It was another good turn out today with 25 members coming out to try for the heavy-weight trophy of the year. And this despite the fact that everybody has a whinge about playing in Par events. Obviously, prestige counts. The bureau has been threatening us with some rain but very little has eventuated and as a result the course has dried out more than somewhat. There were still preferred lies today but they were barely necessary and there is a fair chance that it will be back to play as she lies next week. The wind did pick us the day progressed and this might have had some influence on the scores on the back nine. Our tallest member was pleading for special consideration in that he was affected by the wind more than the rest of the field. It was conceded that he could have one extra stroke on his handicap to be taken where it didn’t count. The Beast was sort of happy with that concession.
So, who was able to make the most of the improved playing conditions. Well, believe it or not, it was Mehmet who had the biggest smile at the end of the day after he managed to stay on his feet and put together a very handy +4 points. But, he hasn’t got it on his ownsome as there are a few right hot on his tail and things augur well for a fiercely fought battle for supremacy next week.
Right there on +3 are Brent, who did a great job to come back after scratching the first three holes, SOS who made a flying start but faded a bit in the middle of the round and Michael who played a good steady round with only a single minus on the card. Game on! DennisW made a couple of attempts at getting onto the green from the tee, the only problem being that they were greens on different holes to the one that he was playing. Despite that he managed to finish up in positive territory and in the process improved his eclectic ranking to take second place and be less than a stroke behind the leader. His birdie today was one of the thirteen that we were able to score today.
The next group managed to play to their handicap and are by no means out of the race for the trophy. The Beast would dearly love to be able to pick up the top points to consolidate his position on both Championship tables. Stefan managed to drive the 11th again today though he could only manage a birdie, but an eagle would have been too much to bear. There is nothing suspicious about the fact that Stef and Zimmer marked each others cards but there are reports that Zimmer did not even reach the Men’s tee on the 17th and it was not an air-swing. The ball must have an awful headache though. Rod hasn’t been around much in recent times but he is obviously seeing a bit of form after a practice round at Kingswood on Thursday sharpened his touch.
Pepsi has had a few other fish to fry over recent months but, as always, he seems to be able to put in a good steady round and was just one stroke outside his handicap. He would need a sub-par round or some pretty spectacular failures to really have a chance but while there is life there is hope. But then again, he isn’t planning to play next week. And, as for the rest, there is always the prospect of the delicious burgers and snags that Gordon will be organising for the Club Lunch.
The other big event for the day was the finalisation of the top half of the Matchplay Championship for this year with JohnQ and Brendon squaring off for the trophy and (for Brendon at least) the heapful helping of points that goes along with it. Brendon got off to a good start and, half way through the front nine, he had a reasonable buffer of three holes. However a couple of quick wins by John evened the score up and the difference was only one hole at the turn. There was only one win for Brendon on the back but three wins to John allowed him to finish the Match off at 2 and 1. Well done John, Matchplay Champion again! Things were,’t all bad for Brendon as the points put him back in the Championship lead but only by a very small margin. Chrispy is starting to despair that time is running out to catch the leaders and he is looking over his shoulder to see who might sneak up and wrest the third spot from his grasp.
The ProPin today was positioned on the 12th. The tees were set well forward and there was a bit of green to play with so there was no excuse for anybody not to be in the running. As it was, Eddie stole it (again) from the first group with a distance of 3.14m. Jason went close and the tape was called on when the eye had trouble picking it. The BallPin was on the 18th and once again there was only one name on the chit. In keeping with his good form all day, that name was Mehmet. Didn’t make the birdie though.
Bob was called upon to hand out some drinks to his playing group after scoring a draughtie on the 15th. Harry nearly managed to do himself an injury with his second shot of the day that hit a tree dead centre and whistled past him to finish behind where it started. To add insult to (almost) injury, the next shot also got a tree flush and finished backwards, but at least on the fairway. We know that Gordon and Ed are mates but you start to wonder what sort of mates when they turn up in almost identically coloured, emerald green shorts. As if that isn’t enough, it seems that Gordon is planning to wear a polka-dot dress next week. Can’t imagine why that would be.
While the course is much firmer and the fairways and most of the rough have been mowed, some people are never satisfied and Noodles, in particular, came in claiming that the course was ‘brutal’. Maybe that should have been ‘brutalised’ if Noodles score was any indication. No wonder he didn’t want it published.
Dale played again today and now has his three cards in and has qualified for competition with a handicap of 27. Seems fairly generous considering the way he can hit the ball. So watch out, he could be a winner not too far down the track if past cases are any guide. Paul has got himself a new set of clubs that are better suited to his build and there were some glimpses today that, a bit further down the track, the investment could start to pay off. Chrispy is playing with a new grip. This change in hand position came about due to him getting some right to left with one of his rescue clubs. Now everybody knows that Chrispy is noted for his ‘power fade’ so anything that goes the other way could get him into really big trouble. He’s quietly confident that all will be good when he comes back from Mansfield. Michael has been having a problem with a particular brand of ball carrying further than he is used to. So, this week he changed brands and, lo and behold, he now reckons he is hitting it short. Didn’t seriously affect his scoring capacity though.
The Secretary has a number of discount cards to the Golf Clearance Outlet down on Dandenong Road, Oakleigh East. If anybody would like one, get in touch with Blighty and if anybody is down there, find out their prices for balls for SOS. If you aren’t sure of the brands, SOS will give you a list if you ring.
The Birthday Birdie has a wish to hand out to Paul for a couple of days hence. Maybe that is what the new clubs were for.
Don’t forget the bar-be-que after the game next week. Everybody welcome, even if you didn’t play today.
SOS would also like people to start paying their subs for next year (electronic transfer for preference) as we need to have to cash in for payment to the powers that be early in the new year. The deadline will be the Christmas breakup function on 17 December. For those that have other arrangements for GolfLink, the club membership is $20. GolfLink membership with us is $90 so a total of $110 for those using that option. Anybody wishing to transfer from another club to us please email Harry so that we have a formal record of the request.
Results for Saturday, 15 October 2016
Leaderboard Round 1 1st Mehmet Akdag(+4) 2nd Michael Gourlay(+3) 2nd Brent Rowley(+3) 2nd
Stephen O’Sullivan(+3) 3rd Dennis Ward(+1) 4th Kazim Akdag(□) 4th Stefan Belevski(□) 4th
Bill Eastoe(□) 4th Rod Grant(□) 5th Andrew Petricola(-1)
Seniors Leaderboard: 1st Dennis Ward (+1) 2nd Bill Eastoe (□) 2nd Rod Grant (□) 3rd Bob McDonald (-2)
Nearest the Pin Results: ProPin 12th Ed Kloprogge BallPin 18th Mehmet Akdag