It’s not taking place in Godzone but pretty close.

December 07 at Moore Park Golf Club, Sydney.

The idea of the event comes from Streetworx, a youth charity devoted to helping at risk and disadvantaged youth using golf as a tool-and other charities.

Ausgolf informs its readers, “On December 7 2009, 2006 and 2005 US Open Champions Geoff Ogilvy and Michael Campbell will join a host of sports stars and celebrities for the Australia verses New Zealand Golf Skins Challenge.

Competing alongside Ogilvy and Campbell will be Jimmy Barnes, INXS’s Tim Farriss, Rugby League stars Nathan Hindmarsh, Nathan Cayless and Benji Marshall, Rugby Union personalities Phil Kearns and Matthew Burke as well as golfers Peter O’Malley, Greg Turner and Mastershef Australia’s Lucas Parsons.”

Now this appeals to my alleged Scottish mean-streak, “Entry into the event is free so this would be a great opportunity to watch your favourite celebrities playing golf in a fun filled event with many bloopers, laughs and great entertainment.”

The match of the day is of course Geoff Ogilvy versus Michael Campbell. And from what I can understand from the skins challenge website.  The leading match will be followed by Greg Turner versus Peter O’Malley. Then Jimmy Barnes against Tim Farriss, and finally Nathan Cayless against Nathan Hindmarsh.

It sounds like a lot of fun and should you be in Sydney on December 07, it’s well worth the effort of attending the event. Made easier by the fact that Moore Park is not far from Sydney’s CBD.

On the matter of Michael Campbell and in case you missed the NZPA report, “Campbell relocates to Sydney” It’s not hot news since those of us interested in NZ golf and golfers have known for some time that Michael and his wife Julie are on their way back to Australia.

On his way back, now there’s a thought. Cambo now sits at 369 in the world rankings, however he did make the cut at last week's India Open in New Delhi.

There’s a couple of interesting news notes by Bernie McGuire at Cambo’s web site.

“There was a light-hearted moment on the Gut-Larcenhof range on Saturday afternoon of the Mercedes-Benz Championship. South African Trevor Immelman, brillant winner of last year's U.S. Masters, was asking the whereabouts of Michael Campbell. Immelman and Campbell had a bet on the outcome of the Tri-Nations Rugby final in Hamilton. But after the All Blacks went down 32 to 29 to the Springboks, Immelman was looking to cash in…"Have you seen Cambo today," Immelman asked.

There’s no follow up but since Cambo is still a wealthy man, “No worries mate, you’ll get paid.”

Then there’s a piece about, dare I say it, an Aussie giving a Kiwi a golf lesson.

Wayne “Radar” Riley talking to Cambo at the Mercedes-Benz Championship.

“Radar” was clear in his comments to Campbell and it was not text you’d find in any golf instruction manual or magazine.

The Sydney-born Riley went straight to work on Campbell’s set-up.

“You’re kidding me! How can you hit the ball so far back in your stance?” said Riley.

“Get the ball forward.  If you get the ball forward, you can go after it.

“This is not rocket science, Cambo. This is simple, basic golf ethics.  Joe Blow can hit the ball when it’s forward, so can you.”

And a word of advice for those who, like me, still think a Cambo comeback can be achieved. Do NOT go to the results section of his web site and see what he shot in the last round at the India Open.

Geez it’s a tough game this golf.

But give it up? Never.

Ooops! Don’t they say, you should never say “Never”.

Thinking about Cambo and coming up with a thought for the day. I had a look through the pages of my golf book, Life’s Lessons Frae the Links and saw this one on the back cover.

It’s by one of golf’s greatest-ever golfers, Bobby Jones who most golfers; who know of the man’s record, think it was always easy for Bobby.

But not so, he suffered seven lean years of trials and tribulations before he achieved his greatness. In his youth, Bobby had shown lots of promise but his great achievements took some time in coming.

Now the quote

LEARNING THROUGH ADVERSITY

"I learned what I know from my defeats" – Bobby Jones

Guid gowfin’ at the weekend.

Slainte

Stan