As a newbie to the world of golf – (I just started last
year, and truth be told this coming weekend will be my first
time out this year), I’ve struggled with progressives
while addressing the ball. Apparently the new Definity
lenses allow clear vision to the ground when your head is in
proper position. I took the easy way out last year and got
Drivewear single vision lenses, I keep them in my golf bag
and they are great. The polarizing feature combined with a
unique blend of Transitions lens tinting make them
comfortable in all light.
In non-optical golf news – unless you consider that you
would need a good telescope to see from tee to green, The
Nullarbor Plain in Australia’s Outback has become the home
of the world’s longest golf course. 18 holes spread over
848 miles. Yes! You read that correctly – 848 miles (1.365
km for you metric aficionados). Edward John Eyre described
the Nullarbor as "A hideous anomaly, a blot on the face
of Nature, the sort of place one gets into in bad
dreams." He became the first European to successfully
make the crossing in 1841.This is not a course that favors
golf carts, instead a fast car or small plane would work
well. The course is a par 72, and the 4th hole at Nundroo is
unique in that hairy-nosed wombats might disturb your play.
You might keep an eye peeled for the Nullarbor Nymph,
referred to in reports of sightings of a half naked woman
living amongst kangaroos on the Nullarbor Plain, turns out
was a hoax perpetrated in Australia between 1971 and 1972.
The first report in 1971 was from the town of Eucla, by
kangaroo shooters claimed to have seen a blonde woman
amongst some kangaroos, and backed their story with grainy
amateur film showing a woman wearing kangaroo skins and
holding a kangaroo by the tail. After further sightings were
claimed, the story was reported around the world, and
journalists descended upon the town of Eucla which had a
population of 8 people at the time.
The incident was eventually revealed as a publicity
stunt. The girl on film turned out to be a 17 year old model
named Janice Beeby.
Back to the golf course, it is the brainstorm of a group
of local businessmen who got tired of watching tourists tear
down the highway like Mad Max in search of revenge. Don
Harrington, a leader of the group, speaking to NPR, said the
idea was germinated, as many great leaps forward for mankind
are, “over a few bottles of wine about 5 years ago”. It
is hoped Nullarbor Links will become a tourist trail with
the folks slowing down, savoring the charms of the outback
– including golf ball stealing crows, kangaroos, koala
bears, crocodiles! Over 600 golfers have played the course
even before the actual opening!
Let us hope they were wearing Ground View Advantage
lenses, I hear the sun is really blinding!
