Some people are never satisfied. During winter, can’t wait for summer for the fairways to dry out. Summer not yet started (astronomically speaking), when are they going to put some water on the fairways. But, despite these minor quibbles, the scores today were generally not too different to those registered last week, with only two improvers and one all square from those that played both weeks. After various ins and (maybe) outs, it was a little unclear how many would eventually front the starter, but last night’s parties must not have been a raucous as anticipated, and we ended up with fifteen registered members, and one guest, Andrew Vogan. Andrew was so impressed that he signed up as a member on the spot, and so we welcome him to the Club, as, with a GA handicap, he will be able to start competition immediately using his Daily Handicap as his Club handicap.
So, what was more important, steady as she goes, or make the big move? As it turned out, it was more the steady as she goes, and let the others fall beside the wayside. As seems to be fairly standard, Steve had his ‘if only’ complaints about the holes that he quadrupled and quintupled, which does seem to suggest that his handicap should be rather lower than it is. Despite those aberrations, with his smattering of pars and a birdie on the 6th, Steve was able to lay his card down on the judge’s table showing a net score of 66, just one more than last week, for a total for the event of 131, to add yet another feather to his Major cap. Needless to say, his handicap is not quite as generous as it was a week ago.
Whitey was reported to be going OK, which caused a few nervous glances between Committee members. Was he aware that he did not have the requisite qualification for the trophy? Only time would tell. And, if it hadn’t been for a bit of a shocker on the 13th, that time might have come sooner rather than later. That quadruple, plus a handful of doubles, meant that he was only able to return a net 69 to bring his total for the event to 134 to collect second place in the event to maintain his position in the field from the first week. Brendon was one of the few that were able to improve their score, and position, from last week. His tally of 137 brought him home in third place, two spots to the better on the table. He did manage a couple of birdies to set himself up to an early start on his quest to return one for every hole in a year.
Pepsi and CJ set a cracking pace across the ground as they led out in the first group with urgent business to attend to after the round. Not so urgent that they couldn’t stop for a drink to fill in some time so that the better halves did not get the wrong idea about early finish times. Well, that was CJ’s story. Pepsi’s quest for an improvement of last week’s round was not helped by a bit of strife on the second, and the pars did not roll quite so easily off the club as they did last week. The resulting four stroke deficit brought his total to 140 which was enough to share fourth place with CJ. As for CJ, the question was, did he need the Butter Menthols, or was the pace that Pepsi set just too much for his ageing body? Whatever the reason, he slipped twelve strokes from last week to match Pepsi for the event. Bob also slipped a few more strokes to finish just a stroke further back with his net score of 141.
Far and away, the biggest improver was none other than Prez, who improved his score by a very impressive twelve strokes to a net 71, which wasn’t enough to move his placing a great deal, but an impressive effort nonetheless. This represented fifth place in the daily placings. Mango Man was also back in town after a bit of a break from the clubs, which doesn’t seem to have done him any harm, as he romped into fourth place for the day with his score of 70. He also romped into the hearts of members when he staggered up to the table laden down with boxes of you-know-whats. Thanks heaps, Ken!
Of course, there was another event finalised today. And that was the three rounds of the Strokeplay Championship. In the Scratch Championship, Pepsi was the favourite, but Brendon was in with a sniff, with a gap of five strokes in it after the second round. Pepsi was not one hundred percent happy with his seventy-eight off the beater today, and Brendon was able to top that with his very nice seventy-five. Unfortunately, that was not enough to close the gap, and Pepsi took out the Scratch Championship 229 to Brendon’s 231. In the Handicap Championship, you could throw a tea towel over the first three contenders, with only two strokes between first and third after the second round. Brendon’s sub-handicap round today (from a lower handicap than he started the event with), meant that he was able to hold on to his lead and take out the event with a net score of 204. Steve’s round today bettered Brendon, but it was not quite enough, and he lagged two strokes behind on 206 net.
