There’s something in the air at this time of year. Yes, there is pollen that can make eyes scratchy and noses runny. There is a little more bite in the sun, that can make skin patchy and noses reddy. And, then, there are footy finals that make shirts matchy and faces grinny. Or not, as the case may be. Clear skies overnight meant that the temperature was a bit on the cool side to start with, but the shorts-wearers (not meaning Targe and JQ cursing) were proven correct in their assertion that their wardrobe choice would be vindicated before the morning was out. The course is doing its best to dry out, but the generous application of the watering system is doing its bit to maintain the bogginess of a few patches, around the greens in particular. The course was in apple-pie order, with the fairways well mowed, but with a bit of length in the verges to add a degree of difficulty to the straying shot. So, all in all, the stage should have been set for some top scores to be returned for the delectation of the handicapper. Maybe it was the lack of preferred lie that detracted a bit from the scoring potential of the eighteen members who turned out for the day.
By the start of the back nine, the course was atwitter (or should that be aXer) with the news that the ‘country-miler’, Raj, already had 23 points racked up on his card. Then, it was suggested that there was a distinct whiff of hot brake-linings as the rate of scoring slowed dramatically. Over the next six holes, barely a quarter of that number of points were scored, not helped by the fact that he took three strokes to get past the red markers on the 15th and a round of drinks for the group was in order. The mojo then returned to score as many points over the last three, to finish with his winning tally of 37 points, just one under his (too generous, according to some) handicap. CJ was feeling a bit on the hoarse and tired side after his night at the ‘G, and he wasn’t oozing confidence before stepping up to the first tee. However, the ‘over-indulgence’ seems to have done him some good, and he started off gang-busters, until a gash at the 4th knocked a bit of a hole in the score-line. Still, 20 points were nothing to be sneezed at. The back nine was only a little worse for wear, and the 17 points there brought him into line with Raj to take out the top spot. CJ did declare that there should be a new rule that the first winner card to be submitted should the only one subject to the winner’s penalty. We would probably have to have a referendum about that!
CJ was giving Bob some advice on where to get information about operation of an electric buggy. This might go some way to explaining why CJ managed to go close to taking out Ken on at least three occasions. Student, Bob, must have learned well, because he managed to crash into Raj’s buggy on the hill down from the 17th, causing it to turn turtle. The stop button is the big red one, Bob. Anyway, Bob was doing his usual bit of grumbling about how his game was going, as he completed the front with just 14 points on the card. At about this time, the sole of one of his shoes separated from the upper, and it was hit, flap, hit, flap for the rest of the round. However, it did improve his game no end, and he was able to make a very creditable 20 points on the back to take out second place for the day.
Harry’s front nine was a case of ups and downs as he fought with the trees while playing the 2nd/6th, and missed a remarkable number of putts from under half a metre. The back nine was rather better, although still marred by the half metre misses, which resulted in just the 33 points to set the standard for third place. Sean joined us for the first time in quite a while, and he showed that he hasn’t forgotten how to play during his time away. He obviously didn’t appreciate the tee placement on the 2nd, and a scattering of bogies served to limit him to a total of 33 points as well. Brendon didn’t get off to a great start, but a birdie on the 4th, for four points, helped to lift his spirits a bit. He was spotted making good use of the boundary fence on the 8th to keep his ball in bounds and with an open shot to the green. He joined in the happy group on third with a final tally of 33 points as well. JQ was able to drag himself away from family and work for the first time in a little while, and he might have been wondering what he had done to offend, after at least two attempts on his life from errant shots. Despite Harry’s attempt from the 13th tee, JQ’s back nine improved on his front, allowing him a share of third place as well.
Steve was threatening to come back with a chain-saw after ‘making use’ of at least seven trees in only three shots (but who’s counting). But, despite his trouble with the wood-work, he was able to manage 31 points, and accepted the two points for 4th place with alacrity. Brent managed a fairly respectable front nine, although the second hole did prove a little too challenging. A significant slump for the first half of the back prevented a more respectable score than he ended with for his share of 4th place. Stan had ‘nothing to report’, but did not show any signs of being unhappy with his total of 30 points, and he was perfectly happy to accept the point for fifth, despite some rubbishing from the peanut gallery. Adam was also fairly sanguine about his result, and he might have been thankful for a physics bending ricochet from a tree that saved his drive on the 17th from Birrarung, but which went close to depositing it in the penalty area instead. He also gracefully accepted the point on offer.
The first BallPin was set on the 7th hole, and, although the tee was rather well forward, getting a ball on the green proved too difficult for the entire field, and there will be a jackpot there next week. The second BallPin on the 18th turned out to be a bit of a contest, but Matt had high hopes with his shot to about five metres. Unfortunately, Adam came along and knocked him off for the ball on offer. The ProPin was on the 12th, and ChrisJ could have been forgiven for thinking he had a chance at only 4.3m away. This proved to be nowhere near enough, as JQ cracked his shot to 1.2m to steal the goodies away. Unfortunately, the birdie putt eluded him, and we were only able to tally up 13 for the day.
Matt did score what Harry classed as a beagle. On the 17th, after enquiring how many eggs were in the nest, he went for the green. The shot looked good, but finished a fraction short of the dance floor, so the next job was to engineer a chip-in. That didn’t quite materialise, so the little putt back resulted in a cross between a birdie and an eagle. After scoring about five birdies last outing, Matt was a little disappointed with the lack of numbers today, and was heard to refer to his card as a ‘picket fence’ due to the inordinate number of singletons showing. SOS was apparently back at his power-shanking best, with one notable one at the 12th, where he finished on the mounds between the 11th green and the penalty area. Targe had cause to buy a round today after his drive on the 2nd got caught up in a tree and fell to earth somewhat short of the red markers. He also suffered a mild misfortune on the 13th after carefully inspecting a ball, and deciding it was definitely his, only to find out, after he had hit it, that it was actually Harry’s ball. The Birthday Birdie has to get himself into a flap this week, so that he can get around to deliver some best wishes to the Beast and the Goulash. Don’t party too hard, and come back soon.
Results for Saturday, 23 Sep 2023
1st Rajesh Mahto (37) 1st Chris Priems (37) 2nd Bob McDonald (34) 3rd Harry Boughen (33) 3rd Sean Farrell (33) 3rd Brendon Mitchell (33) 3rd John Quinlan (33) 4th Steven Gervasoni (31) 4th Brent Rowley (31) 5th Stan Blackshaw (30) 5th Adam King (30)
Seniors Results: 1st Chris Priems (37) 2nd Bob McDonald (34) 3rd Harry Boughen (33) 3rd Sean Farrell (33)
Nearest the Pin Results: ProPin – 12th John Quinlan BallPin No 1 – 7th Jackpot BallPin No 2 – 18th Adam King