SOS Golf: STABLEFORD

Stableford

That’s right.

Bugger. I've lost five strokes since last week!

Plain vanilla Stableford.

After the excitement of American Foursomes and Divorced Pairs.

We've all played with this guy

It looked like we’d have 26 players out there, but there were a couple of late changes.

Vickie took a tumble down the stairs. Apparently it was Earle’s fault, but a dodgy ankle meant a late withdrawal.

And Steph sent a message to Shelley explaining that she’d had a call bite, and was in hospital.

Somewhat perplexed, Shelley quite reasonably asked for more explanation. Apparently, Steph hadn’t been bitten by a call at all. She had messaged without her glasses on, and had meant “cat”, not “call”.

I didn't see it. Did you?
Nope.

So, to summarise, Steph had been bitten by one of her cats, and consequently spent 48 hours in Glendalough hospital with antibiotic drips or something similar going on.

He's back!

We feel this is probably worth a fine, perhaps under a sub-clause of “assault on the wildlife”, in this case “assault by the wildlife”.

And the last group sensed that their foursome had shrunk to being a threesome, until they were finally joined by Pug Dog while they were actually on the first green. Isn’t there an old golfing joke that explains why this happens? Not printable, unfortunately.

As to the golf, what a lovely day for a round.

A pleasant morning in the high twenties, with those sanded greens meaning a straight putt stood a very good chance of dropping in the hole, which goes a long way to explaining why birdies were two-a-penny for those brave enough to give the ball a decent shove on the slow greens.

Goochy drives the green on the seventh, then three putts!

Good to see Dave Williamson back again, although there was the classic on the fifth, when he putted out and turned around, only to find his buggy had disappeared.

That's what I call friendly golf. In the bunker together.

It was a case of “Doing a Popey” – his motorised buggy had taken itself off for a walk, and were it not for the fence by the sixth tee, it would have been halfway to the beach along Empire Avenue.

In your dreams! Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina.

Lynley was fined for turning up in the wrong shirt. Her claim that it was dark when she got dressed didn’t cut it.

Whoops!

We celebrated Andrea’s birthday (again) and Keith’s on Friday.

A prickly situation?

Noted that Shelley and Lynne are going cruising to Japan,

It's my yellow ball strategy on the first tee again

and Earle and Vickie are heading to Margaret River.

What a glorious morning!

while Frances and Derek are heading to Sydney where they have been hired as au pairs for a fortnight.

Play the ball as it lies?

Goochy will be looking after the bookings – remember it’s still $45 for the moment.

Profuse thanks were proffered to Peter for his peerless prowess in producing the papers for the AGM.

The raffle was won by Greg Dunkeld. Good to see you back, Greg, but seriously? Winning the raffle? Some of us have been putting the housekeeping money on it for years and are still waiting for the big one.

I think I've got a shot

So – the novelties. Today, hosted by Shelley:

My point, and I do have one...

Ladies longest drive on the 2^nd: Just one name, Lynley.

Men’s longest drive on the 5^th: Paul B, followed by Fordy. There was some mention of Greg Bennet just passing this with his second shot, but no cigar for Greg.

Nearest the pin in 2 on the 12^th was put out of its misery early on when Popey in the first group birdied the hole.

Nearest the water on the 14^th bamboozled a few groups, Frances had her name on the marker, but Lynne got even tantalisingly closer. Not one for nervous golfers.

And that old favourite, nearest the pin on the 18^th: Roland had a good effort, but James (back from a buggered boot) got closer still.

Next - the Golden Hole. Yes, it went off today, on the 3^rd, as Boris carried off the $63 jackpot. Well done, that man.

There were (was?) a positive flock of birdies:

Popey on the 12th.

Paul B on the 7th

Boris on the 18th

Goochy on the 6th and 9th

4D on the 3rd, 5th and 17th!

Greg D on the 6th

Maureen on the 12th

Keith on the 10th

Paul G on the 7th

and Paul C on the 4th and 6th.

Now, getting down to the pointy end of the afternoon – the final results.

Three very good rounds, Frances edged out on counterback, and James making the most of his couple of weeks off.

Next week, it’s Irish Stableford. There’s a noble tradition of dressing up for this one, and we’d be surprised if there wasn’t a special prize for the most Irish costume. There have been some crackers in the past.

The following week, it’s what we’ve all been waiting for. That’s right, the AGM. It’ll be down to Perry Lakes after the game, and there’ll be luncheon for all. (No, not next week. The week after.)

A walk down memory lane for previous St Patrick's Day turn outs