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Weekly reports: Season 2012–13

To fast track to the report for a particular fixture, just click on the fixture date below . . .

25 September 2 October 9 October 16 October 23 October 30 October 6 November 13 November
27 November 4 December 11 December 18 December 27 December 3 January 8 January 15 January
22 January 29 January 5 February 12 February 19 February      

Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Stableford, Hamersley
MATCH PLAY FINAL

It was the ultimate official fixture before preparing for MM IV and the final individual duel for the Match Play crown. Despite the promise of a warm day, the start was somewhat chippy with jackets mostly on show, though Squancey in only the club shirt was responsible for the chattering teeth and Macca, used to the short sleeves on cool mornings, was responsible for the chatter. Seven players today, led off by Steve, Macca and Squancey with some mainly impressive tee shots.

Some highlights

  • Getting wet
    Ron got so hot under the collar when adrift on the adjacent fairway, they had to call in the fire brigade
    Match Play: They were evenly matched – both with 14 handicaps and up-and-down recent form. Both were erratic off the tee – some straight, some wildly off target. Walks produced the best off the 10th, a whopping slice over the tall trees and somewhere into the car park. The golf was not pretty, Walks sometimes doing his darndest to lose the hole but Dalbs was up to the challenge, managing many duffed shots and putts to take more strokes on critical holes to go down 3 and 2. Walks's maiden Match Play title win was finally in the bag and Dalbs's putter was out of the bag chalking up more flying time. Well done Walks!;
  • Scobes and Ronzo bore witness to the Match Play fray but it only seemed to rub off on Ron. Appears now to only have three clubs in his bag – a driver for negotiating the adjacent fairway, a 7-iron for most other shots and a putter for getting out of the bush and for it's intended purpose. A few signature AAAAAAAGGGHHH's indicated things were not going smoothly. Scobes, on the otherhand, was driving pretty straight, hitting some fine fairway irons and putting well. Is enjoying his Tuesday morning outings with some good scores. A hot tip for MM IV? Only the Form Guide will tell;
  • The lead group showed great potential on the warm-up hole. Steve was especially punishing, his power drives kept mostly straight over the journey and generally playing good all-round golf, including all round the cup, lipping out three times! BIG win Steve – CONGRATS! Macca's self-assessment of his second-place round was "played one better than my high handicap". Played a great last hole with the opportunity for a par putt but "did a Dalbs". Squancey just can't take a trick at the moment. Getting away from the tee but not having much luck after that, beating Steve by rimming out 4 times and unable to get the chips in the right direction! Frustration got the better at one point, the bat thrown in fine baseball style!

Todays winnersResults:
Match Play Champion: Graham Walker – CONGRATULATIONS PHANTOM!
Full results

Round winners:

1st:
Steve - 23 points
2nd: Macca (19) on countback from . . .
3rd: Scobes (19)
NTP:
Walks
LD: Scobes
Birdie: Steve (14th)
NAGA: Squancey

  RA SA PB RD CJ TJ GL GMc DS GS GW
Starting Handicap 10 13 9 14 12 14 9 16 11 10 14
Scores 16 23 15 19 19 13 18
Adjustment -2 +1 -1 -1 +1
New Handicap 10 11 9 15 12 14 9 15 10 11 14

 

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Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Stableford, Hamersley
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP – Round 2

It was obviously a special day as all players were in the car park before the appointed 5.22 a.m. deadline. But so also were many other cars with little sign of people around. Could it be a Labour Party "Park at Hamersley, shuttle bus to Stirling" Park-and-Ride experiment?
Conversation on the tee was muted, save for the unexpected happy chatter of our surprise visitor Top End Tom (soon to be the Melbourne Mauler). A sure sign that it was week two of the Club Champs.

Some highlights

  • Toms swing
    Nice surprise - nice swing
    Group 1: (kindly referred to as the Champions in Training): There were only two of this "select" group able to challenge for the Champ title, though their odds were as high as Essendon pre-game. Steve defied his round 1 form on the first but reinforced it wth a severe tug left off the tee on the second. Like Dalbs, it was an up-and-down affair for the rest of the trip, the most difficult part being the getting up-and-down. Some of it was not pretty, though Steve is showing signs of a form reversal for Mornington while Dalbs has firmed for the NAGA. Meanwhile Macca and Top End were sneaking under the radar. Macca gained some consistency, though not necessarily distance, off the tee and started to excel with his short game. Top End was a little rusty at first but steadily improved both off the tee and around the greens. The way he and Steve danced in those putts was a treat. M and TEs (MATES) efforts paid off, sharing top podium spot, Macca scoring in the countback after a withering finish.
  • Group 2 (modestly referred to as the Championship Group): The three leaders hit off after the also-rans and no shows from last week. Disaster struck the half way leader Scobes as he tangled with the nursery fence and came up with a 7. Big Ron and Mr Consistent both had pars, so the pendulum had taken an early swing. The two early pace crackers struck a pothole or two over the next couple of holes while Scobes plugged on with a series of bogies. The turning point came on the 14th when the Blind One put together consecutive pars (including sinking a putt from off the green on the 15th) to wrest back the advantage. A lost ball on the same hole by Squancey did his chances no favours. From then on it was shot for shot between Ron and Scobes, with a disastrous seven on the shortened 16th killing off Squancey’s push for glory. Scobes, the inaugural winner of the Club Championship title, was back for a second success.

Controversy threatened the final announcements as the "Away" "Home" Captain consulted with his assistant scorer to arrive at a net 68 for the potential Championship winner. But the potential winning card showed a 69. It was agreed, after consultation with Magistrate Macca, that the scorers pen had unfortunately run out, and the bottom loop of the '9' could not be completed to make it the intended '8'. Much cheering, back slapping, hand shaking and buck passing (the Magistrate's fee) followed.

Winners First prize
Winners are grinners - the round and the Club Champion
Club Champ with his winning prize

Results:
Club Champion: Dennis Scoble – CONGRATS!!.
Round winners:
1st:
Macca - net 33 on countback from . . .
2nd: Top End (33)
3rd: Scobes (35)
NTP:
Steve
LD: Scobes
NAGA: Squancey

Club Championship – Final results

 

  RA SA PB RD CJ TJ GL GMc DS GS GW
Starting Handicap 10 13 9 14 12 15 9 17 12 10 14
Adjustment -1 -1 -1
New Handicap 10 13 9 14 12 14 9 16 11 10 14

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Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Stableford, Hamersley
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP – Round 1

A cool but humid morning and Dalbs had sacrificed a sleep-in to grab pole position. Forgot, however, that a couple of groups have an unwritten mortgage on pole each week, but we still gazumped a host of others gathering at the 1st. Course staff, Ronzo and plumbing were the pre-game highlights. A rigged up tractor with flashing lights suddenly appeared and commenced spraying the 1st hole fairway, with everyone expecting to be told the first 9 was closed. Thankfully this didn't happen but sprinklers starting up all over the hole promising a wet walk. It prompted Ronzo to suggest to the ladies following us that they'd best not lick their balls! And then a big sprinkler just off the gathering point started up sending everyone running for cover. It was an entertaining start.

