During the week, there was a certain amount of rumbling but not much tumbling, at least in most parts of Melbourne anyway. Still, a bit of rain is better than none and the course is looking all the better for it. The fairways look a picture and still have more than a modicum of run in them but the greens did seem a little softer with a number of un-repaired pitch marks in evidence. One approach by Noodles saw the ball remain embedded where it landed. Noodles even asked if it was OK for him to lift the ball and repair the mark. Harry felt like saying no! The sun was out and the temperature soon climbed to a very comfortable level and nineteen players had what could be described as ideal conditions to test themselves against the vagaries of the game of golf.
Bill’s main aim today was not to win but to fill in as many of the missing birdies on his Eclectic card as possible and he was pleased to be able to hand in a card with three circles marking what he hoped were the elusive missing links. Those three were a significant contribution to the total of eight that we managed to get on the day but, unfortunately, only one of them fell into the missing category on his Eclectic. So, now, he has to get two of the missing ones next week if he wants to have any chance of whipping the prize from under Blighty’s nose. Remember Bill, it’s the par threes that you need, not the par fours.
Anyway, in the process of trying to catch Blighty, Bill managed to put together 37 points and put in the highest score of the day. He didn’t have all the glory to himself though. The practice on the sand scrapes has obviously done Targe the world of good and he has presented to the judges for the second week in a row since getting back from his peregrinations around the country.
It was a tough day for competition out on the course today and Harry and Noodles were drawn in the same group with Noodles needing to get a fair jump on Harry and Harry needing to stay, if not in front of Noodles, at least not too far behind. Harry started out well putting together eleven points in four holes while Noodles, by his own calculation, had thrown more clubs than he had points in the same distance. But, with fourteen holes to go, the day was far from over. A couple of gashes meant that, by the turn, Harry’s eight point lead had been reduced to three and it was game on. Noodles fairly played out of his skin on the back and missed by a whisker at parring the nine. Harry had the better of the points until a run in with the hazard on the 17th resulted in another gash and by the end of the round, Harry had the better of Noodles by 36 points to 35. The battle for second place goes on!
Simon and DennisW are both recently returned from sabbatical and haven’t wasted any time showing their faces on the podium. Dennis was having a bit of trouble with his accuracy that ended up costing him dearly due to an uncharacteristic fade. Attempts to correct said fade more often than not finished with trouble on the other side of the fairway. Simon went to the mechanic for a tune-up during the week and he showed her the prompt card that he had written for himself. He had to explain that it was meant to be read from left to right, not top to bottom. The latter way of going could be interpreted quite differently particularly when you got to to the reminder to ‘cock wrists’. He also reckons he didn’t need his carburetor to be tickled to get him going.
Both Craig and Jason started out well on the front nine. Jason, apparently, had very little sleep since finishing work early this morning and his buggy broke down part way around so it is perhaps not surprising that he faded somewhat on the back nine. Craig was not able to offer any excuses but he was perfectly happy to accept the point on offer.
It is coming up to Christmas so it is perhaps appropriate that there should be some money on offer to help to pay for the gifties to fill Santa’s sack. So, it is entirely reasonable that nobody should make it within tape distance of the pin on the 4th and the 18th and there will be a double jackpot on both up for grabs next week. Who said the 4th wasn’t a good spot for the ProPin? The BallPin on the 12th was contested with Simon getting his name on the card after a close call with DennisW only to be knocked off by Chrispy who obviously put it even closer.
MattN managed to par the 13th but not without a little help from his friends. He flighted it in from 80m out straight in line with the pin. So much so, that it hit the top of the pin and stopped dead to drop to the ground within tap-in distance of the hole. Luck’s a fortune! MattH, who is taking part in the Movember event and is struggling a bit to come to terms with the caterpillar that has settled on his top lip, had a similar piece of luck after a shot on the 8th, that was heading so far out of bounds that Dight’s Falls was the likely next stop, hit a tree and came to rest in the middle of the fairway after missing several trees on the way back. He didn’t make a par though.
Everybody knows about the Priems luck when it comes to using trees to improve the outcome of errant shots. There is a hint that it might not be genetic after a shot by Jake on the 11th bounced to the base of a tree and nestled in a hole in the trunk. Interestingly, DennisW had a remarkably similar result on the same hole on Thursday. Could even have been the same hole, same tree. Dennis used a shot from Tim Cahill’s repertoire to get the ball into a more favourable position. There is no report as to how Jake played the shot. And, while dealing with Dennis (T, that is) he was saddled with the embarrassment of playing the incorrect ball on the 18th. And, just to rub salt into the wound, it was the ball that RodG had ‘lost’ when playing the 17th. At least Rod was happy to get his ball back.
Brendon wasn’t able to play today because he had a ballet lesson. He’d changed out of his tutu and points and was at the Course for a putting lesson. He obviously means business for the Stroke Play Championship that starts next week (for three weeks) and for the Vin O’Meara that occupies the remaining two weeks. Very few people have advised their intentions for the Vin O’Meara and we would particularly like to know who will not be playing both days so that we do not unnecessarily complicate things with the Calcutta Auction that will be run next week after the December Monthly Medal.
If there are any perpetual trophies out there, unbolt them from their secure mounting and bring them in so that Gordon can get the badges updated for the presentations on the 16th December. Subscriptions are due and if they are not paid by the end of the month you will be ineligible for points until such time as they are paid. GolfLink memberships will also be suspended. Gordon is also looking for deposits for the Annual Challenge ($50 per person attending). If we cut back the numbers that we have booked for it will not be possible to increase them later. So, if you only think you will attend, pay the deposit. We can refund further down the track if things change.
Results for Saturday, 18 November 2017
1st Bill Eastoe(37) 1st Targe Mifsud(37) 2nd Harry Boughen(36) 3rd Stephen Butterfield(35) 4th Simon Powell(34) 4th Dennis Ward(34) 5th Craig Cameron(33) 5th Jason Hopkins(33)
Seniors Results: 1st Bill Eastoe (37) 1st Targe Mifsud (37) 2nd Harry Boughen (36) 3rd Dennis Ward (34) 3rd Simon Powell (34)
Nearest the Pin Results: ProPin No 1 4th Jackpot ProPin No 2 18th Jackpot BallPin 12th Chris Priems