A towering father and child, in matching prim gear, walk briskly across a manicured hill on which two display Mercedes-Benz cars are parked.

They politely dodge slow-moving buggies and cut across the hub of food vendors before disappearing into a relaxed crowd of finely tailored outfits, Ray-Bans, and sun-tanned faces boasting shiny, elastic smiles.

The setting appears as a dreamy advertisement.

But this is real life for some. For a few, it's even work.

Melissa Bransdon is trying to keep her children in order, while looking around furtively.

She is guarded, for her husband, David, is about to play. He is currently three under - equal 12th.

"I hide away in the corner," she says.

"It's really hard because you are so invested in it, but you've got no control over it. And there's nothing you can to make him play better."

Nasty raindrops splatter onto her two kids – her daughter hangs off her leg, while her younger son sits on the grass, slowly munching on fruit. Melissa, from Sale, rolls her eyes at the rain, for it heralds uncertainty.

She herself was once a golfer. A natural at 16, she decided to pursue the sport professionally, a decision that led her to her husband.

She later had children, and decided to play amateur-level golf, so she could take care of her kids.

"He had more opportunities to make good money. I don't work, so I get to stay home and look after the kids.

"Men have more chances, even locally in Australia.

"And he's is a better golfer than I am - but I won't tell him that."

David is about to start a three-week work trip away from his family.

"It sounds all lovely, travelling, but it's not as glamorous as it looks.

"My husband is away a lot of the time, and that's hard to not have him with us. You see with other families, the dad comes home for dinner time every day and gets to see his kids.

"It's a lonely lifestyle."

David's performance this weekend will determine the sort of Christmas his family will have. If he does well, the family can enjoy one another's company over the holiday.

If his performance suffers, he will have to work through January.

He finished up four over after the day, and one over for the competition, landing him in 44th position.

It is difficult to know if that's enough to keep him home for Christmas.