Beautiful fine weather. Hard fairways. Soft (and freshly blown) greens. High scoring in recent weeks. Eleven keen members. Our old mate, Snags. Guest (and potential new member) Marc Phillips. There was every promise of a day to remember on the scoring front. And the reality?

SOS owned up to the fact that he has had a couple of lessons with Chris (Moore, that is, not the other one(s)), and he reckons that he can put his Bradbury like performance down to that. Watch out everyone, because he is lining up for more, and recommending it to anyone who will listen. Do I smell ‘commission’? So, by doing a bit of a blitz job on the back, he was able to thread his way through the tumbling ten-pins to finish on top with everybody’s favourite, sixty-nine to collect the Medal, and a place in the David Primrose.

CJ made good use of the trees today, and was saved, on a number of occasions, by appeals to the tree gods, who promptly answered his supplications. His final score was just a stroke behind the winner thanks to the numerous interventions. It was thought that, maybe, Marc also had a direct line to aforesaid tree gods when a number of stray shots turned fortuitous.

Craig was his usual sure and steady self, and could easily have been better than seventy-one, except for a couple of strayings from the straight and narrow. The pars proved elusive for Stan, who joined Craig in third place. Appearing a little more regularly in recent times seems to be paying off for Ken, who featured in the points again to take a couple for fourth place. Rounding out the podium, we had Ryan, who also tried for a Bradbury, by polishing off the back nine just one stroke over the card. Just a pity he couldn’t have been a bit higher up the table to mark the occasion of his 400th game with the Club.

There was a thought that the BallPin on the 7th was a chance to Jackpot again, but Old Reliable had other ideas, and put it on and close enough to add another pair of balls to his collection. Nobody was so lucky on the 18th, and there will be a Double Jackpot next week, with three balls to be won. The ProPin was set on the 4th, and the 5m circle almost proved to be too small, but Gordo saved the day by getting his ball to 2.97m. The birdie eluded him, which was not atypical, as we could only card three for the day.

Raj gave his ankle a good work out today, as he was seen to be taking the ‘scenic route’, on a few occasions. He also admitted donating three balls to the collection at the bottom of the pond on the 17th. Not quite a record, but getting up there. Snags didn’t have any coins with him today because it all goes into his ‘swear box’ at home. Or, should that be, ‘swear 200l drum’. The Birthday Birdie was remiss and missed Rob’s big day a couple of weeks ago, and there is a big shout out due to Josh in the coming week.

Results for Saturday, 01 Feb 2025
1st Stephen O’Sullivan (69) 2nd Chris Priems (70) 3rd Stan Blackshaw (71) 3rd Craig Cameron (71) 4th Ken Watson (73) 5th Dan Marie (74) 5th Ryan Porker (74)

Seniors Results: 1st Chris Priems (70) 2nd Craig Cameron (71) 2nd Stan Blackshaw (71) 3rd Ken Watson (73)

Nearest the Pin Results: ProPin – 4th Gordon Hill BallPin No 1 – 7th Craig Cameron BallPin No 2 – 18th Jackpot

Another ridiculously slow round – caused entirely by a group in front of our players.

Perhaps in summer we should commit to earlier tee off times and reduce the likelihood of being dudded by whackers like today’s lot?

The news of the day was our joint winners, Hunts x 2 (the New Reliables?) and Old Reliable.

Special mentions also for podium finishers Tim, Peps and Stan (is he another New Reliable) and CJ.

Par they say is a “funny game” and not everybody’s cup of tea. Today wasn’t Grand Par so “double pluses” only counted for one.

Josh had three double pluses on holes 13, 14 and 15 (the latter two being birdies). In a Grand Par round he’d have been +6 and a clear winner.

Craig had one double plus (a birdie on the 10th) and wouldabeen +4 in Grand Par.

Matt had no double pluses, so speaking morally, he shouldabeen third not equal first.

Indeed Josh had the old man on toast standing on the 18th tee. At +4, with Matty at +3, and coming off a run of 6 pluses in a row on holes 12-17, a nice par or even a steady 4 a half would have seen Josh knock the old man off. But it wasn’t to be. A shocker off the tee led to a wipe for Josh while Matty calmly slotted his par.

Earlier both Hunt boys had buggy accidents, including a spectacular 180 degree turn and somersault of Matt’s buggy coming up the hill after the 13th. Matt was on the phone at the time and obviously distracted. Is there a fine for that?

Of our second placegetters, Peps had the heartbreak/handbrake story. A double plus birdie on the 8th was one of three birdies on the front 9 that saw him turn 1-under off the stick and +4 (and +5 after 13). But 4 wipes and a half over the last 5 holes were costly.

After wipes on the first two holes, Tim steadied and kept his round going nicely, offsetting bad holes with good ones. His +1 included 6 pluses and 5 wipes. Stan is obviously back in town. His +1 was made up of 5 pluses and 4 wipes.

CJ was his usual steady self with 3 pluses (including one double plus birdie on the 13th) and 3 wipes.

Adam birdied the 1st (a double plus) and turned on +2 but couldn’t sustain his run.

Porks seemed cranky after the round but had done enough to sneak into 5th.

The others in the field of 15 were Targe, SoS and Raj (-4) and three blokes sharing this week’s NAGA at -5, Rob, Steve and Ken.

Josh won the money (and didn’t share it with his dad) with a great shot into the 15th. Nobody hit the green on 7 and 18, so both ball holes are a jackpot for next week’s February monthly medal round.

Harry’s birdie count with a few words left, 15.

PS. Mail after the round from Chris in the Pro-shop is always ring to let him know if players in front of us are ridiculously slow. After 9am he has extra staff and can get out on the course and give the offenders a hurry-up.

PPS. Harry how was the Tour Down Under in South Aus? Did you win the over 80’s men’s race?

Results for Saturday, 25 Jan 2025
1st Craig Cameron (+3) 1st Josh Hunt (+3) 1st Matt Hunt (+3) 2nd Stan Blackshaw (+1) 2nd Tim Mathers (+1) 2nd Andrew Petricola (+1) 3rd Chris Priems (□) 4th Adam King (-1) 5th Ryan Porker (-2)

Seniors Results: 1st Craig Cameron (+3) 1st Matt Hunt (+3) 2nd Stan Blackshaw (+1) 3rd Chris Priems (□)

Nearest the Pin Results: ProPin – 15th Josh Hunt BallPin No 1 – 7th Jackpot BallPin No 2 – 18th Jackpot

In 500 words or less, how do we do justice to today’s big show, starting with Kenny – 42 points, despite a draughty and wipe on the 1st (and 1 point on the 2nd) and later an unplayable lie with a ball up a tree on the 13th.

Then Prez Priems playing in the same group with Ken – 41 points, including two missed tiddlers in another coulda / shoulda/ what might have been putting performance.

And Adam with 40 points, including 23 on the front 9. His round only good enough for 3rd with us but first in the inside A Grade.

Harry has this ever been done before – the first three placings all 40+ (or equivalent for par or stroke)?

Let’s not forget Peps with 37, including a pitch in eagle at the 14th – 60 degree wedge which he called off the bat – “go in” he said, and it did. Last week Peps with 37 would have been equal 1st. Today it was only good enough for 4th.

And Stan in 5th with 36. Coming off time in London (bloody cold!) Stan also had a draughty on the 1st, sending his ball at an almost 90 degree angle in the direction of the 10th tee. Stan got better as the round progressed and rattled home with a back 9 of 20 points. Club members who like a punt could do well backing Stan in coming weeks.

Honourable mention to Chris V with 35 points. Chris was playing his first game in a long time. Coaching his kids soccer team has kept him busy – can you believe the twins are 8 years old already! Tee to green Chris played beautifully. If the putter behaved he might well have joined the 40+ brigade.

Of the rest, all had their moments. Michael’s 34 points included a classic shank off the 15th tee that “did a Kenny” and was found up a tree. Targe with 33 points was a bit stiff to miss out on Seniors points after a good front 9 of 18 points. Others in the field of 14 were JQ (33) Steve and CJ (31) Gordo (30) whose “3 for 4” birdie on the 1st was followed by three wipes, SoS (30) and this week’s NAGA, Dan.

But back to Kenny. Highlights include a Nearest-the-pin ball win on the 4th, a 5 point birdie on the 8th and a miraculous par on the last – duff of the tee, second onto the green but with tricky downhill putt – in she goes, no problem!

Peps won the NTP money on the 12th, just shading Chris V. Michael bravely took out the club he shanked on the 15th and bunted it close to win the ball on 18.

