AUSTRALIA DAY CUP

 

Looks like Tasmania has gone walkabout again!!

How quickly another year rolls around. A small field turned up for what is undoubtedly one of the most prestigious pre season tournaments of the SOS GC calendar, the Australia Day Cup.

For those in denial of climate change there seems little doubt it's real. The preceding week had seen a continuation of out of control wildfires in Los Angeles and snow in in the sub tropical regions of the South Eastern United States

Coastal Snowman? in Florida

Snowfall in New Orleans

Not to be outdone Perth delivered rain for our Australia Day long weekend., something that has never happened before. 

Just prior to the start of play it was time to take shelter from what would be the only shower for the day.

We welcomed back Roland who had been on holiday in the UK and Ireland. He spoke glowingly of the weather whilst there, in particular the beautiful weather of Scotland. Further proof of climate change. Roland went all out in getting dressed for the occasion and if a prize were offered for the best dressed he would have won hands down.

Shelly was here with a bag full of money for our treasurer but couldn't stay for the golf because she was off to the Rugby 7's. Given the steamy sauna like conditions that were to ensue it was a wise decision.

Parking was again at a premium and some patrons resorted to extraordinary lengths to find a parking spot within half an hours walk of the pro shop.

Dave and Garry seemed quite relaxed prior to tee off and enjoyed a coffee and a chat. Garry was possibly a little too relaxed judging by the score he posted.

On the 3rd Wayne's cart with the Australian Flag wafting in the breeze provided an ideal foreground for for Derek's tee shot. Again if there had been prizes awarded for best dressed on the day, which I believe there should be in future Australia Day Cup matches, Derek would have taken out second prize.

 

"Spots of Bover"

Unbelievably there were none so I've slotted in one of Wayne's previous dilemma's so that we don't get too complacent, they are still out there.

The scores and lack of birdies reflected the very trying conditions that the field had to endure.

The Winners

First place on 36 points - Don Beesley

Second place on 35 points - Earle Scarf

Third place on countback - Andrea Williams

Lollies

Garry but by default Derek

Novelties

Longest Drive Hole 3 (men and women) - Andrea

Nearest the pin in 2 Hole 6 - Karl

Longest putt on Hole 8 - Wayne

Nearest the bunker in 1 Hole 14 - Andrea

Nearest the pin in 3 hole 18 - Don

Golden Hole - the club

Birdies

Derek on the 2nd

Keith on the 12th

&

Gerry on the 15th

After Match Drinks & Presentations

Keith discussing the intricacies of his round to Carol

The Fines

 Despite Gardies absence the reading of the fines generated substantial revenue with as usual, fowl language fines generating a greater part of the takings.

 Dave working out if he has enough cash to cover his fines, none of which included fowl language.

Unfortunately Don couldn't stay for the presentations however, this may have been a blessing for Derek, the 2024 holder of the Cup, because he returned it in a rather dusty state that did not go unnoticed by our captain. I'm sure the dust will be removed by the time Don gets his mitts on the trophy. The expression on Dave's face sums up the moment.

Garry also couldn't stay for the awarding of the lollies, so Derek whisked them away so fast that even the most sophisticated time lapse photography couldn't capture the moment.

So there we have it. Next week it's Par Bisque (whatever that is) on the Tuart with a tee off time of 7.24. A pleasant 29 degrees is the forecast.

The Golden Hole currently stands at $41 on The Old and nothin on the Tuart,

Reminders

Anyone that has still to pay their 2025 Membership fees ($165) please do so now otherwise you will be ineligible to receive prizes should you win an event.

This Wednesday its the annual Lake Claremont Par 3 comp from 5pm, followed by dinner at the "Tee Box". A scorching 38 degrees is forecast for the day but hopefully by 5 o'clock it will have cooled down somewhat.

We all wish Gerry well with his eye surgery this coming Saturday. Please note that following surgery he will be referred to as "Hawkeye" and nothing will go unnoticed.

 

 

DIVORCED PAIRS

That’s a pairs game where you multiply your Stableford score by your partner’s score; disappointing when one of you has a four-pointer while your partner cards a zero.

Another clear blue day, a gentle breeze and a comfortable 28 degrees. Couldn’t be better.

Gary shows off his new socks

We had reports that Glenn Kelly has been a bit of a media tart, turning up during the week on Channel 7 news. Seems he’s been giving blood, and deserves our respect rather than a cheap joke about who’d want his blood, even as a gift? Well done, Glenn.