Some highlights

  • Squancey's sure fire driving attracted a gallery . . .
    . . . though he did prove that, at times, he was only human
    Squancey made his intentions immediately clear with an almighty whack straight down the middle of the first. Repeated the dose a few more times and just loved to drop those one metre putts. Had an interesting tussle with the fence on the 9th but recovered well to be a hot favourite for Championship honours;
  • Scobes modestly confessed to playing a bl__dy brilliant round of golf (well, maybe the 8 on the first par 5 an exception). Stayed mainly straight off the tee, hit some exquisite irons and chipped and putted like a true Club Champion. What more can one say (lots actually but I'm too modest);
  • Walks started out confidently, surmising that "I'll most likely win todays round and won't be here to finish it off" and then proceeded to belt his first drive nearly onto Marmion Avenue. Did likewise on the second before his driving started to look scary but that didn't stop a string of "7's" on the first three holes. Got it together better after that but lags the field and off to Busselton for some R&R;
  • Ronzo played pretty and pretty well. Got into some good positions to attack the greens but then had trouble navigating the ball onto them and putting them into that little round hole;
  • Dalbs was thereabouts for the first 5 holes. Then came that fateful drive into the left rough of the long par 5. Four shots later he was back on the fairway and finally down for a 10. Couldn't decide whether the constant smile after that was genuine or signs of a Mt Claremont visit pending;
  • Then came Steve and then went Steve, hooking and slicing at will. Couldn't seem to find his rhythm or the fairway, his only success in keeping things straight coming when parking perfectly between the lines in the car park. Needs to find his old Mornington form to give the field a shake.
Club Champ Rd 1 leader
A happy Round 1 leader

Leader Board at halfway:
33 - Assassini Silencia
34
- Mr Consistent Mk II
37 - "Aaaahhhhhhhhh, what!!! Third with a score like that!"
38 - The Ghost
38 - Chip Chucker
40
- Cheesed off (and doesn't like cheese)

Note: All Consistency and Masters points held over until after the Champs are complete

Results to be officially recorded:
NTP - Steve
LD - Walks
NAGA
- Steve

  RA SA PB RD CJ TJ GL GMc DS GS GW
Club Championship Handicaps
10
14
9
14
12 15 9
17
12
10
14

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Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Stableford, Joondalup
JOONDALUP CLASSIC

It was great to be back to this quality golf course offering stunning vistas and many golfing challenges. Almost the perfect setting to get into the right mindset to take on the Mornington courses. A field of seven to contest the third Classic outing on a day promising some warm weather.

Some highlights

  • Mooncrater
    Journeyman Steve launching into the Moon Crater
    Ronzo – Very consistent all day with just 2 wipes, the highlight being a well crafted par on the par 4 7th (Quarry) for 4 points. Hit the ball like he really meant and sunk a couple of good long putts. Looks the goods for Mornington. Would you believe apricots and chocolate slice for nibbles on the way around (think about it!);
  • Well, it was Maccaesque – no other way to describe it. Hit a dismal tee shot then used deft touch to get 2 or 3 points. Hit a big drive ending up just off the green but not able to quite finish it off. 34's not a bad score without a par on the card – and TWO long drive wins!!
  • I think we are out of superlatives for Squancey. He just keeps on doing it, even though his handicap is creeping south. In a clear attempt to show that statistics can be misleading, GS managed 20 points on the Quarry with just 1 par, while racking up a slightly inferior 19 on the Lakes, but with 4 pars and only 1 wipe. Putting from 6 to 8 feet was a feature and also drilled one from about 40 ft;
  • Sigh . . . Scobes wiped 4 on the Quarry and turned on 10 points. Managed a birdie and a couple of pars on the Lakes for 19, but still had 2 wipes (a third of the course in total). There were some signs, so with Mornington approaching, the late entry fee paid and the handicap rapidly expanding, go see a bookie!
  • Steve, fresh from an icy trip to the Northern climes took a few holes to thaw out, threatening ladies violations in the process and a distinct danger to mum and Joey even though grazing several metres in the bush. Came good steadily, unleashing a couple of monster drives that came close to driving the green. A good latter round after that slow start;
  • Dalbs was a paragon of inconsistency (as usual) but did get some straight drives away, sank some long putts (one for the birdie) while missing some easy ones, and got out of bunkers on the first attempt. Short game blues persist;
  • Walks experienced a loss of confidence off the tee and a few balls in the process. When he connected, they went a mile, including one attempt to take out a truck on a nearby construction site. The man scouring the bush in his hard hat was Joondalup winnersno help but the ball was finally found. Did some Houdinis - two chips (both two-handed) from tough lies off the green hitthe flag, then sank a loonngggg putt – but couldn't maintain that Walks "rage".

Results:
Winner: Squancey (39 points)
2nd: Ronzo (37) on countback from . . .
3rd: Dalbs (37)
NTP: Walks, Scobes
LD: MACCA (x2)
Birdies: Dalbs (10th), Scobes (11th)
NAGA: Walks
Apres Putting: Not contested.

 

  RA SA PB RD CJ TJ GL GMc DS GS GW
Starting Handicap 11 13 9 15 12 15 9 17 11 11 13
Scores (Stableford) 37 31 37 34 29 39 28
Adjustment (based on Par equivalent) -1 -1 0 +1 -1 +1
New Handicap 10 13 9 14 12 15 9 17 12 10 14

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Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Par Bisque, Hamersley

Six starters today, including Pres. Litts who was a week late for the President’s Cup. Fortunately we staked our claim on the 10th tee in reasonable time because the front nine was closed for spraying (again) and the hordes came rushing over.

Some highlights

Match Play

  • Walks versus Squancey. Walks got off to his best ever start with 3 pars on the trot, and led 2 up after 3 holes. Squancey recovered though, and won the 13th and 14th holes to make it all square after 5 holes. There were not many highlights from then on. The 15th and 16th holes were halved. Walk’s handicap gave him an extra stoke on both of the last two holes and that turned out to be the difference. End result was a 2-up win to Walks. Congratulations Walks – who now plays Dalbs to decide the match play champion.

Par Bisque

  • Ron played with Walks and Squancey and between them they had a remarkable run of lucky (Little) bounces. There were at least half a dozen wayward shots that magically found themselves back on the fairway. Ron lost 2 balls on the first two holes but never lost his cool, scoring 6 pluses. Highlight of his round was a birdie on the par 5 14th hole;
  • The easy Breezy was back
    Walks had 3 pars and 2 wipes in the first 5 holes. Cunningly he only used 3 of his 14 stableford points on those 5 holes (to be at +1) which left 11 more points to use on the last 4 holes. With all those points to play with, even blind Freddie would have scored 4 pluses on the last 4 holes to clean up;
  • Squancey was inconsistent all day. Definitely not his best day. Showed great skill at getting his putts (at least 3 of them) to ring the hole and fall in the back door;
  • Litts played that breezy style of golf, starting as steady as you like with 3 pars on the first 3 holes. Was heard to remark: "This playing once a month is good". Wobbled a bit over the last two holes but a good effort from this golfing crooner;
  • Macca had some great drives and fairway shots but his short game was not quite pitcher-perfect. Nevertheless used his handicap to advantage to go neck-and-shoulder with Litts on the Metters scoreboard and tie for third;
  • Dalbs initially got the weapons mixed up, using a scattergun on (but mainly off) the fairways and a splattergun on the greens. Tried to tidy up the act but has perfected the art of firing at the adjacent fairway but getting stuck in the intervening trees. Needs more gin in the waterbottle.