26 words left. Harry likes a birdie count (7) plus the Peps eagle. Let’s hope the day’s glamour boys enjoy their new handicaps, Kenny cut by 4 and Prez and Adam 2 each.

Not counting captions, 499 words! Porks/Blighty/Matty did you read to the end?

Results for Saturday, 18 Jan 2025
1st Ken Watson (42) 2nd Robert Priems (41) 3rd Adam King (40) 4th Andrew Petricola (37) 5th Stan Blackshaw (36)

Seniors Results: 1st Ken Watson (42) 2nd Robert Priems (41) 3rd Stan Blackshaw (36)

Nearest the Pin Results: ProPin – 12th Andrew Petricola BallPin No 1 – 4th Ken Watson BallPin No 2 – 18th Michael Gourlay

Eagle’s Nest Results: Eagle – 14th Andrew Petricola

Blighty and Porks complained loudly today that the Blog is getting too long.

So here goes. In 500 words or less.

It was hot.

It was slow (groups in front of our first group the main culprits).

Prez wanted it known for the blog that he missed at least 19 par putts today.

By the by, Matty Hunt plays a good violin when Prez is talking forlornly about missed opportunities.

Whitey wants Harry to start a new Stats Tab on Draughties. Backdated to the start of the season. Like a Championship Table for Draughties. He had his second for the year on the 8th today. Harry, would Whitey be leading the Season Draughties Championship with two?

Michael wants to start a competition for the Arsiest Par Ever after witnessing Steve’s on the 8th today. Drive low and left through the big tree, hitting the tree hard but somehow keeping on going straight and quite long to a good position on the left hand side just off the fairway, nice open line to the green etc. Big shanked second heading over the Yarra to Green Acres which hits a tree and bounces back on the fairway. Pitch on and one-putt. Par. Can anybody beat that for Arsiest Par Ever? CJ?

There was no sign of SoS’s cocky on the 7th and SoS cleaned up the money for Nearest the Pin there with a 5-iron to 1.84 metres. He then backed up and knocked off Porks to win the ball on the 12th. Porks booked the video thing on the 18th and was only 2.76 metres short of a hole-in-one to the top tier pin which was good enough for our ball and the Inside nearest the pin.

Dan took the day’s best photo on the 1st. Blighty chipped it to a couple of inches. Craig chipping from another angle said leave it there Blighty, I am going to hit your ball, and he did, very gently nudging it, but still neither ball went in the hole.

The next best photo was Steve without his driver head on the 16th. Like when Rory McIlroy lost his 9-iron head (Google Rory McIlroy crazy club break) but the ball finished on the green, Steve’s drive went miles down the fairway, the driver head went about 60 metres.

The three blokes who got first placed points today are lucky. Last week the same score would have been fourth.

Old Reliable stormed home with three 3-pointers to get second. Two blokes shared third. Three other blokes got 4th and three other blokes got 5th.

The day’s worst photo was your blog writers attempt to get a good shot of the only three blokes of 15 who didn’t get points – without naming names, Brendon, Peps and Targe.

Luckily Brendon in the background is all fuzzy in the photo as he is doing something with his finger that might not be suitable for a family friendly blog like this one.

PS. Harry is backing up from shooting his age last week and winning the Monthly Medal by doing some bike riding in South Australia with his wife as part of the Tour Down Under. The Blog will be updated when our scouts get the money shot of Harry in lycra.

The End.

540 words Porks/Blighty. Next week we go under 500.

Results for Saturday, 11 Jan 2025
1st Michael Gourlay (37) 1st Matt Hunt (37) 1st Dan Marie (37) 2nd Craig Cameron (36) 3rd Andrew Blight (34) 3rd Stephen O’Sullivan (34) 4th Steven Gervasoni (33) 4th Robert Priems (33) 4th Andrew Vogan (33) 5th Josh Hunt (32) 5th Ryan Porker (32) 5th Rodney White (32)

Seniors Results: 1st Matt Hunt (37) 1st Michael Gourlay (37) 2nd Craig Cameron (36) 3rd Andrew Blight (34)

Nearest the Pin Results: ProPin – 7th Stephen O’Sullivan BallPin No 1 – 12th Stephen O’Sullivan BallPin No 2 – 18th Ryan Porker