COUNTRY CUP

 In the words of Juan Antonio Samaranch, the President of the IOC, this has to rank as the "Best Country Cup Ever!"

With 37 declared participants, plus a large number of accompanying camp followers, SOS descended on the Mandurah Country Club for a dawn tee-off, with members having either set their alarm clocks for unfamiliar territory on the dial, or overnighted in the more settled parts of the Peel outback. 

We welcomed an encouraging number of guests.

Raising the SOS glamour level by several points in one go

After a spirited briefing from our revered Captain, it was drivers out. 

Groups teed off from either the first or the tenth.

This is going to be fun

Met their first encounter with hole 1A with equanimity

Then squandered twenty minutes searching for the sixth. 

 

We experienced how the local canal developments had resulted in improvements to wildlife populations. In particular, the resurgence of the previously threatened Mosquitus Bloodybiggus. 

An enjoyable course, with a couple of spectacular holes, especially the dramatic first. 

A testing par 3 from an elevated tee to a well-protected green. 

And a number of greens that really probed our putting skills. 

Birgit experiences extreme Australiana

The Country Club rose to the challenge of providing lunches, and our esteemed President proved as ever an entertaining MC.

Jerry and Birgit were elevated to the status of members. 

They tell me every new member gets one of these..

Good to have you two on board.

And we said goodbye to Paul and Kerry, although this isn't the last we'll see of them.

Don't worry, he'll be back..

Bernie has generously put her hand up to take over the social secretary responsibilities.

And TJ has also volunteered his services alongside her. 

Considering the pissed womble

Well done, both of you. 

But there was more to the day than just the golf.

There was, in the great SOS tradition, a raffle!

Just what I've always wanted...sheep shit

And not just one raffle

The raffle to end all raffles

But two raffles!

A ferreted birdie, and I end up with a chook!

The guests did well

PLAYER	SCORE
Annette Headley	31
Gerry Tessier	35
Birgit Reinartz	28
Ann James	25 Birdie on 1A
Lynley Hunter	28
Ray Clark	27
Darren Headley	27
Jan Williamson	33
Barry Rolls	26
Tim Gooch	31

The novelties featured the usual suspects.

In the eternal battle of course versus golfer, the course proved victorious in most cases. 

HOLE	NOVELTY	CONTENDERS	WINNER
7	Longest Drive	Earle, Bernie, Barry R	Brett
1A	NTP in 2	Don, Phil, Earle	Ian
16	Longest Drive	Brett	Paul
17	NTP in 2		Brett
14	Golden Hole		Darren Headley

Many of us failed to get into the thirties, with 27 the median score. 

Darren carries off the Golden Hole

PLAYER	SCORE	BIRDIES
James	39
Brett	38	16, 18
Alana	38
Stephanie	34
Ian	33
Don	32
Bernie	32
Tony J	31
Barry	31
Peter	30
Tony G	29	11
Glen P	29	3
Dave	29
Gary	28
Phil	27
Gim	27
Paul	26
Glen K	26	5
Lynne	26
Derek	24
Greg	22
Earle	22
Vickie	22
Thomas	19
Kerry	17

There was, of course, only one winner. 

Congratulations James - a great round. 

So, before you go, watch one of the great raffle unwrapples: 

Next week, back to Wembley for the first round of the coveted SOS Cup - a stroke competition in two tightly-fought rounds.  

WA CUP

Starts right, swings left, accelerates down the hill, then rolls right off the green..

 An encouraging turnout for the WA Cup - twenty three players in contention. 

Birgit and Jerry putting some good scores together

The weather? Hot, cold, dry, wet, windy and calm. Typical spring day. 

Feeding the Inner Kerry

Next week, it's the Country Cup at the Mandurah Country Club on the Sunday, so NO game on the Saturday. Country Cup is traditionally a Stableford competition, so no grizzling! Often some high scores - Lynne came home with 44 points when we played at Meadowsprings a few years ago. 

Got the wet weather pants on

But back to this week. Not so much competition for the novelties - the first group managed to get their names on the board and keep them there. 

HOLE	NOVELTY	CONTENDERS	WINNER
4	LD		Phil
6	NTP in 2	Gary	Brett
16	NTP in 3		Tony G
18	NTP	Paul	Barry

However, the Golden Hole is now approaching a jackpot of some $200 - back on the Tuart in three weeks time. Plenty to play for there. 

Gim prepares to take a divot

A precious moment on the third today - the first Western Xenica of the year. Spring has certainly arrived once these little beauties are on the wing. 

In fact, the wildlife was putting in appearances all over the place.

We were pleased to learn that Peter too has managed to get his hands on some ducklings, to replace those lost in tragic circumstances earlier in the year.

Harlequin Ducklings, looking forward to frolics at Chateau Baird 

And the WA Cup? Something of a bell curve here for the statisticians - a lot of us firmly in the middle, three strokes separating twelve players. The intermittent showers and variable winds made concentration difficult, especially on the greens. (Well, have you get a better excuse?)

PLAYER	SCORE	BIRDIES
Ian	37	8
Brett	36	6, 15
Bernie	34
Colin	34	7,8
Phil	33
Don	32
TJ	32
Birgit	31
Glen	31	3
Dave	31
Tony G	31	18
Jerry	30
Gary	30
Derek	30
Peter	29
Greg	29
Gim	29
James	29
Paul	29
Barry	27
Earle	23
Thomas	19
Kerry	18

Congratulations, Ian. A good score on a tricky day.

And a solid round from Bernie, in third place.

The chook raffle sorts out the men from the boys

Mine, all mine

Our thoughts are with Shelley this week, as she undergoes surgery. Peter is taking over the treasury duties until she's back with us

No Kiwi dollars this week

Our thoughts are also, with Paul's father, who has played with us during his trips to Australia. Hoping for better news soon. In the meantime, remember this: