There have been a few little showers of rain during the week, but there were none in the offing today, though, with Melbourne, who can tell! What with a bit of rain, a bit of watering and, maybe, an application or two of wetting agent, the greens and surrounds were a little soft in places. This meant that attacking types could attack the pin and expect a good result, although it could result in the ball not leaving its pitch mark or, at least, barely get out of it. Off the green there were cases of the ball plugging beyond the equator, and some even suggested that preferred lies should have been invoked. Despite this, the fifteen competing members still managed to score pretty impressively for the most part. The field was bolstered by Kody, submitting his final Club handicap card, by Ash who came along courtesy of his mate Dan, and Martin, an escapee from Burnley who was after an earlier tee time. Ash is planning to join us in the near future when he can get away from some prior (hospital) commitments over the next few weeks.
SteveG has been oscillating between giving up the game entirely, and putting in an effort. Today, he put in the effort, and it paid off big time. He barely put a foot wrong on the front nine (other than a fat lady on the 6th), and made it to the turn with twenty-two points on board. The back nine was gash free, but it was also four-point free, so he could only manage another twenty points to bring home the bacon with his total of forty-two. Bob started off his round with a cracking drive down the first, and pretty well kept up the momentum from there. The front nine result was six three pointers and three two pointers which put Steve’s front nine score back in the shade. The good form must have gone to the old fellah’s head, as he could only manage another fifteen on the back to squeeze himself into second place with a thirty-nine total.
Nipping at Bob’s heels all day was Ryan. Not only in the daily competition, but also in the match that they played as well. Ryan completed the round by putting together two one over the card nines which scored him thirty-eight points. In the match, he had to give twenty-six strokes to Bob, which made for some interesting scenarios. Needless to say, Bob’s stellar front nine proved to be a big advantage, and, by the turn, he held the lead three up. As already reported, Bob’s back nine was not nearly so speccy, so, surely, Ryan was in with a chance? Ryan gets a par, Bob gets a double bogey, but he has two strokes, hole squared. Ryan gets a birdie, Bob gets a bogey, but he has two strokes, hole squared. Ryan gets a par, Bob gets a bogey, he only has one stroke, hole squared. Get the picture? Every hole squared until the 15th where the match goes dormie 3. Ryan has to win everything from there on to force a chip off after 18. Par versus double with two strokes squares the hole, and it is all over with Bob taking the match 3 and 2.
Harry struggled a bit on the front nine, although he did manage to salvage a couple of holes after less than optimal beginnings. Things took a turn for the better on the back, helped along by a four point birdie on the 15th where a long curving putt drained into the hole like it was meant to go there. That one pushed our total of birdies for the day to ten. Ash also scored a birdie on the 4th, although it was mighty close to a hole-in one as the ball brushed by the pin, and finished millimetres from the hole. Dan also scored a four point birdie on the fifth, but Pepsi had to make do with nothing better than a three-pointer to get his thirty-six points.
The first BallPin was on the 7th, and Brendon was able to get his shot closer than Steve’s ‘cut-lunch’ attempt. Speaking of cut lunches, Porks won the NTP on the 18th with a shot to about 20m. There were lots of hard luck stories about balls being much closer but just off the dance-floor. Sad, but a target is a target. The ProPin on the 15th was a Jackpot today, and, once again, the magic distance from the hole eluded everybody once again. Pretty sure Brendon was telling porkies when he suggested that he was 5.01m away. So, Double Jackpot next week.
Kody got a fairly vicious hook going on the 16th, and it was suggested that his ball finished either in the Yarra or even on the Freeway. SOS was helping look for a ball on the 14th when he was alerted by an urgent call from one of the others in his group. His buggy was trundling along happily and was heading for the penalty area. Fortunately, it got caught up in the shrubbery and did not get wet. Prez was in good form today, pulling off numerous ‘Priems rescue’ shots off the bordering trees. Bob got himself a birdie on the second, of the ibis variety. Apparently it took a good whack and did a few three-sixties on the ground before shaking its head and flying off muttering WTF was that! SteveG was pretty pleased when he sank an 8m putt on the first for his par. He was less than chuffed when he missed one from about 300mm on the second. Raj was a bit disappointed that he managed to pull off several ‘shanks’ today, but he says, Watch out, when I get this sorted. Ash, apparently, has a very smooth and relaxed style, so much so that it is being proposed that he should be given the nickname of Little Easy, as he doesn’t really qualify for ‘Big’ Easy. Besides, that is already taken.
Results for Saturday, 18 Apr 2026
1st Steven Gervasoni (42) 2nd Bob McDonald (39) 3rd Ryan Porker (38) 4th Harry Boughen (37) 5th Dan Marie (36) 5th Andrew Petricola (36)
Seniors Results: 1st Steven Gervasoni (42) 2nd Bob McDonald (39) 3rd Harry Boughen (37)
Nearest the Pin Results: ProPin – 15th Jackpot BallPin No 1 – 7th Brendon Mitchell BallPin No 2 – 18th Ryan Porker