Golf tournament Venice Open in Golf Club Della Montecchia in Padua, Italy, was an unforgettable experience for me, full of challenges but also celebration.
This year's event was especially special because Venice Open celebrated its 10th anniversary. Each year, the tournament attracts young golfers from around the world to test their skills on beautiful Italian courses in very hot weather conditions.
For me it was the first time at the Venice Open 🙂
One of the surprising challenges was playing for the first time on Bermuda grass, a surface previously unknown to me. But as it turns out, I wasn't the only one struggling with this issue.
Just to clarify…With its unique texture, Bermuda grass requires a different approach to chipping, putting, and ball control. The beginning was very frustrating for me, with the club suddenly stopping in the grass 🙁 Getting used to this surface added complexity to an already challenging competition.
However, it was a learning opportunity, forcing me to adapt and find a solution to be able to play confidently as usual. After some advice from my older colleagues, I finally started to get back on track.
In Poland, unfortunately, we do not have many golf courses with this type of grass to be able to practice on every day.
Interesting facts -> tees and fairways in Augusta National Golf Club (this golf course in Georgia, USA is like the holy grail for golfers) uses Bermuda grass.
An additional difficulty for me was scorching heat. Temperatures reached 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). Playing in such conditions tested not only my physical endurance, but also my mental attitude towards the game. As it turned out, hydration and concentration became as important as strategy and skills. I am glad that this tournament allowed for the presence of a caddie. My caddie, my dad, mainly made sure that I always had a cold, wet towel on my neck and that I drank enough fluids. This is invaluable help during a tournament that lasts at least 5 hours and in such weather conditions.
Despite these challenges, the determination and support of the caddies and players made the experience as rewarding as it was challenging. The great thing is that after such a hot day you can always jump in the pool afterwards 😉
Venice Open is also a parade of nations, which always starts this tournament. I was one of four players from Poland this year who represented our country. And this is what it looks like
It is always nice to be able to represent your country in international tournaments and celebrate such a special meeting with others. I love such tournaments where you can meet many new colleagues with the same passion for sports. It is also an opportunity to see and visit new, beautiful and interesting places.
Travel and golf are the perfect combination and I am so grateful for every opportunity I get!
EN 
PL