THE WINTER CUP - ROUND 1

 The first round of the 43rd playing of The Winter Cup this year was on The Old course with a very respectable tee time of 10.12 allowing for breakfast to be taken at a civilized hour without fear of indigestion. 

Some concerns were raised however concerning a late tee off and its implication in finding a parking place in what has become a major issue at Wembley and a legacy of having such a great facility. However, the Armageddon like weather forecast put paid too that, and there were no parking issues. 

The anticipated foul weather did however see a greatly reduced field of just 15 registering to play, regardless of what the weather gods may throw at them. Things looked ominous just prior to tee off with a heavy shower causing a group huddle under the awning outside the Pro Shop. By the time the first group prepared to tee off the rain had stopped and miraculously stayed away for the entire round, reinforcing that there is a golf God.

Should Wembley invest in one of these?

Despite the small field some of the game's best were there. The notables being last year's champion, Vickie Scarff, the 1988 champion Colin Kerr, 2009 champion Earle Scarff, 2013 & 2015 champion Garry Burgess and the 2023 champion Tony Gooch.

Your blogger failed to take any pre-game photos and offers apologies for this oversight. Likewise, there were apparently no Spots of Bovver to reports either. There was however a work in progress happening on the 17th fairway where Vickie has commenced construction of what appears to be a new bunker. 

Vickie looking a little disheartened with her handiwork on the 17th fairway - from small things big things grow.

Two of Vickie's playing partners suggested she should have "dialed before she dug". "Vickie's Crater" was substantial, but when compared to some of the maestro's, that bunker is going to take a some time for her to complete. We'll check in on progress when we next play The Old.

We've all seen the sign on the pathway leading from the 13th green to the 14th tee on the Tuart. The photo of Greg following, catching his breath before teeing off on the 15th, suggests a similar sign needs to be placed on the pathway leading to the 15th on The Old. 

Phew!!!!

 There was no trouble finding somewhere to sit at the post-match presentations

 

THE RUNDOWN

In summary Earle had a day he'd rather forget, the ladies had a day out and took off first and third place with Faye backing up her great play of the previous week, and our 1988 past champion made his presence felt with a very impressive par round following a back massage the previous day.

First & Second place getters

THE NOVELTIES

Hole # 2, The Golden Hole 1 - Club

Hole # 4, Longest Drive (Men & Women) - Gary

Hole # 9, Nearest in Two - Mick Fisher followed by Roland

Hole # 10, Nearest in Two - Andrea followed by Puggy

Hole # 16, Golden Hole 2 - Club

Hole # 18, Closest 3rd Shot - Kerry, followed by Gary, followed by Andrea followed by Goochy

BIRDIES

Andrea on the 1st

Glenn K on the 11th

Due to reduced numbers there was no raffle, however the squealing (please note the correct spelling) pig didn't disappoint and made an appearance.

THE AUCTION UDATE

The auction night last Saturday at Peters by the Sea was a great success where the Match Play auction raised $1,290 and the auction of donated items raised a further $800 for the club (out of which came the expenses for the night)

"THE GREAT WINE HEIST"

An unexpected offshoot of last week's auction night was the clubs first "Wine Heist" (please note this is intended to be tongue in cheek).

Earle has asked the members who were at Peters By the sea last Saturday to put on their thinking caps to ascertain the whereabouts of the bottle of red wine that mysteriously disappeared.

Earle brought to the function a magnificent 2009 Warrabillah Durif, purchased on one of Earle and Vickie's wine/golf holidays in the Murray River region, problem was the wine has a cork, and the restaurant had lost their corkscrew, so it remained on the table unopened.

It disappeared when Earle went to get his car which was close by, to give Peter Baird a lift to his car which was about a km away.

Now Earle drank various other persons wine on the night, so it needs to be drunk, but by multiple SOS members, not one.

 So, whoever took the wine, obviously by mistake, needs to fess up, and the wine can be reserved for a future club function.

 Earle has told the committee that a Royal Commission is an overkill, but CCTV from the function centre is a viable option to investigate the whereabouts of the wine.

Return of the wine or a suitable replacement next Saturday is required to avoid an inquisition!!

NEXT WEEK

The second and deciding round of The Winters Cup will be played on The Tuart course with a 10.04 tee off allowing once more for a leisurely start, and plenty of time for pre-game practice.

The forecast at this stage is almost identical to yesterdays but without the benefit of the "Weather Forecasting Stone" BOM's forecast, as we know, proved wildly inaccurate. So, please don't let the possibility of showers deter you from registering to play