SUMMER CUP - ROUND 1

The first major for the SOS golfing calendar heralded the beginning of the 2025 season with Round 1 of 54th playing of The Summer Cup on the Tuart in fairly warm and balmy conditions. Together with the SOS Cup the Summer Cup is the oldest event in the clubs history.

A strong field of 22 players that included defending champion, Keith Barrow, two time winner Mark Wilson (2022, & 2023), and one time winners Paul Gardner (2017), Shelly Yeo (2016) and Don Beesley (2012). A number of previous winners including Garry Burgess (2021), Glen Pope (2013 & 2020), Lyn Malone (2011) and Brett Fordham (2014) were not able to tee it up because of injury, illness or prior commitments. 

We also welcomed back Goochie after a long absence. Not yet a winner of the converted trophy but his day will come and it can't be too far off.

Despite the diminished field hundreds of spectators lined the fairway to get a good view of the first group to tee off.

The change of forecast for the days play from a mild 29 degrees to a hot and humid 35 degrees combined with some late withdrawals resulted in some very complex reshuffling of the field with many opted for carts instead of walking. You have to admire the the patience of our tee time administrator, Shelly for dealing with it all in a calm and methodical way.

I'll leave it to you to decide which is more complex - mad scientists attempt to calculate time and money or Shelly tee time rearrangement.

As usual there was much activity and pre tee time chatter amongst the field

"Spots of Bover"

After a drought of Spots of Bover over the past couple of weeks the flood gates opened and restored the average. Following are just some of the many tricky situations the field found themselves in. The first of the day was Goochie on the tee box at the first who made several unsuccessful attempts to tee his ball up, not a great start to a round.

Glen taking on a grass tree again

Lynley executing a perfect backhand shot by the grass tree on the 7th

Paul B with an awkward bunker stance on the 8th

Paul B with a tricky ball position on the 13th

Not to be outdone Gardy came up with an unorthodox shot on the 8th using his driver from 15 metres off the green to run the ball up to be within a metre of the hole..

For those that have recently purchased new equipment only to be left wondering why it performed so well at Drummond Golf's simulator only to let you down dismally on the course, the following diagram, may provide an explanation.

The Results

The Winners & Losers

In first place with a sensational round, despite the tussle with the grass tree was Glen Kelly with 78 off the stick for a net score of 67. Glen for the benefit of the uniformed then explained with great modesty how "The cream rise to the top", and hence his convincing win. Let's see what Round 2 brings.

In second place on countback from Roland was Lynley with a net score of 73 and commiserations to Don, also on 73 but relegated to 4th on countback. All very solid rounds

Peter took out the lollies but didn't seem to displeased with that, better than nothin.

The Novelties

Longest putt - Greg

NTP in 2 on the 6th - Greg (in the hole)

NTP in 3 on the 14th - Lynley

NTP on the 18th - Karl

Longest drive on the 17th - Andrea (her favourite hole on the Tuart)

Golden Hole - Club

Birdies

Andea on the 17th following on from the longest drive

Gardy on the 5th and the 17th

Mark W on the 12th

Barry on the 7th

Greg on the 6th from a chip in. Never looked in doubt

Penalties

Surprising very little money raised in the expletives category this week as the usual suspects were on their best behavior. Regardless a healthy amount was raised for the club. With tempers kept in check there was also no club abuse.

Victorian Open

The Australian PGA Victorian Open Championship is currently being played at the 13 Mile Beach course and our club is represented by our all abilities champion and member, Garry Burgess who is putting in a solid performance despite only recently returning from injury. We all wish Garry well in the final days play today.

Sick & Injured

Out thoughts and best wishes go out to all those who are not well or injured and are no doubt chomping at the bit to get back out on the course again.

Lyn, we all hope your treatment is progressing well. Popey, hopefully that back is getting better and the acupuncture is helping. Gerry (Hawkeye), great the hear that the surgery went well but sorry to hear about your current battle with influenza A 

and Brett there's not much you can do following your shoulder surgery but wait it out.

From the Captains Desk

Andrea has locked everyone’s handicaps today (Saturday) for the Old Course next week as we have a 2 week comp.

Therefore please play your own card (stroke) next week for the daily comp and I will make any adjustments to those scores (if required) for the purposes of the summer cup.

Round 2 of The Summer Cup

Round 2 will be played on the Old Course with a first tee off time of 7.56 which is reasonably civilised - even Stephanie can be on time for this one.

The forecast for next Saturday is 34 degrees so those requiring carts please let Shelly know well in advance.

PAR BISQUE

 

Par Bisque

Like Par, but you choose where you want to apply your handicap strokes - after you’ve played the hole.

