CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP, ROUND 7

 

The final round of the Club Championship, to determine the prestigious honours that will be revealed at the Annual Dinner, Gala Celebration or Yearly Piss-Up, depending on your perspective on the event.

Here is a reminder of the rules for the Club Championship. Members must have played at least 11 games during the winter season, including at least 5 championship days.

A member can only receive one of the following championship trophies per year, which trophies are listed in order of priority:

MEN’S CHAMPION Perpetual and Personal Trophy.	OPEN to MEN	5 Best Gross.
LADIES’ CHAMPION Perpetual and Personal Trophy.	OPEN to LADIES	5 Best Gross.
CLUB HANDICAP CHAMPION Perpetual and Personal Trophy.	OPEN	5 Best Nett
A GRADE CLUB CHAMPION Perpetual and Personal Trophy.	HANDICAP 17 - 24	5 Best Gross.
B GRADE CLUB CHAMPION Perpetual and Personal Trophy.	HANDICAP 25 - UP	5 Best Gross.

The Club Captain has the discretion at any time prior to the 6th Club Championship fixture to adjust the handicap ranges of the above Club Champion Grades to ensure that the groups are reasonably balanced.

(As far as I’m aware, this didn't and hasn’t happened.)

The day started bright, but cold.

But not for long. After freezing on the first tee, it was time to get out the sunscreen on the second, and we enjoyed a delightful day of winter golf, with blue skies and 22 degrees the forecast.

We understand this wasn't Earle teeing off on the ladies' tees, 
but taking his second shot on the first.

Not a huge field, with members spread far and wide as often is the case during a northern hemisphere summer. Karl sends greetings from Finland, which is about the furthest north from which we have received reporting.

Meanwhile Gerry is still languishing in Murdoch Hospital. We need you back, sir, so we wish you the speediest of recoveries.

David either admiring the fungus or
cursing the ball

Scores were evenly spread, with few excuses. That’s golf, as we know. 

Anyone for beef wellington tonight?

The usual crop of “spots of bovver”, but a couple of very good rounds that may well have a bearing on the final calculations for the Championship.

Didn't they do well..

The novelties were indeed novel this week, with our Vice-Captain giving us some unusual challenges.

On hole 7, it was the nearest in three that saw Dave Millar looking good, until Gary came along.

Number 10 was looking for nearest to the 100m mark, which meant a pretty long hit. Here we had Gardy in good shape, beaten by Dave Millar, edged by Keith but monstered by Coops.

Steph's umbrella flies off into the clear blue yonder

The longest putt on the 12^th had Fran in good shape (after Paul had holed out from off the green and birdies, but off the green doesn’t count), then Coops, but Tom was further out still.

Nearest the bunker on the 14^th, always a favourite as anyone has a chance here, had Fran, then Earle, Boris better but Tom closest of all.

There were birdies:

Shelley on the fourth

Paul on the twelfth, and

Boris on the fifteenth.

After the game, we decamped to Perry Lakes for the reading of the scores and a celebratory sausage sizzle, always a popular event.

We found ourselves somewhat leaderless, missing not only our Captain and President, but losing our Vice-Captain too (who was heading for the theatre, no less!)

Andrea and Shelley filled in, and Carol and Faye joined us for the celebration.

There were, as ever, a number of people who contributed to the smooth running of the show, co-ordinated by Frances and supported by Earle, Keith and Boris on drinks, Shelley on onions, Faye and Gim on cooking and cleaning up, Derek on running to the Forum to get fresh rolls and Peter reimbursing all those paper receipts.

A big thank you from the rest of us.

If you're playing in the Country Cup, you can now pay into the 

 

Next week, it’s the first round of the Spring Cup, a stroke competition on the Old Course at 9:08, and if you ever struggle to get out of bunkers, take a lesson from the master here:

 

 

MATCH PLAY SEMI FINAL

 As a result of the Matchplay Semi Final being postponed due to Armageddon like weather on  8 August, play finally got under way on Saturday. Initially the sky looked perfect as all gathered reflecting on how magnificent the conditions of play promised to be. This euphoria however was short lived as Earle, playing in my group looked to the sky and said I don't like the look of that, as a large grey, menacing cloud moved towards us.. Earle's observation proved astute and and shortly after the whole sky changed from blue to grey as a drizzling English like rain descended upon us. The BOM had got it horribly wrong and some were heard to say it's about time that BOM installed a window in their office so that they could observe what's actually going on outside instead of relying on their computer screens.

