Temora Vets: Intersales Cup: Round 18 We had so many players turn up to the Temora Golf Club on October 29 to play in the Intersales Cup, that we ran out of room on the starting sheet. We needed a ledger book as long as a toilet paper roll to record every ones names. Some arrived in sedans, RV’s, some towing trailers with golf carts, one golfer arrived in a B-Double, three on motor bikes, a group of four by helicopter, and a husband and wife, who were obviously lost, peddled in on a rickshaw, but they hired some clubs and joined in, and didn’t they have some fun, too much in fact. They weren't happy when they were informed that they couldn’t take their rickshaw onto the course, but we organised one of the Vendi carts for them, free of charge. Then we have Anthony Abra who is probably the most devoted player we have on our books, walks to the course every time he plays. It’s not a five-minute walk either. The place was abuzz with humans. Rumour has it that someone spread the word via social media, as a joke, that we were having one of our world-famous bacon and egg rolls before tee-off. It turned out to be a bad joke, as this was not the case. Everyone is notified by group text when we have a barbeque, etc on golf day. We do not use social media in this way. Tim and Tam (our rickshaw couple) have never played golf before, so they said, but that didn’t stop them from having 63’s off the stick, each. They looked very familiar to me. The female looked like Minjee Lee, with a moustache. The guy looked like Min Woo Lee (Phil Freddy Lee’s brother) with a ponytail. Of course it couldn’t be them, but we can’t explain the scores they had. Anyway, we made them pay for the Vendi cart and we were positive they weren’t married either. The guy in the B-Double was the spitting image of John Daley, but he had black hair and didn’t smoke cigars or drink coca-cola. Most of us watched him tee-off on the first with a 3-metal, his ball finished behind the first green, but his ball was on the 13th fairway. The motor bike riders, played like professionals, the ones who arrived by helicopter would have beaten the best players in the world. Some of us concluded that we were being targeted by golfers that profess to being amateurs, or non-golfers. It wasn’t our bacon and egg rolls that brought them to Temora, it was prize money, which was a bit upsetting as we make a great bacon and egg roll. These types of golfers travel from club to club, sweeping all before them, and divide the spoils among each other. It’s just fun to them, pocket money, but it’s cheating to us. Yes, they were all good golfers, and yes, they had GA or overseas handicaps valid to the day, but we had an ace up our sleeve. Before I go on, all of the visitors, bar one, parred the course or bettered it. That is not a coincidence. Our ace, the number one question we ask when we are suspicious of someone, or a group of visitors, is this: “Are you all members of the NSWVGA”? (New South Wales Veteran Golfers Association) We asked that question to them all. Silence filled the air, they took a long look at each other, and at that very moment, we became aware that they all knew each other. They were not members at all, and they knew they had been had. Quietly, this group of thieves made their way off the premises, but one moment will probably stay with some of us forever. We heard Tim say to Tam, “Hurry up Minjee, we have to get out of here” Tam, Minjee, whoever she was, looked over and stared at us with a haunting smile. That lingering, knowing look was the only acknowledgment we received before they vanished from the parking lot, leaving us to shake our heads at the absurdity of their failed scheme. We headed to our safe house, the good old club house where the beer is cold, and the company is honest. You know, if they were that desperate to win a quid, we would have gratefully given them a few bob to help them out. Lucky for us it was a veteran’s golf day, and you need to be a registered member and over 55 to play with us. That’s not completely true, but they didn’t know that. Out of all that rubbish above, we eventually had a winner of the Intersales Cup, and that was the big hitting Aaron Coddington (7) with a net 71 c/b. Runner-up was Stephen Shuck (13) net 71 c/b. Ball winners: Diane Starling (18) net 71, Jeremy Knuckel (22) net 71. Peter Cartwright (27) net 73, c/b, Michael Reardon (19) net 73, Judy Gorton (22) net 73, Mark Wells (10) net 73, Harry Wilson (16) net 74, Robert