You could almost say, it was Brendon’s day today. Not only was he up there in the results table, but he also managed to snag both of the BallPins from the 15th and the 18th. The ProPin was a jackpot on the 7th after last week’s little ‘debacle’, and with the tee set well back, there was a fair chance that it could have doubled today. That was before our guest Andrew came along, and cracked a three wood to 2.8m from the hole. You should have seen the glee on his face as he flashed the wad of notes to his wife, who happens to play in the ladies group that follows us.
We all know about the ‘luck’ of the Priems boys. Usually, it is associated with interactions with trees. However, today, there were interactions of other sorts. On the 8th, CJ was having a bit of trouble, but had managed to finally get onto the green in six. As they approached the green, there was a magpie busily ‘beaking’ his ball across the green towards the edge. Pepsi fumbled for his camera, but the magpie lost interest when the ball reached the edge of the green, and there was no visual record of the event. CJ got down in seven, so it is to be hoped that no liberties were taken with replacing the ball. CJ was rather miffed that a Magpie, of all birds, had the temerity to interfere with his equipment (golf, that is). Brother Rob, on the other hand, had a run in with Stan’s ball on the 17th green, which left him close enough to the hole to tap it in for a birdie. This meant that he was able to contribute to the nine that were recorded for the day.
Raj wasn’t quite on his usual form today, and perhaps here is a hint of why that might have been. he does seem to have got some club on the ball from a pretty awkward spot. Although Ken had a pretty handy round, he was not immune from some problems. On the 11th, he wandered off into the trees on the right, and, in his endeavour to get back onto the fairway, he managed to contact the same tree twice, as well as a third before he managed to do so. He kept his head though and finished the hole in just two more. Stan struck a tricky one. His drive on the first was deemed to be fairway material, but could not be found. There was some chance that it had been moved by an ‘outside influence’ (read – another player), but such an act was not actually seen. Thus, there was no option but to treat the ball as ‘lost’ and take the two stroke penalty to play from the estimated position. Bob was busy having a chat waiting for the first tee when his buggy decided that it really wanted to play from the tenth. Steve sprinted after it and managed to divert it into the fence and saved it from a fate unknown. Later in the round, it misbehaved again and trundled into the bunker on the 13th.
Next week is the David Primrose Champion of Champions and the Chump of Chumps trophy events. The result of the Champion of Champions is determined by the net stroke scores, so that part of the field has to play out every hole (no pick-ups). The Chump of Chumps is determined by stableford scores, so that part of the field can pick up when out of strokes in the interests of keeping the field moving. The Club competition is determined by stableford points for Championship points and handicapping, so the whole field has to record their stableford scores. After the round, we will be joined by those not playing who wish to come along to participate in a catered Christmas lunch with a couple of free drinks to wash the tucker down. Proceedings will wind up with the presentation of trophies for the year, and can be followed with fun and frivolity at a local drinking hole if you so desire. If we don’t see you on Saturday, have a very Merry Christmas, and all the best for the New Year.
By the way, subscriptions are due. $50 for Club, and $100 for GA into the Club bank account por favore! If GA is not paid by Boxing Day, your GA membership will be suspended so that other members will not be penalised for unfinancial GA members. If you genuinely wish to discontinue your GA membership with us, please take the time to let us know by email.
Results for Saturday, 14 Dec 2024
1st Steven Gervasoni (65, 66, 131) 2nd Rodney White (65, 69, 134) 3rd Brendon Mitchell (70, 67, 137) 4th Andrew Petricola (68, 72, 140) 4th Chris Priems (64, 76, 140) 5th Bob McDonald (67, 74, 141)
Seniors Results: 1st Steven Gervasoni (65,66,131) 2nd Rodney White (65,69,134) 3rd Chris Priems (64,76,140)
Nearest the Pin Results: ProPin – 7th Andrew Vogan BallPin No 1 – 15th Brendon Mitchell BallPin No 2 – 18th Brendon Mitchell