MATCH PLAY FINAL

 Match Play Final and Blind Stableford Pairs!

That’ where your score gets added to someone else’s, but you don’t know whose.

So, if your low score gets added to someone’s who had a good round, you won’t be popular.

However, it seemed to go down quite well at the afters, where there was much gentle banter as the pairs were drawn by our two match play finalists.

More of that later, but first

The Match Play Final was played out by Gary and Boris, after the previous attempt two weeks ago had been abandoned because of pouring rain.

Today, we avoided pouring rain, but it was very much a four seasons day.

Rainbow over the clubhouse

There was warm sunshine

There was cold wind

There was drizzle

And most things in between.

Jumpers and jackets were on, and off again, and back on again, with monotonous regularity.

The Match Play final saw Gary one up at the turn, with the game going to the final hole, and Gary winning with a score of 2 up.

Congratulations!

Congratulations Gary, and commiserations to Boris, who put up a stirring fight.

Frances offers Boris commiserations

Gerry and Shelley played alongside the pair to ensure fair play.

We'll see fair play

Apparently on the last, Boris unleashed a killer iron shot which nearly wiped out our committee.

Gerry just managed to avoid serious damage to some vital parts.

Gerry reenacts the moment

The rest of us garnered our Stableford scores, and competed for a range of novelties.

Two Golden Hole competitions

Trainee green keepers

Neither of which went off.

On hole 14, nearest the bunker was claimed by Steph, who nearly went in.

She also collected the ladies’ longest drive on the 7^th.

The men’s longest drive on the 12^th went to Gerry in the first group, who managed to get it right round the corner and in the middle of the fairway, and that’s where the marker stayed for the rest of the afternoon.

Nearest the pin in 3 on the 5^th was a bit more competitive. Gary was on first, then Andrea, but Coops snagged it in the end.

And nearest the pin in 2 on the 13^th had Gerry on the board, then Earle, but Popey got even closer.

Gerry also apparently managed to get run over by his own autonomous buggy - we’ll see more of this once driverless cars become the thing.

Went to the last hole

Peter reports that his knee has been fixed up - he went in on Tuesday and out of Thursday.

He’s undergoing plenty of physio, and is being frazzled by a cocktail of painkillers.

Some birthdays coming up. Gerry celebrates on Sept 4^th, Michael Curtis on the 5^th, and Vickie on the 9^th.

A nice slew of birdies this week:

Puggy on the 14^th

Popey on the 11^th and 17^th

Gerry on the 9^th

Paul B on the 1^st and 11^th

Coops on the 1^st

and Roland on the 12^th

Well done, those players.

Here are the individual Stableford results for the day

Well played, Gim

Gim ponders turning professional

The Country Cup approacheth. Currently there are 26 players registered, which means there are 2 places still available for the competition at Meadowsprings on the 29^th September. Steph incurred an unusual fine today for a TWP. 

Steph gets fined again

That's a Talking While Putting, as she missed an absolute sitter trying to putt without having to stop her story. 

Please pay Shelley by Friday of this week. It’s $50 for the game and food, and $50 per pair for a cart if that’s your thing.

I won the raffle

And now, the Blind Stableford pairs results:

	Paul Cooper	Glen Pope	72
	Glen Kelly	Shelley	69
	Roland	Keith	69
	Greg	Gim	68
	Paul B	Gerry	67
	Karl	Derek	65
	Birgit	Andrea	62
	Colin	Frances	58
	Steph	Earle	53
	Mark Smith	Carol	49

 

The winning pair

  

Next week, round 1 of the Spring Cup - a two week stroke play competition. An early start, 7:36 on the Old, so set those alarm clocks. And in case you weren't there, here is a reminder of the bets placed by those at the international night on the Match Play players.

Club Championships Round 7

For the second week in a row the meteorogical forecast sorted out the fanatics from those of more prudent disposition. Only 12 players turned up for the 7th round of the Club Championships following Shelly's Thursday predicion . . . . 

'Saturday will be beautiful, windy and with a few showers. Perfect golfing weather!'

Shelley then contradicts herself by suggesting that anyone who signs up will be a 'brave soul'.

In fact, the general concensus was that the game was most enjoyable, except for the brief gusts of fierce wind and occasional rain deluge, particularly on the 9th green and thereabouts.

Rain on the 9th!

And the wind did blow (hard) . . .  

A miss-timed drive . . . 

While all 12 players made it to the 18th green, only 9 were left by the time the treasurer arrived at around 2pm to take this picture!

Shelley, Earle, Keith, Pug Dog, Dave, Greg, Andrea, Lynley & Paul.
Left earlier: Gary, Kerry & Colin

In view of the small numbers, it was agreed to forego the raffle and get straight into the novelty awards.

Eagles & Birdies

Not unexpectedley, there were no Eagles scored today, and only 3 birdies.

Gary scored on both holes 3 and 15 while Keith scored on hole 3.

Colin also scored a birdie on hole 3, a needed morale boost after scoring 10 on hole 1

The Golden Hole on #3 was won by Keith Barrow who managed to do what no-one else had managed to do for 6 weeks - just hit the tee ball to within the length of the flag of the hole!

Keith's prize was the total accumulated pool of $150.

Keith with his $150 win !

