was most inconvenient. It's only a water hazard and my ball was clearly playable, but I wasn't quite brave enough to flout the advice to "Under no circumstances enter the crocodile pit" Man, my life is *seriously* boring.
posted by Ufez Jones at 02:09 PM on September 24, 2005
Mine too. Aren't crocodiles able to outrun humans? I've golfed around gators once here in Florida, but I had a cart, and I also was reassured by the notion I could outrun them if necessary.
posted by rcade at 06:29 PM on September 24, 2005
There is a local rule at Darwin Golf Club in Australia. If the ball lands near a croc, you can either take the shot again or have a free drop within two club lengths. Darwin is famous for 6 metre crocs and as the course backs on to the Marrara wetlands...
posted by owlhouse at 07:35 PM on September 24, 2005
There is a local rule at Darwin Golf Club in Australia. If you're pulling our leg about the name of the club and their, ahem, Darwinian option rule, then that was fucking brilliant. If not....well, that's the most fantastic thing I've heard of today. Either way, thanks, owlhouse.
posted by Ufez Jones at 10:20 PM on September 24, 2005
Who would take a shot two club lengths from a crocodile?
posted by rcade at 07:11 AM on September 25, 2005
Darwin Golf Club really exists. I lived in the town for nearly 10 years. No leg pulling. Honest.
posted by owlhouse at 05:11 PM on September 25, 2005
From the descrption, the course appears to be almost as ugly as the courses used for the British Open.