It's Beginning To Feel A Lot Like Winter
Before we get to golf did anyone go out Aurora Australis spotting this week ? This shot above was taken from the small beach behind the salt water pool at St Clair where there was a whole gang of aurora spotters out late at night. The shot below was taken from our back garden
All very spectacular. Now to golf.
Only 8 people turned up for skins on Friday which was a few less than the 21 the week before and the 15 the week before that. Nevertheless we had a quorum. We mixed it up a bit just for a bit of fun.
Instead of having the skins in the order of the holes played, we had 9 playing cards face down on the table with the 9 cards being ace through 9. So the first card drawn was the first skin which could be won. Can't remember which card came up first but for arguments sake let's say the first card drawn was the 7. So hole 7 was the first skin and if somebody won it they won the $ and if not then the skin jackpotted as normal. Then we turned over the next card and so on.
It worked OK but I don't think we'll be doing it again any time soon or doing it all that often. It offered a bit of variety. Mahmoud came off second best as he won the skin on hole 5 and holes 2, 3, and 4 had all been halved. So normally he would have won 4 skins but the way it worked on Friday he only won just the one. C'est la vie as they say in France.
Now this is not a photo of Balmacewen on Saturday but it does give a representation of how strong the wind was blowing. It was a tough day but for the brave we got through.
There was carnage everywhere with golf bags being blown over left, right and centre. Our group was playing The Glen and Phil had hit a decent drive to the bottom of the path on the short green grass; Eddie and I were a bit further on. We turned back just a little time later and saw Phil fossicking about in the stream which was at right angles to where his ball had been. " Surely he can't have hit his shot in there " we thought, " what's going on ?"
Phil's bag had been blown over in the wind and as part of that event, the head covers had come off his woods and the wind had blown them into the stream. So Phil was trying to fish them out using a long handled golf club. Sadly one couldn't be retrieved and it sailed away down the stream, into Ross Creek, presumably into the Water of Leith and it's now in the Otago Harbour. Which is a bit sad as these were a gift to Phil from the widow of a friend of Phil who had recently passed away. But such was the strength of the wind on Saturday.
34 points won the stableford competition and special mention should be given to Murray Edgar who shot a very creditable 80 off the black tees.
Now to Wednesday.
The Weather Forecast Was About Right ....
Some were checking all of the available websites to see which gave the best weather forecast for the day. I'm not sure if people were looking for a good reason to go out and play or a good reason to stay indoors. Either way make your mind up and let's get on with it. In the end 19 ventured out which wasn't bad.
We welcomed back Stu Heaton for his first outing of the year and welcomed into the fold Warren Alcock.
Lloyd shouted for his 70 somethingth birthday so we all sang the song and wished Lloyd all the best. Thanks for the whisky Lloyd which was most welcomed after a day on the soggy golf course.
In the sixes, 32 points scored by 2 Murrays, birthday boy Lloyd and pro shop Mike was enough for the first set. 42 points by Bruce Carvell, Eddie, new boy Warren and Duncan won the middle 6. Finally the Walking ATM Senaka, Mahmoud, Stu and The Nugget cleaned out the last set on the back of 48 points. Senaka was out practising his golf on Tuesday and was working on a few things. Looks like it was all worthwhile !
Our Weekly Winner Is .......
In truth it was all a bit of a lottery yesterday as the greens got wetter and wetter as the day progressed. Finding a dry route to the hole for a putt or an off the green chip became a matter of luck and sometimes it worked in your favour and sometimes it didn't. I got lucky with the putter and things started to drop and before you know it 39 points were in the bag which was just enough to win line honours for the day on countback from Eddie.
This is Bruce awarding the night out in Balclutha award. 2 birdies was enough. One of those was chip in from behind the 2nd green down the bank. I could see the top of the flag but as the ball came off the club, I heard it hit the pin, and apparently it slam-dunked into the hole. As I said, it was that kind of day when the cards fall in your favour.
Bring your warm gear for Saturday .......
Friday 13th
Italian Night At The Golf Club
On Friday the 13th of June, so that's not this Friday but the next one, it's Italian Meal Night at the club.
We normally play skins on Friday so let's support the club and support this event.
We have a group Waggler booking for 5:30 pm.
So if you're playing skins why not stay behind and have a feed at the club. If you're not playing skins why not come up to the club after work or whatever and join in the fun. And let's invite our better halves up to the meal night and make it a real success.
See you there.