From Ventura County Star,

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/nov/12/taking-golf-to-an-extreme/

By Bob Buttitta (Contact)
Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Anna-Lena Gustavsson believes a day without passion is a day wasted.

One of Gustavsson’s great passions is golf, and that passion is currently providing the 63-year-old yoga teacher with a unique experience.

Last December, the Ventura resident was at a bookstore when she saw book entitled “Extreme Golf.”

Gustavsson felt compelled to pick it up. As she thumbed through the pages, she came across a chapter on a golf challenge called “The Awesome Eight Golf Challenge.”

Dreamed up by extreme athlete Robin Sieger, it challenges golfers to play eight of the most remote and climatically extreme golf courses in the world.

Sieger got the idea from talking with mountain climbers who have climbed the “7 Summits,” which are the highest mountain on each continent.

The challenge includes playing the coldest course, North Star GC in Fairbanks, Alaska; the hottest, Alice Springs GC in Australia; the highest altitude, La Paz Golf Club in Bolivia; the lowest altitude, Furnace Creek in Death Valley; the most southerly, Ushuaia GC in Argentina; the most northern course, North Cape GC in Norway; the toughest, Ko’olau in Oahu, Hawaii; and the greatest and oldest course, St. Andrews in Scotland.

To meet the challenge, a golfer must carry his or her clubs, not use a caddie and play all eight courses in one year.

“I started reading and I knew I had to do this,” Gustavsson said. “It’s about the unknown and doing something totally by myself.

“I want to show other women and girls they can accomplish anything and that life does not end at 60.”

Gustavsson said her four children — Asa, Karin, Anders and Carl — and grandson Trent told her to go for it and think it’s “cool.”

Gustavsson started her quest last July. Tuesday she left for South America, where she will play the most southern and highest altitude courses.

That will leave her with five down and three to go. Gustavsson will play Furnace Creek in Death Valley next month, travel to Hawaii to play Ko’olau (the world’s toughest) early next year and finish her quest in April with a trip to St. Andrews.

Sieger, who lives in England, has told Gustavsson he plans to meet her at St. Andrews to welcome her into this unique society.

To finance part of the adventure, Gustavsson rented out both her house and her car for three months over the summer.

“Homeless” for that time, she stayed with relatives and friends in her native Sweden after completing the first part of her journey in that part of the world.

Gustavsson plans to keep the cost of the entire adventure to under $20,000 and believes it will end up costing her somewhere around $16,000.

As part of the challenge, Gustavsson is trying to raise money for an orphanage in Pattaya, Thailand.

“The main industry in Pattaya is prostitution,” Gustavsson said. “The orphanage has a school to help teach girls and give them a chance to make a life for themselves.

“When I found that out, it was just another reason I knew I needed to take on this challenge.”

The first six months of the quest have already provided Gustavsson with plenty of adventures and memories.

In Australia, she played alongside kangaroos. In Fairbanks, she had to dodge the small planes that people there use to get around while she was on the course.

When Gustavsson arrived at North Cape in Norway, there was not one person around. She hit some balls at the practice range, figuring someone would arrive. When no one did, she knocked on the door of a house that was situated between the two golf courses.

“A man opened the door. He had a cigarette hanging in the corner of his mouth — a little James Dean-look,” Gustavsson said. “I asked if he played golf and he replied, ‘No, but I am the owner of the golf course.’ “

Gustavsson asked if he could find her a playing partner.

About 30 minutes later, a member arrived and was happy to join her.

“The golfers I have met have been great people,” Gustavsson said. “I’ve discovered golfers are the same all over the world.”

She’s also discovered it’s not easy to travel alone as an older, single woman.

The Ventura County Star has interviewed me, and will have their first article about this golf adventure and charity event in their Wednesday, November 12th newspaper.

Anna-Lena’s Adventure Started!

In The Swedish Golf Magazine, issue nine we wrote about Anna-Lena Gustavsson, who sold her car and rented out her house to play eight extreme golf courses. Now the journey has started, and she has already visited both Norway and Australia.

