What a difference a week makes! The moon was just past full, explaining the early Easter, and still shining brightly in the not quite blue sky when fifteen members gathered for a block-buster double-header. They were joined again by Gavin, who was looking for an early start so that he could get away to be disappointed at a Richmond game in the afternoon. After casting all sorts of nasturtiums about wet weather wimps in the Clubhouse, Michael stood on the first tee, and complained bitterly about the lack of light. He still managed to par the first despite his claims that he couldn’t even see the tee, let alone the fairway. Once again the greens were bedewed, but the litter was fairly sparse which was some consolation. Multitudes of pitch-marks had not been repaired, and it is sincerely hoped that our members are not the culprits. In fact, we should all make a commitment to repair at least one more than we make rather than complain about the careless types that precede us around the course. All in all, a very pleasant day for the (postponed) final round of the Stuart Clarke Memorial and the April Monthly Medal.
In the SCM, eleven of the original field were able to make it. Marc put himself back into the mix, which made CJ a bit nervous about the slightly narrow gap that he and Harry enjoyed over the rest of the field. With a head to head with Harry, and Marc in the same group, he would have slightly less to worry about what was going down with the groups in front. Harry started down the tree line on the first, and was faced with a ‘low’ shot to the green, which didn’t come off. A buggy and three trees later, double figures graced the card, and prospects of a medal evaporated in a trice. Fortunately, the SCM is Stableford, so all was not lost. Marc bought himself trouble with trees and out of bounds on three occasions before the 9th with the dreaded double figures playing havoc while his double stroke holes proved something of a saving grace. CJ struggled with the putting on the dewy greens, while a misadventure with the trees and OOB on the 8th did not help the scoring on the front nine.
As the back nine got under way, the rate of scoring by both Harry and Marc picked up. Harry’s chips started to find their range, and more of the putts dropped. Marc scored big where he had two strokes. On the 17th, CJ commented that Marc was in with a chance, and that he (CJ) had better watch out. Marc retorted that maybe Harry was the one to watch. Was it an innocent comment, or was it purposeful sledging by CJ? Whatever. Marc did not score on the last two holes, unfortunately. On the 18th CJ was short, Harry was left in the third cut short of the sand dump. CJ chipped up onto the pinned lower deck. Harry’s only option was across the top deck and down the slope to the pin. With a shot worthy of Seve (according the guru, Michael), the ball reached the slope with just enough pace to run down and come to a stop about a metre from the hole. With a putt across the slope, and the adage, allow for more slope than you think, in mind, he set the putt on its way. It broke, not quite enough, and finished just shy of the hole, robbing him of the point that would have created a tie for first place. In a count-back, Harry would have won his first Major. But, it was a worthy winner in CJ, who added the last of the Major scalps to his belt.
What else happened today? Oh yes! There was a Monthly Medal to be decided. Because of the nature of the double-header event, there was a possibility that the result of the Medal could be affected by handicap adjustments resulting from the SCM. The simplest outcome would be for somebody not in contention (or even qualified) for the SCM to win. As it turned out, Brendon was able to fill that role with ease. After the front nine, that might not have looked so easy, as he had used up just over 60% on his handicap. However, he only needed one more stroke of his handicap to negotiate the back nine to go close to streeting the field with a net score of sixty-six. His closest contender was Raj, who seems to be coming back into form to slot into second place. Raj was also the biggest mover in the SCM. Ryan, the points machine, Porker continued his domination of the top of the Order of Merit, and, as one of the early qualifiers for the Vardon Trophy, he currently tops that. The minor placings stretched all the way to net seventy-five.
On the subject of Porks, the Nearest the Pin comps really should be renamed the RIP Benefit. The ProPin on the 15th went to Ryan with a recorded distance of 4.98m, but how much the tape was stretched to achieve that measurement was not revealed. He went even better on the 18th for the BallPin and the ProShop ProPin, with a shot to 0.78m, a much less contentious distance. The BallPin on the 4th went to Wazza for a shot that would have been completely ‘blind’ with the sun shining straight down the fairway as it struggled to get above the horizon.
In other news, Stan dropped in today to say g’day, and he is looking well. Doing a bit of chipping and putting, but he reckons it will be a couple of months yet, before he is in full swing again. Also, he hasn’t been near a ladder! Blighty was laying claim to the shot of the day, with his sand wedge into the hole on the 6th, for a birdie, which was one of eight for the day. However, Michael reckons it was shaded by Harry’s on the 18th. Craig, by dint of the two for one offer has reached his 300th game with the Club. The Birthday Birdie has a couple of visits to pay this week as our youngest member, Kody, and one of our oldest (though not very active) members, Rod Grant, celebrate another milestone in life.
Next week is the first round of this year’s Priems Cup, and, in typical Priems style, one of the Captains (to whit, CJ) has had other commitments foisted upon him, so he has nominated Pepsi to stand in his stead in the leader’s role. He will still select the team in conjunction with Prez. After the round, there will be a sumptuous barbecue Club lunch and the AGM of the Club. Let’s get a good roll up, and please register, so that the Priems boys have a proper selection, and not a lot of ‘late’ additions.
After next week, the Matchplay will get serious. If you are here with your opponent, you play. The round runs to 20 June, but time has a habit of getting away. So check your opponent, make contact, and organise a match. Don’t procrastinate.
Results for Saturday, 28 Mar 2026
1st Chris Priems (41, 31, 72) 2nd Harry Boughen (41, 30, 71) 3rd Andrew Blight (36, 33, 69) 4th Rajesh Mahto (32, 35, 67) 4th Andrew Petricola (37, 30, 67) 4th Marc Phillips (38, 29, 67) 5th Craig Cameron (36, 29, 65)
Seniors Results: 1st Chris Priems (41,31,72) 2nd Harry Boughen (41,30,71) 3rd Andrew Blight (36,33,69)
Results for Saturday, 04 Apr 2026
1st Brendon Mitchell (66) 2nd Rajesh Mahto (69) 3rd Ryan Porker (72) 4th Andrew Blight (73) 4th Andrew Petricola (73) 4th Chris Priems (73) 5th Craig Cameron (75) 5th Michael Gourlay (75) 5th Dan Marie (75)
Seniors Results: 1st Andrew Blight (73) 1st Chris Priems (73) 2nd Craig Cameron (75) 2nd Michael Gourlay (75) 3rd Harry Boughen (77)
Nearest the Pin Results: ProPin – 15th Ryan Porker BallPin No 1 – 4th Warren Capes BallPin No 2 – 18th Ryan Porker