Due to flooding, early in the week it looked like there might be no play on Jan 13, or perhaps only on 9 of the least flooded holes.
But come Saturday 7 members had a full course to play.
The ground staff were confident enough in their work to say there was no need for preferred lies and overall conditions were indeed pretty good despite the odd mud ball.
Putting on the 7th was interesting. The green had obviously been totally under water and was still brown and muddy. Most putts finished well short.
The lakes to the left of the 4th and in front of the 5th tee were prominent.
Thankfully the tee on the 4th was put so far forward it made the lake less intimidating, although Chris James was intimidated enough by the lake on the 5th to hit it straight in there.
There was also a lovely new bridge to admire on the 4th. Without it there would have been no way to get from tee to green. Even the most skeptical critics of the grounds-keeping at Royal Ivanhoe admitted the bridge was up there with their best work.
Once all the flood talk settled, very soon into the round the buzz around the course was could we beat the world record for lowest ever stableford score to get points (Harry the record is?).
As it happened the field was very strung out with no ties and Stan’s 27 points was enough for solo fifth.
Along the way, SoS had some trouble getting Johnny Q’s score right and John had to do the honest thing and instruct him to deduct a point, thereby missing the chance to join Stan on 27 by that point. Unfortunately John had not brought his Merimbula holiday form with him (40 points and some serious cash for a comp win up there).
Invitations to send stories of other holiday golfing stories brought nothing this week, although Gordo shared a lovely photo of himself already drunk at lunchtime at the Portarlington Mussel Festival.
Adam was the other player to miss points on the day. Chris J snared fourth with 28 points, SoS third with 31, Raj second with 34 and Michael snuck home for the win with 35.
Apart from Johnny Q’s draughtie on the 15th, the major highlight of the day discussed after the round was Stan’s birdie on the 5th. Due to lack of other highlights his partners took turns describing the second shot that went in and around the trees like a laser into about a metre from the hole from where the putt went right in the middle. SoS birdied the 3rd but no details emerged about how he did that. He was too busy enjoying John’s beer.
To entice a few more players this week, we have a ball jackpot on the 7th and a triple ProPin jackpot on the 15th. Raj won the ball on the 18th.
Results for Saturday, 13 Jan 2024
1st Michael Gourlay (35) 2nd Rajesh Mahto (34) 3rd Stephen O’Sullivan (31) 4th Chris James (28) 5th Stan Blackshaw (27)
Seniors Results: 1st Michael Gourlay (35) 2nd Stan Blackshaw (27)
Nearest the Pin Results: ProPin – 15th Jackpot BallPin No 1 – 7th Jackpot BallPin No 2 – 18th Rajesh Mahto