Here’s what the critics had to say. “Reality comes to reality TV”. “Up there with Olivier, Bogart and Connery”. How else to describe Keith’s handling of the difficult role of opening the door to a completely unexpected stranger who just happens to be accompanied by a veritable posse of cameramen, mike-men, gaffers, best boys, second best boys, make-up artists and so forth. The superlatives were flowing thick and fast. And the beauty of it was that, no longer did Keith have to worry about flogging off his antique dust collectors on eBay when he could do so much better taking advantage of a desperate wannabe on some make-believe television show. Well done, Keith.

As we all struggle with our mental health as a result of not being allowed out of the house after 9pm and not being allowed to play golf at all while those nancy-boys up in NSW with their mock-down can still play albeit in pairs, what did we miss out on today. Just maybe, it was a good thing to be locked away after a fair sort of rain event passed through on Friday and overnight, although there wasn’t a lot to fall today.

The Birthday Birdie has another call to make today as Blighty passes another milestone along the road of life. They call it the Angel Number, but Blighty is probably no angel specially when it comes to partying. Have a good one (as best you can given the circumstances).

DELTA TWILIGHT (the dark side of Delta Dawn)
 – with apologies to Larry Collins and Alex Harvey

Delta Dan, will you lift the golfing ban
If we promise not to vote for Matthew Guy?
And did I hear you say, there’s more freedom on the way
If the jabs in arms don’t have to go sky high?

He’s sporty, son, and Brett Sutton’s been called ‘ooh baby’
All the girls around Melbourne go quite crazy
‘Cause he walks out on cam with a mike held in his hand
Lookin’ like a serious fair-haired man

In his younger days they said Dictator Dan
Toughest prem-i-er through all the land
Then a man with law degree stood by his side 
And backed up lo-ock down we al-most cried

Delta Glad, how’d you let things get so bad?
Donut days will come around when pigs might fly
And did I hear you say, that Sco-Mo’s skin you will flay
If he doesn’t give you the shots to get on by?

Delta Anna now you’ve tossed your little spanner
But COV-ID’s gonna get you by and by
And for a twelve year old, a bit more than a common cold
Surely you’ve got bigger fish to fry?

Delta Mark, why are you such a snark?
You’ve got the footy final don’t you cry
And did I hear you say, the nation’s debt you’d pay
When iron price comes right down from on high?

Delta Scott, why have you been such a clot?
Could it be that leader skill just passed you by?
And did I hear you say, there’s no race on here today
Just have faith in that phantom in the sky?

Results for Saturday, 04 September 2021
No Competition due to COVID

Unfortunately, there hasn’t been a miraculous turn around in the rate of infection in the latest outbreak. But, there was NO reason not to be out on the golf course with a beautiful, balmy, sunny, almost spring, day just begging to be used for an enjoyable wander around the lush green of Ivanhoe. Except, that there was NO golf allowed.

Unfortunately, those are not the types of doughnuts that we want to be hearing about. Some would like to think that the pandemic type can be achieved once more, but it seems less and less likely that that ideal will be achieved in the near term, if ever. Despite that realisation, we can still hope that we will be allowed to play the great game next week, and, despite what reservations you might have, please register if you mean to play given the chance. We don’t want to have to rely on a great rush on Wednesday, or whenever the announcement is made. It’s not too much of an effort, really.

Not much else to report. The Birthday Birdie has been relaxing over the last couple of weeks, but he will have to rustle his feathers and get out of the nest later this week to deliver a wish to CC Matt, who will be having great anxiety about whether he will be allowed out to celebrate or not.

And, just to conclude, a little thought about the ‘living with COVID’ that we might have to do in the future (as well as now).

Results for Saturday, 28 August 2021
No competition due to COVID

What can you say? We lived in hope that the numbers would improve, and, in light of the goings-on in the Sinney city, that people would have obeyed the rules. Now, look where we are!

The hope that we would have been able to play for the Fred Howe Cup over the next couple of weekends has evaporated in a flurry of parties and pub-crawls. With the freight-train of the end of the year bearing down on us, it is hard to see any light at the end of the tunnel. As a result, the Committee has decided, reluctantly, and with the approval of the Priems boys, that the Fred Howe should be cancelled so that the balance of the year’s calendar can proceed as planned. All dependent upon the lockdown being lifted and staying lifted, although you could not be considered too pessimistic for thinking that it might not be in the near future.

But, the evidence is very strong that the vaccines are highly effective in reducing the seriousness of the infection and hence hospitalisations, intensive care and deaths. Unfortunately, they won’t entirely prevent you from catching and spreading, albeit at a much reduced rate. Infection risk is greatly reduced by masking up, social distancing, avoiding crowded indoor locations and good hygiene. We all are eligible, so don’t vacillate, vaccinate! The risks of doing so are minute, and the benefits far outweigh any that there are. You take a greater risk every day by getting behind the wheel of your car. And finally, if you don’t think of yourself, at least think of others that you hold near and dear and the community in general.

Zimmer has had to cancel the huge party that he was planning for this week, so he will just have to make do with this little wish from the Birthday Birdie. Have a good (not so, any more) young fellah!

What can you say? The weather was fine and mild, and there was no rain on the horizon. But, who could tell that there would be a plethora of positives to rain on the parade of members keen to win themselves a Medal, particularly when it had been raining medals in Tokyo. On the bright side, the course was pretty slushy under-foot on Thursday, and there would not have been a great deal of drying in the meantime, so perhaps the wellies won’t be needed for the first round of the Fred Howe next week (cross fingers that we are let off the leash). We have to take a positive view, so get on and register for your chance to close the gap on the leaders with the double points on offer.

The Birthday Birdie will have to be on the ball this week, with a veritable truck-load of calls to make. A big shout out is due to Ken, Brendon and ChrisV in the coming days. No big parties guys, but have a good time anyway.

Results for Saturday, 07 August 2021
No competition due to COVID