Monthly Archives: December 2018

Just in time, the high moved on and allowed a front to move across and drop the temperature down to a reasonable level from the scorching heights of the last couple of days. There was a little rain associated with the front and that prompted the unfurling of umbrellas and unrolling of rain jackets. But, they soon became an impediment and they were relegated to storage, at least until the next little shower came through. All up, eleven and a half members turned up to try their hand at gathering some cheap points in the last of the ‘holiday’ rounds. The half wasn’t a reference to Targe, it was a reference to SOS who ‘slept in’ and only made it to join in at the 10th. Fortunately, there was a three that was willing to accommodate him.

Jason claimed to have played in a ‘boring’ group with nothing newsworthy to report. However there was something newsworthy from the group in that he was able to score plus three on the back nine to come home and lead the field with a total of plus three. Daniel, on the other hand, did even better on the back with a plus five, to also finish tied for first on plus three. He was obviously playing some explosive golf as the wedge that he left behind by the green on the 10th was labelled TNT. No wonder he was so keen to get it back as he played up the 12th and the group behind, who had picked it up, approached the 11th green.

Keith was another of the un-newsworthy ones who just happened to break his handicap by the one stroke with his card of plus one. Peter, on the other hand, played a round of contrasting halves. His minus five on the front did not augur at all well for a podium finish and included a fresh air swing as well. But, undaunted, Peter put his head down and fairly blitzed the back nine, turning in another plus five tally to finish the day all square and third place.

Targe is still in recovery mode and is starting to get used to his new handicap. He even suggested that he was starting to enjoy having all the extra strokes. But, he is equally determined to break it in the not too distant future. He wasn’t too far off today with his minus one score line and a few aberrations in the short game department made all the difference. Harry’s driver abandoned him for a while today and resulted in a pair of draughties on the 2nd and 3rd. Despite this and a swag of ‘just missed’ putts, a bottom line of minus 2 was enough to grab the last point for fifth place.

The BallPin was on the 4th and nobody was able to stay on the green to collect a pill. ChrisV went close when he finished about 300mm off the green. Chris looked like needing every ball he could get after a series of errant draw shots cost him big-time with lost balls and OOB (at least four). When he put his shot on the 18th to 3.29m to take out the second ProPin, his main concern was whether it would be enough to buy new balls. He had hopes of making the birdie for the eclectic but, in the end, it was one that did not add to the total of 5 for the day. The first ProPin was a Jackpot on the 12th and Dale was able to take that one with a shot to 4.156m. The group agreed a three way split of the dividend leaving out SOS the free-loader.

While on the subject of SOS, he was playing at a disadvantage today as he had no putter. It seems he left his golf gear in an insecure location after a late night and ‘somebody’ must have stolen his putter. Better get the coppers onto the job, SOS.

Noodles seemed to be almost proud of the fact that he had missed a putt from about 1cm but when you consider the rest of his card….. Dennis might have to consider putting a distinctive mark on his ball after he hit the wrong ball on the 14th. Pretty inconsiderate of somebody else to use the same brand and number as he did though. This wasn’t reported as a draughtie but it seems that Dale teed off on the 2nd, hit a tree and finished close to being on the 6th green.

The new calendar year kicks off next week with the January Monthly Medal. Could be a better than average chance if members are still away or getting over New Year. Joe might be getting over a birthday bash as he has one coming up in the next week.

The Annual General Meeting is coming up in March. All positions will be spilled, so, here is your chance to put your hand up for the role of your choice and you can have a go at running the Club better than the current lot are doing.

Results for Saturday, 29 December 2018
1st Jason Hopkins(+3) 1st Daniel O’Rourke(+3) 2nd Keith Delzoppo(+1) 3rd Peter Damou(□) 4th Targe Mifsud(-1) 5th Harry Boughen(-2)

Seniors Results: 1st Keith Delzoppo (+1) 2nd Targe Mifsud (-1) 3rd Harry Boughen (-2)

Nearest the Pin Results: ProPin No 1 12th Dale Webb ProPin No 2 18th Chris Vinecombe BallPin 4th Jackpot

It’s amazing what the prospect of a good feed and a few drinks will do.  The weather had been dumping on us for the past few days but the forecast was reasonably benign and, other than a few puddles on some of the fairways and a couple of the greens early on, the course was in great condition.  As a result, we had 28 players line up and, what is more, we had the first group out early as requested to fit our record number of groups into the course schedule.  And there were a couple of members called in ‘sick’ or who had home emergencies that did not make it.