Other Novelties

NTP on hole 3 went first to Andrea, but bettered by Keith

NTP in 2 on #12 was first Shelley, followed by Andrea & Gary, won by Paul

Ladies LD on #7 claimed by Lynley, bettered by Shelley.

Mens LD on #11 Gary, but won by Keith   

Competition Results

SOS Captain, Andrea, read out the results of competition, congratulating Gary,  today's winner, who scored a net 70.

Andrea also congratulated herself for coming in 2nd on 73 net, with Lynley in 3rd place, also with 73.

The unpredictable weather resulted in only 4 players breaking 75 strokes, with Kerry taking up the rear with a net 93!

It was good to see Paul Cooper back to regular play after an extended break to recover from a knee replacement op. Paul's net 83 will no doubt improve over the coming months as he tunes in the new joint!

Scores

The Winners Podium (minus Gary)

Andrea 2nd and Lynley 3rd with their prize cards !

Ash Tray Collection

Shelly supervised the reading of the fines list, in the absence of Kerry, and managed to coerce members to cough up over $23 to add to the SOS Ash Tray Fund. A great effort given the very small number in attendance!

Next Week

The rain delayed Match Play Final between Barry Treak and Gary Burgess will be held on the Old Course on 31 August 2024.  The tee off time starts at 8.44am.

A stableford competition will be held for all other players.

Treasury Changes - Temporary

Shelly has kindly agreed to act as temporary treasurer while Peter recovers from a knee replacement operation. Please direct Treasury queries to Shelley for the time being, although Peter will be available most times by mobile or email if the need arises.

MATCH PLAY FINAL

MATCH PLAY FINAL AND STABLEFORD

The final of the Match Play competition - always a pivotal moment on the SOS calendar, while Stableford for everyone else.

And a surprisingly large field, given that the BOM had been forecasting a Saturday deluge for some days.

No matter - at SOS we are not put off by a discouraging report. After all, we know that God plays golf on Saturdays.

A momento of sunnier times - 
Steph in a pickle last week.

And at 09:30, it was dry and encouraging. Why, the sun was even trying to break through.

Unfortunately, this time the BOM seems to have got it right. It didn’t take too many holes before those sprinkles began.

And not too many more before the sprinkles turned to something more akin to showers, and the showers to good old solid rain.

Gerry's provisional - his first was never found

The first casualty was the Match Play final.  The greens were inundated, and putters useless, at which point the referees declared the match unplayable, to be rescheduled at a later date. 

We understand that at the time, Boris was in a commanding position.

Chipping with an 8-iron became the go-to strategy on the green

(BTW, this is the prestigious trophy that the Match Play players compete for. 

Unlike other SOS trophies, to win this one you actually have to lose the Match Play final. The winner receives just a bog standard cup shaped-thing.)

Shelley on the 14th

However, the Stableford players pressed on for a while, convinced perhaps that the worst had passed over.

Some bowed to the inevitable, and made their sad and soggy way back to the clubhouse, where drinks and warm chips awaited.

While a heroic half-dozen completed the course in triumph. They will be commemorated from hereon as the brave SOS aquanauts, and will be permitted to wear a medal depicting a pair of crossed flippers on their SOS shirts.

Unfortunately, this was not the end of their trials. The clubhouse was already packed with damp golfers, and our noble few were asked to vacate the premises, to make space for a group outside that were getting wet.

Ready for anything

The management did, however, roll out a couple of heaters to keep the SOS survivors from getting frostbite, and contributed two plates of chicken wings for their being so nice.

Keith very gallantly drove Carol home, where she quickly downed a shot a two of whisky, before he returned to Wembley for the results.

Shelley comments that she is well equipped for such conditions, with good wet weather gear that kept her warm and dry, apart from a little dampness round the cuffs.

 

There were novelties:

On hole 9, the NTP in 2 proved, unsurprisingly, beyond anyone.

The Golden Hole remained unclaimed.

NTP on the 18^th was collected by Roland.

Boris' putt on the eighteenth

A great putt, sir!

Yep, it's in the hole

NTP in 2 on the 5^th was again unclaimed, as was the NTP on the 11^th.

We gather Popey is to be fined next week for failing to release markers for the LD men’s and women’s.

With only half a dozen players making it all the way round, presumably all acquired points towards their consistency totals. 

The results for today:

Congratulations to Roland, with Dave and Shelley pretty much on his tail. Very reasonable scores, given the conditions.

Everyone a winner

And Gerry picking up the lollies.

Always pleased to win something

This was a week which will go down in the annals as a great triumph for those brave and dogged players who made it all the way to the eighteenth. We will remember you with awe and respect.

Shelley is still taking names for the Country Cup, there are four places still available. 16 players have already paid, those who haven’t are encouraged to get on with it.

Paul Gardner reports from the UK that he is sweltering in temperatures of 24 degrees and more, the beaches crowded with young lasses wearing the briefest of bikinis, while he enjoys a leisurely frothy sitting in the beer garden during one of those long English summer evenings that go on for ever.

Given the monsoonal weather we’re experiencing here, I think you’ve made the right call, Paul.  

Many thanks to Carol, Shelley and Gerry for contributing photos this week, especially given the conditions.

Next week, it’s another stroke competition, the final round of the Club Championship on the Tuart, at the rather unfamiliar time of 8:52.