The 5th Portugal Masters 2011

A whole host of stars make the line up at this week's Portugal Masters in the Algarve.

Padraig Harrington, John Daly and Ross Fisher, Martin Kaymer and Colin Montgomerie to name but a few.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington  - 3 time Major winner

Alvaros Quiros (ESP) - on his way to winning the title in 2008

John Daly (USA) should be a large attraction

The ever popular Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP) - a Ryder Cup stalwart

18th Green layout in 2008

England's Ross Fisher - World Cup and Ryder Cup player

Alvaro Quiros (ESP) leads the way to the 14th tee

Scotland's Colin Montgomerie putting on the 12th green
whilst a very noisy flock of migratory birds pass over..........
it did not disturb his concentration............funny that !

Former world No.1, Germany's Martin Kaymer in action

I can’t make it this year sadly as I’m off to Marbella on Senior Tour Duty at the Benahavis Senior Masters.

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

This week's European Tour event is at St. Andrews, Scotland, 'The home of Golf'. 

The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is played over St.Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie.

The Swilken Bridge at St Andrews

Waiting game at Windsor

Windsor Golf and Country Club on the outskirts of Nairobi was my next visit. The first glimpse of the course from the clubhouse is impressive with a grand view of the 9th and 18th holes surrounded by water.

I wanted to get out on course immediately but the skies were filled with rainclouds and it was raining. I had to be patient. 4 hours went by and soon it got dark. I was driven back to my hotel, I arranged a 5.30am. pick up so that I could see the dawn break over the course. It was worth the wait...........

Dawn over 9th green and 18th green

Hotel rooms overlook the 9th and 18th greens

A family of Egyptian geese followed me onto the 8th green

2nd fairway

Verdant Vipingo

9th green at dawn

9th green looking towards Indian Ocean

The Baobab Course at Vipingo Ridge is certainly a spectacular one both visually and technically. Designed by David Jones, he has created a championship golf course with stunning views of the Indian Ocean to the east and a game conservation area to the west.

Mombasa bound

A pretty exciting project.......................... A commission to photograph courses on the Kenya coastline. My clients flew me to Nairobi from Heathrow and and then by internal transfer via Wilson Airport to Ukunda which is basically Mombasa South Coast.

Leisure Lodge's proximity to the Indian Ocean

Some inquisitive onlookers

                                       

15th hole at sunrise

My first project was Leisure Lodge Resort. I had been there before some 15 years earlier on vacation and was eager to see what changes if any had been made to the hotel and course. The sunrise let me down a little bit as the sun hid behind huge clouds. There were some interesting spectators early in the morning and I later flew in a small plane to get some aerials to show the proximity to the beach.