There’s nothing like the prospect of winning a Medal to bring out the animal in a person. And there were twenty-two animals competing for the August Medal today. The rain in the previous day had only a minor effect on the course except for the 14th tee that was rather squishy underfoot and had one member muttering about ‘casual water’. Maybe there was a particularly heavy shower went through that neck of the woods. Our newest member Peter was inspired to bring his friend, Daniel O’Rourke, along today to introduce him to the joys of Ivanhoe and the good company that our little Club offers. So, a big welcome to Daniel and we hope to see more of you in the near future.
Bill started off his round at a fairly leisurely pace and by the end of the first nine he had used up precisely half (or thereabouts) of his handicap strokes. Not sure who issued the challenge but an impromptu ‘match’ was agreed with Porks for the back nine with a beer on the result. The thought of a beer obviously inspired the Beast and he proceeded to demolish the back nine coming home one under par for the nine and busting his handicap by six with a nett score of 62. When his tee shot from the 17th disappeared over the trees, Bill took the precaution of playing a provisional but, as it turned out, the ball was safely on the green and he two putted for the birdie. On the 18th, his drive hit the pin and dropped to the green 1.21m from the hole for another easy birdie and a jackpot pool for the ProPin. The two birdies were a significant contribution to the tally of seven for the day.
Joe also contributed to the tally of birdies today on the 11th hole. Now, you might very well ask what is so special about that. Well, as you know, Joe is capable of hitting a monster drive. Which he did. He then made a monster duff sending the ball not very far at all. He then followed up with a chip into the hole for his birdie and helped himself along the way to a nett 66 which held the Clubhouse lead for some considerable time.
Gordon reckons he is ‘back’. And just to prove it, today his card had only one blemish. He had a three on the 15th. Every other score was either a four or a five. Jason was another who used up half his handicap on the front nine. He didn’t quite emulate Bill on the back and he did get a bit cranky about some errant shots that cost dearly on the score-line. But he did manage to come in just under his handicap to join Gordon on 67.
Noodles was a bit disappointed with his first four holes and his last four holes so he obviously played well on the other ten. Simon can’t get over the fact that Noodles has never played the 14th from the 14th fairway (or not very often anyway). Si also can’t get over the fact that Trev gets more than 20 more strokes that he does and beat him out of a point in the Seniors. But, hey, that’s what handicaps are for. Plus, you have to consider that Trev’s score included an airie on the tee at the 15th. At least Trev won’t get any more handicap back, this week at least, with a square card of 68 nett. Pepsi was obviously a little wrung out by his performance over the previous two weeks and could only manage a 75 off the stick for a balance of 71 for the last Championship point on offer.
The BallPin on the 12th created a bit of interest and a couple of people hurt when the green slope (and possibly the wind) helped to bring their ball almost back off the green. In the end it was Chrispy who collected the pill which might very well have been the highlight of his day. The ProPin on the 15th managed to avoid being challenged and so there will be a jackpot pool available for next week.
The Golf Gods were obviously having a ball on the second today with the tee back on the tank bank for the ‘black’ course. In some ways, it might be a shorter list to name those that didn’t have one. But, here goes. In the front group, there were no less than three with RodG, Ben and Trev succeeding in not getting past the red markers. Pepsi was the fourth member of the group and as he had to nick off early, the three miscreants declared all quits and no super funds were damaged as a result. Chris is one who normally takes on the trees on the left with his ‘power fade’ and whether that brought him unstuck is a bit unclear but the scorecard told the tale and the ‘fat lady’ sang. The words Brendon and draughtie are not often seen in close proximity but they were today, also on the second.
There was one other reported and that was down to Peter on the 12th. And it raised a ‘technical’ question. The first shot finished inside the hazard and was deemed to be ‘playable’ The second shot, didn’t quite come off and the ball popped out still short of the red markers. The question was – does that count as a ‘double draughtie’. Not something that is covered in the Rules of Golf, unfortunately, but perhaps a draughtie can only originate from a tee shot would be a reasonable interpretation.
Michael put himself among the trees on the left of the 10th and had a view of the green that afforded a glimpse of the flag and not much more. He pulled out his trusty one iron (and everybody knows not even God, or is that Gord, can hit a one iron) and proceeded to thread it between the trees. The gap was so narrow, he reckons the ball took bark off both trees on the way through. And the ball finished on the green and not too far away from the pin. And, wouldn’t you know it, nobody in the group saw the shot.
Keith was back with us today after a bit of a break and he started early with the excuses claiming not to have swung a club for months. He then proceeded to direct them long and straight down the middle (for the most part).
Simon has been carrying on all week about the new putter that he had ordered with the reactive face and the ‘special’ grip. The new artillery arrived and he ‘blooded’ it today and was heard to say that – first five holes, one putt. What he didn’t explain was that it was one putt per hole. Which is still pretty impressive though he did miss out on getting any points in the Seniors. Or has that already been said?
Targe seems to be getting along well on his road to recovery and he has been well pleased with the regular visits from Club members. He will be going ‘home’ later in the week so if you want to catch up while he is still ‘captive’ the next few days will have to be it. Also, give a thought to Allan, who suffered a bit of a mishap in a bunker during the week (pretty sure he wasn’t driving Thunderbird at the time) and has hurt his back and will be on crutches for a while and we won’t be seeing him and Thunderbird around the course for a little while. And, while on the injury list, Mal had a mishap a little while back and suffered a severely lacerated hand requiring significant stitching as well as damage to his shoulder, ribs and leg. So, a big get well and see you back soon to all on the injury list.
Oops, the Birthday Birdie almost forgot that Harry will get one step closer to playing his age this week though he is beginning to think that he will have to live a very long time to do so.
Results for Saturday, 04 August 2018
1st Bill Eastoe(62) 2nd Joe Wagenecht(66) 3rd Gordon Hill(67) 3rd Jason Hopkins(67) 4th Stephen Butterfield(68) 4th Trevor Jackson(68) 5th Andrew Petricola(71)
Seniors Results: 1st Bill Eastoe (62) 2nd Gordon Hill (67) 3rd Trevor Jackson (68)
Nearest the Pin Results: ProPin No 1 15th Jackpot ProPin No 2 18th Bill Eastoe BallPin 12th Chris Priems