Brabin (14) net 75. Intersales points: Stephen Shuck six, Diane Starling five, Peter Cartwright four, Michael Reardon three. Judy Gorton two. Nearest the pins: third Mark Wells 7.64 metres, seventh Dave Loftus 1.87 metres, twelfth Deb Block 2.25 metres. The drive and chip holes were won by: Judy Gorton on the third with 1.87 metres, and the eighth was won by Bill Robertson with a good shot to 2.50 from the flag. The mighty skins: Division 1 was interesting. The first three holes were squared in two’s or three’s. The fourth hole, which was carrying a three-hole jackpot, was worth $4.00. Mark Wells with a cool putting stroke, sank his par putt for three points to claim the cash. Holes 5 to 18 were all squared with two’s and three’s, so the kitty benefited by banking $14.00 into the barbeque fund. It could be steaks next week boys. Division 2: Jeremy Knuckle won six skins for $6.00. Richard Starling four, Anthony Abra four, Peter Cartwright one, Warren Bremer one, Robert Hudson one, and the kitty banked $1.00. Players please note: We have only four more official rounds of competition golf remaining until our year ends. There are two rounds of the Delta Ag Shield and two rounds of the Intersales Cup remaining. November 26 will be our final day. Of course, we continue to play every Thursday after that date, but the events format will be changed. We will have 4BBB’s, Ambrose, and possibly match-play events. We play Stroke and Stableford all through the year, so a change will be welcomed. Trophies on offer this year are the Ron Flakelar Cup. This trophy is presented to the most consistent player throughout the year, covering all forms of competition. The Intersales Cup for the player with the most accumulative points earned over twenty rounds of Stroke-play. The Delta Ag Shield goes to the player with the most points accrued over twenty weeks of Stableford competition. See you all on Thursday. Ladies Golf On Wednesday there was the Ladies Choice 14-hole event, sponsored by the Temora Golf Club. Winner on the day was Jacinta Watson with her 14 holes being 64 off the stick and 51 nett. Runner up was Lyn Gilchrist was 87 off the stick and 52 1/2 nett. Ball winners: Pip Bleyer 61 off the stick, 53 nett Pam Rees 83 off the stick, 53 nett Sue Alexander 74 off the stick, 53 1/2 nett Nearest the pins: Seventh (NTP): Rhonda Schuck 10.7 metres Twelfth (NTP): Nora Saffioti 9.5 metres On Saturday the ladies played the Canadian Foursomes sponsored by the Temora Deli. Winners on the day were Marg Townsend and Deb Noack with 74 1/8 nett. Runners up were Nora Saffioti and Pip Bleyer with 74 3/4 nett. Ball winners: - Jacinta Watson and Rhonda Shuck 75 1/4 nett Nearest the pins: Seventh (NTP): Pip Bleyer 4.4 metres Twelfth (NTP): Deb Block 7.99 metres Sunday Golf On Sunday, we hosted the final round of the Men's Championships and also the November Monthly Medal. Forty-two players graced the course on a perfect Spring day and for some lucky people the round started on Saturday night with Steve Pike doing his annual ring-around to his fellow A Graders. Jury is still out whether he got in their heads. Winner of the day, on a countback, was Dan Van Ruth with a stylish 41 points (67 nett). With the win, DVR takes the B Grade medal. Runner up (also on a countback) and A Grade winner was Phil Lee (40 points, 67 nett). Ball comp winners: E. Gerbardt (40), K. Krause, D. Filewood and E. Cleverdon (38), A. Phillips, C. Watson, A. Madden (37), T. Lynch, A. Coddington (36), H. Block (35). Nearest to pins: Third - S. Pike 6.07 metres Seventh - A. Abra 2.10 metres Twelfth - C. Watson 4.97 metres Sixteenth - E. Cleverdon 5.24 metres Todd Lynch won the Gazannes Pizza Voucher, getting within 4.30 metres on the 18th with his second shot. Andrew Crawford took out the coveted Bradman ball raising the bat with a 101 off the stick and from all reports he kicked on in style throughout the night. Onto the championships. A Grade started with Steiny holding a one-shot lead over Charlie. Unfortunately, Steiny had a round to forget. With Charlie taking A Grade and now back-to-back champion. Charlie had won an A Grade handicap with Anthony Madden, runner up. Gross C. Watson 222 S. Steinhardt 233 S. Pike 241 K. Flakelar 241 C. McAuley 247 Nett C. Watson 210 A. Madden 219 S. Pike 219 J. Block 221 C. McAuley 223 B Grade consisted of 17 players. Going into the last round - Ryan Pike was the in form player with a lead of five shots from his rivals. Ryan opened the door