The SOS 2022 Country Cup was held on Sunday, 25 September, at the Araluen Country Club located in the southern Perth foothills. The course is spectacular as it winds its way through the steep ridges and valleys with many creeks, dams and drop-offs claiming a disproportionate number of golf balls as many of SOS's finest struggled to tame the unusual and unfamiliar conditions. There were plenty of roos, ducks and galahs on the fairways and the spring weather had the wild flowers, golden wattle & the occasional cheery trees in full bloom!
To add to the challenge, the sand bunkers were numerous, deep and steep and the greens unpredictable with many featuring dangerous runoffs and unpredictable reads! At least we had carts to haul us around!
The stableford contest was accepted by 23 members and one guest, Stephen Oswald.
 |
| Peter, Colin & Greg on the par 3, hole 16 tee. A vertical drop of 100 metres with intervening water & creek hazards! The group in front are on the green! |
 |
| Gerry & Shelley work on the handicaps at the start. Why are most getting an additional 3 to 4 strokes? Is it hard? |
 |
| Frances excited and keen to play! |
 |
| Colin, Greg, Paul, Maureen & Gim at the 1st tee. |
 |
| Lynne & Lynley ready to start the round! |
 |
| All players received a bag of sugar hits to help with energy levels! |
 |
| Colin was in form early in the round as he holed out from a sand trap 30 metres from the hole! The bunker was so deep Colin was unable to see the ball hit the pin and drop! |
 |
| Yes!! That is my ball in the hole! |
 |
| Birgit taking a snap of Michael taking a snap of Shelley after her ball dropped off the back of a green . . . . and kept going! |
 |
| Michael worshipping his ball! Or just trying to check his options? |
 |
| Shelley walking onto the 9th green as Mark W and Michael chip in. Birgit, the photographer, has already picked up her ball! |
 |
| A Birgit selfie on the 9th hole! |
 |
| Mark Hill attacks the 16th green with style! |
 |
| Shelly takes aim at the 16th green, her shot going a little long! Very acceptable, as most never got past the water hazards! |
 |
| Derek plays a provisional on the 16th watched by Earle! |
 |
| Many took a photo of the 16th hole! The grey clouds shed a few rain drops but otherwise it was a magnificent sunny day with light winds! |
 |
| The switchback pathway down to the 16th green. Use low gear and proceed cautiously! |
 |
| Birgit shot her ball directly into a herd (mob) of roos and paid a fine for attacking the wildlife! |
 |
| Many players ran foul of the creek protecting the 17th green! Looks like the ball in front just made it across! |
 |
| A view of the 9th green from the club house balcony! |
 |
| The 18th green behind the trees from the club house balcony. Peter lost 2 balls into the 18th's greenside pond! |
Back at the club house members had a choice of tasty chicken or beef rolls which had been prepared by Vice Captain Tony Gooch. There were enough for 2 rolls for each player!
 |
| Paul, Maureen, Colin, Andrea & Greg relaxing after the round. |
Tony should be congratulated for organising the Country Cup event which seemed to run like clockwork; also for turning his hand to preparation of the salad/chicken/beef rolls. Top job!!
The Results
SOS Club Captain Gerry Tessier read out the competition results which had many believing they had bagged the lollies with a record low score! However, a number of players breathed a sigh of relief when Birgit was announced the winner with just 15 points!
At the highest end of the scale, it was Tony Gooch who claimed victory and the SOS Country Cup for 2022 with a score of 32 points, closely followed in 2nd place by Paul Boquest on 30 points with Bernie Caffrey in 3rd place with 29 Points!
 |
| SOS Captain Gerry Tessier reads out the competition results |
|
|
Player |
Handicap |
Score |
Birdies |
|
1 |
Tony
Gooch |
10 |
32 |
|
|
2 |
Paul Boquest |
10 |
30 |
|
|
3 |
Bernie Caffrey |
18 |
29 |
|
|
4 |
Mitch Smith |
27 |
27 |
|
|
5 |
Earle Scarff |
20 |
26 |
|
|
6 |
Mark Hill |
13 |
26 |
|
|
7 |
Lynne Malone |
18 |
26 |
16 |
|
8 |
Vickie Scarff |
35 |
26 |
|
|
9 |
Lynley Hunter |
12 |
25 |
|
|
10 |
Andrea Williams |
23 |
25 |
|
|
11 |
Mark Wilson |
13 |
24 |
|
|
12 |
Derek Longhurst |
27 |
23 |
|
|
13 |
Gim Ong |
25 |
23 |
|
|
14 |
Frances Longhurst |
23 |
23 |
|
|
15 |
Greg Bennett |
24 |
22 |
|
|
16 |
Colin Kerr |
17 |
22 |
|
|
17 |
Gerry Tessier |
21 |
19 |
|
|
18 |
Peter Baird |
24 |
19 |
|
|
19 |
Michael Curtis |
27 |
18 |
|
|
20 |
Maureen Sundari |
13 |
18 |
|
|
21 |
Shelley Yeo |
14 |
17 |
|
|
22 |
Barry Treak |
23 |
16 |
|
|
23 |
Birgit Reinartz |
37 |
15 |
|
|
Guest |
Stephen Oswald |
|
104 (gross) |
|
 |
| Tony Gooch receives the SOS Country Cup for 2022 with Bernie Caffrey (3rd), Gerry Tessier (Captain) & Paul Boquest on right (2nd) |
 |
| Gerry had to count 14 countbacks to finalise the placings! Was it the greens, bunkers or altitude that made everyone struggle for a decent score?? Only 2 players with a score of 30 or more! |
Golden Hole, Eagles & Birdies
 |
| Lynne Malone scored the only birdie of the day and on the extremely intimidating 16th hole! |
Novelties
|
Novelties |
|||
|
|
Hole |
Contenders |
Winner |
|
NTP in 2 |
2 |
|
Mitch Smith |
|
NTP |
7 |
|
Vickie |
|
LD - Ladies |
8 |
|
Birnie |
|
LD - Ladies |
11 |
|
Shelley |
|
NTP in 3 |
18 |
|
Mark Wilson |
Ash Tray Collection
 |
| Birgit accepts the bag of lollies for scoring the least number of points! |
 |
| Birgit reads out the list of fines assisted by coin collectors Barry and Shelley |
 |
| Gerry makes a point on one of the many fines as Barry waits on to collect the donations! |
 |
| It seemed that everyone had at least several infringements to pay for! There were many lost balls and bunker mishaps! |
The Raffle
 |
| Shelley hands out the raffle prizes |
 |
| Michael Curtis wears a green & gold headdress as he rolls the barrel and calls the numbers! |
 |
| SOS Treasurer, Shelley Yeo hard at work on the numbers as members disburse after the post match session. |
 |
| A few were left to party-on! |
Next Week
The first of two rounds to contest for the SOS Cup will take place on Saturday, 1 October 2022.
The stroke competition will be played on the Old Course, with the second and final round played the following week on the Tuart Course.