On 17th July Anna-Lena Gustavsson begun her journey, which consists of within a year play eight extreme golf courses around the world, by flying in to Lakselv in Norway. There she completed her first course in Awesome Eight Golf Challenge (read about the challenge from the link www.extremegolfbliss.com), namely the North Cape GC - the world’s northernmost orbit.

A week later, Anna-Lena is in Alice Springs , Australia to play the next course on this adventurous golf journey and now she is back in Sweden and charges for the third phase, which will become North Star GC in Alaska in early September.

Now you’ve got your first two courses down, your impression so far?
– To play golf when it is daylight 24 hours a day is quite interesting. But I was far from alone, there were one million mosquitoes who really liked me (laughter) … It was not easy to swing with all the mosquitoes, it still itches, “says Anna-Lena cheerfully.

And how was the North Cape golf course in Lakselv?
– When I arrived in Lakselv after my check in at the hotel I drove in my rental car around in Lakselv to look for the course, it was not easy to find. Finally, hidden in between a couple of small forest I saw some golf flags. It must be it I thought and it was. Two pastures divided by a house and some trees , 2 holes on one side of the trees and 4 on the other! It was an interesting experience, I had 5 putts on one green. It would have been better to chip than to use a putter

In addition to mosquitoes, did you find someone to play with?
– When I arrived, there was not a human being there. I practiced a little bit and thought thought because it was gorgeous whether ,someone will show up! I got tired of waiting so I walked up to the house that was situated in between the two golf course layouts, knocked the door and a man opened the door,it was a little surreal, he had a cigarette hanging in the corner of his mouth - a little James Dean-look - and there were some also 1950^th car around, which of course added to the image! I asked if he played golf and he replied “No, but I am the owner of the golf course.” Great, I said then you can certainly find someone who wants to play with me. He made a few calls and after half an hour a man came. He was a member and was happy to play with me. While fighting the mosquitoes I managed to finish the 3 round golf course and had a great time with this very passionate golfer, who also proudly announced that they are building a new 9 hole golf course by the airport, less mosquitoes there he said with a smile!

After Lakselv you went off to to Australia?
– Yes, I went via London, Sydney and then on to Alice Springs. When I was at the reception deskat the golf club a man named Paul Pearson showed up and when I told that I was there on the occasion of Awesome Eight Golf Challenge, he was shining up all over the face and told that he played with Robin Sieger (who founded Awesome Eight Golf Challenge in the early 2000s). He happily played with me and told me all the stories when he played with Robin Sieger in 50-degree heat.

Yes, how was the weather when you played there?
– It is winter there now as it was below zero at night, but well warms up to 17, 18, 19 degrees in a few hours in the day. It was still grass on the track, but it was not so green. The course was very enjoyable and it was exciting to share the course with kangaroos and parrots.

Have you run into any trouble until now?
Nothing that permanently has affected me but really could have been the case, I l forgot my computer at Heathrow airport, while I was waiting to board the plane to Sydney. I had so much luggage, so when I was boarding the plane, I had packed down the case without the computer in it! The computer was still laying beside me (it is pretty small) When I got on the plane, I felt something was missing, the bag is to light “my God, my computer”. Then I ran out and found it, still sitting on the chair and the crew cheered when I came back with it (laughter). That would have been sad, with all my notes and pictures if I would have lost it.

What happens next?
– Now I am planning my trip to Alaska in early September They are closing the golf course around the 15th so I have to do it before then. Then, it will be Argentina and Bolivia in November. Hawaii and St. Andrews, I will play at the end of March next year and then the final course Furnace Creek in April 2009

And there’s still no doubt that you are capable of all eight?
– No, no. I am even more sure now. It is now up and running, now the ball is rolling I am very satisfied so far.

