Aberdeen exile Paul Patterson pictured in his new golfing abode at Perth, Western Australia. Life can be tough sometimes!

Colin Farquharson writes:

Paul Patterson was a well-known local amateur golfer in the North-east area for several years. A member of Murcar (Links) Golf Club, Aberdeen, Paul was a good enough player to be selected for the North-east District many times.

Recently, I received an E-mail from Paul, telling me he was now living and working in Australia - and was delighted to discover that he could now keep up todate with the golf scene in Scotland and the North-east, having just discovered www.scottishgolfview.com

I invited Paul to could tell us about life in Australia as he knows it. Here is his reply:

PAUL PATTERSON'S LETTER FROM AUSTRALIA

I have been in Perth , Australia for nearly four years now. I moved here with my wife and two young sons as Yvonne was offered a position in Perth as H R manager with an Italian oil company. I work as a part-time share trader and "full time" as a father.
I still miss my golfing mates from Aberdeen (Alan Reith, Bryan Innes, Graeme McInnes, Andy Campbell, Ronnie Brechin etc) but the golf here is really enjoyable.

The weather is just perfect for about 10 months per year.
I play my golf at Joondalup Country Club which is a 27-hole compex which has been voted No.1 resort in Australia for the past three years. It is a Robert Trent Jones junior-designed course with huge sloping greens which are real fast at certain times of the year.

I got to know Michael Sim (US Tour) who was born in Aberdeen and played all his amateur golf at Joondalup. He is a really down to earth guy and has a short game to die for !!!
I play just as much golf here as I did back in Scotland. There are plenty of good quality tournaments to play in such as The Vines and Lake Karenup.

I play pennant golf for Joondalup which is played as seven singles matches. It's very competitive and after the food and speeches , each team gets up and sings the club song !!!!
We're really settled here now and it is a real outdoor lifestyle and climate we love but watching sporting events from UK can be a bit tiresome at 3 o'clock in the morning !!!
I'm glad I found your website as I still like to see how the boys are doing back in the North East.
Regards,
Paul Patterson