From Miami to Chengdu, I remember 2011...
After my longest ever flight 22 hours, I finally arrive in Chengdu China. As soon as I checked in to my favorite 300 years old Sam’s guest house I went straight to the local Chinese Massage to boost my circulation and stretch those muscle. Now I feel almost good again. I toke off Miami airport at 18h30 Sunday March first and arrive in Chengdu Tuesday March third 19h00. Count 2 nights in the plane (I got to spend 10 hours in Paris to refresh, took a 3 euro Shower in nearby Hotel and was lucky to get, from Etihad Airways, an Up Grade to business from Abu Dhabi to Chengdu so I could at least rest flat).
If any of you decide to come to China, I highly recommend you fly first to Chengdu. Chengdu is the nearest major City from the West so you will save about 3 hours of flight to enter China. Chengdu is a major China city feel, there among 10 millions people you will hardly meet any foreigners, Chengdu is consider by Chinese the good life city, plenty of restaurant, bars and fun, but the must thing to do in Chengdu is to visit the Panda! because the Panda comes from Chengdu.
If you decide to Play Golf then you will be most welcome in Grand Hill Country Club, where in 2011 I was a guest coach and started my putting research following Padraig Harrington at the Chengdu China Open.
During my 48 hours trip (deduct 13 hours of time zones) I recalled all the memorable moments of #IamCaddiePlayer 6 weeks Florida tour meeting golf people industry from Coaches to Agents, Players, Caddies, Inventors, Operators, old friends and more. Among them: Greg Norman #AttackLife, PaigeMacKenzie #MorningDrive, BlairoNeal #BeautyQueen, Sandra Gal #LPGAmember, Greg Cerulli #FormerSouthFloridaPGAChampion, Chip Beck #Mister59, CindyFeng #SunCoastChampion, some of the 500 Pre-Qualifyiers PGA tour Honda Classic #Dreamers, Michael Bannon #CoachRoryMcillroy, Ronan Flood #CaddiePadraigHarrington + I survive inside the CaddieTrailer (Lee Westwood was there too) the Friday Morning Honda Classic Tornado.
On the business side I do not want to forget that one of my goal was to establish a Florida Base CaddiePlayer Center, I left with two leads: West Palm and Lake Mary. At last a very positive meeting with Josh Marish #GRGS Co-Founder, more news to follow…
Until next time #IamCaddiePlayer, Stéphane BARRAS
Congratulations for Padraig winning the Honda Classic 2015. Here in 2011 with his Family visiting the Pandas