Translated From Svensk Golf Magazine: http://www.golf.se/extra/news/?id=77541&module_instance=1

Around The World Through 8 Golf Courses

Many dream of throwing themselves into the unknown and do something unexpected. Others just do it. 62-year-old Anna-Lena Gustavsson sold the car and rented out the house - to play the world’s eight most challenging golf courses in a year, and stand on her head on the 18th green at each course!

awesome eight head stand for charity

Seven Summits is probably the mountain climber’s most prestigious challenge. It is to ascend the highest mountain on all seven continents.

Robin Sieger - lecturer, author and self taught extreme athlete wanted to create something similar with Golf. That is why he chose eight golf courses around the world due to their extreme nature. The final selection included the northernmost, southernmost, coldest, hottest, highest, lowest, most difficult and most powerful golf course in the world.

Between 22 December 2001 and 21 December 2002 Sieger played along with friend and adventurer Neil Laughton all eight courses and formed thus Awesome Eight Golf Society. They never used a caddie, coach or golf carts, but carried their clubs themselves, which together with the courses to be played within one year are the requirements for those who want to become a member of their company.

More than 200 people have conquered Seven Summits seven peaks, but as far as we know it is only Seiger and Laughton who completed Awesome Eight Golf Challenge.

In a year, the exclusive inner circle will expand- with a Swedish/ American Anna-Lena Gustavsson, 62 years, because she is taken on this challenge.

“When something inspires me like this challenge did, there is nobody who can say You can’t do this. After months of planning this project Anna-Lena is now on her way.

On July 17 she will target Lakselv in Norway, about 20 Swedish miles northeast of treriksroset, a point which the borders of Sweden, Norway and Finland meet. There she begins his adventure with three turns on the North Cape Golf Clubs six holes golf course, the world’s northernmost.(When this challenge was created, now the Hammerfest/Kvalsund Golf Course is the most Northern and Anna-Lena is going to play that too)

– My goal is to have played them all early May 2009. I will finish with the lowest located golf course in the world (Furnace Creek Resort), which is located in California. And I’m going to have a huge party there to celebrate the completion of the challenge, she says enthusiastically.

It is almost a little unreal to listen to her. To get an impulse, put everything else aside and stand out in the world to play eight extreme golf courses sounds like a completely natural thing.

– It is not so strange to do things, but we must dare to take the step fully, “says Anna-Lena Gustavsson.

It sounds very un Swedish, but on the other hand, she is not entirely Swedish, either. Since 1984, she has lived in the United States, except for a shorter period in the late’80s.

Anna-Lena started to play golf 1987 in La Porte, Indiana, just before she and her then husband moved home to Sweden.

– Two weeks before we moved, I said “We have to start playing golf, everyone does.” So I went to the club pro and said, “We want to learn to play golf, you have two weeks time to teach us! “

He shook his heads but it worked and 21 years later, she is here. With eleven handicap and ready to go out on golf’s perhaps most extreme challenge.

But that is of course not too cheap to fly around the world and play golf.

– I’ve rented my house in Los Angeles during the summer months, so now I’m homeless. Then, I will sell my car and buy a smaller, “she says with a laugh.

The trip is also a way for Anna-Lena to raise money to be given to a home for orphans in Thailand, the same home as Sieger and Laughton donated collected money for. So far, she has collected approximately 3 000 kroner, but she hopes that the sum will contain a couple of more zeros at the end of the trip.

From the beginning was the idea that her friend Maria would join the trip, but she jumped off. Anna-Lena recognizes that there is some fear” to leave alone, but on the other hand, she is not the person who says no to an adventure.

– A day without adventure is a lost day. That is how I grow, “she says.

A lot can happen along the way, but one thing is certain. Within a year, Anna-Lena will strike the last putt for this Challenge on the Furnace Creek Golf Clubs 18 th green.

– Well, well something else is not in my world, “she says without the slightest hesitation.

Translated From Svensk Golf Magazine: http://www.golf.se/extra/news/?id=77540&module_instance=1