I have had a few weeks off, working on my fitness and conditioning as well as some off-course interests, and am looking forward to getting back into tournament action this week at the Porsche European Open.
I see that the golf course and local area has had some heavy rain, which has caused the greens staff and the tournament organisers a few problems, even to the extent that the Pro-Am has had to be cancelled. As ever, the weather is the one element we can’t control at events! Looking on the bright side, though, the forecast is for sunshine for the remainder of the week, so hopefully the course will dry out a little bit and I’m sure we’re all in for a great week.
From there, it’s just a one-week gap before we tee it up in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. That’s always a fun week playing on some of the best links courses in the world and, with a lot of friends and familiar faces, it really is a pleasure to call it ‘work’. I am hoping for the same weather as last year when we were in short-sleeved shirts (amazingly, it was warmer in October than for The Open in July!) and, if you follow me on Twitter, you’ll have noticed that the traditional tournament banter has started early this year! So, Porsche and Dunhill, that’s a really nice little stretch to look forward to.
As I mentioned before, much of my focus has been working on my fitness and strength conditioning in the gym that we have here at home. But away from that, one particular highlight was travelling south down the east coast of Florida to Miami to meet with the guys (pictured above) and check-out the site of our upcoming Big Easy Winebar & Grill, which is located in the exciting new Brickell City Center. I was really impressed. This is the fourth such restaurant to open – following successful launches in Stellenbosch, Durban and Dubai – and we’re all set to open the doors for business on this latest venture on Thursday, November 3.
As with our existing Big Easy Winebar & Grills, the whole ethos of what we’re creating in Miami reflects my idea of the perfect restaurant; fantastic food, including the best prime cuts of meat, and great wine in a comfortable, friendly environment. These are the qualities we’ll bring to this latest establishment. Much of what we offer is inspired by South African culture and cuisine, which to my mind offers some of the best food and quality produce in the world. I know our award-winning new Executive Chef in Miami, Maryna Frederiksen, a native from my homeland, will do an incredible job bringing a taste of South Africa to South Florida. Some of my personal favourites are on the menu and, having already sampled some of Maryna’s dishes, trust me when I say that diners here are in very safe hands! There’ll be a truly international flavour to many other of our dishes, while there will obviously also be some amazing fish and shellfish on the menu, which rightly celebrates much of Florida’s sensational seafood and Latin influences.
Our existing Big Easy Winebar & Grills have quickly established themselves as go-to restaurants in their respective communities and what’s really gratifying is they’re extremely popular with a very diverse crowd. We feel confident that’s going to be the case in Miami, too. Another of the other really wonderful things about the Big Easy Winebar & Grill is the opportunity it gives Louis and me to share our passion for wine and to introduce our portfolio of wines, of which we’re extremely proud, to a wider audience. So, please click here if you’d like to see the menu or click here to read the full story on the Big Easy Winebar & Grill, Miami.
Finally…good luck, best wishes and thanks to everyone competing in Els for Autism Golf Challenge events this month. Just in the past couple of weeks we’ve visited Silver Creek in California, Edmonton CC in Canada and Harbour Town Golf Links in South Carolina, while on Monday this week they were teeing it up at the University of Texas GC in Austin, Texas. We have two more events left at Old Palm Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida (October 3rd) and at Troon North in Scottsdale, Arizona (October 10th) so if you want to get involved I believe there are still a few spaces remaining. As you will have come to expect, they are both great venues! Just click here to find out more and enter a team.
Anyway, thanks again to all involved – the host clubs, the sponsors and golfers – for supporting Els for Autism. It has been another amazing year and I am looking forward to seeing many of you in Las Vegas soon.
Follow me on Twitter @TheBig_Easy.
