Getting things in perspective is one of life's constant challenges.
Here I am, on a coveted assignment at the Hills, helping to cover the New Zealand Open.
Tuesday is practice day for the golfers and a mad-scramble day for those in charge of getting the course ready for play proper tomorrow.
All day, ever since we sat in silence at breakfast watching the satellite map on TV promising gale-force winds and snow down to 400m, the weather has been the major topic of conversation.
To emphasise the threat, dark clouds have hovered ominously; occasionally, between sunny breaks, swirling winds have sent skiffs of cold rain across the course, but, mostly, it has been pleasant enough to wander around this most picturesque layout, getting a feel for what lies ahead.
But just when I was waxing lyrical, in note form, about the wind rippling across golden fields of knee-deep brown top bordering the emerald green of beautifully manicured fairways and greens, a phone call jolted me back to reality - two men had been killed in a hang glider accident on the other side of the Wakatipu basin, just below the majestic Remarkables which dominate the southern horizon from here.
The phone call came from Queenstown's ODT bureau chief Tracey Roxburgh, who was at the scene doing what reporters are paid to do, getting all the details and then ringing the boss to fill him in.
In doing so she did her best to sound staunch and matter-of-fact, but her voice betrayed her true feelings, a sobering reminder for me that while I have the luxury of being here for a golf tournament, others have to deal with life-and-death situations.
So, in trying to refocus on the task at hand, I can report that after watching several groups of young golfers do battle yesterday with the vagaries of the 16th hole, the tricky par 3 remains one of the course's great challenges.
Back in 2007, when the Hills first hosted the New Zealand Open, many players were so critical of the hole that Australasian PGA Tour officials shortened the 167m hole by 15m.
This year, the hole remains in its original length and shape, so the former irrigation race on the right, running at half full, waits to catch any wide shots while the deep, steep swale on the left will swallow tee shots that hit the firmish surface and run off.
Yesterday, one of the ground staff was on hand, spraying the green, especially the fringes, trying to make it more receptive and constantly fielding questions from a new crop of players preparing to combat the hole for the first time.
On the other side of the hummock that overlooks the 16th, the Hills operation manager Ian Douglas sat quietly in the grandstand overlooking the 15th green, watching players bomb away from a distant hill.
Upon his shoulders sits the responsibility of having the course in pristine condition for the opening round tomorrow and he quietly declares himself content with what's been achieved so far. There's only the weather to be factored in. Hopefully, the worst of it will arrive today, pro-am day, and then be gone for the rest of the week.
Amen to that.