The multiple events being contested caused more than a little confusion when it came to determining the placings but we got there in the end.  The main game was, of course, the Champion of Champions and most of that field had to ‘champ at the bit’ as the rest of the mob led the field out onto the course.  Peter put the time to good use and spent some time practicing at the chipping and the putting green and that time paid off big time as he romped it home to take out the trophy with a nett score of 63.  Goodbye cushy handicap!  Well done Peter.  For what it is worth, and for the record, it was eventually determined that the runner-up in this part of the field was Stef.

Next it was the turn to decide the leading contender in the rest of the field, known affectionately as the Chump of Chumps.  Proving that the was definitely no chump but needing to win on a countback with a blistering 24 points on the back nine was Peter’s partner in crime Daniel.  And there was no shame for the beaten pair of reprobates with Brent and Noodles going away and hoping to win again another day.

Needless to say, that little lot also filled the first three placings in the Club Event for the day and so it would really be superfluous to mention them all again.  And, besides, there were so many who came in with 36 points that the blog would get far too long.  Jason, Matt, Bob, Dave and Pepsi all gathered a couple of points and did their handicap no harm in the process.  Harry managed something of a turn-around on the back nine to pick up the last point on offer.

The ProPin that was a Jackpot on the 4th from last week almost managed to resist giving itself away until the very last group when Pepsi managed to get his to 3.9m.  Michael indicated that he missed out on being in range by 10cm and hopefully he took into account the 10cm missing from the start of the tape.  Didn’t really matter though as Pepsi had his measure easily.  The BallPin was on the 12th.  The Beast went close to acing it again when the ball just missed the flag to land half a metre past and then spun back just missing on the return trip.  He popped in the birdie and made at least one of the 22 birdies reported today.  However, despite all that the ball went to ChrisV who also tallied in the birdie count.  It was the 18th turn to Jackpot today although the Beast did go close but no cigar.

As well as a near record tally of birdies, there was also an Eagle and the nest was cleared once again by Noodles on the 17th.  The versions vary but some said it was a classy shot while others said it was the other thing that rhymes.  Anyway, he chipped in from some way out and, reportedly, if the ball hadn’t hit the pin dead centre and dropped dead, it could have been a far higher score on the hole.  Matt, on the other hand, put his ball onto the green, not quite in ‘gimme’ distance and then left his ball hanging half over the edge of the hole and it didn’t drop.  Chrispy reckons he should be credited with a Hole in One although the story as noted does seem to have a hole or two in it.  It was on one of the par 3’s and Chrispy put his close.  Gordon’s shot then hit his ball and knocked it into the hole.  Sorry Chris, rub of the green for Gordon, ball back out of the hole for you.

RodG has just come back from his eye surgery and although there are a few rusty spots he managed a nice chip and a putt to par the 15th and then chipped in for his par on the 16th from some distance out.  Watch out when he can play without the black sunglasses.

After the round, we repaired to the function room and viewed a presentation prepared by One Golf (ex Golf Australia) relating to the new rules coming in in January.  Here is a link to the presentation that you can view on-line in your own time.  Click here

One of the original ‘Chip and Run’ members, Neil Argall, was present and gave a brief history of the Club’s formation and development before doing the honours and presenting the trophies to the many winners through the year.  If you really want to see the complete list, you can go to the Statistics menu and select Hall of Fame and then 2018 (or any year for that matter).  After the presentations, the vultures circled and made very short work of the very fine lunch that the girls in the kitchen had so lovingly prepared.  All washed down with copious quantities of Peroni and other beverages of that ilk.  As to what transpires at the Roo Bar, what happens at the Roo Bar stays at the Roo Bar.

