Tales From Afar
Have been back out hitting balls again this week. Saturday was a 3 club challenge at my new home club - The Isle of Seil Golf Club - I chose 3 wood, 6 iron and 8 iron. Scored 11 stablefords for nine holes seriously missing a wedge when I got in to trouble. But won 2 second hand golf balls for a longest drive and a nearest the pin - from a total field of 7 !!
Monday this week played at Erskine Golf Club which was OK. Alistair Mackenzie designed course. But today, Tuesday, it was Glencruitten Golf Club at Oban. Where to start ?
It's the most fun you can have on a golf course with your clothes on. It's less of a golf course more of a magical mystery golfing tour. Bit of background.
It's a par 61 with lots of par 3s and a the rest par 4s. But don't let that fool you into thinking that's it's either short or easy. Many of the par 3s are upwards of 170 metres and the par 4s are long as well.
It's the golfing home of Bob McIntyre. Currently ranked 14th in the world. Bob as you know plies his trade on the PGA tour in America but Oban is his home. The kid in the pro shop told us Bob isn't doing as well as he would like at the moment and after failing to make the cut at Aronimink at the US PGA championship this weekend, he jumped on an aeroplane that night and flew back to Oban. I didn't see him but am fairly sure I saw his dad who is the head greenkeeper. I like Bob. A bit like Tyrell Hatton he wears his heart on his sleeve. So today we played Bob's home course where he cut his golfing teeth. Back to the fun day out.
The shot above is taken from the middle of the first fairway. A par 4 measuring 450 yards or 405 metres. Into the wind, uphill, stroke hole 2, just the way you like to start. And all you can see if you look thinking where do I hit my second shot is a black and white striped pole and lots of trees and foliage. The pro shop kid said the green is about 60 metres behind the black and white pole. I mean, really, just zoom in and see what you would hit from 180 + out and aiming blind.
Then this is the 12th hole, another 400 metre plus par 4 that wanders off into oblivion. Drive somewhere in front of you, but there is a ditch running across the fairway about driving distance out. Then turn 45 degrees right, thread a needle aim for some imaginary green 200 metres away, uphill, and hit and hope.
It goes on like this hole after hole. There isn't what you might call a conventional hole. It's a golf course with the most character I've ever played. I wish my words could do it justice but they can't so my best advice is to play it if you can. It will be like vegemite; you'll love it or you'll hate it.
Recognise Anybody ?
The ATM
Doing What He Does Best
A picture tells a thousand words - so ne need for any words.
Big Couple Of Weeks For Kallum
Was sent this photo from an anonymous source who shall remain nameless. If you want a clue it's a lovely much-liked lady who serves behind the bar. She describes Kallum as "The Proudest Grandfather I've ever seen." Good to see 3 generations of Croudis all happy and smiling.
Hope I'm wrong that Bobbi May is being weaned on Guinness at such a young age.
Then this happened.
Second time this year and third time in his golfing career that Kallum has worn the Blue Jacket. You have to admit it looks good with jandals !
The golf was very good this week with a top score of 42 points from Kallum Croudis, followed by a solid score of 41 points from Sonny Hyndman.
With a 17 handicap, Special K is looking good for the Smeaton Cup, if his partner Fairway Phil can back him up after his eye surgery this week.
We can also report that with 42 points backed up by a couple of 40 pointers, Kallum has jumped into the lead to be the first name engraved on the Eric Olsen Trophy.
Friday Skins
Where Everyone Is A Winner
At Skins last Friday, where we had 11 players who turned up, which meant 3 groups to fit into the field. There seemed to be a number of students teeing off just before us, who sprayed their balls in all directions.. The first 2 Waggler groups got through the 9 holes with a bit of negotiation, while Bolty's group got behind some slow players and took 2.5 hours to get into the bar. There was steam still rising from Bolty's head as he sat down with his standard 2 coronas.
The money count was completed, then the scoring was done to reveal that most individuals were performing above their handicaps with pars, so all holes were jackpotted to the very last hole.
As a result, all the money on the table was divided by 11 and we all got our $9 back, so all were very happy. Except for Farmer MacKay, who said that this was like 'kissing your sister' and he would prefer to pay someone to win on the last hole than put his money in his pocket. That is a radio shock jock for you.
And So To Wednesday ... Finally
Wednesday golf was again blessed with perfect weather conditions , with calm sunny conditions and no wind. We had 28 players in the draw, so this a perfect fit with 7 teams. However, a last-minute addition with Paul Hubbard added to the field, which meant a fivesome off the 10th tee, all worked well.
In The Smeaton Cup, we are not too concerned about the battle between the Waggler teams of Bolt/Pownall and Croudis/Broughton, as we still have the two Waggler horses in action on both sides of the draw.
Best wishes to Timmsy/Garden and McConville/McConville for their matches on Saturday.
We appointed Derek Todd as the money counter today, and he very quickly got the $140 balanced for the first 6 hole tranche.
The first six holes was won in an impressive score of 35 points by team Griffiths/Alcock/Freeman/Morgan, where they did so well and then took a dive for the other 6's, as only Alcock played to his handicap.
The second six holes was won in a solid score of 43 points by team Todd/Woodham/Ellis/Nikou, where there was also a mixed performance in scoring for the day.
The last six holes saw a clear winner, with team Keenan/Ellis/Edgar/Hyndman combining well to produce a score of 47 points. They all registered a score in the 30's, so a very sound team result here.
The Swingers trophy saw a close contest between Senaka Wick and Warren Alcock, who both had 2 birdies and also scored 35 points. The trip to Balclutha came down to the last stableford score, which was won by Senaka with a birdie 3 on the 9th hole for 3 points. Congratulations Senaka.
The Raffle was won by Lloyd Morgan with number 31 .
We welcomed three visitors for the day being Paul Hubbard, Bob Griffiths and Tim Allam. Bob was down in Dunedin to celebrate his 71st birthday with the Wagglers. Congratulations Bob and thank you for the dram.
Tim is a Speights Bar owner from Palmerston North and who is down for a hotel conference in Dunedin. He's also and a friend of Jamie. ( Jamie has a friend who owns a Speight's Bar - who would have thought .....)
Here's Senaka looking very Tommy Fleetwood
Brothers ?
And we all thought it was Jamie and Cousin Trevor who are related.
