Josh Hill Diary: Hoping to make the most of an early tee-time on Day I in Jeddah
The last two weeks had been tiring and my achievement is yet to sink in for me
I travelled to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia from Dubai on Monday morning with my dad for this week’s $5 million Saudi International on the Asian Tour. I received an invite from the organisers a couple of week’s ago.
Over the last couple of weeks a lot of friends from around the world have been in touch to say: well done. I was somewhat disappointed with my final round at the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic and, perhaps, it still has not hit me on what I have actually achieved.
The golf course at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club has been set up brilliantly and I love it.
I understand that it is traditionally windy at King Abdullah Economic City, and it is very open, but I believe it is a very fair golf course. Your score reflects how you have played.
On every hole, you can see everything before you.
On arriving on Monday I slept all day, as did my dad. It has been a very tiring two weeks for my dad, mum and the whole family, including me.
On Tuesday, I played 18 holes to adjust to the golf course designed by Dave Sampson of European Golf Design (EGD). I understand from friends that EGD also designed Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club along with Thomas Bjorn as well as Dubai Hills Golf Club and the work in progress at the EMAAR South golf course near the Expo 2020 Dubai site.
Today (Wednesday) was Pro-Am day, so there was no opportunity to play the golf course and I practised.
I have a new caddy this week: Richard Dunsby, a Pro in Dubai, who works with my dad. Richard has caddied for me before and I am comfortable with him and we have a good on and off-course relationship.
The rumours that I have fired my caddie from the last two weeks in the UAE, Pete, are far from correct and I will work with Pete again very soon.
I talked on the range with 22-year-old PGA Tour player Matt Wolff (US) and with Claude Harmon who I have met before at The Els Club, Dubai, and who coaches Dustin Johnson (US).
My tee time tomorrow (Thursday) is at 8.40 am off Tee 10.
I am paired with Pablo Larrazabal (Spain) and Travis Smyth (Aus), the latter plays on the Asian Tour. With an early tee time, I am hoping that the wind is down and we can post a decent score in the morning.
I am mentally tired after the last two weeks, but my adrenaline is up. I am positive about this week, but now I realise why the Tour Pros cannot play every week, it is very different to amateur golf.
Wish me luck for tomorrow and speak soon.
- Josh Hill, a 17-year-old, was born and brought up in Dubai, plays off a +5.8 handicap as an amateur out of Trump International Golf Club, Dubai and represents England at Junior and Full International levels.