Results:
Winner: Walks (+5)
2nd: Ronzo (+4)
3rd: Macca and Litts (+3 and inseparable)
NTP: Litts
LD: Ronzo
Birdies: Ronzo (14th)
NAGA: Dalbs
Apres Putting: Not contested.
Match Play table

  RA SA PB RD CJ TJ GL GMc DS GS GW
Starting Handicap 12 13 9 14 12 15 9 17 11 11 14
Scores (Par Bisque) +4 0 +3 +3 +2 +5
Adjustment (based on Par equivalent) -1 +1 0 0 0 -1
New Handicap 11 13 9 15 12 15 9 17 11 11 13

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Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Stableford, Hamersley
PRESIDENTS TROPHY

Phew . . . Darwin weather. Warm and dripping humidity. Seems a few people had trouble sleeping, the car park quite busy. After claiming the usual spot behind the regular "sparkies", a mass migration from the first tee (shut for herbicide spraying) ensured a big gallery to send us on our way for the playing of the 5th Presidents Trophy (minus his regal presence). And, true to form, we did let the gallery down. Perhaps it was the enervating conditions, but scoring proved difficult today.

Some highlights

  • Match Play: Squancey versus Scobes. The wobbly start saw both combatants fail to score a point yet Squancey went 1-up. He was 2-up after 2 but Scobes awoke (temporarily), par'd the 3rd and got one back. The next hole went badly for both and it was looking like a bush fire had broken out as Scobes' chain smoked to settle the nerves. Suddenly he began to putt like a veteran and grabbed the lead with 2 to go. More smoke as he dropped one and it was all square. At the 18th, Squancey had an 18 inch putt, his favourite distance, to win the hole and the match – and missed it! The Smith and Wesson system was introduced to decide the tied result, but Scobes had shot himself in the foot too many times to claim the win. Congratulations Squancey – who plays Walks for a finals berth;
  • Walks strays
    Walks - the greens this way. Oh . . . wrong hole
    Walks was the only "show-off" on the 1st and made it count with par. It got tricky at times after that with some troubles getting away from the tee – one quite spectacular. The photo shows his second shot from the 8th green when playing the 15th!! No 4-pointers this day but some mighty blows to earn sufficient points for runner-up status;
  • Macca was hit for six – making that score on 5 holes and averaging 6 shots per hole for the round. It was consistent enough to clinch third spot;
  • Ronzo wobbled a bit at the start, a bit in the middle and a bit at the end, wobbling a bit with the driver, a bit with the irons and a bit with the putter. Like Macca, also hit for six (5 of them) and averaged 6 shots per hole but the handicap was the difference;
  • Dalbs slugged a few right, tugged a few left and wimped on some putts, but only after the first three holes where he scored well. Needs lessons on playing up the adjacent fairway after an errant shot i.e. hit the ball up the fairway, not further left, under a grass tree and lost! Despite a few fluffs, scrambled enough for a maiden Presidents Trophy win.

Todays winnersResults:
Winner: Dalbs (17 points)
2nd: Walks (16)
3rd: Macca (15)
NTP: No takers (x2)
LD: Dalbs
Birdies: None
NAGA: Squancey
Apres Putting: Not contested.
Match Play table

 

  RA SA PB RD CJ TJ GL GMc DS GS GW
Starting Handicap 11 13 9 14 12 15 9 16 10 10 14
Scores (Stableford) 14 17 15 12 12 16
Adjustment +1 0 +1 +1 +1 0
New Handicap 12 13 9 14 12 15 9 17 11 11 14

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Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Stableford, Burswood

The car park assembly was more heavily populated than usual, owing to an uninvited cloud of flies which were up early and ready to annoy.  It was warm and sticky already and the round promised to be a testing one. Some were more tested than others, with Squancy ignoring the flies and the similarly abundant green staff scattered around the course, to pull off his actual, bone fide, not kidding, maiden win.

Some highlights

  • Ron just belted them down the middle all day, taking both long drives by considerable margins. Conversion rate left a bit to be desired;
  • Squancy just keeps rolling on. From four starts this season he has achieved maximum consistency points on each occasion, leading to today’s inevitable victory. Two NTPs and some very consistent putting from 4-6 feet were highlights;
  • Macca showed a bit, and after a par on the difficult 17 looked well set up to take the win. That 18th is a real bastard, eh Macca!;
  • Three wipes on the back nine brought Jacko undone after being in the box seat at the turn (19). On the 13th tee, someone mentioned Mornington handicaps, then inexplicably only 5 points were forthcoming on the last 6 holes (last comment typed with a straight face);
  • Walks couldn’t quite get going, unlike recent weeks, and returned a reasonable 30. A highlight was a nice 4 for 4 on the 4th (notice the symmetry there?).  He also correctly picked that he had beaten Ron for 4th place on a countback – though blotted his copybook by leaving the prizes for the day in his golf bag in the boot of his car in the car park;
  • After an ordinary back nine (11), Dalbs was resigned to picking up another NAGA as he staggered off the 18th green, having posted a reasonable 16 on the front nine. He needn’t have worried as . . . . .
  • Scobes absolutely blitzed the NAGA by 5 points, coming in with a discreditable 22! A slow start (1,1,1), followed by a mediocre middle was backed up by a disgraceful run of 5 wipes between 13 and 17 – a back nine of 6 points. Great stuff! Though not on the list for Mornington, a beckoning handicap of around 30 could provide some incentive?The winners

Results:
Winner: Graham S (36 points)
2nd: Macca (34)
3rd: Jacko (31)
NTP: Squancy (x2)
LD: Ronzo (x2)
Birdies: None
NAGA: Scobes
Apres Putting: Not contested.

 

  RA SA PB RD CJ TJ GL GMc DS GS GW
Starting Handicap 10 13 9 13 11 15 9 16 9 11 13
Scores (Stableford) 30 27 31 34 22 36 30
Adjustment +1 +1 +1 0 +1 -1 +1
New Handicap 11 13 9 14 12 15 9 16 10 10 14

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Thursday, January 3, 2013
Stableford
HAPPY NEW YEAR HAMERSLEY CUP and PAT'S PLATE

With a roll-up of five stalwarts, especially one international and one interstate member, a hurried meeting of a quorum of five Life Members deemed the game to be Official. It should be noted however that an amendment to the motion that the game should also be a Major was defeated 3 and 2!

Relatively cool weather probably explained the cool golf. Nevertheless, Walks started well with a great par which turned out to be one of only three pars of the 45 holes played. There were three times as many wipes as pars, which gave us a rating of 3 on the CPI (Crap Play Index).

Individual high points?

