CHRIS IN A CLOSE CONTEST

It was an exciting tussle between these two golfing talents after they shot ahead of the field with three rounds played, their best two scores the same and 10 points clear of their nearest rival. They remained locked on the same score going into the compulsory last round, with Walks their only potential threat 6 points in arrears. Chris was making things difficult with a 21 point front 9 to Squancey's creditable 18 but Squancey wasn't done. Approaching the 17th hole, Squancey had made up the deficit and it was 35 points apiece. Fate? Bad Luck? Who knows, but a wiped 17th for him against a consistently scoring Jacko was the difference in a Masters week that was different, innovative, cooperative and yet another sensational golfing and socialising experience.

All who participated made valuable contributions to a week different from any other. Some highlights:

• The very cosy bus, bodies and buggies
• Our upstairs/downstairs funky accommodation - thanks Squancey - with a very accommodating host
• Money Man Macca squeezed the most from club finances to minimise costs - thanks Macca and to his spreadsheet sidekick Squancey
• Flash new trophies - thanks Walks
• The Welcome bag (including the MM8 Golf Guide - thanks Dalbs); Mystery box which revealed an MM8 monogrammed golf towel; and MM8 logo golf balls - thanks Tom
• Snazzy NTP and LD markers and a prize for the tournament NTP and LD - another thanks Tom!
• Jacko's superb and varied catering. We are fortunate to have such talent - thanks Chris
• The Capital Ploughmans, quite a feast (loved the pork pies) and an Ale to wash it down - thanks Jeff
• A new course - Rosebud; all courses in very good nick; and a very wet St Andrews
• A surprise 75th birthday cake. Dalbs was gobsmacked - thanks team!
• The very few card nights by comparison
• The pokies afternoons with fortunes won and lost
• Some interesting and inexpensive eateries, but the broken pizza oven didn't go down well

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Cost Per Head – MM7 cf MM8

LITTLE MASTER PREVAILS

His was a modest start to the week. That gammy knee and the double-tuck, triple fold over, twice-wrapped knee support bandage routine took a day to warm up. What followed was five rounds of par or better golf with crisp, firm ball striking and solid determination and it paid off big time. Tom completed the Masters tied with a resurgent Dalbs on a record winning score but his consistent efforts were rewarded making him a very worthy Mornington Masters winner. Dalbs had no great expectations for the week, having played through very indifferent form in the lead up, but was totally chuffed at being able to reproduce some of those shots that had seemed a distant memory. Scobes had the "bookends", winning the first (convincingly) and last rounds but lacked (uncharacteristically) consistency in the middle. But it was enough to complete the podium finishers.

It was described as "The best Mornington Masters yet" (who thought that could happen?) but there were plenty of reasons:

• A week of memorable weather – warm, hailstones, little wind;
• Those "refreshments" for the drive down;
• The return of the LUXURY portable bathroom and the comfortable air beds
• Another brilliant Scobes' Form Guide within an ace of picking the winning form;
• Stunning boxed souvenir gold medallions from the Perth Mint and a classic group photo to adorn a wall;
• New lunch venues with excellent food and wines – Point Leo and Port Phillip Estates;
• A new course - Bay Views; and a return to The Dunes. Given the hot eastern summer, all courses were in very good nick;
• Jeff's memorable shot landing up the possum's . . . .;
• The song sheets which generated raucous outbursts that faintly resembled singing;
• Gorgeous Julie who bravely collected her misdirected food box thinking the place at number 124 looked like a "druggies house";
• A first for the Match Play competition, played over some testing courses in great spirit;
• Jeffs magnificent shots at two Cape Schanck par 3's to collect 21 golf balls in the Par 3's Birdies Jackpot;
• Fine dining at The Club House Restaurant – Jacko's BBQ'ing wizardry; Tom and Jeff's wine and cheese night; Ronzo's toasted sandwich delicacies and energy-boosting dessert (chocolate ice cream with M&Ms);
• The milestones – Dalbs (399) and Scobes (299) on the last day – made memorable by superb certificates (Ronzo/Little creations).

Form Guide