Swinging On A Friday ......
13 turned up for the ever-popular Friday Skins event meaning a healthy $117 was up for grabs. "At least it's not going to hail today" suggested one person although it did threaten when we were on the first green.
Long story short everything just kept on jackpotting so that when we got to the ninth hole it was all there for the taking. But we all knew it was going to take something special. Even those who had a shot knew a par with a 3 point haul was going to come up short. And so it proved to be the case and after all that, 13 sets of hands reached into the central money pot to claim back their $9 initial investment. I know we've said it before but the joy on the faces of everyone at that point makes Friday afternoon all the more worthwhile.
Quick reminder this week that Friday Skins will feature a variation. There will be a bag with 9 balls in it each with a hole number written on. So instead of the skins being played sequentially on holes one through nine, we will draw the skins out of the bag and award them in the order they are drawn. Now you wouldn't want to miss out on that would you.
And don't forget after Friday Skins the club has an American food night with burgers, hot dogs and the like available. USA !! USA !! USA !! ( getting ready for the Ryder Cup ..... )
To round out the weekend Saturday is best remembered as being a bit windy. We shall leave it at that.
It Improved By The Minute
At midday on the Metservice rain radar graphic, there was a big circle of rain all around Dunedin. We might have been dry, but everywhere else in the vicinity was on the receiving end of some degree of precipitation. Further, the prediction was for steady rain for about an hour or so before it all blew through, the wind would drop, and the conditions would improve significantly. Which is exactly what happened.
The first order of the day was to welcome back those returning from holiday and those returning from hospital. Vaughn had stepped off a flight from Athens with about 2 hours sleep in the bank and looked like he was ready to play. It was great to see Eric and Bruce back after their recent health ordeals.
In our group we thought Nick might make it round with a WFD - a Whisky Free Day. 16 tee shots all made it past the dreaded green pegs, and we know that on hole 18 it's not an issue as the ladies play that hole as a par 5 and the silver tees are in front of all the rest. So it was only the 17th hole to conquer. Alas, it wasn't to be a WFD and as the driver head approached the teed up ball almost vertically, it somehow made its way underneath the ball which "flew" about a metre which was followed by the all too familiar " Oh No !!". The story never gets old.
Fairway Phil didn't quite make the fairway on Hole 6. Reports suggest the ball did go forward, hit some kind of rock or stone or piece of wood around the path in front of the tee which caused the ball to rebound behind where Phil was standing.
The predicted whisky of the day was a birthday shout for ME !! Such is the September log jam the actual day was a couple of weeks ago but thanks all for singing :}.
In more breaking medical news, it looks like Councillor Whiley has had a successful operation repairing his meniscus on his left knee.
That's One Small Step For Man
But One Giant Step For The Nugget
It was a LEFTY FEST this week with Eddie, Warren and Keith drawn in the same 4 keeping returning Eric company. They didn't hang about either claiming the first set of six with a miserable 28 points and the last set with a much better 49 points. The middle set went to The Nugget, Murray Edgar, Bruce Grant and future LIV golfer Pro Shop Mike. 42 points did the trick.
Speaking of The Nugget. History suggests it was the 27th of September 2023 since the Blue Jacket was wrapped around his shoulders. But today was the day for John. Drawn in the same 4 as Murray Edgar and Pro Shop Mike, it was John who apparently put on the putting clinic holing them from all over the place. Having said that, on the back of back to back birdies on holes 16 and 17, John then 4 putted hole 18 ! Anyway 41 points did the trick 4 ahead of second place bridesmaid Kallum .
John wasn't finished having his photo taken. Those 2 birdies on 16 and 17 scored him the night out in Balclutha.
Phil Ellis won the raffle.
As was advised yesterday the course rating for Balmacewen has changed. The course rating for our course off the silver tees was up until recently 69.1. It's now 68.7 meaning each of us will get one fewer shots on our handicap. If you used to get 10 shots off your index, you'll now get 9.
Apparently figuring out the course rating is quite an exact science. Mahal Pearce, Phil Bungard and a lady who I don't know came and did all sorts of measurements. They figure out that if a medium handicapper can hit it 180 metres off the tee, they go and look at what's at the 180 metre mark, and measure the width of the fairway. So it's not guess work or a subjective view. The course rating is based on data which can be compared against other golf clubs to make for a fair comparison.
My view is that in the dozen or so years I've been a member at OGC, while the course has improved, it has got a bit easier. The gum trees at the corner on hole 1 have gone and the gum trees on Tipperary are no longer there. Just my view ......
So that was another Wednesday and don't forget to check out the 2025 Southern Swing page for those going on tour.