  • None for the Karrinyup Kids combined;
  • Two for Walks on the 10th and 17th, but with a lot of wayward balls and non-Little bounces;
  • Two for Tom with his NTP on the 12th and a good bogey 5 on the 18th; and
  • Similarly two for Jacko with a par on the 12th and a long drive and par for 4 points on the 18th to steal the day.

It was great to give those well-loved donors of a dozen balls each, Tom and Jacko, a chance to win some of them back, and they relished winning all of the available balls between them. Given the lack of Chalks, Pat at the kiosk became Sponsor for the WinnersDay and Jacko took home the Hamersley (Coffee) Cup and Macca the  Plate (well...Saucer). Poor golf but a great morning was had by all.  And our "Play of the Day" goes to the Captain whose scorecard calculations were faultless on the day.

Results:
Winner: Jacko (16 points)
2nd: Macca (14)
3rd: Walks (13) on countback from TLM
NTP: Tom
LD: Jacko
Birdies: None
NAGA: Dalbs
Apres Putting: Walks, $6 (1 under); Macca $3 (Runner-up, defeating Jacko in a play-off); Jacko, third, 40 cents; Tom, NAGA, 20 cents.

  RA SA PB RD CJ TJ GL GMc DS GS GW
Starting Handicap 10 13 9 12 11 14 9 15 9 11 12
Scores (Stableford) 12 16 13 14 13
Adjustment +1 0 +1 +1 +1
New Handicap 10 13 9 13 11 15 9 16 9 11 13

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Thursday, December 27, 2012
Peninsula, Stableford
VISITORS DAY (Beeeelated)

Well, as the day suggested, there were visitors from everywhere. They came from Kazakhstan, Canberra and even Hamersley. Jacko figured that a panama hat would be much more practical than the bear skin and made the quick change. Tom was bubbling with enthusiasm, though this may have been down to him living in a number of different time zones, on and off, in recent times – it may have simply been dis-orientation. Litts made an entry (albeit 4 hours after tee off) which could only be described as Presidential – though not sure about the thongs. Scobes and Squancie could no longer claim visitor status, having appeared on 3 consecutive mornings.

The action on the course was fast and furious, with recent high scoring being the order of the day again. Some highlights:

  • Tom's winning style
    Contrasting styles but they amassed
    big scores
    Tom and Graham S fought out a day long battle for supremacy. In the end they could not be separated, both amassing 41 points, but only after deft output editing by TLM showed his (NAGA) marker had scored 2's instead of 3's;
  • Even when the Skipper tried to separate them at the presentation afterwards, that proved to be a difficult task. Despite many accolades concerning his “maiden win”, GS had to hand over the spoils once the countback calculations were vetted (20/21 v 22/19);
  • It was a “Chalkless” affair, but that didn’t prevent Tom from regularly rueing the fact that there was no Ron to declare his 3ft gimmees;
  • Macca walked off the course confident in the fact that he had wrapped up the NAGA for the day. However, he failed to factor in a back nine fade out by Dalbs and was able to claim 2nd last position by one point;
  • Contrary to his mother’s entreaties, Scobes ‘held his own’ on the front nine (20), but must have been holding someone else’s on the back nine, finishing with 35;
  • Rejuvenated by the sun on his back, Jacko skipped out to an early lead with 23 on the front. However, jetlag got the better of him late in the round, finishing 1,0,2 for 17 on the back and a total of 40 for a podium finish. A sign of things to come;
  • Walks continued his good form, with his all time low handicap being of little hinderance in racking up 39 points.

Results:
Winner: Tom (41 points) on countback from . . .
2nd: Graham S (41)
3rd: Jacko (40)
NTP: 13th - Walks; 16th - no takers
LD: 10th - Walks; 18th - Graham S
Birdies: None
NAGA: Dalbs

  RA SA PB RD CJ TJ GL GMc DS GS GW
Starting Handicap 10 13 9 11 12 15 9 14 9 12 13
Scores (Stableford) 30 40 41 31 35 41 39
Adjustment +1 -1 -1 +1 0 -1 -1
New Handicap 10 13 9 12 11 14 9 15 9 11 12

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Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Wembley, Stableford
CHRISTMAS CUP

Xmas group
A 72.72727272 % turnout of likely lads

Cool, overcast and very little breeze. Perfect conditions for Santa to come visiting and he did in many guises, starting with Santa Scobes who handed out chocolate images of himself to boost the pre-game energy levels (at last we could bite his head off with impunity). Santa Ron then produced Merry Christmas hats all hand stitched by his little elves and it was off for a group festive shot.

Xmas Teeoff
The beginning of something BIG

And it was all handshakes and commiserations as these two Santas declared they turned (on the 17th)/were turning (on the 19th) 65 venerable years of age. Still plenty more years of delivering presents to come.

Highlights:

  • Must've been the cumulative effect of eating all those Carnarvon bananas as the Walks peeled off 9 holes of pretty awesome golf to come home with 42 off the stick and 27 Stableford points (matching the club's 2nd best net score set by Steve in 2008). It included a few 3-putts! No wonder the sound of balls clattering amongst trees was noticeably absent as the man in the Festive shorts scored a big win and his first Christmas Cup success. Well done Phantom;
  • Scobes and Litts were two happy little elves. The Silent Assassin lived up his reputation of skittering along under the radar with steady golf and a quiet accumulation of points until, suddenly, 23 points ("I must have a good chance"). Litts was obviously pleased with his driver and his golf, though could've done with the energy of one more Santa chocolate to push those chips just that bit closer to the hole. Nevertheless, a trademark Dainty round and 20 points ("I must have a good chance");
  • Graham S and Graeme M(acca) were locked in a tight battle for bragging rights after the former knocked off the latter on countback the previous week. As they laid down arms after the 18th, they were still locked – on 21 points each – after having been privy to Whirlwind Walks' performance ("Bugger, no chance"). In the washup, Macca got his revenge;
  • Dalbs, obviously not used to such an early sugar fix, couldn't control the energy rush, flaying drives and irons into the trees and muscling putts way past the hole. Settled after his coach dispensed wise counsel and actually hit some good short shots and straighter long shots – but the reindeer had bolted;
  • Chalk 1 and 2 hit some turbulance along the way but had their moments. Ron fairly caned an awesome drive over the tall trees and dogleg on the 14th to set a piddling iron to the green while Steve hit it straight at the flag to ensure his second NTP. Youth paid deference to age by taking off the NAGA on countforward, Chalk 1 saved from another mounting statistic.
Winner The Prez
Heritage Presents

Afters:

And so it came to pass that breakfast was served in the great hall. Dalbs did a superb job at not being voted back to organise next year's repast, having pre-ordered the most expensive dish and causing Hon Treas. copious palpitations of just about every part of that bionic body. Santa Ron presented each with presents from his big Christmas bag, crackers were cracked and jokes shared. The Prez donned his Presidential Badge of Office (Scobes noting the poor lad's "Scaffidi Complex") and stood to present his mid-year report which consisted of the presentation of Heritage Medals to Scobes (No. 5) and The Squance (No. 13). His deputy Ron impressed with a range of season statistics, noting that Prez was one title (subsequently found to be two) off being the Grand Master. In the meantime, Macca has offered up a Grand Mistress. It only remained to open Santa's presents but not before the Prez opened his extra one – a "Friends of Brixton Street Wetlands" 2013 calendar. Guaranteed to make the rest of the presents look high class indeed, and it worked. Santa Ron, they were greatly appreciated by all.

