Monday 1 March to Tuesday 9 March 2021

Monday 1 March

A new GBWGC tournament with the usual traditions flowing … high standards and completely over the top … was born.

The bus … a brand new Toyota HiAce, with appropriate numberplates – “HFC” … worked its way through the suburbs, collecting eager players for the inaugural South West Masters. Jeff, making his first trip to Binningup, was treated to a tour of the place, which meant all were treated for the first time to such a tour.

Arriving at the Club House, found everything in order, and it was straight into the nibblies, drinks and the welcoming Black Tie dinner (BTD).

A gourmet Black Tie Dinner . . .	. . . and a happy host

T’Gallant wine, in T’Gallant glasses, which made their way across the Nullarbor from the now “defunct” Eastern Seaboard Club House, set the mood. The Mornington Masters Gallery, also from Safety Beach, was proudly displayed in its new setting.

Protection against the mind-altering "Hawks" virus?	Hmmmmmm

The BTD culminated in a moving presentation for Ron, of a canvas print of Safety Beach and an “Ode” to the GBWGC Eastern Seaboard Club House

Tuesday, 2 March – Collie

Started with Hot Cross Buns and ended with Les on his guitar and a singalong until just on midnight. In between was the golf, a scenic drive through part of the Ferguson Valley, reminding us of Red Hill and surrounds. Lunch was at the Crooked Carrot, then a look at the Desalination Plant, and back to the clubhouse … where Chris and Squancey prepared a magnificent paella meal after the usual nibblies session.

"We made it to Melbourne after all"	Of strumming . . . and stacking?

The opening salvo

The Golf – All were hanging on Walk’s words that the Collie Golf Course was outstanding and, at the end of the ratings, it scored 7.5. And it was the born-again golfer who surprised everyone with his magnificent return to the tee and even surprised himself by playing to handicap and winning the day!

Wednesday, 3rd March – Capel

A traditional big breakfast had us fired up to take on the Capel Golf Course which, this time, according to Macca, was fantastic. We left early, hoping for an early hit off, due to pending rain. The rain came and it was a soggy back 9, but the course took the rain well. Back to the clubhouse via Australind shops for supplies and then a scenic drive home to a lovely warm shower, nibblies and a “Bunnings” evening meal.

The Golf – Turned out Macca was right … the course was magnificent and rated a 9! It also took it's toll on the scoring, Capel producing the lowest average Stableford score of 25.3

Les the early bolter - but unfortunately he couldn't stay	After a hard day at the office

Thursday, 4th March – Bunbury

What a start to the day … at 8.15am, the departure time, it was darker than when we got up! On the way to the Bunbury Golf Club the heavens opened up and, upon reaching Australind, the traffic was banked up for a kilometre due to road flooding. All along the road the rubbish bins’ wheels were covered in water and we drove through water up to the hub caps on the bus.

A decision at the golf club saw us play in the rain and thunder and then, by the 9th hole, we were discarding our wet weather gear as the sun was too hot … a beautiful sunny finish to the game.

From there it was off to the Green Door Winery for a very pleasant wine tasting, sharing of platters and a whole lot of frivolity.

No nibblies this time, as Chris turned nibblies into tea with Gyoza as an entrée and pizzas for the main … yum.

The Golf – The amazing start weatherwise did not deter us from rating the course at 8.4. For the amount of rain, it was in tip top condition.

Friday, 5th March – Pinjarra

It was North-East to Pinjarra in drizzly rain … not what we expected and, fortunately, it didn’t hinder the golf. A flat course, which rated 6.9. From golf it was off to the Pinjarra Bakery for a “mixed” experience. Back to sunny Binningup and it was time to relax, snooze and then nibblies, followed by cold meat and salad and an earnest discussion on future formats of “away” events.

The Golf – Started with Walks predicting he would hit the blue painted tree on the righthand side of the fairway … he did … it ricocheted further on and landed in the middle of the fairway … Walks was then dubbed to be “beyond blue”.

Walks is never far from . . .	. . . Trees

Saturday, 6th March – Rest Day

And a first … a rest day during a 6 game event. Most enjoyed a sleep in, except the RA Golf Tours Director, woken at 6.50am by the kettle. It was different, so much so that Jacko gave the usual departure warning, saying 2½ hours to go. Weather was perfect for golf and we were heading to the Old Coast Road Brewery for lunch and mini golf.

The meals were enormous and stonkered us all. Tom was the only one to try the beer tasting tray and said it was nice, even though he was “under the weather”.

Mini Golf and Results – As stated, our maiden outing on the mini golf course was played in perfect conditions. Tom won, after Squancy promised to tear the course apart with 3 holes-in-one. The result came down to the 18th hole.

Back on the bus Walks showed us Myalup Pines, where his golfing group stays. Then it was back to the clubhouse to continue the rest day, finishing off with chicken and salad and the usual exchange of shrapnel around the traditional multi-purpose clubhouse table.

Sunday, 7th March – Sanctuary

Off to Sanctuary, a familiar course and we made it with no wrong turns, just diamonds on the “soles” of our shoes, to get the adrenaline flowing after a day off. The course had been dubbed “heavy” due to the monsoonal type rain on Thursday … it turned out to be in great nick and scored an 8.4 rating.

Golf behind us, it was off to the Backbeach Café and Restaurant, overlooking the ocean at Bunbury. Great venue, but lunch got off to a bad start with warm beers and a bad finish when “Jeeves” left the bus key on the table. Everything in the middle was outstanding.

Back along the tourist coast, past the Dolphin Centre and the new look-out tower overlooking Koombana Bay saw us land in Eaton Fair for supplies and then back to the clubhouse for R & R, before a repeat of Gyoza and pizzas, complemented with nachos before cards and Ron’s usual early turn in.

Preparing for the Presidential visit

The Golf – Macca dubbed it “moving day” and Squancy didn’t let him down … 40 points a WOW factor and even Little Master, Tom, nearly played to his handicap … 35.

Monday, 8th March – The Cut

What would the day bring? In the end it brought an extraordinary run of events to bring Ron again to tears and, this time, Tom joined him with his 46 points …he cried, he felt so good about it.

The Golf – was played in perfect conditions at The Cut, which turned out to be the favourite course out of the 6 played … it rated 9.5. Just enough breeze to keep the flies away and provide relief from the humidity. Half the field scored to their handicap or better.

Winners: At one end . . .	. . . and the other

Ron was presented with a pictorial of the 13 years of the Mornington Masters that was put together by Walks, Bin, Macca and the President, who incidentally brought the book down with him as it wasn’t ready prior to the event … a great excuse for a game of golf and to try out his new car.

A memorable end to a memorable tournament.