Coops was back from swanning around Australia resplendent with a toasty, coffee, and a big smile.

.

The Three Musketeers.

Earle dressed to kill in his Aussie pants.

Shelly hard at work.

Stephanie Experiencing some control issues with her electric buggy.

THE MAIN EVENT

Pre match photo, all smiles

The Match Play semifinalists comprising Colin and Garry were the first to tee off closely followed by Shelly and Keith.

The match between Colin and Garry was closely contested with the lead fluctuating between the two right up to the 15th hole which saw Colin go 1 up. Then on the 16th Colin sunk a long putt from off the green to take go 2 up lead. Ever the fighter Garry birdied the 17th with the match being determined on the 18th and Colin winning 1 up.

In the match between Shelly and Keith Shelly won 5/4. In Shelly's post match interview she attributed her win the long drives, staying on the fairway, and putting well. Not a bad combination.

Played in good spirits, as always.

Both Shelly and Colin were bargain base purchases for Birgit at just $120 for Shelly and Stephanie/Bernie for Colin at just $100.

The winners.

I'm not sure when the Match Play Final will be held so stayed tuned.

THE FRINGE STABLEFORD COMPEITION

At the conclusion of play there was mass confusion because the Wembley GC had decided to make the round stroke despite advice from Shelly that it was Stapleford. Anyway all was good in the end and scores were recorded correctly.

SPOTS OF BOVVER

We had a couple that were recorded, some may have gone unrecorded. The first was before play when Stephanie's buggy went a little out of control, however she managed to get it in a head lock before it created too much chaos. 

The other two were Peter who was having a forgettable round.

THE RESULTS

THE WINNERS

First place with a sensational 41 points Barry, second place with a very respectable score of 40 points Tom, and third with a distant 32 point Dave Williamson.

THE LOLLIES

A very happy Faye being grateful to take home something after a 3 week absence visiting her daughter and family in India.

BIRDIES

Barry on the 4th and 18th

Dave Millar on the 16th

NOVELTIES

No 3, Golden Hole - Club

No 5 Nearest the bunker - Keith followed by Andrea

No 7, nearest the pin in 3 - Shelly followed by Coops

No 12, Longest putt - Derek

No 16, nearest the 100m mark - Colin followed by Keith

No 18, nearest the pin - Club

THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE

Cancelled because of lack of numbers.

COMING UP - THE COUNTRY CUP

AT THE PINJARRA GC ON 27 SEPTEMBER

If you haven't already made a booking please do so as there are only 28 spots available. 

The cost is just $45 for the round with a shared cart, what a bargain. Direct bookings to Gardy and payment to the Club's account.

NEXT WEEK

Next week its its Club Championships Round 7 played on the Old with a tee off time of 9.00am, an excellent time for Coops to enjoy a pre game toasty and coffee. See how accommodating the SOS GC can be.

Most importantly though is that it's also a free sausage sizzle with drinks following the match at Perry Lakes

In conclusion my thanks to all those that contributed photos to the blog, Peter, Faye, Derek, and Coops.

I'll leave you with this video (Scroll across the link and open). I'm sure we have all been there.

I'm off swanning around the UK for the next month or so. Happy golfing.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1EKtYfqmn9/

Club Championship Round 6

What a difference a week makes!  Last Saturday the Old Course greens were unplayable due to deep puddles, saturated ground, hail, rain and strong winds.  This week the skies were blue, the temperature balmy and not a zephyr of breeze!

Guest Ian Anderson together with 22 SOS members set off on the Tuart Course to chalk up another score in the 6th round of the Club Championship competition.

It was definitely Spring weather, notwithstanding it officially commences on 23 September.

Ahhh!  A truly magnificent day to play golf !!

Keith & Gerry about to launch down the 1st fairway.

Shelley, Gary, Gim & Dave basking in the morning sun!

Waiting on starter's orders!

Only two entrants to today's monthly photo competition - Andrea (1) and Peter (all the rest).

As the blog is significantly improved with a range of candid photos of your fellow players in strife everyone is urged to keep your camera ready to capture an award winning picture and forward it to the blogger of the day.

Birgit won last month's photo prize and received a $10 gift voucher.

Andrea's drive on the 14th was long and straight
however, landed in a tricky spot!

With only a fragment of details available the blogger was informed that a near fatal incident occurred on the 17th fairway when Earle's electric buggy 'ran away' and came perilously close to killing Frances!

