4BBB AND CHRISTMAS CHEER

 

The year is drawing to a close, and so it’s time for that early manifestation of the festive season, SOS’s Christmas Cheer celebration.

In the past, we’ve descended on Boris and Jenny but this year Kerry and Wally Edwards were the fortunate ones that we graced with our presence. More on that later.

The competition? Four-ball better-ball, where the winning strategy is to get your best scores on holes where your partner has less success, and vice-versa. Don’t complicate things by saying, “Shall we count your three-pointer or my three-pointer on that hole?”

Thirty players turned up, with eight groups taking the field. An early start meant that there was no delay in getting down to the festivities.

A gem from last week. Keith's ball in there somewhere

A tightly fought contest, with not two but three groups involved in a ‘counterback’ for the chocolates.

	Derek	&	Frances	40
	Frances	&	Keith	41
	Vickie	&	Earle	38
	Tony	&	Vickie	44
	Andrea	&	Michael	37
	Don	&	Glenn K	32
	Bernie	&	Stephanie	40
	Peter	&	Shelley	37
	Colin	&	Greg	35
	Mark W	&	Paul G	36
	Birgit	&	Gerry	44
	Mark S	&	Nuria	40
	Barry	&	Paul C	39
	Lynley	&	Lynne	40
	Wayne	&	Paul B	44
	Karl	&	Gary	37

And the winning group, our Captain with his First Mate, Gerry and Birgit!!

The novelties were fiercely contested as always:

Nearest the pin on the 2^nd: All three on the first group managed to just be off the green, Earle got his name on the card first, followed by Don, then Paul B got to within two metres, just missing the birdie.

Are you sure this one's mine?

The men’s longest drive on the 4^th: Derek was on the fairway, Keith sailed past him, Don smacked a longer one but Mark Wilson overpowered the lot.

Don just sneaks on to the fairway for the longest drive

The ladies on the 7^th: Frances put one down the middle, Andrea smashed what she though was unbeatable, but Steph claims to have sailed way past that one.

Worth carrying a one iron, just in case?

Nearest in two on the 10^th, Colin got his name on the card, but Lynley did better.

Nuria nearest the bunker?

And our new favourite, nearest the bunker on the 14^th, Keith with a reasonable effort, Don closer, Bernie more closerer still, but Mark W with the stand-out.

Pug Dog lets loose with a driver from the fairway 

The Golden Hole - no takers today.

Derek prepares to break rule 10.1c

Rule 10.1c:

The player must not make a stroke from a stance with a foot deliberately placed on each side of, or with either foot deliberately touching, the line of play or an extension of that line behind the ball. 

Somewhat confusingly, it goes on to state that For this rule only, the line of play does not include a reasonable distance on either side. 

If anyone can clarify what that means, I'd love to hear it. 

The individual results, but no prizes today for the winners - it was a pairs competition.

A bit of housekeeping -  Peter needs to know if you are intending to renew your membership next year. The fee will be $150, but we need to tell Golflink before the end of the year what our membership figures will be.

So, before 31 Dec, email Peter with your intentions, and by 15 Jan, pay your membership fee of $150 to the SOS account, not the booking account. 

A special thanks and round of applause are due to Carol and Kerry for organising the Cheer, together with Frances, Earle, Keith and Goochy, and deepest appreciation to Kerry and Wally for accommodating the horde that invaded their little bit of peace and tranquillity. 

The Secret Santa business took up a significant part of the proceedings. Fortunately this year, no one got bitten (you weren't there? Ask someone who was.)

Andrea explains the rules

Scolding those who weren't paying attention

Did the participants get what they wanted? You be the judge.

That was so crazy, I could have been back in Ireland!

Carol celebrated her birthday, which Kerry marked with a surprise ‘cake’ of passion-fruit custard slices.

The raffle was won by Pug Dog, who actually possessed the winning number of 44,

 rather than by Paul Boquest, who managed a near-miss double. Surely there is some sort of consolation prize for this?

The afternoon concluded by wishing Goochy safe travels, as he sets off to join the missus in the cold and snows of the Arctic, aka Canada.

Taking pride of place in his luggage will be this piece of essential equipment. Or should that be "equipment protection"?

Then we all went home. 

Much as the tribes of Central Europe breathed a sigh of relief as Gengis Khan and his Mongol warriors retreated over the horizon did the residents of Floreat breathe freely once again as dusk settled over the well-mown lawns of the suburb.

Next week?

The Anniversary Cup on the Old @ 7:24.