Xmas Cup winnersResults:
Winner: Walks (27!)
2nd: Scobes (23)
3rd: Macca (21) on countback from Graham Squance
NTP: Steve
LD: Walks
Birdies: Ronzo (16th); Walks (17th)
NAGA: Steve
Apres Putting: Not contested

  RA SA PB RD CJ TJ GL GMc DS GS GW
Starting Handicap 10 13 9 11 12 15 10 15 11 13 15
Scores (Stableford) 17 17 18 20 21 23 21 27
Adjustment 0 0 0 -1 -2 -1 -2
New Handicap 10 13 9 11 12 15 9 14 9 12 13

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Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Par

Balmy, with a tropical feel to the air; that’s how Tuesday dawned on the 4 starters as they milled around in the early gloom, having been beaten to the 10th by a group reportedly wearing lighted miners’ helmets.

The Squance back in action

But what was this staggering through the gloom from the carpark? It seemed to resemble the outline of a long ago member whose name did not come immediately to the minds of those assembled. This added further intrigue to a morning of strange happenings having already seen a season first appearance by Graham Squance. Getting back to the strange apparition ascending from the carpark. He parked his buggy and proceeded to introduce himself. “Morning boys, Scobes is the name. Some of you may have heard of me, and indeed even actually met me before”**. There were a couple of mumbled “maybes” then the time honoured toss took place. This was a formality only as it was decided that a group of 5 would be more congenial and the new bloke may have felt a bit isolated if he managed to draw a group of 2.

** The club would like to thank the Dept of Main Roads for closing the freeway north in an attempt to keep the no show record of Scobes intact. However, failure to also close Scarborough Bch Rd as a backup plan allowed him to go round the long way and still make it!

Highlights:

  • The Master Blaster (the real one) was in full cry, with a bogey-birdie-par start to the round;
  • Some subtle sledging from Macca and Scobes managed to curtail the onslaught somewhat, but a Par round of +4 was still managed by the MB. Great stuff old fella!;
  • The Webmaster showed some early promise, but things went a bit off course as the round proceeded with 4 wipes and only 1 plus being carded. Needless to say it all looked very elegant and golf-like – just not the required outcome;
  • Squancey misfired early, wiping the 1st three holes, but came home with a wet sail to get back to even and snare 2nd on countback. Promise of things to come?;
  • Macca had 5 halves and 2 each of plus/minus. Good steady stuff from a man whose forte has always been to be “good and steady” (this is a golf report – who gives a rats about the truth?);
  • There was only one finishing position which attracted neither podium nor NAGA (4th). Scobes claimed this spot in an The winnersattempt to continue to fly under the radar after having actually been detected on it for the first time since “the knee” in October 2011.

Results:
Winner: Ronzo (+4)
2nd: Graham S (All Square) on countback from . . .
3rd: Macca (All square)
NTP: Dalbs
LD: Ronzo
Birdies: Ronzo - par 5 11th
NAGA: Dalbs
Apres Putting: Not contested

  RA SA PB RD CJ TJ GL GMc DS GS GW
Starting Handicap 12 13 9 10 12 15 10 15 11 13 15
Scores (Par) +4 -3 0 -1 0
Adjustment -2 +1 0 0 0
New Handicap 10 13 9 11 12 15 10 15 11 13 15

r

Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Stroke; Match Play, Semi-Finals

Relieved to see Hamersley was still standing after some very strong overnight gales. Still blustery and overcast as the Canberra Kid, our Cultural Attache to the ACT, blew in and was warmly welcomed. Always terrific to have Jeff join us on his occasional sojourns West. Match Play has become a victim of employment and injury circumstances facing some of our members this year. It's looking ominously like a Walks/Dalbs playoff.

Highs and Lows:

  • Jeff reacquainting with the
    West Aussie bush
    Chalk 1 has the fire in the belly but just can't seem to set his game alight. Still hitting some mighty drives straight – straight into the tall trees; that versatile 7-iron isn't quite as reliable, and putts are going missing. Currently staking a mortgage on the NAGA but due for a reversal!;
  • Steve and Walks were firing off some great drives, though not finishing off that well over the first two. Steve then had a 3-hole blinder – three consecutive pars – got overexcited and fell in a bit of a hole. Walks took a bit longer to get excited held back by some putting blues, but then rattling off 4 holes in three over before the 18th claimed another victim;
  • Macca, sleep-deprived, had some highs (a 10 on the 11th) and lows (2 pars and 2 bogeys) as he drove his team relentlessly to a fast finish, at least 40 minutes ahead of the second group!;
  • Dalbs had a day out. Even after driving into the Transperth depot on his nemesis 11th (par 5) hole, he still managed a 6. Three lost balls later, and with his thin chest puffed out, his overinflated handicap earned him a net 31, a result that has quickly deflated that handicap!;
  • Jeff, not sleep deprived, did a Macca over the first three, playing some fine shots on the 10th and 12th for bogeys, but falling victim of the 11th in similar fashion to Macca. Struggled a bit thereafter but hasn't swung in anger for some time. Thoroughly enjoyed the company and the walk.

Results:
Winner: Dalbs (Nett 31)
2nd: Walks (35)
3rd: Steve (38)
NTP: Dalbs
LD: Walks
Birdies: Dalbs - par 5 14th
NAGA: Ronzo
Apres Putting: Not contested

 

  RA SA PB RD CJ TJ GL GMc DS GS GW
Starting Handicap 11 13 9 12 12 15 10 14 11 13 16
Scores (Stroke) 40 38 31 39 35
Adjustment +1 0 -2 +1 -1
New Handicap 12 13 9 10 12 15 10 15 11 13 15

y

Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Stableford
BURSWOOD TROPHY

A great morning for golf – cool, overcast, carts!! Our "outa-towners" turned out in force joining four locals to contest the 2012 Burswood Trophy for the ultimate and last time. Plenty of evidence of ground testing for the new stadium, with all kinds of odd-ball machinery scattered around the course gathering info to put into a taxpayer bill that could prove to be expensive ground works. All kinds of oddball golfers gathered on the first tee and Ronzo struck the first blow.

Highs and Lows:

  • Dambusters pre-launch
    The Allardice boys struggled, though Ronzo reportedly hit some super drives while Steve was not so adept, pummeling his into bush, water and sand, including one Dambusters effort. Did have one thing in common – ladies violations. At the 10th, Ron swung mightily only to see his tee buried and his ball dribble forward. Didn't fair any better with his second, hitting the ladies teebox marker and rebounding backwards. The group of ladies behind took pity and asked him to join them. Steve's drive on the 15th smacked a tree and also rebounded back to sit short of the ladies tee. It was just one of those days!;
  • Macca was hot and cold over the first nine with 6 points over six holes and 9 over three. Macca was hot and cold over the second nine with 5 points over six holes and 12 over three - including a birdie (and 5 points!) on the par 5, Index 5 18th hole. Had to peel his eyebrows off the roof when he was announced as the Trophy winner. Well done Macca!;
  • The Little Master looked to be continuing his steady Binningup form, puttering over the outward nine with 15 points, including a par 5 on the difficult 3rd hole. Putter slowly turned to Phutter as he ran out of steam over the closing holes;
  • Jacko and Dalbs tied for second but got there in opposite styles. Chris charged out over the opening holes of each nine then got the occasional wobbles, his short game not quite the touch we're so used to seeing. Dalbs started slowly over the first four, then - ping - everything fired with 23 points over the next nines holes. Suddenly - pong - the wheels fell off with only 2 points over the last five and it was time for self-flagellation and a cup of strong coffee;
  • Strong emphasis on virtual golf balls as prizes!.

