THE CHRISTMAS CUP

Before you could say Bob's your uncle the Christmas Cup had rolled around again, and so had Santa.

The forecast for the day was extreme heat and that's what we got. However it did not deter a good turnup, given the absence of many members either spending Christmas abroad with family or about to head off to various parts of the country and world.

It was hoped the early 7 o'clock tee time would offset the heatwave conditions forecast for the day. However all those that had turned up well ahead of 7 had to wait a little longer to tee off as the actual tee time, according to the Wembley GC, was 7.28. Purely by accident Stephanie arrived just ahead of the actual 7.28 tee time. Mysterious, did she know something we didn't?

Shelley and her granddaughter getting out of the heat.

"Spot of Bover"

Our newest recruit Wayne Bradford comfortably took out this weeks "Spot of Bover" award with 3 tree incidents, beginning on the first hole with his drive that landed very close to a tree on the right side of the fairway.

Miraculously though Wayne managed to advance the ball a good 125m down the fairway and set himself up for a nice shot into the green that came up a few metres short. A chip and a putt later and he walked off with a par.

15th

18th

Two further tree incidents awaited on the 15th and 18th that culminated with the presentation of the lollies to Wayne at the after match awards. 

The post match Secret Santa gift giving and lunch was at the "Edwards Botanical Gardens" and we thank Kerry and Wally very much for hosting again this year. I think we all agreed that the stresses associated with hosting the after match lunch played a little on Kerry's mind and her golf wasn't up to her usual high standard.

The lunch was quite something with a slight reshuffling of the menu to allow a little extra time for Pug Dog to cook his roast beef main course to meet his exacting standards. It was well worth the wait though with many going back for seconds.

Following lunch Gerry got the presentations underway and results follow.

Winners

Gim with a magnificent score of 41 points

Goochie (welcome back and good to have you onboard again) with  a very impressive 40 points playing off a tough handicap of 8.

Paul C back in the winners circle with a solid 39 points

Birdies

Goochie on the 1st

Paul C on the 14th

Mark W on the 15th

Keith on the 8th

Glenn K on the 11th and the 14th

James on the 6th

Lollies

Wayne (enjoy)

Our winners minus Goochie who unfortunately couldn't stay.

These was a little controversy over what constituted nearest the pin in 3 on the 14th and our legal adviser, Vickie, came to our rescue with a very sound adjudication - you can't get any nearer the hole in 3 than in the hole. Both Glenn K and Paul C with their birdies achieved this and so in the true spirit of Christmas Gerry award a gift card to each.

Secret Santa Gift Giving

Gerry oversaw this event that can get "a little feisty" with some of the great gifts on offer and the ability to swap your gift with anyone else without their consent.

The most sort after gift was a box comprising two gold medal winning bottles of wine and chocolates. This gift changed hands quicker that the speed of light and I may stand corrected but ended up in Popey's grasp after swooping on it quicker than a seagull to a chip. Photographic evidence is presented below. While Gerry had his back turned someone looking remarkably like Popey seized the moment to swoop

Popey also profited well from Barry's miserable round of golf.

We can't finish of without complimenting Kerry on her vanilla slice which was magnificent, again requiring seconds to confirm just how good it was. Poor Wally will have to finish of what, if any, was left.

Time for a few reminders

1.    Please do not forget to let Peter know if you intend to renew your membership next year on the email thread that is circulating at the moment. Please do not pay before the end of December as that will complicate the bookkeeping. At this time, all that is required is the total number of members for 2025 so that Golf Australia can work out the clubs insurance requirements.

2.  Please also advise Derek as soon as you can if you intend to play in the clubs Annual par 3 Comp at Lake Claremont followed by dinner at the café on Sunday 29 January. 

3.    Next week we have a 7 o'clock tee of on the Old for a 4BBB pairs competition.

I'll leave this with you ahead sitting down to a traditional Christmas dinner.

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Wishing all a merry Christmas