Both Gary & Andrea's tee shots on the 18th appeared to be
heading for a possible "HIO" after they cleared the bunker
and rolled out of sight towards the pin!

Gary's ball flew higher and stopped a few metres short!

Which left Andrea with a tap-in birdie!

NB: the ball has already been hit which accounts for Andrea's stance.

Dave Williamson was not so fortunate on the 18th, scoring 9 after balls were lost in both the left and right water hazards

Post Game Celebrations

SOS President, Gerry Tessier, opened the session by welcoming all present including guest Ian Anderson; and also advised there were no birthdays to celebrate this week!  Gerry noted the magnificent weather conditions today and provided the following details of coming events:

Next Week - the postponed semifinal of the Matchplay competition will be played on the Tuart Course. Start time is scheduled for 9.08 am.  Those not playing in the semi-final will play stableford.

The semi-final contestants are:

   Gary Burgess vs Colin Kerr

   

   Keith Barrow vs Shelley Yeo

Country Cup - Shelley has requested that payments and bookings for participation in the Country Cup should not be made before 1 September.  Details of the Country Cup at the Pinjarra Golf Course have been sent out to members in recent days. Cost to SOS members is $45 for 18 holes plus a shared cart.  Food and drink will be a private cost.

The Next Sausage Sizzle - will be held at Perry Lakes on 19 September after the final of the Matchplay Competition. 

The Competition Results

SOS Captain, Paul G, reads out the scores, starting with Lynley Hunter
who won the bag of lollies with a score of 84

However, the day's competition was won by Tom Munson who scored a very respecable 68 off a 25 handicap.

One stroke behind, came Karl Wolzak and Paul Gardner on 69.

Paul & Karl both scored 69.
Tom won with 68 but had to leave early.

The MiScore results are shown below.

Eagles & Birdies

No Eagles were reported however, there were 5 birdies!

Congratulations to:

Gardy - hole 3

Karl - hole 9

Goochy - hole 15 

James - hole 17

Andrea - hole 18

Novelties

Golden hole on #3 - no winner

Nearest to bunker #5 - Karl

NTP in 3 #7 - Goochy, Andrea won by Earle

Longest Putt #12 - Gary

Nearest to 100m marker #16 - Goochy (after bouncing off a tree!)

NTP #18 - Andrea

Raffle

First prize in the raffle draw was won by Gardy who received a $10 Wembley Gift Card.

Ash Tray Collection

The list of fines was read out by James with assistants Lynley and Lynne collecting the coins and a few notes from the hapless transgressors. A total of $28.90 was raised to swell the Ash Tray Fund, which enables SOS to fund several charity donations during the year.

Gim makes a donation!

The money pours in!

An enjoyable day of golf!

A number of greens on the Tuart played havok with the line of the ball for a number of players, including the blogger!  Holes 2, 5, 7, 11, 13 & 16 come to mind! Yet again, hasty preparation and execution led to too many near misses!

💨

MATCH PLAY SEMI-FINALS AND STABLEFORD

 

We were warned.

The weather forecasts didn’t pull any punches.

A very big cold front, with heavy showers, small hail and the possibility of thunderstorms.

For once, the BOM was right on the money.

But did we believe them?

We did not.

The few, the intrepid few, teed off into the teeth of a gale.

Telling themselves, it would get better. But it didn't.

It actually got worse.

By the time we got to the fourth green, it was under water.

The thunder was getting closer and closer.

And the small hail was no longer so small.

How am I going to find my ball in all that?

Already, the more sensible were making their way back to the bar, where they ate hot chips and played drinking games to decide who was to be awarded the WOW.

That’s the Wimp of the Week award.

Meanwhile, the remnants of the last two groups battled their way to the ninth, in what had by then become a social round.

The sun's coming out!

And there the day came to an end.

The match play semi-finals had been abandoned.

There were no novelties.

Consistency scores went unrecorded.

There were no contributions to eclectics.

And scorecards went into the bin.        

Every so often, you have to have a day like that.\

It is, after all, a winter sport.

The golf gear will dry out. Umbrellas will be refurled, and the semi-finals will be rescheduled.

All will be well.

And you're probably thinking it's been a while since we had a sausage sizzle. Fear not, there will be one on August 29th, after the last of the Club Championship rounds. 

Next week - it’s another round of the Club Championship. That’s back to stroke.

And before we signoff, I wonder how many of us have had a conversation like this?