AGGREGATE STABLEFORD

 

Gary warms up the insides first

Well, that was a bit nippy at the start.

Dave prepares for an Arctic adventure

It eventually warmed up enough to take some of the arctic wear off.

Fired up and ready to go

In fact, it wasn’t actually a bad day for golf.

Peter doing the important stuff

Hardly a breath of wind.

But a small field, of some fifteen players

Who turned up for “Aggregate Stableford”.

Where were you all?

Now, we all know about assault on the wildlife, but what about the wildlife assaulting the golfer?

Play started promptly, and the first group soon put a gap between them and the second.

The second group did likewise, leaving the third waaay behind.

In their haste, however, the first group forgot to put some of the novelties out.

With the mythical longest drive on the fourth claimed, in succession, by Gary, Roland, Earle and probably everyone else.

However, without the marker in place, it was all hypothetical.

Kristian unleashed a monster drive on the seventh, which chased Birgit who was just walking off to the eighth. (We won’t mention his second shot, which was less impressive!)

On the eleventh, Earle managed a vicious shank which lobbed onto the roof of Maureen’s cart, startling her.  

She reports that it was like a “near-death experience”.

Roland’s second shot on the eighteenth was a lob to clear the bunker, after a somewhat fluffed drive. He shanked it totally, flying off at ninety degrees to the intended direction of travel. While Roland unleashed a string of f#@!s and b^&***$s, as is his wont, the ball smashed into the bank, bounced off the cart path, rolled onto the green and trickled down to the next level, stopping a couple of inches from the flag.

I meant that!

Goochy was reported to air traffic control for hitting up, not only on the seventh, as is generally accepted, but also for putting those standing on the ninth tee at risk from his shot on the eighth, and aiming for Gerry on the tenth. Gerry reports that he’s prepared to let Goochy have his job as president back - there’s no need to assassinate the current holder of the office for it.  

Goochy putting for eagle after a great drive that narrowly missed the president,

The third group suspected Kristian of using his golf game as cover for researching development opportunities in some of the more obscure and distant corners of the golf course. His partners report that they encountered areas they never knew existed in searching for his five lost balls!

Confrontation after ex-president narrowly misses current president a second time!

Gary celebrates his birthday today. He reports that it will be a quiet occasion, although he entertains the possibility that his wife may have plans yet to be revealed. We wait to hear.

And if you've never had a hole in one, perhaps you just didn't start early enough:

There were birdies.

Maureen and Kristian on the 9^th!

Boris on the 13^th

Goochy on the 7^th, and

Gary on the 4^th. That earns him a voucher, and acknowledgement that his monster drive did indeed reach the narrow gap between the tree and the mound on the right. Great shot, Gary, even if it didn’t earn the deserved longest drive novelty.

We're all looking forward to the Food and Fun Night on July 11th at Lot 60 in Innaloo - Gerry has sent out the details again. Make sure you've paid, so there'll be food for you on the night. 

Well that worked out better than I thought

Who got the novelties, once they were eventually put out:

The first golden hole remains unclaimed. Still.

The second, on the 18^th, fell to James.

Bugger!

The men’s longest drive, which was on the 5^th, saw Earle on the card, but Gerry further.

The longest putt on the 15^th, had Kristian, followed by Earle, Derek went better, but Coops beat them all.

Nearest in three on the 11^th, Maureen, Gary, but Goochy did better.

Goochy's Drive on the 7th!

And closest to the 100m mark on the 7^th, Maureen again, then Tom, with Gerry closest.

Well done, those players, and a considered and thoughtful range of novelties devised by Roland.

Gerry catching Goochy's drive just in time

The individual Stableford scores were recorded, but no prizes here.

So, the aggregate scores were what counted.

 

Boris' drive on the 12th! It was a nervous putt, we gather. 

Lollies for the unfortunate pair with the least aggregate.

A nice ball. Just not mine, unfortunately.

And glory for the winners.

	Player 1	Player 2	Score
	Gerry	Coops	71
	Gary	Maureen	67
	Peter	Goochy	62
	Gary	Earle	61
	Kristian	James	60
	Boris	Dave	54
	Derek	Roland	54
	Tom	Birgit	47

Congrats to Gerry and Coops - two good scores.

No contest, gentlemen.

Thanks to all our photographers this week - Kiristian, Birgit, Gerry, Peter and Goochy.

And I still won nothing!

Next week we’re looking forward to the final round of the qualifying match-play games, before the finalists are revealed, or play Stableford if you prefer. Keep an eye on the forecast.

It’s 9:40 on the Tuart.  

MATCH PLAY, ROUND 2

We were warned.

The BOM threatened 3 degrees overnight, and a chilly start to the day.

They weren’t wrong.

However, things warmed up as we got going.

Keith demonstrates his putting technique while waiting for the 18th green to clear.

By the time we’d reached the tenth tee, it was positively balmy.

Meeting of minds on the 18th. 

Blue skies from horizon to horizon.

The three big hitters waiting for the green 

And, like any good SOS Saturday

The rain stayed away.

Gary takes cover from Keith

Have you paid for the Gala Food and Fun dinner yet?

Names to Frances, payment to Peter.

Beef Wellington, anyone?

Match Play.

The format that brings out the best, and the worst, in us.

As in, is my friend in the bunker..

Or is the bastard on the green?

Group selfie, still friends at the end.

Is there strategy?

Gary's drive on the first,not quite as planned

Remember, your primary objective is to win individual holes rather than post the lowest overall score. The core strategy is aggressive conservatism: play safely to apply pressure, wait for your opponent to make mistakes, and only become aggressive when you are trailing late in the match.

You’re advised to avoid hero shots: If your opponent is in trouble, do not take unnecessary risks. Simply advance your ball into a safe position and let them dig their own hole.

Interesting and intriguing. A different game to Stroke and Stableford, and well done to all of those who manned up and played the game (girls included). You’re all winners!

There were of course, novelties.

Men’s longest drive on the 5^th: Derek, Tom, Gerry all beaten by Coops.

NTP in three on the 8^th: Kristian.

NTP in three on the 11^th, Coops, outpointed by Kristian.

Ladies’ longest drive on the 12^th: Birgit.

The Golden Holes remained unclaimed.

Gerry using a backhanded 7-iron to get back on the fairway on the 11th.

And birdies:

Colin on the 15^th

Kristian on the 12^th and 13^th

Gardy on the 14^th.

That's what winning feels like

There were some Stableforders:

James with a very creditable 36, and

Frances with a nothing wrong with that, 30.

We wished Dave Millar a Happy Birthday

Yesterday's results?

So,if you're wondering how the points are going: 

Birgit shows the way out of trouble

Our esteemed treasurer calculates that this leaves the competition in this state:

So, Gardy and Earle looking like the leaders at this stage. (Errors and omissions excepted - it will all be checked before the finals)

Also expect to see some wild spending from the following this week:

Roland, Andrea, Roland, Coops & Earle. 

What's the point of having the same number twice, dearest?

They were all winners at the raffle!

Thanks to all this week's photographers, Peter, Gerry, Birgit, Paul - some great shots to choose from.

Next week, it’s pairs aggregrate Stableford. Add your and your partner’s Stableford score together for your team score.

And if you’re the sort of person who worries about your ability to get out of bunkers, let Rory show you how it’s done: