When is a social golf club not a social golf club? When only one person turns up for a social game on a, admittedly, shortened Ivanhoe course. In actual fact, the parts of the course that were open for play were in fine nick, and the ground was remarkably firm, except where it was sodden. The newly developed pond adjacent to the second green is really only a problem if your approach shot goes astray, and we all know that rarely happens (not), There was the option to play nine, thirteen or eighteen holes, and the early starters did not seem to be taking up the thirteen hole option. Maybe, they thought that it would be unlucky to play that number of holes. It wasn’t clear how the eighteen hole option was going to pan out. Maybe, you just had to elbow your way onto the first tee and may the biggest bluff win!

The day was really ideal for golf with a certain amount of sunshine, and the temperature was downright balmy. Despite this, Harry opted to play just the nine holes, and, it must be said, he was pretty pleased with the back five taking just 19 strokes. He was giving himself a hard time when he pretty much duffed his birdie putt on the 17th. However, the ball kept trickling and trickling, and, eventually, it gave up and fell into the hole. So, for just about the first time ever, we managed a birdie strike rate of 100%.

Just because parts of the course have been closed, it doesn’t mean that the ground-staff have been idle. As well as cleaning up the mess left by the flood and mowing the rapidly growing grass (where they can get to it), they have been busy giving a few ‘haircuts’ around the course. The pine tree to the right of the second front tee has had a bit of a trim, but it will still be a problem if you stray off the back tee into the thick of it. The big news, though, relates to the 8th, where the ever encroaching wattles on the fence side have been given a short back and sides. The prospect as you approach your second shot (when the fairway reopens) has changed more than somewhat, and reaching the green in regulation should be possible from more of the fairway than it was in the past.

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Although this is only a temporary measure, the scoring on the 13th hole would have been much easier today, and the number one index would have been a bit of a joke. The white post shows the position of the tee markers. All of the darker green grassed area, including the penalty area, has been declared GUR for a free drop back on the fairway. Don’t count on it lasting until next week, though.

The Birthday Birdie is a bit concerned that he might get lumbered with the moniker – Less Reliable. The reason being that, last week, he quite forgot to dish out some wish. Topping the list of those missing in action was Old Reliable himself. Happy birthday for a few days back Craig. Next on the list is our oldest member, Mal, who we haven’t seen for quite some time because of him having to deal with some medical issues. Mal is still his bright and cheerful self, but he is not quite up to making it back to the course, other than for a coffee during the week from time to time. Last cab off the rank is Brent, who will undoubtedly be looking forward to defending his Matchplay title when he shows Michael how it is done.

And, while on the topic of Michael, he is planning to skive off from counting votes for the Greens, Saturday week, just so that he can get his fifteen games up for the year to qualify for the Vardon Trophy and knock off Brendon, who, even if he won both Medals and Michael only gets minimum matchplay points, would still be pipped at the post. Anybody do contract knee jobs or know Samantha and/or Lidia to dob him in?

Results for Saturday, 12 Nov 2022
No competition due to partial course closure

Growling about the seemingly incessant rain and the fact that the weather was only good for the frogs, quite possibly led a number of members to make a ChrisP trip out to the frog, Growling Frog, that is. The weather was absolutely perfect for golf, but, once again, the ‘Hoe was closed due to the aftereffects of Birrarung overflowing the banks yet again. With some warm (and rain-free) weather promised, there is some chance that the course will be in prime condition by next week. The croc’ in the 4th pond has apparently moved on! Too many frogs, perhaps.

While on the subject of next week, this is set down for the second round of the Priems Cup, so the boys would like to see a good roll up to make a fight of it. There will only be a few points for the PC match results, which might be just enough to decide the championship (or not). Register, register, register so that the captains can choose their matches on Thursday.

Because there is just one ‘free’ week left in the calendar between now and the break-up, the Committee has decided that the November Monthly Medal should be rescheduled, rather than cancelled. As a result, the Par competition on the 19th November will become Stroke and will be Monthly Medal instead. You all love Par, but needs must. One good thing about it, it will be played from the blue tees, but the inside comp will probably still be Par.

Results for Saturday, 05 Nov 2022
No competition due to flooding

Unfortunately, it was not to be. Birrarung chose to overflow the banks again following a gutful of rain during the week, and the course was closed for the weekend. And so, one of the few days in recent times that was reasonably clement went begging and the eleven members who registered to play had to find something else to occupy their time other than playing golf.

The Club Committee, on the other hand, did find something to occupy themselves. They had an email meeting to determine what to do about the Fred Kitson Spring Cup event. In the end, it was decided that it was impossible to fairly reschedule either the final round or the whole event while also completing the balance of the calendar for this competition year. Thus, the Fred Kitson has been cancelled, and the round completed last week has been declared an ordinary round with points and handicapping for those members that competed and completed.

Only four more Saturdays to go, assuming that there are no more weather interruptions until the end of this Competition year. We still have the matchplay finals to get done, so if those involved could make the necessary arrangements/agreements, that would be good. The Club Strokeplay Championship rounds are coming up, and, come December, the slate will be wiped clean, and the new competition year will get under way with the Vin O’Meara followed closely by the CoCs and the break-up and presentations.

No rest for the Birthday Birdie this week, despite the flooding, as he will have to flutter his way around to visit Life member Rodger and Ordinary member Damo. Have a good one, guys!

Results for Saturday, 29 Oct 2022
No Competition due to flooding

Notes by Michael

After lots of debate about the weather during the week, the Fred Kitson got off to a dry start for the nine players who made it to the starting gate, for about a minute. It then rained, as predicted by the weather bureau, for four hours straight, clearing just in time for what was left of the field to enjoy the view from the clubhouse as they finalised and signed some very soggy cards.

Along the way, two of the field (Gordo and Ken) pulled the plug when the all-pervading wetness and/or lack of performance got to be just too much. The highlight of Ken’s round was the pre-round talk of this year’s mango season. Best ever apparently and almost ready to go. Can’t wait for the ‘rejects’! As for Gordo, he was last seen on the 14th tee chatting with SOS, Craig and Michael attempting to justify his decision to pull the plug. Something about the rain and being wet.

SOS was not impressed, having spent the whole round looking at the radar and declaring that the rain was about to clear. Matty was more on the money, declaring from the first hole that the rain would stop at 12pm.

As for the golf, like a few small fields at the nags, the placings were well spread with nobody on the same score. A length in front was Brendan who turned around a 3 down front nine to put in a stellar one under par 32 off the stick, making a 4 up back nine for a plus 1 total. After a lost ball on the 13th, the highlight was a tidy eagle on the 14th. No double pluses on offer, but Brendan was happy to take the Eagle’s Nest.

Every time SOS asked Matty how he was going, he said square, and that’s how he finished. A potential new old reliable in the making. A length further back was Geoff on minus 1 with SOS on minus 2 close behind.

Gordo took a few photos during the round, including a few of the pools of water that surrounded some of the flags. The fifth and tenth were amongst the worst affected, with the ball catchers rising in the hole to the point a ball couldn’t get in, necessitating the old-fashioned pull the pin. On the 10th, SOS hit his downhill birdie putt so hard that on any other day it would have gone off the front of the green. The end result was pin high a foot away and an easy solid whack in through the water for his par from there.

On the 7th, already four down after 6 and contemplating doing a Gordo, Michael’s tee shot finished one inch off the green and he did some umming and ahhing about whether to putt or chip given the water between him and the flag. He decided to putt. Wrong decision. Michael went on to steady the ship somewhat and finish at minus 4 and in fifth place on the week 1 standings.

Craig started in his old reliable form with 5 halves despite the heavy rain, upon which Michael remarked that he wasn’t going to bother marking Craig’s card until the end because his scores were very easy to remember. Craig promptly dropped the next two holes and descended further by the end to minus 5. Anthony who we haven’t seen for a while, brought up the tail of the field on minus 6. With Anthony an unlikely starter next week due to family commitments, it will leave 6 hardy golfers vying for the Fred Kitson trophy. This raises an interesting question, if anybody else drops out, can the event be contested in light of the six player rule? Hopefully Gordo will have recovered enough to fire up the BBQ.

The money jackpotted again on the 4th, so there’s some incentive for people contemplating a game this week. SOS says, despite the weather bureau predicting rain every day this week, including Saturday, in fact, the weather will be perfect, so no excuses for not rocking up. The ball on the 15th was hotly contested, with Craig being knocked off by Matty. Geoff then knocked Matty off for the ball on the 18th with a brilliant shot to the top tier, although wasn’t able to convert the birdie putt, and so we only managed three birdies and one eagle for the day.

The Birthday Birdie has been on holidays, and he doesn’t remember delivering a good wishes to Adam a few weeks back. However, he will remember delivering one to CJ, who will be partying after his trip to Mansfield and in preparation for his big trip up North.

Results for Saturday, 22 Oct 2022
Leaderboard Round 1: 1st Brendon Mitchell (+1) 2nd Matt Hunt (□) 3rd Geoff Lyall (-1) 4th Stephen O’Sullivan (-2) 5th Michael Gourlay (-4)

Seniors Leaderboard: 1st Geoff Lyall (-1) 2nd Michael Gourlay (-4) 3rd Craig Cameron (-5)

Nearest the Pin Results: ProPin – 4th Jackpot BallPin No 1 – 15th Matt Hunt BallPin No 2 – 18th Geoff Lyall

Eagle’s Nest Results: Eagle – 14th Brendon Mitchell