Results:
Winner: Macca (30)
2nd: Jacko (29) on countback from . . .
3rd: Dalbs (29)
NTP: Dalbs
LD: Macca
Birdies: Macca - the par 5 18th (Index 5!) and Dalbs (10th)
NAGA: Ronzo
Apres Putting: Not contested

 

  RA SA PB RD CJ TJ GL GMc DS GS GW
Starting Handicap 10 12 9 11 11 14 10 14 11 13 16
Scores (Stableford) 25 26 29 29 26 30
Adjustment +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 0
New Handicap 11 13 9 12 12 15 10 14 11 13 16

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Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Modified Stableford; Match Play, Round 1 (continued)

4:55 a.m. and our group of five contestants were the second group away at Sandy Bay, Hamersley. We were glad it was still slightly gloomy as our balls were flying everywhere except on the fairways. Two Match Play battles were joined – Allardice Senior versus President Little; Allardice Junior versus Mr Walker. Macca played with himself. There was a the usual deep discussion over the Rules of Modified Stableford, and Captain Walker provided a handy excerpt from the GBWGC website as a crutch to get us around the course.

A beautiful golf day was subsequently ruined by some ugly golf. Even the eventual winner GD Little was not particularly enamoured with his golf and he easily crushed his mediocre opponents!

HighLowlights:

  • Ronzo’s four lost balls and 55 strokes – atypical of his excellent start to the 2012 season. Nothing much worked for Ron today and he needs urgent recalibration before Binningup Revisited this Friday. I promised not to mention his score of minus 12;
  • Macca looked and acted like a very poor man’s RD around the course, but without the silky smooth Dalby swing. Although he ended up third on the day with a minus 5 he struggled throughout;
  • Walks started slowly and managed just enough highlights (although I am blowed if I can think of any) to overcome Steve one up in the match play. He was, however, Runner-Up NAGA on the day;
  • Steve’s 53 gross strokes gave him Runner-Up status for the event with a minus 4. He did take the Match Play contest with Walks into the final hole, only to lose 1 up;
  • And our Beloved Leader was the only player to score better than a zero on any hole and he did that on three occasions to street the field.

Results:
Winner: Litts (+2)
2nd: Steve (-4)
3rd: Macca (-5)
NTP: No go
LD: Steve
Birdies: No guano
NAGA: Ronzo
Apres Putting: Everyone too busy but Walks won the coin toss to take the dough
Match Play results

  RA SA PB RD CJ TJ GL GMc DS GS GW
Starting Handicap 10 12 9 11 11 14 10 14 11 13 16
Scores (Mod. S'ford) -12 -4 +2 -5 -6
Adjustment
New Handicap 10 12 9 11 11 14 10 14 11 13 16

r

Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Stroke. Start of Match Play, Round 1

It was a strange sort of start – Steve first in; several tradie's vans from the one firm arriving, their occupants disappearing to various parts of the course; very few other cars; a call from the Phantom to say he wouldn't be leaving the Skull Cave; and clouds threatening rain but not producing. Four players today and as we teed off, two hopefuls from the 1st tee revealed that the front nine was closed after green sanding. And then it dawned upon us – both the sun and the reason why the course was so deathly quiet. But there was some serious business pending – a Match Play shootout and a golf ball to be won.

Steve NTP
Steve's putt on the NTP hole. Missed birdie by "that much".

Highlights:

  • Steve was either quietly unconfident or still half asleep as he thumped his first drive left and thereafter see-sawed his way thru' the first two holes, using up 5 handicap strokes in the process. Then a Eureka moment, a par on the 12th, and (except for the 17th) he proceeded to chew up the course with those lusty hits and dancing putts for a win in an all-Allardice affair;
  • Ronzo was a model of a great pair of legs and a consistent brand of golf. Was his old self off the tee (with a couple of notable exceptions!), pitching and putting well to mostly hover around the bogey mark and give Steve a run for his money;
  • And the Match Play comp. kicked off with Macca staring down Dalbs in a klash of the Karrinyup Kids. The coin was tossed and Macca, summoning all his Burswood skills, called correctly, sending Dalbs in to bat first on a wet and sticky wicket. "Anything you can do, I can do better" goes the old song . . . and Macca's motto. Dalbs hit 6 on the 10th (Macca bettered it by one - 7) and 8 on the 11th (Macca bettered it by one - a 9). After a quick refresher (better means "less" not more), Macca won the next to be only 1 down. His short game just seemed a bit off as his normally reliable chipping went awry, while Dalbs amazed by actually hitting a few good chips. Three down with three to play and Macca sank a long putt to 6 November winnersstretch the game out. "You play better when you throw in the towel" one spectator yelled. But it couldn't be sustained and Dalbs won the battle of attrition.

Results:
Winner: Steve (35)
2nd: Ronzo (36)
3rd: Dalbs (37)
NTP: Steve
LD: Ronzo
Birdies: Nyet!
NAGA: Macca
Apres Putting: Practice green out of commission, otherwise Dalbs was claiming victory after Macca retired early.
Match Play results

  RA SA PB RD CJ TJ GL GMc DS GS GW
Starting Handicap 10 13 9 11 11 14 10 13 11 13 16
Scores (Stroke) 36 35 37 42
Adjustment 0 -1 0 +1
New Handicap 10 12 9 11 11 14 10 14 11 13 16

r

Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Stableford
WEMBLEY SPRING CLASSIC

Wembley teeoffA glorious morning greeted 6 boys vying for the eggs-in-cups at Royal Wembley. Never seen two boys more keen to go – Ronzo rolling up to the gates at 4.30 a.m. and wondering why they were shut; Macca rising equally early and then having to kill an hour. Litts looked rested after his Oriental Odyssey and so five perky golfers and one yawning under his moustache wandered off to the glow of the 10th tee . . . . . .

Highlights:

  • Steve started with great promise and a punishing drive then found he "couldn't hit two good shots in a row". Also found the greens wouldn't keep still, pitching thru' them and thru' them again on his return shots. A not happy Jan Steve;
  • Littsy was Steady Eddy as ever, landing most shots down the middle and putting well. Was in with a chance;
  • Walks, on the other hand, was somewhat astray off the tee, losing two balls in unloseable places in the process. Threw in a specky or two (holed a long putt from some distance off the green) and scored well early then faded to gracefully accept the NAGA;
  • Mighty Macca woke up from a short slumber after the 10th and piled on the points with good all-round golf (love that chipping). Then did a bit of a Walks-like fade mid-round but still scored well;
  • Ronzo finished his yawn by tee-off and belted his first straight down the middle. Was somewhat awry over the first five holes, particularly with a number of relatively short putts that refused to go in, but came home with a wet sail to give himself a chance.
  • Dalbs ironed out a few creases on the Busselton foreshore (apparently) and bought along this new-found game. Managed to keep most drives relatively straight, made a few chips and putted modestly. Was an equally modest recipient of the Spring Classic trophy.
  • Three players tied on 18 points requiring a countback to determine 2nd and 3rd. Second place was clear-cut but, after exhaustive checking and a Chinese Whisper, Macca and Litts were declared tied for third.

