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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, July 24, 2008

GOLF REPORT
Bowling in spare time helps clear my mind

By Parker McLachlin
Special to The Advertiser

2006 Hawai'i golf calendar
See a listing of all Hawai'i golf events this year.

Golf Tips logoGolf tips
Here are some tips to keep your game in tip-top shape!

Golf Guide logoAdvertiser golf guide
Here is a look at all of the golf courses in the state, with contact numbers, yardage and green fees.
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Join us as we take a tour on the PGA Tour with Parker McLachlin, a former Punahou athlete. McLachlin earned his PGA Tour card for this season. He joins Castle alum Dean Wilson as the only Hawai'i golfers on the PGA Tour. McLachlin, Waikoloa's touring pro, will write his impressions on events that he's just completed and tournaments that are upcoming on his calendar.

Aloha from Canada!

Last week was my fourth week in a row on the road, and unfortunately I missed the cut in Milwaukee. I went into the week with high expectations and some lofty goals. When those goals were not materializing, I ended up getting frustrated and missed the cut.

Sometimes when I miss a cut, I feel the need to use the next two free days to practice and really work on sharpening my game. Other times, I just need to spend that time away from the course, not thinking about golf. Last week was one of those weeks.

Kristy (my wife) and I went to a movie Saturday and saw "The Dark Knight". Then we went bowling with two other couples. I probably haven't been bowling in at least five years, so needless to say it was amusing. We all had a great time. Sometimes you just need to be away from the course to clear your head.

Sunday, our flight from Milwaukee to Toronto was canceled, so we spent another night in Milwaukee and ended up getting to Canada later on Monday. I usually like to leave a tournament Sunday night, get to the next destination and get situated. When you fly in on Monday and spend half of the day traveling, your body doesn't quite feel the same. But those things happen, and you just learn to roll with the punches.

Now we're in Toronto and there has been a lot of rain. On Monday, we got almost five inches. They closed the course on Monday and canceled everything going on there.

While we're here, we'll get to do several fun activities. Thursday, Kristy and I are going to take in an Eagles concert because I tee off late on Friday. Apparently, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are playing tennis about an hour from where we are, so if we get some free time, we might go check that out.

This trip brings up a really neat story, too. Last year, after Q-School, Kristy and I went on vacation to Bora Bora to get away and relax. We met a couple who were there celebrating their 80th birthdays. They were this incredible couple who were actually Holocaust survivors. We started chatting with them, and they ended up inviting us to dinner. At dinner, when I told them I played golf on the PGA Tour, they told us how much they love the PGA Tour.

They gave us their contact information and told us to get in touch when the tour came to Toronto. Last night, we went to dinner with them and had a wonderful time. That is one of the great things about being able to travel so much for a living. It allows us to reconnect with all of these people we have met.

I'm looking forward to a productive week ahead, then a couple weeks of much needed rest.

Mahalo,

Parker

Parker McLachlin can be reached at www.parkermclachlin.com.