27 – 31 March 2023

A real cool start – the weather, and all flights on time. The van, minus trailer, was stashed to the gunnels and the event most thought would not eventuate was underway. Navigation? Not a problem with RD (hmmmm, maybe a problem) and CJ's (no problem) Google Maps and Squancey's local knowledge keeping us on track despite the van's Satellite Sally trying to send us on every off-ramp we passed.

The digs? Very comfortable upstairs/downstairs accommodation. They even contacted us to make the back bungalow available, and Jeff was in like a shot.

The DOG got proceedings under way, Squancey receiving kudos for kick-starting the event by leaping into the accommodation booking. Walks was asked to unveil the very impressive winner/runner up trophies which he did Roman style. Then came the mystery box, not yet to be opened, and a Welcome Bag containing Easter eggs, a pen and the MM8 Golf Guide. Any Rules protests were immediately squashed and Tom had done it again. The mystery box? Another Tom ripper - he'd thrown in the towel - an MM8 golf one! And yet another - MM8 logo golf balls.

Meal time and controversy! The cucumber was contested by Chef: "I said continental and wrapped. I don't do Lebanese". But it made for a great CJ salad to go with the fish and chips (+ 1 serve of chicken). Squancey got steamed up with the spare parts coffee machine but could only produce Yuk, while chocolates straight out of the freezer crunched down nicely.

A great start, and the Treasurer pocketed the Pick-a-Sport $40.

MONDAY - Rosebud
Some sleep-ins to adjust to EST and brunch proved a great start. Finally located the Blue Mini cafe after another navigation free-for-all, a disused bowling alley behind an unassuming frontage scattered with bric-a-brac and serving delicious breakfast. Fortunately, Rosebud Golf was just across the road!

Predicted showers were minimal and mostly drizzle but increased in intensity thankfully just as we finished. Great interest in a course not played before and which subsequently received a 7.6 rating. Fairways well grassed and greens fast (some two-tiered).

The calm before the golfing storm	Believe it or not!	Another down the middle – easy!

Presentations proceeded followed by a gobstopping moment. Dalbs was inducted into the 75 year-old club with a cake and off tune singing to celebrate.

The cake made the perfect finish to a superb meal.

Rosebud winners: 1st Squancey 35 pts 2nd Walks 33 pts 3rd Tom 32 pts

And the superb was haute cuisine Italian style with Jacko's amazing culinary talents producing superbly flavoured, very traditional Pasta Carbonara; Chilli, Chorizo and Tomato Spaghetti; and a green spinach, avocado and long, thin Continental cucumber! Birthday boy got to draw, and win, the Pick-a-Sport, something that wasn't a first.

TUESDAY - The Dunes
Early start, Jacko up with the ravens to fire up a superb breakfast of bacon, egg and leftover salad on toasted buns.

Great to be back at The Dunes in mainly sunny conditions dominated by the striking Hamptons style club house. A magnificent golfing vista though the greens were replete with too many unrepaired pugs and little dollops of sand but still earned a 9.1 rating.

Admiring the brilliant links course	But try to stay out of the sand!

Jacko's coaching was put to the test, suggesting Jeff take a wider stance for his longer shots. Jeff's first attempt ricocheted off his adjacent buggy into the rough. His narrow stance is now back as a regular feature. 

Workers resurfacing a green-side path were targeted by Walks (who landed his ball amongst them) and Jeff (his bounced off a shovel).

Shot of the day was Macca at the par 3 13th, nestling his ball to 90cm from the pin for 2
and 5 pts!

Energising detour on the way home at D'alia's Cafe where pies and coffees dominated.

The Dunes winners: 1st Jacko 40 pts 2nd Squancey 36 pts 3rd Dalbs 33 pts

Self coached Jacko, with feet spread and all shots firing, turned in a terrific 40 points (also earning a golf club cleaning kit) which matched the $40 Pick-a-Sport he both drew and won. Squancey racked up 36 points for 2nd. The two umbilical brothers, each on 71 pts, enjoyed a 10 point lead at the early stages. Dalbs surprised (mainly himself) coming 3rd.

Great meal enjoyed at the Rosebud Hotel and a few bob won and lost at the pokies -  and at the Foam St Casino.


WEDNESDAY - St Andrews
Up at 6, make-your-own brekky, and it was off to St Andrews. Navigation no longer appears an issue (thanks Squancey).

Weather looked threatening  and delivered BIG time on the threat. By the turn, some were wondering what they were doing out in the wet bleakness, and it all showed in the low scores, averaging just 23.7 points - 13.4 out; 10.3 in.

King of the NTP, Macca, did it again this time within 15m (with Squancey 15.5m). He also viciously attacked an innocent kangaroo, cracking it in the head with a lusty attempt out of the grass and featured in lost balls, losing 6 on the first 9. Coach Jacko did a Ripley losing 2 over the journey. Walks valiantly trod in the path of a local slug. It wasn't about to move nor was Walks - a Mexican standoff. There had to some distractions on such a soggy day.