October 30 winnersResults:
Winner: Dalbs (21)
2nd: Ronzo (18) on countback from . . . .
3rd: Macca/Litts (18)
NTP: Litts
LD: Walks
Birdies: Ronzo (15th)
NAGA: Walks
Apres Putting: Not contested

 

  RA SA PB RD CJ TJ GL GMc DS GS GW
Starting Handicap 10 12 9 12 11 14 10 13 11 13 15
Scores (Stableford) 18 15 21 18 18 14
Adjustment 0 +1 -1 0 0 +1
New Handicap 10 13 9 11 11 14 10 13 11 13 16

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Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Stroke
GOLDEN PUTTER Week 2, Back 9

Including today’s epic battle, the Golden Putter has been competed for this century on a total of 12 occasions. Only two previous GP champions were included in today’s field: reigning 2011-12 hero Steve Allardice and Ronald Allardice, the champ in 2004-05 and 2007-08. In our glorious game of changing fortunes, they came second last and last today. The brave G2 and G1 – Walks,  then Macca, in that order - managed to squeeze in front of Chalk Junior and Chalk Senior for the 2012-13 title.

But first . . . . On a clear morning that turned slightly overcast during play we managed a 5:05am tee-off without too many problems. This beat the ‘scheduled tee time’ by 8 minutes!

We had a great game, touted by the four participants as one of the most competitive and exciting in GBWGC history.  With week one leader Robin D unavailable owing to travel commitments, Ron, Walks and Macca came into the competition level on 16 putts, and Steve on 18 putts.

  • Steve and Ron started strongly on the 10th hole and except for a couple of hiccups, played pretty well. Ron’s par on the 10th looked brilliant and generally he continued his strong drives off the tee, only to fiddle a little on approaches to the greens;
  • Walks started with an eight and a seven but then averaged a bogey per hole thereafter for the narrowest of countback victories over Steve. The Walker weapon – that monster drive – was not in evidence today but the value of those golf lessons may be starting to show in his short game;
  • Steve had a delicious run of three pars on 12, 13 and 14 but a blow up eight on the 11th cost him the victory;
  • Macca managed three pars too, and an along the ground NTP but as pointed out by Steve, his drives were way too weak.

How did the Golden Putter go? A fantastic competition! Early on, Ron led, then Steve caught up with a run of three one putts. Walks and Macca duelled on the greens throughout with The Phantom getting one ahead on the 17th and maintaining his lead on the 18th.  One or two putts separated the foursome throughout in a tight contest, but Walks took out the double winning the Golden Putter and the Stroke competition. Steve was a close runner-up on the Stroke and winner of the LD while Macca was runner-up in the GP and winner of the NTP. Ronald was runner-up on the LD and outright NAGA.

Oct 23 winnersSomething for everyone, and a great day!

Results:
Winner: Walks (Nett 32; ) on countback (Last 3 holes: 9.33) from . . . .
2nd: Steve (32) (Last 3 holes: 9.67)
3rd: Macca (35)
NTP: Macca (unusually on the 16th)
LD: Steve
Birdies: Nup
NAGA: Rhonda Allardice
Apres Putting: Not contested
Golden Putter Final results

  RA SA PB RD CJ TJ GL GMc DS GS GW
Starting Handicap 9 13 9 12 11 14 10 14 11 13 17
Scores (Stroke) 39 32 35 32
Adjustment +1 -1 -1 -2
New Handicap 10 12 9 12 11 14 10 13 11 13 15

Top

Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Stroke
GOLDEN PUTTER Week 1, Front 9

Five starters, perfect golf conditions, the European Tour has come to Karrinyup and the Golden Putter has come to Royal Hamersley. There was the usual scramble to the first tee with the Phantom and dual Allardices  forcing  the issue with competing golfers and assuring our boys were away in groups two and three. Group one was a lone no-mate who actually teed off in the gloom before the dawn.

Highlights:

  • The putts were of prime importance of course and Dalbs led the competition with 15. The greens were in great nick too! Walks and Macca had all one- and two-putt holes for 16 putts for the day. Ronzo also ended up with 16, but with one three-putt. Steve, the only player to have a no-putt with a lovely shot from off the green on the eighth, also had a three-putt (apparently an Allardice affliction) but he also had a four-putt for a total of 18 on the day. It is interesting to note that Steve is the current Golden Putter holder, but it is hard to know what he had hold of today;
  • How to position the ball when you hit the rough
    It is only academic as we played the front nine, but from an Eclectic viewpoint Ron had four pars, Steve had two, Dalbs and Macca had just one each. As is becoming customary, no birdies;
  • Rhonda (fresh back from Bali, and previously known as Steve) was far too relaxed after his Indonesian visit. The far-away look in his eyes seemed to limit his focus on golf. Look for a better showing than NAGA next week;
  • Big Ronnie continued has great start to the season with his second five-pointer on the Consistency trail to go with his four-pointer and three-pointer;
  • Dalbs, as well as leading the putting, also won the first NTP in three weeks as the only one to hit the green on the piddling 116 metre 5th green;
  • With his handicap finally back below the maximum, the Phantom played to his handicap today. He also streeted the field of three in the après golf to record an impressive cash win . . . . now being talked about as an indicator of his chances in week two of the Golden Putter;
  • Poor old Macca tried to keep up with himself in the first two holes and failed miserably. He started with a seven, then a nine, but settled down somewhat and at least win the long drive.

Results:
Winner: Ronzo (Nett 35) on countback from . . . .
2nd: Dalbs (35)
3rd: Walks (36)
NTP: Dalbs
LD: Macca
Birdies: Nup
NAGA: Steve
Apres Putting: The Phantom.
Golden Putter Week 1 results

 

  RA SA PB RD CJ TJ GL GMc DS GS GW
Starting Handicap 10 12 9 13 11 14 10 14 11 13 17
Scores (Stroke) 35 40 35 38 36
Adjustment -1 +1 -1 0 0
New Handicap 9 13 9 12 11 14 10 14 11 13 17

Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Par Bisque

Another beautiful day – everyone ready to go on time – in fact we could‘ve teed off before the appointed time it was so light. The trouble was, ‘everyone’ amounted to just four players as three members were Overseas, at least one was Interstate (or Territory), and three were...somewhere else. Four starters guaranteed a podium finish for all, if you include the NAGA...and we had the previous week’s NAGA in the field too.

As it was a par bisque competition there was the obligatory in-depth discussion of how to score then the ‘fab four’ were underway.