Gerry apologises for persisting with the anniversaires, but demonstrated to us the difficulty he has with the pronunciation of ‘birthday’. (Incidentally, I believe it is only English and Icelandic that uses the ‘th’ sound, which is why foreigners always sound so ‘foreign’). He (Gerry) notes that Brett is now officially a ‘Grumpy Old Man’ as a result of his recent anniversaire, but will unfortunately be absent from golf for a few more months as a result of his shoulder injury. However, he has indicated that Brett will be joining us at the nineteenth hole soon, as apparently his shoulder injury does not prevent him from raising a glass to his lips if required.

Glen Pope is also still on the injury list, as a result of a buggered back. Wishing you both a speedy recovery.

We did however welcome a few stragglers back today. TJ was spotted, in an SOS shirt no less, as well as Lynley in her sleeveless wonder. 

Hilly also joined us, sporting a very trendy new haircut, and Gary is back after a series of celebrity appearances elsewhere. 

Good to see you all back.

We also met with Alex Mancini, who is auditioning for his SOS membership, and hit a tidy 92 off the stick.

TJ's recovery shot...wasn't!!

Important news on the raffle front - the number of tickets has now increased to 75, as a result of the increase in membership. All 75 were sold today. The non-mathematicians amongst us may not have noticed that paying $1 for a 75:1 chance of winning $10 is not exactly the best odds going, but...it’s all in a good cause.

Shelley remarks that a malcontent fiddled with her buggy while it was parked outside last week during the afters, causing it to run into the wall and continue to operate until the motor finally burned out. The repair cost her tidy $270.

Just threaded a miracle shot through five trees, and it ends up here!

Another incident occurred near the 18^th tee, where a miscreant was discovered hiding in the bushes with a bullhorn, aiming to disturb golfers as they teed off. Notwithstanding the disturbance, Lynley managed a great shot off the tee - meanwhile a couple of lads on the 11^th tee gave chase to the neer-do-well, who was apprehended after a chase and treated to a little friendly biffo.

Paul brings the pooch to play

Talking of tee shots, Coops has coined the term ‘pisstosterone’ - to describe the shot you smack hard down the fairway after a pissed-poor result on the previous hole.

Mark Hill had an expensive fines session, with five tree-to-fairways, a tree-to-green, two in the bunker, two lost balls (one of which was discovered in the middle of the fairway after he’d already played his penalty shot), club abuse and no doubt something else.

Hilly raids the treasury to prepare for his fines

There were birdies:

Wayne on the 1^st - that’s the way to start your round

Gary on the 2^nd,

Andrea on the 11^th

Mark W on the 11^th and 12^th

and Keith on the 14^th.

Wayne notes that he lost a ball on the 11^th, only to find it again while playing the 17^th !

Contender for 'spot of bovver' of the week

The card reader in the pro shop is still out of service. However, if you note your score as you go round on the MiScore app, it will appear on the computer as you finish. Apparently, you register as a competition guest. The guys in the pro shop have been ready to enter them for us when necessary.

The novelties were a little novel this week, but the winners less so:

Longest Drive - unisex today - went to Mark Hill who unleashed a monster that still made the middle of the fairway on the 3^rd. None of the girl big-hitters was able to take the benefit of their 50m  advantage on that hole.

Nearest in 2 on the 6^th , Mark Hill again, but Paul Boquest snuck inside before Keith got closest.

The longest putt on the 8^th, the first group had four tap-ins, so all just missing, but Shelley got her name on the marker before Peter did even better.

The 14^th - nearest the bunker in one, without going in. Paul Boquest got close, Andrea inside that, then Boris was very close, but Mark Wilson must have been teetering on the edge to beat that, but beat it he did.

Unsurprisingly, the Golden Hole remained unclaimed.

Which left just nearest in three on the 18^th, Mark Hill got his name on the card very early, and no-one was able to beat him.

Meanwhile, Coops notes that he has registered for the Par 3 Competition only to discover that it is the evening of his wedding anniversary. We’ve agreed to make an exception this time and let the missus caddie for him - it is a special occasion after all!

The individual scores were as follows, but no lollies and no prizes here - it was a team game.

 

And the team results are as follows.

	Barry	Peter	85
	Coops	Greg	65
	Keith	TJ	65
	Earle	Wayne	59
	Andrea	Shelley	56
	James	Pug Dog	53
	Vicky	Lynley	51
	Karl	Gerry	50
	Paul B	Derek	47
	Hilly	Gary	42
	Carol	Kerry	38

 

Mark Wilson and Alex remained out of the competition.

Not much doubt about the winners. There was a 4X3 and several 3X3s to make up an impressive and intimidating total. Not many competitions where the winner is twenty points clear of the rest of the field.

Way out in front!

Many thanks to all our talented photographers. Next week - the Australia Day Cup - a one week Stableford competition on the Old Course.