Guest celebrity chef 'Cobber' Carlton put away the pans, instead laying out a refreshing ploughman's lunch. Three cheeses, pork pie, ham, cherry tomatoes, pickled onions on bread with a pale ale offering to wash it down. Delicious!

Off to the RSL Gaming Room for another spot of recreation before a sensational development post presentations - a card check revealed anomalies! The announced winners were gazumped, Walks relegated from winner to runner-up, Jeff from 2nd to 3rd and Dalbs surged from 4th to winner (and ball markers)!

St Andrews winners: 1st Dalbs 26 pts 2nd Walks 25 pts 3rd Jeff 25 pts

Chef Chris excelled again with hamburgers and cheese, cucumber, carrot with mayo or sweet chilli sauce on buns with coriander. And he continued to excel with another Pick-a-Sport win.

And, without stretching the truth, not a card was dealt!

THURSDAY - Cape Schanck
The smell of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the house underpinning another GYO breakfast. Then all aboard for the Cape Schanck experience.

Cool with a cold bracing wind and a light shower or two and we enjoyed a more "comfortable" round. Our two high handicappers had their moments- Jeff pulling off a magnificent "Sandie" on the first part 3; and Macca's chip from off the green hitting the flag but failing to drop.

One out . . .	One still in . . .	One praying . . .

Walks proved the master despite 4 wipes on a tough resort course aided by a 13 point run over 4 consecutive holes. Squancey and Jacko, our two far and away leaders, made up the podium but their 2 best scores remained unchanged. Going into the deciding round, Squancey and Jacko were still tied on 71 points with the Phantom 6 points in arrears. Special presentation of an MM8 ball for Macca's 3-peat – 3 consecutive NAGAs!

Cape Schanck comfort	Pizza-less Brewery

A warming coffee in the cafe and banter to pass the time before heading to our 2pm St Andrews Brewery lunch eager for a pizza. Why we couldn't book earlier given the available tables when we arrived remains a mystery. And, shock/horror, the pizza oven had broken down. Still we all enjoyed tasty meals in an inviting environment.

Cape Schanck winners: 1st Walks 32 pts 2nd Squancey 31 pts 3rd Jacko 31 pts

Chris keeps coming, this time with delicious snags on bread rolls with coleslaw, chilli's, coriander and sauces. The excellent collection of reds and whites continued to flow and the Pick-a-Sport money flowed into the club coffers.

FRIDAY - Moonah Legends
Bolt your MYO breakfast and Captain Tom piloted us to an all time favourite course, Moonah Links. Chippy brisk breeze and the odd clearing shower for the round that had to count.

As a long time favourite course and the traditional final round venue, Moonah didn't disappoint. Though a chippy start, the weather held and witnessed a battle royal between the two MM8 guns who were tied at the top prior to teeoff.

Not all easy going – but a good score resulted		Successfully threading the eye

Golfers of a feather . . .	Closing in on the win

Chris's impressive front nine, just 6 shots over and 21 points (including 4 pars), was making life tough though Squancey turned in a creditable 18 pts to trail by 3. Pars eluded Chris until the 16th while Squancey notched 3 and gathered 13 points over 4 holes by the time he stepped onto the 17th tee. They were again on equal Masters points with two holes remaining to decide the champion. Was it fate, bad luck or pre-ordained that saw Squancey wipe the 17th? It made the difference as the last putt was dropped and Jacko had triumphed by just 2 points. Macca created the other day's highlight, knocking up 33 points after disappointments earlier in the week.

Back to Rosebud and Peninsula Baker Boys
cafe for a golfing last supper. And, of course, a later visit to our second "home" for a final Games Room flutter and prize winning bells and sirens . . .

Little Master had one more classic up his sleeve, announcing the players who struck the closest NTP and the longest LD over the five days. Macca starred in the NTP – 90 cm at The Dunes 144m Par 3; and Chris in the Longest LD – 209m at the Rosebud 462m Par 5. Each received club head covers to die for . . .

Moonah winners: 1st Jacko 39 pts 2nd Squancey 37 pts 3rd Macca 36 pts
		Macca (NTP) with puppeteer Chris (LD)

MASTERS OF MORNINGTON MASTERS 8
WINNER	RUNNER- UP
CHRIS JACKSON - 110 pts His 5th Masters and 2nd Masters win	GRAHAM SQUANCE - 108 pts In only his 2nd Masters

It was Chris's week, adding a 3rd Pick-a-Sport win! And the black tie dinner was true to its roots -  tender steaks, onions, mashed spud, corn on the cob and peas . . .

	A re-energiser then . . . . . .back to (real) work

SATURDAY
A post sleep-in clean-up filled the bins and Jeff's car boot and left the cleaners with a booze-up bonanza.

Breakfast and coffee at Pier St Kitchen, Dromana was a hit and we mosied off on a sentimental journey to the site of the old Eastern Seaboard Club House. A picture tells a thousand words . . .

A farewell and safe journey to Jeff, dropping Macca and Walks off in Little Bourke St for a few days of debauchery and  the remaining fab four enjoyed a safe journey Canberra/home from a MAGNIFICENT and very MEMORABLE MORNINGTON MASTERS 8.