As unlikely as it might have seemed after some of last week’s shenanigans and the date on the calendar, the turn up today wasn’t too bad. We certainly had enough numbers to have an official competition and there were a couple of people who were wishing that it had been. But more of that later. So, ten happy little vegemites headed out onto the nicely manicured Ivanhoe course to try their hand without the pressure of needing to score points (of the Championship sort – no limitations on the other type) or fears of the wrath of the handicapper. The round hadn’t progressed too far when the angels started their ten-pin bowling championship and Zeus (or Thor) started hurling down bolts from on high. The siren across the river sounded and a sweet sounding lady exhorted people to cease play. There was a short hiatus while weather radar was consulted and as the worst of it appeared to be passing to the south the decision was taken to press on. There were one or two more nervous moments but everybody held up their one irons and the rest of the round passed without incident from that quarter.
So, after all the excitement, how did everybody play. Mostly reasonably well. The best card on the day was from DennisT who managed to get himself 39 points and this after complaining that he was having trouble getting a two pointer on his card. In fact, it took him eight holes but with four threes and three ones to that point, he was still ahead of the game. So it looks as if Dennis is getting the Darklands out of his system and getting his swing back in order just in time for the concert and the soccer season to get going and then it’s back to the footy. No rest for the wicked. And no golf for the Menace.
Following closely behind Dennis was the other Dennis(W) and Harry who both managed to get to 38 points. Their totals both included four pointers. Dennis got his on the 7th with a par and two strokes on the hole and on that hole the group scored ten points between the three of them. No bad going. Harry’s was on the 17th and he was heard to bemoan the fact that it wouldn’t be counted for the Eclectic. However, that was small change compared to Noodles, who managed to land an eagle on the 6th, so he missed out on both the Eclectic and the Eagles Nest. No balls for Noodles.
There were two ProPins today. The first was on the 4th and a couple of people did manage to get it onto the cut portion of the green. The one who got the closest was Dale. The second ProPin was on the 18th and it seems that there were any number of people who ‘almost’ got onto the dance floor but ‘not quite’. In the end, Chrispresident made an executive decision and awarded both dividends to Dale for his effort in getting closest on the 4th.
Chrispy, we are happy to report, has retrieved his clubs from the safe-keeping of the Pro Room at the course. They didn’t pick up any good tips while they were there though. Chris was credited with a draughtie on the 15th although he was trying to use the SOS defence that the ball wasn’t actually seen not to get past the red markers. Still, he can’t have been going two well if he only managed to get two points in six holes as he claimed after the round. Whether it was the prospect of a beer afterwards or he was just in a frisky mood but Noodles tried for a Happy Gilmour from the 16th. The result was not particularly ‘happy’
Brent lost a ball on the 17th when he played a shot for the green. The group in front were not aware of any incoming so it is unclear whether it finished in the drink (short) or in the drink (long). It was reported, however, that the group had lost four balls in five holes to that point. Damien also lost a ball on the 17th when he over-clubbed it and it finished in the long grass on the far side of the fairway. He made a few desultory slashes at the grass with his wedge but opted not to venture too far into the jungle when suddenly a tiger snake with a head ‘as big as an alsatian’ took off in the other direction. Damo did a leap backwards and almost ended up riding piggy-back on Chrispy.
Now it seems that there has been a bit of a saga with a ‘shonky’ five dollar note over the last few weeks. Apparently, Porks used it to pay (half) his comp fee a few weeks back and despite the Treasurer’s best efforts he was unable to return the favour. As a result, it got mixed up in the ProPin dividend that DennisT won last week. In a fit of generosity, Dennis handed over the loot to his better half as an early Christmas present and when she found the half note, she gave him what for and chucked it in the bin (the half note, not the rest of the loot).
Also from last week, it seems that Brendon dashed off to attend an auction for a house that he would have liked to buy. He didn’t get a look in edge-wise as the first two bids put it well out of his range and he made his way back to the club with his jaw dragging on the ground about that sort of price being paid for a house in Watsonia. Obviously, the best house in the best street. Still, he went off to the pub with a group of others and drowned his sorrows with a few cold and frothies. Chrispy might have done the same as he reckons he doesn’t remember too much about it. Maybe it had something to do with the Fat Yaks at the break-up because it was noted that the Fat Yak was out of favour today and Mid-Strength was back.
There are a few spots booked for next week for those that wish to partake of a social round of golf. As for this week, there will be a couple of ProPins and no attention from the handicapper. To clarify a point, social rounds do count towards attendance for Monthly Medal qualification. The January Monthly medal will be on the 7th so, if you have missed a few weeks and would like to qualify for that, get yourself along.
If you haven’t paid your subscription for next year yet, could we suggest that you do so as soon as possible because the club would prefer not to have to ‘carry’ you for too long with the GolfLink payment to the VGL due on 14th January. You know who you are and so do we.