Have a very merry Christmas everybody.  There will be comps if more than six turn up over the next two weeks and then it is back to serious business for the January Monthly Medal on the 5th, by which time everybody should be recovered from the excesses of Christmas and New Year

Results for Saturday, 15 December 2018
1st Peter Damou(42) 2nd Stefan Belevski(39) 3rd Stephen Butterfield(38) 3rd Daniel O’Rourke(38) 3rd Brent Rowley(38) 4th Jason Hopkins(36) 4th Matt Hunt(36) 4th Bob McDonald(36) 4th David Mullenger(36) 4th Andrew Petricola(36) 4th Chris Priems(36) 5th Harry Boughen(35)

Seniors Results: 1st Bob McDonald (36) 2nd Harry Boughen (35) 3rd Dennis Ward (34) 3rd Gordon Hill (34) 3rd Trevor Jackson (34)

Nearest the Pin Results: ProPin No 1 4th Andrew Petricola ProPin No 2 18th Jackpot BallPin 12th Chris Vinecombe

Eagle’s nest Results: Eagle 17th Stephen Butterfield

There were drop-outs, there were shows and there were no-shows, there were rans and also-rans and in the end twenty members sweated it out on a pretty warm and muggy Saturday to find out who would take home Vin’s cup.  There was also a modicum of interest in the outcome of the Stroke Play Championship so there was plenty to play for even if it was only self-satisfaction.  Some trees around the course have taken a beating in the recent heat and northerly winds and the greens were a bit littered with leaves and gum-nuts that some found could have a very adverse effect on the run and direction of a putt.

Brendon was ‘working from home’ on Thursday but he was able to take a bit of time out to come to the Club-house for a meeting about the Jarrod Lyle Charity Day organisation.  And, it just happened that he also brought along a selection of clubs, just in case he got a chance to get in a little practice.  He obviously meant business (and not the working from home type of business) and the practice seems to have paid off as he was able to better his score from last week to come in a clear winner with a net score of 132. Nobody was happier about the result than the Beast who just happened to have bid up big for Shaky Isles in the Calcutta.  The jockey was pretty happy too as he had taken up the half share option.  Watch out at the Roo Bar next week!

It could easily have gone belly up on the first where Brendon was put off his shot and barely made it to the red markers after being interrupted by SOS returning from having his ball ‘stolen’ from the 10th fairway.  Does anybody else get the feeling that SOS has his ball stolen more often than anybody else in the Club?

Ryan wasn’t quite able to match his first week score but he was steady enough to take out second place with his total of 137.  Ryan is looking for a set of clubs for a friend to go to the driving range so maybe Ryan has also been sneaking in a bit of sly practice.  On the driving range, that is!

How do you solve a problem like Noodles? to steal a line from Sound of Music.  Walked in, tossed his card down and declared he had left five out there.  If so, a net 60 would have gone close to winning the event which would have been a remarkable turn-around from his spot at 8th in the original field.  Still and all, his 65 was more than enough to get him into third place.

Now, we all know that Trev doesn’t always enjoy the best of health and he had another visit to the doc this week.  But, he just couldn’t stay away and he did suffer more than a little in the heat and humidity.  He soldiered on and took more than a little support from his clubs and the flag-stick to bring in a total of 141 and the fourth spot in the main game.  He also opened his account in the Seniors by topping the pops in that field.  And, last in the point scoring fraternity was Brent who came home with a pair to make his total 142.

Another commendable round today was put together by Peter who netted 67 and justified the President’s view that he will not be long on his current handicap.  And that score was made with a draughtie on the 15th when he chunked his drive big time.  The chunk that he took out of the tee box was massive.  But the really impressive (non)shot of the day was put together by Bob on the 12th where he executed a perfect groundie.  The club hit the ground so far behind the ball that it bounced clear over the ball and the ball did not move.  The divot he took, however, also cleared the ball and went close to reaching the red markers.

