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    • Plot 33 - "Island Lodge B&B"
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    • Plot 74 - "Reier"
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My Favourite Golf Course - Pezula Re-Discovered...

25/4/2015

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It's probably been a good dozen years or so since I last played the Pezula Championship Course at the Knysna Heads.  I played there on Wednesday as part of a 5 courses in 5 days golf competition with a few of the other Islanders.  For some reason in the last few years whenever I've gone to Knysna, I've played at Simola.  But aside from its dramatic elevated 2nd tee, I find Simola a bit back and forth and not particularly challenging (that's not to say that I'm acing the holes!).  When I play golf on an expensive course, I want a bit of excitement - not gimmicky, but interesting.

Well, what a treat it was to be back playing Pezula again.  I had forgotten how fun the course is to play (I do recall that the last time I played it was very windy, foggy and pouring rain - perhaps that's why it took me so long to go back....).  The men all had their best scores of the 5 days on this course, but the ladies found the carries quite difficult - and it has to be said, the undulating greens were tricky.

It was rather cold (the coldest and cloudiest day of the 5 by far), but I'd do it again in a heartbeat.  They don't offer affiliated rates, but they do have reduced green fees for the winter season starting on May 1st.


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Day 5 - The Final Round at Pinnacle Point

24/4/2015

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After playing Mossel Bay, George, Outeniqua and Pezula, the final round of our 5-day, 5-course competition was played at Pinnacle Point.
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Yes, we're hitting into the wind to reach the green on the other side of this canyon
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A closer view of the same par 3 green
I managed to hold off the competition thanks to a healthy lead earned during the first three days, bringing home the bottle of bubbly that was up for grabs.
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A Beautiful Day for Golf at Fancourt's Outeniqua Course

23/4/2015

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Day two of the golf competition was played at Fancourt's Outeniqua Course - it started off a little bit cloudy but as these photos prove, it turned into yet another fantastic day...
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Spectacular Golf Weather

21/4/2015

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Though the George Golf Club's greens have recently been hollow-tined and sanded for winter, the weather was absolutely spectacular - the temperature must have hit 26° celsius on Sunday.

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Approaching the 18th green at George Golf Club with the clubhouse (and Outeniqua Mountains!) in the background.
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Looking at the pond near the 1st and 17th holes at George Golf Club
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The 18th green - an example of the winter greens at George Golf Club
Mossel Bay Golf Club did their hollow-tining a few weeks ago.  I played yesterday - the greens were faster than in recent memory (freshly cut) and are now in the best condition I've seen them all season.  No photos, but it was another spectacular day on the course where you can "see the sea from every tee".  Looks to be another glorious day today as well....

If you're interested, there's more info on the courses in the Golf in the Garden Route section of the website.
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Eskom Announces Stage 2 Load Shedding - Expect No Power on The Island From 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Tonight - Apr 18th

18/4/2015

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This morning Eskom announced Stage 2 load shedding would run from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.  Based on the latest load shedding schedule for the Greater Mossel Bay area, this means Islanders can expect to be without power from 8:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. tonight.

Have an Android phone or tablet?  Download News24’s GridWatch app and receive load shedding notifications for locations you choose (Groot Brak, George, etc. - and yes, George is on a different schedule...) direct to your device as they are announced.
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Planned Water Disruption for The Island - All Day Tues, Apr 21 and Thurs, Apr 23

17/4/2015

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On Friday, Apr 17th, Mossel Bay Municipality announced that water supply to The Island (and the Great Brak area in general) will be disrupted between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on both Tuesday, April 21st and Thursday, April 23rd.

If you're a holiday-maker visiting The Island during these times, you may wish to plan your ablution and tea/coffee-making activities accordingly!
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Eskom Declares Stage 1 Load Shedding - Expect No Power on The Island from 12 Noon to 2:30 p.m. Today - Apr 17th

17/4/2015

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This morning, Eskom declared Stage 1 Load Shedding would take place from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. today.  Based on the latest load shedding schedule for the Greater Mossel Bay area, this means we can expect to be without power on The Island from 12 noon until 2:30 p.m. today.
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Eskom Moves to Stage 2 Load Shedding - to Impact The Island from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Tonight - Apr 16th

16/4/2015

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This afternoon Eskom announced they would be moving to Stage 2 load shedding (Stage 1, announced earlier, did not affect us, so it wasn't posted to this website) which will run from 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.  Based on the latest load shedding schedule for the Greater Mossel Bay area, that means we can expect to be without power on The Island from 8:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. tonight.
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Eskom Escalates Load Shedding to Stage 3 - Apr 15th

15/4/2015

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About an hour ago while I was out on the golf course, Eskom escalated today's load shedding to Stage 3.  Despite several attempts to get clarification from both Eskom and Mossel Bay Muncipality's Technical Services Department, it is not clear whether Stage 3A or Stage 3B of the load shedding schedule applies when plain old "Stage 3" is announced.

In the case of 3A, we're off the hook as the schedule for today is as follows:

Stage 3A:
04:00-06:30
12:00-14:30

If it is Stage 3B, well, then we're in for a bit of dark between 8 - 10 p.m. (note, I say 10:00 p.m., not 10:30 p.m. - this is because in their announcement, Eskom have said load shedding will end at 10:00 p.m...)

Stage 3B:
04:00-06:30
12:00-14:30
20:00-22:30


Incidentally, the GridWatch app shows it is Stage 4 - how they get that, I don't know....

If you're unsure like me, then you might as well keep those candles handy...
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Eskom Declares Stage 2 Load Shedding - Apr 15th

15/4/2015

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This morning Eskom declared Stage 2 load shedding.  Based on the latest load shedding schedule for the Greater Mossel Bay area, this means we can expect to be without power on The Island from 12 noon until 2:30 p.m. today.
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