Golfing with royalty

Whilst we didn't play in the same group, I shared the golf course - and shared the pro-shop counter - with a very special human today. Not just golfing royalty, but due to her MBE, CBE and most importantly her DBE - the second-highest order of chivalry available to a Briton. I'm talking about Dame Laura Davies.

For those unfamiliar with Dame Laura Davies, she's an absolute matriarch of modern womens golf, holding more titles and collecting more trophies than I've had hot dinners, right across the globe.

I didn't actually speak to her, but I was honoured to simply brush past her in the pro shop.

Upon this moment of star-struckedness (confirmed, not a real word), I decided to do a little further reading on this fair Dame. As a golfing enthusiast ("nut" is probably more apt) and avid follower of the professional game, I like to nerd it up and know a few things about the best in game.

Some cool facts I learned today about Dame Laura Davies:

* She's a massive sports fan, with a particular interest in football (soccer), which led to her signing a 4-year contract with lower-tier professional side, the Myrtle Beach Seadawgs, worth the princely sum of $1. Thanks to Eastbound and Down, I know that Myrtle Beach is in South Carolina. And now you do, too.

* So big a football fan, she was once fined by the Ladies European Tour for carrying a portable TV around the course - mid tournament - just so she could watch a match between England and Spain. Despite her attention being elsewhere, she still managed to win the tournament.

* She has a 9-hole golf course in her backyard, and I'm not the least bit jealous...

* She hits her driver off the turf - not off a tee. This is an absurdly difficult thing to do, which she does by choice. Oh, and she absolutely PIPES it.

What a character. I was happy with an 83 at Byron Bay Golf Club today, can't wait to see just how poorly that stacks up against her score!