DALBS DOES THE DRAW

Ties, ties, ties! Neck-to-neck. It's starting to become a familiar GBW pattern. First it was the sensational three-way tie in the 2018 Winter Trophy followed by the two-way tie at Mornington Masters 7. And two clear contenders have done it again. Dalbs and Lethal Les were tied on 18 points going into the last day. Each fired 20 points with Les just 6 shots over for his best 8 holes after cruelly wiping the first while Dalbs scored on every hole. It all came down to the notorious 8th hole where Dalbs took one less stroke, got one more point, and the countback was decided. "What's a countback?" roared Les. "Is this some GBW in-house sinister plot?" "I demand a recount!". But there was no Indian Giver amongst the co-Captains and the thin man scraped in for his second WT win.

The event created two firsts:

• the first time players have retired mid-round through inclement weather;
• the first time the shed has not been frequented.

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MACCA STEALS THE SHOW

It

THE GREAT MAN'S THIRD

It was the 10th running of this prestigious winter event and, for that extra touch of prestige, the club President joined the pilgrimage down south for a hit-out on Friday afternoon. That left 7 hopefuls including the defending champion who was out to impress!!

DALBS CRACKS IT

After 15 delightful trips to Binningup, the man with the Yorkshire ears finally did it, aided by a generous handicap and some of the "old" form from yesteryear. Only one player has won all of the nine holes played in the one tournament – Steve Allardice in 2010. But there have been three occasions when a player has won all but one of the nines played – Jacko (2012), Steve (2015) and now Dalbs. It seems his pitch into the hole from off the green at the 1st hole on the first day was a good omen (a feat almost replicated by Jacko!). Two times winner of the event, Ronzo, did a Lazarus to take out second – his 6 points on the first day rescued by two fine efforts over the last two nines (particularly the compulsory Binningup Back 9) just pipping a very consistent Little Master on countback.

The weekend was not without it's highlights . . .

• Little Master's superb prize selections, particularly for the NAGA;
• Presentation of framed pics to Ronzo (and Steve in absentia) of those memorable Walk's photos of "Drinks in the Dunes" at the 2015 Binningup Open;
• Another lively AGM with that perennial "President-Elect" totally lacking control
• That warm crackling fire in the shed and delicious Chicken Curry and Rice (no Naan!); Steak and snags accompanied by potato, onions peas and corn; and another top Jacko "breakfast-on-the-move".

Another fabulous weekend was had by all.

Mighty thrilled
Enjoying a NAGA prize (juggling balls)	It was all too much

STEVE STEAMS HOME

They were claiming "lack of golf time", and the Chalks and Little Master proved it conclusively on the first day, most notably Chalk 1 who could only manage a record low 2 points! While Little Master went on to confirm his lack of golf time (while still avoiding the NAGA) particularly around the greens, Chalk 1 started his Lazarus act, eventually managing Bronze after a come back bigger than Kevin Rudd's ego. Chalk 2 staged a mini revival of his own, blasting his way over the next few 9's in consistent form challenging any hopefuls to match him. Dalbs, after a start/stop opening, looked threatening but blew his chances on the Binningup back nine 7th as Steve raged home for his second Winter Trophy. Walks was a little wayward, but consistently so as his scores proved while Macca was overwhelmed with mixed success for a middle-of-the-road, middle of the scoring range effort that mortgaged the NAGA title.

Other notables . . .

• Jacko proved once again that His Kitchen Rules;
• Dalbs achieved a club milestone – 300 games at Harvey Golf Club;
  
• Tom refused to bare his chest;
• A lively and longest running AGM that was the catalyst for the inaugural Mandurah Masters.

The winners last putt

TOURNAMENT RECORD!

Fearless, steady Tom streeted all comers with a sensational three nines after a slow start on day one. It really was a case of the pre-Glenfiddich blues on the Binningup opening nine. By Saturday morning, blood-whisky levels had been re-established as had the head-soreness index and the Little Master was just purring along playing well within himself to avoid any sudden or violent moves that might cause discomfort. It was TLM's first Winter Trophy title, his aggregate of 45 being a record winning Trophy score. Truly the Little Master! Jacko was pretty consistent while Ronzo had his big ups and big downs, both tying for the minor podium placings.

Other notables . . .

• Friday afternoon's round no longer a warm-up – it was the real thing;
• Tom sets a dress standard for the Gala Black-Tie Dinner that will surely never be beaten;
• The notion of committee positions '. . . for life . . .' seriously discussed;
• The group fails to come up with any EBI's, a testimony to Ronnie's well crafted Binningup format.

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WACKO! MACCA WHACKS JACKO!!

Macca set the Pace Cracking over the front 9 at Sanctuary and then threw in a "blind" by crawling to the NAGA over the back 9. A very clever ruse which might have put the other contenders into a false sense of security. It didn't fool Jacko and Ronny, both making a go of it at Binningup with the Tundra Terror just falling one shot short of defending his 2012 title.

GREAT EFFORT PACE CRACKER for a first Winter Trophy win. And . . .

• Another warm-up round at Binningup - it's become a standard;
• Visiting Chef Ga ‘Le Petite’ Little turned on haute cuisine;
• No-Sheilas Rule introduced;
• The Gala Black-Tie Dinner reaches new heights.

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JACKO HITS THE BIG TIME

Jacko was in his element – clear cool Tundra-type weather – and made the most of it. Cleaned up handsomely at The Cut and Sanctuary to spreadeagle the rest of the field for his third major trophy win after withstanding a tense Sunday at Binningup. Also:

• For the first time, a round was played en route to Binningup – at The Cut
• More Presidential "bling" – the Presidential Cap and the Presidential Badge of Office
• Members were presented with a commemorative plaque bearing their Heritage Number recognising the order in which they joined the club. The Number was also enshrined in an Honour Board kindly donated by the Allardices
• Ronzo received the "Oscar" in recognition of his "Outstanding Contribution to GBWGC Culture"
• Voting for preferred Mornington Masters courses introduced for the first time
• The Black Tie Dinner is born.

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STEVE BY A BINNINGUP MILE

Steve was at his imperious best in the cold winter conditions to freeze the rest out of contention and take the title. The Trophy is almost "all in the family", the Allardice mob winners in 3 of the 4 events so far contested. Iron Man won by a mere 9 points after creaming the field on each of the three nines played.

MASTER BLASTS BACK-TO-BACK WINS

He's done it again. Just to prove 2007 was no fluke, and to ram home the advantage of Binningup as his other "home" course, the Master Blaster did it back-to-back.

It was a weekend for celebrating Big Breezy's 60th birthday with presents thrown around like confetti. But on the golf course, MB showed no mercy.

MASTER BLASTER FIRES

It was Master Blaster's weekend – winning the coveted Winter trophy by an impressive 5 points. He was also in the news for splashing ever more brown and yellow around the shed; organising a sports quiz; and swelling club coffers with his Pick the Sport sheets. Other highlights included:

• Domestic help being employed for the first (and probably last) time with Ms. Macca taking on the role, somewhat unsuccessfully, of 'house bitch'
• Not to be outdone, Litts outdid himself producing the inaugural GBWGC DVD ('best DVD of the weekend'); and contributing 40 hands without a win
• The onset of Alzheimers was noted, with failure to remember a sleeping bag paling into insignificance against two members forgetting to bring the booze.