Hey guys,
Hope all of you are doing well out there in the world, wherever you may be and may be doing. I am back home right now and looking at the snow falling to the ground. It is so pretty and calm outside, just a little colder than in Oman, Dubai and in China where I have played the last four final events of the year this European Challenge Tour season. The temperature reads -1,5C*/30F right now and I am drinking hot tea to stay warm; comparing to the feel of 100F in all these countries I just mentioned. It was so much fun though, and I had to drink lots of water and stay dehydrated at all times to hold my focus on top.
The first event was in Sanya, Hainan - China which is called "the Hawaii of China". It was about a dozen of couples soon to get married who took photos behind the 18th green overlooking China's southern ocean which was beautiful to see. The course was really good and I stayed on the beach which was awesome! I got to experience the most crazy storm in my life since we did get "the tail of a Typhoon" so it took me 2 days and one morning to finish 18 holes. So because of the delays of heavy rain and stormy winds the tournament got cut down to 36 holes. I did play very solid and had so much FUN on the course. I shot 71-68 (-4) and finished T4th which was sweet!! This result bumped me up on the rankings and next up was Foshan Open where I could have played better but I had such a great time with my roommate Espen so it did not really matter.
Next up was Ras Al Khaimah Challenge in Dubai. I had never been there before and so many of my friends thought that was strange since it is pretty much the "golf mecca" around Europe because of the pristine weather conditions. It was very hot and blue skies all week, we stayed on the beach and just had such a great time. It was like I almost had not seen food before the first morning in Dubai when we ate at the breakfast buffet, after being in China the last 2 weeks. However, I must say they do have some fantastic cuisine, it is just that we are not too used to these foreign flavors. I love their dumplings though. I played very good here in Dubai as well, I did not make 1 bogey on my front 9 holes all week (4 rounds) and went -17 on these holes, which is crazy. =) The back nine was more tricky and longer so I finished at -13 for the week and a T11th place, 70-69-69-67.
Next up was: NBO Golf Classic Grand Final, the top 46 players on the ranking only and simply a joy to play in from beginning to the end. I had a great time playing with my Pro-Am group, including one gentleman who is now designing golf courses for Jack Nicklaus. The course located in Muscat, Oman is called "Almouj the Wave" and is ranked among the best in the middle east, and there is no doubt about that. It is probably the best course all year and it is situated by the ocean front and is very similar to a links style course. It is designed by Greg Norman. I played awesome last week and finished T15th firing, 69-72-68-70 for a -9 total score.
I finished 31st on the Road to Oman and already got a pretty good European Tour status for 2017, however, I aim for the full European Tour card next week.
I must say I have not been this HAPPY and have had so much fun on the course and been this relaxed ever before. I am HAPPY and this is only the beginning. I would not have the opportunity to play golf and compete around the world having so much fun like I have right now without the support I get from certain people. THANK YOU so much, you all know who you are!!
Next up is European Tour Q school final stage next week in Barcelona, Spain on the PGA Golf de Catalunya resort, I am excited and my only focus will be to have FUN, LAUGH and be RELAXED on the course. Everything else will fall into the right places automatically ... hopefully =)
Take care guys, and do not forget to LOVE and go for what you wanna do in life. Don't doubt it, do it!
/Oscar Stark
Hope all of you are doing well out there in the world, wherever you may be and may be doing. I am back home right now and looking at the snow falling to the ground. It is so pretty and calm outside, just a little colder than in Oman, Dubai and in China where I have played the last four final events of the year this European Challenge Tour season. The temperature reads -1,5C*/30F right now and I am drinking hot tea to stay warm; comparing to the feel of 100F in all these countries I just mentioned. It was so much fun though, and I had to drink lots of water and stay dehydrated at all times to hold my focus on top.
The first event was in Sanya, Hainan - China which is called "the Hawaii of China". It was about a dozen of couples soon to get married who took photos behind the 18th green overlooking China's southern ocean which was beautiful to see. The course was really good and I stayed on the beach which was awesome! I got to experience the most crazy storm in my life since we did get "the tail of a Typhoon" so it took me 2 days and one morning to finish 18 holes. So because of the delays of heavy rain and stormy winds the tournament got cut down to 36 holes. I did play very solid and had so much FUN on the course. I shot 71-68 (-4) and finished T4th which was sweet!! This result bumped me up on the rankings and next up was Foshan Open where I could have played better but I had such a great time with my roommate Espen so it did not really matter.
Next up was Ras Al Khaimah Challenge in Dubai. I had never been there before and so many of my friends thought that was strange since it is pretty much the "golf mecca" around Europe because of the pristine weather conditions. It was very hot and blue skies all week, we stayed on the beach and just had such a great time. It was like I almost had not seen food before the first morning in Dubai when we ate at the breakfast buffet, after being in China the last 2 weeks. However, I must say they do have some fantastic cuisine, it is just that we are not too used to these foreign flavors. I love their dumplings though. I played very good here in Dubai as well, I did not make 1 bogey on my front 9 holes all week (4 rounds) and went -17 on these holes, which is crazy. =) The back nine was more tricky and longer so I finished at -13 for the week and a T11th place, 70-69-69-67.
Next up was: NBO Golf Classic Grand Final, the top 46 players on the ranking only and simply a joy to play in from beginning to the end. I had a great time playing with my Pro-Am group, including one gentleman who is now designing golf courses for Jack Nicklaus. The course located in Muscat, Oman is called "Almouj the Wave" and is ranked among the best in the middle east, and there is no doubt about that. It is probably the best course all year and it is situated by the ocean front and is very similar to a links style course. It is designed by Greg Norman. I played awesome last week and finished T15th firing, 69-72-68-70 for a -9 total score.
I finished 31st on the Road to Oman and already got a pretty good European Tour status for 2017, however, I aim for the full European Tour card next week.
I must say I have not been this HAPPY and have had so much fun on the course and been this relaxed ever before. I am HAPPY and this is only the beginning. I would not have the opportunity to play golf and compete around the world having so much fun like I have right now without the support I get from certain people. THANK YOU so much, you all know who you are!!
Next up is European Tour Q school final stage next week in Barcelona, Spain on the PGA Golf de Catalunya resort, I am excited and my only focus will be to have FUN, LAUGH and be RELAXED on the course. Everything else will fall into the right places automatically ... hopefully =)
Take care guys, and do not forget to LOVE and go for what you wanna do in life. Don't doubt it, do it!
/Oscar Stark
