Friday Skins
It Got Complicated
Five turned up for skins on Friday which sounds straightforward enough. But then as we were teeing off in a group, Jamie suggested we add a little extra spice. We couldn't play a haggle so we decided the lowest 2 stableford scores would buy the highest 2 stableford scores a 12 ounce beer, and the guy in the middle could buy his own. So if my memory serves me right, Warren Egen, myself, Tony and Eddie all won a skin and Jamie didn't win any and in the battle for the sauce I definitely bought a beer and so did someone else. As the default option we draw the skins out of the hat. Alastair was the lotto man having played earlier with Bruce Grant in the Mac Mac Cup.
It was fun if a little complicated !!
November 5th
Time For Some Fireworks
Here's an interesting story from the weekend. Shelley was playing in the Christchurch Inter-Club and in the singles on Sunday was playing against a 15 year old youngster. For those who know the Shirley golf course, the 7th is a par 3 and runs parallel to the road. Interesting hole with some tough bunkers.
I'm sure most know Shelley holed her tee shot for an ace. Her fourth in her illustrious golfing career. The 15 year old looked at Shelley a little perplexed and said "what do I do now ?". Shelley replied " Well you've got your tee shot for a half, try and knock it in". So she did and she knocked it stiff to 6 inches. Shelley said "boy did it look good in the air and it looked for all the world that it too might go in". Now I'm sure it wouldn't be the first time in golfing history that a par 3 has been halved in ones, but it's rather rare I'd suggest.
Talking of hole in ones, someone suggested we should place one of those impressive brass plaques on the hill to the right of the 12th green. On it would be written " Chopper's Bank, it was from here Bruce Grant achieved a hole in one". Cruel......
And so to Wednesday.
The weather forecast was OK but conditions were tough. With a strong nor-wester blowing it wasn't easy. On The Glen I used driver then 3 wood to get to the green. Can't remember the last time such weaponry was needed. Some made good use of the conditions whereas others struggled.
In the 6s, Team Westy ( Westy Bolty, Alastair and Tony ) waltzed away with the first and third lots of $135. 32 points and 48 points did the trick. For the middle set Lloyd, John Marsh, Bruce Grant and Murray Cooper did OK with 42 points in the bag.
Conditions were tough but I'm not sure they were this tough ..
The Bees Are Out
Not sure this photo does it justice but on Monday morning the bees were all out and about. Hundreds if not thousands of them were all flying round in circles before heading off to do their day's work. It was an impressive sight. We were there clearing gorse from the manukas at the side of the 12th green. That was as close as we got.
Talking of Monday morning Tee-Timers, I've spoken to Craig and we're going to make a change. Rather than being fortnightly odd-job people, we will take on a project. This idea came from our own David Peart and I wholeheartedly agree with him.
So from now on we are going to concentrate on upgrading the quality of our tee blocks, in particular the par 3 tee blocks. It won't be this Monday but next, the 17th, we will start on the 7th tee. Craig will have his tractor and will use the attachment which punches holes into the soil. The volunteer group will then apply grass seed and then topsoil / sand before covering the area with the green matting which will soon come off the 13th tee. We won't do the whole tee block, maybe a third or a half. In time we should see a much better coverage of grass and a much better area.
See you there on Monday the 17th - 8:30 am is kick off.
Our Weekly Winners
Before golf this week 2 exciting things happened. Callum gave us a chipping lesson on the bottom practice green which some of us then made use of. He's a good teacher Callum with a good style and these sessions are useful.
Then before golf at midday, the club was hosting a charity event to raise money for the rescue helicopter. As an fundraising incentive, said helicopter made an appearance landing on the first tee. Impressive it was too though some of the flowers in the adjacent flower bed took a bit of a beating. You might have to turn the sound on the video clip to get the full effect.
An impressive 41 points saw Alastair score his second Blue Jacket for the year.
Equally impressive this man nailed three birdies and he decided to take the cup cake to Balclutha with him.
And so that's another Wednesday and golfing week done and dusted.
Finally thanks to David Peart for his birthday shout. Sorry didn't get a photo as was busy doing the MC thing in the absence of Phil and Eddie.
The good doctor Sandy Ross won the raffle.