It was barely first light when the first pair set out for what promised to be something of a Rocky (I mean Mushy) Horror Show. Despite the best efforts at discerning the flight of the ball it took Adam and Brendon a few minutes to locate the spot for their second shot and so our efforts to get the groups off in record time to make a case for closer spacings got off to a rocky start. Still, despite the lack of light and the delay we did, all eight groups, get away within the allocated time frame, which augurs well for squeezing in some more pairs as the sun rises earlier down the track. The really big question was, would the rain hold off until we finished.
Now, you could be forgiven for thinking that, with the wet condition of the course that the scoring potential could be just a little on the low side. But, just as with race horses, there are mud runners and there are others that prefer a firm track. Who would have guessed that the best mud runner of all would be President Rob. Now there’s a name that the racing syndicate could consider for their latest nag! Perhaps it was that he was worrying so much about how much and how the money for the day should be split that he didn’t have a chance to think about his golf. There had been some discussion as to whether it was reasonable to be handicapping on what are effectively social rounds. It must be said that the tune changed a little when Rob laid his cards on the table showing a very impressive tally of 44 points.
There was a feeling that, when Mark’s handicap was calculated after his third card recently, it might have been a little on the generous side. That situation has gone some way to being corrected after he came home with a ‘not quite good enough’ 41 points. Breathing right down Mark’s neck was another of the young blades who can whack a ball a lot better than his handicap indicates. MattA managed to gather a total of 40 points with a storming back nine after an average front that only managed to bring in 17.
Daniel had an even more average front nine with just 14 points to show at the turn. He then scored 15 points on the next four holes by variously chipping in or putting in from off the green. The pace slowed a little after the blitzkreig but 24 points in a nine is good going in anybody’s terms. Dennis used his Thursday round to iron out some wrinkles and use up all of his ‘bad’ shots. JQ was just gob-smacked that he could put together 38 points and be in danger, if there were championship points on offer, of missing out on a podium spot. Ryan, on the other hand, took great delight in playing exactly to his handicap and, in the process, beating Noodles (again) in their little ‘matchplay’ competition.
The Nearest the Pin competition today was not really a competition. After struggling to find their tee shots on the first, Adam and Brendon certainly found their range later in the round. On the 12th, Adam got his name on the card with a shot to 3.56m that nobody was able to better and so he easily collected the ProPin pool. On the 18th, Brendon finished, maybe a metre and a half, past the hole to score the closest shot for the BallPin. Unfortunately, he took three putts to get it in the hole and so he did not contribute, on that hole, to the total of ten birdies that we managed for the day.
The pace of play was fairly brisk with 3 hours fifteen to twenty being the sort of time taken. JQ complained that it didn’t really leave any time to chat. It was suggested that Adam had worked hard to keep Brendon moving out in front. Targe got himself to trouble on the 11th and reportedly took rather more shots than appeared on the card. His claim that he was in grass up to his knees suggests that it was on a well mowed part of the course.
Porks managed to drive the 11th and left himself a 3m putt for an eagle. According to reports between him and Noodles there were three putts for eagles, none of which came off and so the dear old Eagle can rest easy for at least another week as she guards her nest. Rob played one of his ‘gorilla’ shots on the 13th and went very close to taking out Peter and Matt who he said he thought were well out of range. Gordo and Harry also had a close call on the 13th when a ball from the 10th whistled between them and landed about a metre from where Gordo’s ball lay.
Harry wasn’t one hundred percent happy that his approach to the 14th had finished a bit short on the face of the grass bunker. The chip, however ran true and never looked like missing to roll in for a birdie. H even cracked a smile. The pin at the 17th was well back towards the chain wire fence and Dennis had left his ball barely on the front edge. After a bit of a struggle to get even to that spot, he calmly rapped it and judged the pace and direction perfectly to sink the putt for his bogie and two points.
With the current restrictions, it is not appropriate that we gather in any way after the round as a group. We certainly raised the ire of the management today as they are just as liable for any breach of the rules on their premises as are those who breach the rules. So, while it is probably OK to have a drink with your playing companion (suitable separated), it is not OK for multiple pairs to stand around in close proximity. So, there will be no announcement of results except via the web-site, Facebook page and email. Provision will be made for collecting the score cards. People should disperse and vacate the premises as soon as practicable after the round and after you have passed on your juicy bits of gossip to the web-master.
Results for Saturday, 11 July 2020
1st Robert Priems(44) 2nd Mark Minney(41) 3rd Matthew Aforozis(40) 4th Daniel O’Rourke(38) 4th John Quinlan(38) 4th Dennis Ward(38) 5th Ryan Porker(36)
Seniors Results: 1st Dennis Ward (38) 2nd Harry Boughen (35) 3rd Gordon Hill (30)
Nearest the Pin Results: ProPin12th Adam King BallPin No 1 18th Brendon Mitchell BallPin No 2 – No contest