The first ProPin was on the 4th and, as so often seems to be the case on this hole, nobody made it close enough and so there will be a Jackpot to next week  Christmas bonus perhaps.  The BallPin was on the 15th and Michael put it so close that the ball was reported, by the group in front, to have rimmed the cup.  Michael landed the birdie and contributed to the total of 15 that we scored for the day.  The ProPin on the 18th was knocked down to Stef who didn’t see fit to measure the distance so we will have to take his word for the fact that it was within the required limit.

As well as Michael’s effort there were several other Eagle possibilities today.  Stef drove the 9th and the 14th but did not make the necessary putt.  SOS put his to 2m on the 17th but could only manage the birdie.  Also on the 17th Harry pitched in, dead on line only to come up a couple of hundred millimetres short of the hole.  And, while on the topic of Stef driving the 9th,  Dennis was about to putt, knew Stef was on the tee, tensed when he heard the urgent ‘fore’ call and missed the putt.  That’s his excuse anyway.

This round also saw the completion of the Strokeplay Championship for 2018.  In the Gross Score Championship, the winner by quite a margin was Pepsi with a total of 225 strokes.  The score could have been even better if he had not put his drive on the 1st into the water storage dam and if he hadn’t left so many putts hanging on the edge of the hole.  A fair way (as distinct from a fairway) back was none other than Brendon with an aggregate of 237 strokes.

In the all important, Handicap Championship, it was hard to go past Mr Consistency over the three weeks and the gong goes to Brendon with a nett total of 204 and a three round average of 68.  Can’t get much better than that for playing to your handicap though he will have to work a little harder to do that from now on.  Runner-up in the event and only a couple of strokes behind was Porks with a nett score of 206.

Despite SOS’s problems with ball tampering and mistaken identity on the 1st, he was pretty happy that his round did not include any shanks.  He was obviously in a chirpy mood when he tried to put Brendon off by trundling his remote controlled buggy past the group in front from some distance back.  WTF! exclaimed Brendon.  And while on the topic of buggies, Bob has been out and about scouring the Op Shops and markets and has acquired himself a bargain basement electric buggy.  No remote though and time will tell whether it was money well spent.

Blighty was obviously keen to try for the money on the 4th and managed to put his drive out of bounds in the process.  His second followed suit and he was forced to hit a third and narrowly avoided managing to rack up double figures on a par 3.  The Beast also had a bit of strife on the 6th and just managed to avoid the dreaded double figures after he managed to hit the same tree three times and even losing ground on at least one occasion.

Next week is the Stuart Clarke Champion of Champions and the associated Chump of Chumps.  The groups will be ‘seeded’ except where numbers dictate.  The result of the Stuart Clarke will be determined by nett stroke scores.  However, the Chump of Chumps and the daily Championship Points (and handicapping) will be determined by Stableford points.  So, the CoC field will have to play their ball out and calculate their Stableford points.  The rest can take it easy, score their Stableford points, and pick up if they have a mind to.

On another matter, everybody will be aware that Targe suffered a significant injury recently and the committee has decided, under the Club Rules relating to Re-handicapping of Existing Members, to adjust Targe’s handicap to be more in line with his form since returning.  If the little fella puts in a blinder next week, there might very well be questions asked in the House.

And, don’t forget that, after the game next week, we have our breakup and presentations.  We like to get a group photo for the web-page each year so if you can all wear your Club shirts (or something similar if you don’t have one), that would be good.  Good food, a few drinks and good fellowship is pretty much guaranteed.

And, finally, although the calendar shows the two following Saturdays as Social, the rule is that if there are more than six players on the course then the event will attract points and handicapping.  They are correctly shown as Club Events on next year’s calendar.  Apologies for any confusion that might have been caused.

Results for Saturday, 08 December 2018
1st Brendon Mitchell(67, 65, 132) 2nd Ryan Porker(68, 69, 137) 3rd Stephen Butterfield(74, 65, 139) 4th Trevor Jackson(71, 70, 141) 5th Brent Rowley(71, 71, 142)

Seniors Results: 1st Trevor Jackson (71,70,141) 2nd Michael Gourlay (70,73,143) 3rd Bill Eastoe (74,71,145)

Nearest the Pin Results: ProPin No 1 4th Jackpot ProPin No 2 18th Stefan Belevski BallPin 15th Michael Gourlay