Group 1, ready and willing

As much as anything, a game of strategy.

Don’t squander your strokes on a hole that’s well into minus territory.

So where are all the Bisquits?

But also don’t end up with unused strokes still in your pocket at the end of the round.

Know when to use those strokes wisely.

We thought it was St Patrick's Day...

For once, a game that tends to favour the higher handicappers, who have more scope to be strategic.

This is why Birgit's not playing

Commiserations are due to Shelley, who suffered the ultimate disappointment on the Tuart.

Losing a brand new ball off the first tee!

Did you have any luck with the novelties this week?

	NOVELTY	HOLE	CONTENDERS	WINNER
	Longest Putt	1	Karl	Roland
	NTP in 3	8	Keith, Colin	Mark W
	Longest Drive	10	Wayne, Mark H, Mark W
	NTP in 2	12	Gary, Karl, Keith, Wayne	Earle
	NTP	18	Keith, Carol	Derek

Gary’s off to the Victorian Open this week. No doubt his progress can be followed on the relevant website.

Losing control of your equipment? 
Hate to think what the fine is for this.

We were scraping the bottom of the barrel for anniversaires this week. The best we could manage was Puggy’s ex-wife Donna, who celebrates hers on Monday. Happy Birthday Donna!

We welcomed two guests, Alex who went round in 86, and Jos who carded a 93. A couple of decent rounds there.

Keith read out the novelties

Shelley will soon be putting in an order for new shirts. These will be based on the indigenous design, but without the 50-year anniversary text. Would you let Shelley know if you are likely to be making an order, and specify long- or short-sleeved version.

There were birdies.

	Earle	3
	Roland	15
	Gardy	15
	Andrea	15
	Colin	18
	Derek	18

It’s becoming clear that the 15^th is the easiest hole on the course, certainly the easiest to birdie, so should perhaps be reindexed to 18!

Just like with golf?

And the scores for today;s Par Bisque competition:

	PLAYER	SCORE
	Derek	+6
	Carol	+5
	Roland	+3
	Earle	+3
	Colin	+3
	Puggy	+3
	Andrea	+2
	Wayne	+1
	Peter	0
	Barry	0
	Greg	0
	Steph	0
	Mark H	-1
	Shelley	-1
	Coops	-2
	Gardy	-2
	Keith	-3
	Mark W	-3
	Karl	-4
	Gary	-4

That looks like a leadership group, if ever there was one.

Interestingly (or perhaps it’s not), both Derek and Colin finished with an unused stroke through a very unusual circumstance. Having carefully husbanded a remaining stroke to be used on the eighteenth, to turn a four into a square, they both inadvertently went on to birdie the hole, thus scoring an unaided plus without needing the extra stroke.

I won the raffle

Our cards were entered into MiScore as Stableford scores. While this wasn’t the competition today, here are the Stableford results.

In spite of a frightening forecast of 41 degrees for Wednesday, by the time we teed off for the Par 3 competition it was an extremely pleasant evening. Lake Claremont boasts some tricky greens, but the course was in excellent condition and looked delightful as the shadows lengthened and the sun set over the water.

The Awesome Foresome

We then adjourned to the verandah of TeeBox cafe for drinks and dinner as dusk fell - as always a very enjoyable event.

Well-earned nosh!

The undoubted winner of the trophy for gross score was Mark Hill, with a very creditable 28, just one over par for the course.

The Hills are alive with the sound of winning

And the bandit prize (no, really, it’s the handicap trophy) goes to Vickie who certainly mastered some of the intricacies of the challenging nine-holes.

I'll drink to that

And if you weren't there - here's a taste of what you missed: 

Barry lines up for a long putt

See, at Lake Claremont we even have flag attendants

All friends at the start

Gardy's going over the trees...

...so better take cover

Can I take a drop here?

That's what I call an unmissable putt

Mark lines up for a birdie putt

Boris loses control of his equipment on the ninth

Many thanks to our talented photographers this week - what would we do without you?

Here’s how the scores ended up, but really we were all winners.

	PLAYER	SCORE	HCAP	NETT
	Vickie	34	13	21
	Mark H	28	4	24
	Carol	39	14	25
	Peter	34	9	25
	Greg	34	9	25
	Barry	34	9	25
	Gary	30	4	26
	Derek	36	9	27
	Shelley	34	7	27
	Frances	37	9	28
	Karl	34	5	29
	Andrea	36	6	30
	Paul B	33	3	30
	Mark W	33	2	31
	Earle	38	6	32
	Gardy	37	4	33