What a difference a day (of rain) makes. It seems that the heaviest rain in the metro area was concentrated right over Ivanhoe GC and with the Yarra in flood there was just nowhere for it to go. The result was that the course was closed and all bets were off.
Most decided to catch up on their thunder disturbed sleep and stayed under the doona, but there were a few enthusiastic souls who possibly live in quieter, less intense rainfall areas who turned up to survey the scene. As a result, it has been decided to establish a new Championship Table with points awarded for enthusiasm. The winner in this inaugural event has to be Damo who was first on the scene and he collects 8 points. Second, by a nose was Mike (5pts), closely followed by Harry (3pts). next cab off (or should that be onto) the rank was Gordon (2pts) and dragging the chain just a little was Oliver (1pt). Unfortunately, Bobbie was just a little too late to be in the points.
The calendar has next Saturdays event as a Par competition and in the past abandoned events have remained just so. However, there is a possibility that the inside comp will be re-instated as the June Monthly Medal and, if that is the case, our policy of aligning with the Club House event will take priority.
The presence of so much water on the course raises the question of dealing with the question of the Rules of Golf relating to water hazards (other than casual water). As you are aware all declared water hazards on the Ivanhoe course are lateral water hazards. The relevant rule states, inter alia, If a ball is in a water hazard or if it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in a water hazard (whether the ball lies in water or not) , the player may under penalty of one stroke: a) Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played b) Drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped; or c) as additional options available only if the ball last crossed the margin of a lateral water hazard, drop a ball outside the water hazard within two club-lengths of and not nearer the hole than i) the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or ii) a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole.
Hopefully this diagram makes it clear. The stars close to the hazard are two club-lengths. The ones further from the hazard are line extensions through point of entry to the pin. The left hand ones can be any point on the course from where the last shot was played.
On a lighter note, the following cartoon was spotted by a member and it will be left to your imagination as to why it was thought to be relevant and/or amusing.