Highlights:

  • Measured by pars off the stick it was another dismal day. Walks and Ronso had two each, Macca just one, and Dalbs just none. An aggregate of five pars from 36 holes was not up to acceptable GBWGC standards;
  • The Phantom started to hit his straps this week signalling a potential big improvement in handicap this season. He showed flashes of brilliance with his two nice pars, a massive fairway shot on the 13th, and a sweet Little bounce. He went into the final hole with four strokes in his bank and teasingly used all of them for a one stroke victory with +6;
  • Macca unaccountably continued his steady game of last week. He putted OK too as a warm-up for next week’s Golden Putter start. His +5 represented 49 off the stick;
  • The Master formerly known as Blaster resurrected himself – Ronso hit many elegant lofted drives and won the longest drive on the 18th. He had 47 off the stick for which he gained +3 and third place;
  • What do we say about Bin? His chipping was fine today but his long game spluttered to less than his usual standard.

Results:
Winner: Walks (+6)
2nd: Macca (+5)
3rd: Ronzo (+3)
NTP: Attempted on the 12th and 16th...unsuccessfully
LD: The Great Ronzo
Birdies: Nup
NAGA: Dalbs
Apres Putting: Macca.

  RA SA PB RD CJ TJ GL GMc DS GS GW
Starting Handicap 11 12 9 13 11 14 10 15 11 13 18
Scores (Par Bisque) +3 +1 +5 +6
Adjustment -1 0 -1 -1
New Handicap 10 12 9 13 11 14 10 14 11 13 17

Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Stroke (a great deal of them for some!)

Toms SwingA beautiful warm morning and four fearless fellows – but wait, make that five – ten minutes after the published tee-off time, The Phantom flashed his headlights from the car park to indicate he was, after all, intending to join the GBW group on the 10th tee at Hamersley. Walks’ exciting arrival was only exceeded by the early appearance of the ABS’s A/AS Labour rumoured to be on a conjugal visit from Our Nation’s Bush Capital. Welcome Tom!

We teed off as a fivesome and enjoyed a typical early season, slow, quality slash around Royal Hamersley – of the 45 holes completed there were a mere 7 pars and no birdies!

Highlights:

  • Ronso scored three pars, drove superbly at times, and confidently chipped in from off the green on the 16th for a par. Not bad for a Hawks devotee still recovering from Saturday’s Grand Final loss in Melbourne.  He noted it was Hawthorn’s first GF appearance in 21 years . . . a fact hard to believe, but look that up in your Funk and Wagnall;
  • Tom, fresh from last week’s appearance  in the Bill McLennan Cup in Canberra, started shakily but warmed to the task and finished strongly to show out as an early contender for honours at Mornington 2013. After the lightning-fast greens at Federal, it took him a while to adjust to the pedestrian Hamersley greens;
  • It was a case of “rubbish, Bin” on a few holes for the Karrinyup Kid with two scores of nine and an eight but with a couple of memorable Little bounces and flashes of his elegant best, expect a bright future for this chipping maestro;
  • Walks never recovered from his rush to reach the tenth tee. Despite some serious investment in GOLF LESSONS recently and a couple of Little bounces to rival Bin’s beauties, he never achieved greatness on the day;
  • Macca played fairly consistently throughout, for him anyway, before a blow-up eight on the 18th saved him from losing more than two or three strokes from his handicap.

Winners CircleTuesday week sees the start of the Golden Putter, that two week, eighteen hole Major, and inquiries of the Pro indicate coring and sanding of the greens will not commence until November. So put that in your diary boys!

Results:
Winner: Macca (34 net)
2nd: Ronzo (37)
3rd: Tom (40)
NTP: Cancelled through lack of interest
LD: Dalbs
Birdies: You kidding?
NAGA: Dalbs (on countforward)
Apres Putting: No Apres, but the coffee and conversation was good.

  RA SA PB RD CJ TJ GL GMc DS GS GW
Starting Handicap 11 12 9 12 11 13 10 16 11 13 18
Scores (Stroke) 37 44 40 34 44
Adjustment +1 +1 -1
New Handicap 11 12 9 13 11 14 10 15 11 13 18

Tuesday, September 25, 2012 – Season Opener
Stableford

That familiar tradition signalling the season has begun . . .
 
. . . as have the usual fun and games

We awoke to the sound of drums. Could it be heralding a new GBWGC season? Bugger no, it was heavy rain. As luck would have it, it petered out just as balls were tossed for teams. Home Captain Walks was all business, collecting balls for the toss, ferreting in "secret pockets" for the handicaps and organising LD/NTP pins. Great all-round effort Captain complemented by the classy score cards courtesy of our willing and generous Platinum sponsor.

In a strong bid for a seat as Australia's UN Statistician, Ronzo rattled off some notable club facts:

  • Dalbs and Litts were commencing their club high 224th games (and looking forward to the next 224);
  • Jacko has caught up to Pete – it's his 82nd game. Time to take up model aeroplane flying;
  • The 11th and 14th holes remain unbirdied (soon to be 50% fixed).

Highlights:

  • The RA GOLF TOURS COORDINATOR was clearly delighted that Jacko had heeded his missive about in-bound travellers bringing him some scotch;
  • The lead group set an enviable example, firing four drives approximately down the middle. From then on, it was the Steve Show with some long straight driving (mostly), big beefy irons and a unique way of "dancing" putts into the hole. Such an all-rounder! The Karrinyup Kids were sticking together thru' thick (Macca's skin) and thin (Dalbs to a tee), both running hot and cold (something to do with climate change, apparently) and scrabbling 14 points each, while Littsy was content to just amble along, enjoying the sounds of the birds while showing glimpses of that smooth classic swing;
  • The B team started within sight of the leading group but then slowly disappeared. We think they were actually trying, and the final scores reflected that. Jacko was brandishing a new putter which seemed to hit the ball left of target on a couple of occasions, proving costly in the end. Made minced meat of the par 5's with birdies on BOTH – the first time after hitting his drive into the rough and having to pitch out. What a man! Ronnie was a model of scoring consistency, always thereabouts except over the finishing holes (sagging stamina?). Phantom warmed up slowly, his 10 shots on the 11th just eclipsed by Snout (12). Got angry (Walks??) and ran hot for the next 5 before cooling down quickly over the final two (couldn't buy a point);
  • And in the words of the collective group – IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK!

Results:
Winner: Steve (21 points)
2nd: Jacko (19)
3rd: Ronzo (16) . . . on countback from Walks
NTP: Dalbs
LD: Steamin' Steve
Birdies: Jacko (x2) - 11th (2 balls) and 14th (1 ball)
NAGA: Litts
Apres Putting: Walks. Apres Golf was keenly contested today with three participants vying for honours. A valiant Ga Walker managed to pick up the Big cash prize; the Tundra Terror was a close second, and Macca had a rare podium finish...

  RA SA PB RD CJ TJ GL GMc DS GS GW
Starting Handicap 11 13 9 11 12 13 9 15 11 13 18
Scores (Stableford) 16 21 14 19 8 14 16
Adjustment -1 +1 -1 +1 +1
New Handicap 11 12 9 12 11 13 10 16 11 13 18

 

 
 
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