There was a bit of rain last night and out of the goodness of their hearts the course management had declared preferred lies although the condition of the course would barely have warranted the concession. Still, never look a gift horse in the mouth. The day turned out magnificently, warm for the time of year and sunny with only the slightest of breezes to keep one from over-heating. The stage appeared to be set for some pretty heavy scoring – of the golfing variety that is.
So convinced was he that it would be a day for big scores, Damo almost couldn’t believe it when his card with +3 came out on the top of the pile. Still, I’ll bet he won’t knock back the championship points that came along with it. He still needs a couple of wins to close the gap on Oliver in the standings but he doesn’t need to look over his shoulder as it is getting to be daylight in third place.
Not sure whether there were lots of people dazzled by the unaccustomed brightness out there on the course, but there were a number of errors in allocating the scores today. There weren’t any impacts on the major placings but there were a couple of shifts in the lower spots. Please try to get it right – mark your card where you get (extra) strokes – it might remind you and/or your marker and help to get it right.
Anyway, Eddie (Pigeon Stew) came in second but could easily have been demoted if he hadn’t been the solo place holder on +1. Bobbie, who has been getting his name on the board with some regularity lately, and Mo gathered the third placing with square cards. There were a raft of people one point further back in 4th place and it was good to see Sinan collect some points on his first outing as a full handicap member of the club.
There was the final round of the matchplay completed today to determine the pair to fight it out in the Grand Final on 21 September. That event should be a slug-fest between Eddie, who was victorious over Targe 2 and 1, and Stefan, who prevailed over Ken 4 and 2. Targe and Ken will also compete on the same day to determine the third place getter.
The Nearest the Pin competition for a ball on the 15th went to Noodles who was just a bit outside gimme distance with the pin a fair way back on the green. It was certainly close enough for him to sink the putt for the birdie. Pepsi collected the cash for the ProPin on the 12th. There was a fair swag of birdies today with the total at 14. Trevor managed to bag on on the 7th after a magnificent tee shot finished pin high a couple of metres from the hole to be calmly rattled in.
As well as the usual birdies there was also something a bit unusual on the cards today, an actual froggie – or was it a toad in the hole. It wasn’t a natural occurrence as some of our younger members were involved in rescuing it from out in the fairway. Not sure why it wasn’t with its mates ribbitting away in the billabongs with what seem to be hundreds of others of his kind. Must be coming up to the mating season with all the noise they were making.
There were quite a number of birdies on the very popular 17th and a couple of those were eagle chances. Damo was one who was cursing himself for having left it short. The nest only had one ball so leaving it to fill up a bit is probably a good idea.
Zimmer was beginning to develop a persecution complex after being hit by golf balls twice in the round. First, it was thanks to Stefan on about the 7th or 8th hole and later it was down to Targe on the 10th/11th. The one that hit him on the leg raised quite a welt and could easily develop into a bruise. Do try to take care when you are hitting with people within your range of fire.
Even though Jan ended up in the points, his round was not without its moments. Before he got to the 3rd green (or even past the 3rd ladies tee) it had cost him dearly with two draughties and a windie. Time to slow down a bit (the backswing that is) hey Jan.
Targe was disappointed to lose a ball in the long grass on the slopes of the 15th tee though there were quite a few spots around the course where the rough is a bit longer and is good at hiding balls from sight. Not sure how much influence it had on the matchplay outcome, but it can’t have helped.
Rules Quiz
You’ve all been hanging out for an answer to last weeks conundrum and we have a difference of opinion. The answer given by the original source was as follows:
“Did he move the ball? As he had addressed the ball Pepsi is deemed to have moved the ball (Rule 18-2b) Penalty one stroke
Did he strike the ball? It is possible to NOT make a stroke even if the clubhead goes beyond the ball but as the clubhead contacted the ball there is insufficient evidence to support a claim that a stroke had not been made (Decision 14/1.5) the stroke counts and the ball must be played as it lies. (If Pepsi had NOT contacted the ball and it was agreed he had NOT made a stroke the ball must be replaced to the position from which it rolled.)
Pepsi’s score for the hole is a double bogey 6.”
The answer given by David (the only entry by the way) was slightly different and went as follows:
“The answer to your question is a bogey 5. Although he checked his stroke he followed through and hit the ball. Decision 14.1.5 states that if a player checks his stroke on the downswing but still hits the ball he is considered to have fairly struck the ball. This means that he did not have to replace the ball and his next putt stands. Although you state that the ball moved just prior to the downswing, the fact that he started his downswing would be evidence that he could not possibly have abandoned his stroke until he had started his downswing. In matters like this, the decision goes against the player.”
Careful reading of 18-2b suggests that this is a valid component of the events for consideration and it seems that 6 probably should be the correct answer.
Today’s problem goes as follows. Harry tees off on the 14th and the ball sails straight for the water hazard but looks as if it might just make the other side. As he walks to the area he notices players on the 16th searching in the area and when he gets there he asks whether they have seen his ball. As it turns out Whitey had picked it up assuming it had been abandoned and indicates the spot (inside the hazard) where it had been lying. Harry places the ball on the spot indicated and decides to play the ball where it lies. Taking all precautions about grounding his club, Harry swings and shanks the ball fiercely and it flies out at right angles and strikes his buggy and ricochets back into the hazard. Harry recovers the ball and takes a drop according the the lateral water hazard rules. What is the count for the stroke Harry is about to take?
Results for Saturday, 31 August 2013
1st Damien Lee(+3) 2nd Ed Kloprogge(+1) 3rd Bob McDonald(□) 3rd Mo Sabih(□) 4th Harry Boughen(-1) 4th Sinan Cekuc(-1) 4th Gordon Hill(-1) 4th Jan Siemon(-1) 4th Stephen O’Sullivan(-1) 5th Malcolm Adey(-2) 5th Mostyn Gregg(-2) 5th Targe Mifsud(-2)