slightly, but his closest rivals couldn't reel him in. With the B Grade Champion, Ryan hangs onto the handicap as well over a fast finishing Phil Lee. Gross R. Pike 246 T. Lynch 249 E. Cleverdon 250 H. Block 251 P. Lee 252 Nett R. Pike 209 P. Lee 211 H. Block 211 T. Lynch 211 E. Cleverdon 212 C Grade had the biggest lead between first and second with Bill Ingram holding a seven shot lead over future young gun Darcy Filewood and a shot back was opening round leader, Mick Crawford. Pressure might have got to Bill and everyone pounced. However, Bill hung on to a one shot lead over Ed Gebhardt and Darcy. Darcy claims the handicap prize. Gross B. Ingram 267 E. Gebhardt 268 D. Filewood 268 M. Crawford 270 A. Abra 275 Nett D. Filewood 209 B. Ingram 214 E. Gebhardt 218 M. Crawford 219 A. Abra 222 Our junior champion was Charlie Watson. As young Charlie will go over the junior age next year, we will be crowning a new junior champion in 2027. With seven juniors in this year's championships, we have got some really good juniors coming through. Look out for the three Block kids (including eight-year-old Bo) and Darcy. Ever reliable Kevin Flakelar takes out the veteran’s champion, congratulations Keg on your three consistent rounds. Upcoming and notable events: 8 November - Two person Ambrose sponsored by Harvey Norman. 15 November - Short Course Single Stableford 22 November - Annual General Meeting (following Sunday Golf) 12 December - Golf Club Christmas Party- 2-person Ambrose 20 December - COOTEM Cup Ariah Park Golf We could only muster five players for our weekly Ambrose Saturday golf. Played off the ladies’ tees. Harvest and the B and S plus other commitments took its toll on our playing group this week, so Rocky didn't have much trouble in doing the cards up. Well, you think that would be easy – and it was, but he left them on the desk. So, we played the first six holes without cards – lucky Maree had pencil/paper – dramas. Anyway, Rocky and Nappa took on Merrill, Robbo and Maree for bragging rights this week. Robbo was in his element, playing with the two ladies as he proceeded to bombard them with his legendary narcotic ramblings of how each shot should be played and what degree of foolish supernatural control the putter should tap the ball while putting – all to no avail, I might add – but it keeps us in hysteria. The golfing gods would be amazed at what crap comes out of this joker, but the girls love it. It was a nice day for golf – no breeze, no flies, well not many, not too hot and plenty of run on the fairways, so no excuses for golf this week. We (the men) started slowly, and the other crew took full advantage of the situation by taking Robbo's advice on putting to jump out to a two-shot lead on the halfway mark. But the second half belonged to us men as we hauled in the score, only to falter and going into the last hole we were one shot behind and needed a birdie to win the day. The girls plus Robbo (who played like a girl anyway) could only manage a bogey – and us a par – so after 18 holes it turned out a draw. Very fitting. Some shots from all players were ordinary and Rocky had trouble getting past the trees on the ninth. But in Ambrose you have a partner and when one of our shots were bad the other player stepped up, so we combined well – as did the other mob with Maree putting in off the green twice, so she played the short game to perfection and Merrill's drives were long and straight. Well, Robbo didn't have to do too much, and he reckons that the captain/coach is only there to observe and give instructions (and that he did all day). So, the draw was a fitting result – and we all agreed to that. So back to the clubhouse for a coldie and to remove the dust from our bodies and to listen to all the crap coming from Robbo's mouth about what should have been – and declaring, (I won't be back). Everyone enjoyed the day, that's the main thing. Winner, winner – draw. NTP: Third – Merrill. NTP Eighth – Robbo. Shot of the Day: Rocky – hit Kev's tree on the fourth hole with the ball falling straight down into the garden and into a yacca tree – only you could do that one, Rocky. I've been lucky enough to play a four-day golfing tournament in Canberra for the Left-Handed Nationals, with 140 other lefties playing, coming from NSW Riverina, ACT, Tassie, Qld, SA, Victoria and 12 from NZ, and two from Canada. We played at Yowani, Gold Creek, Royal Canberra and back to Yowani for the presentation and dinner. Now don't get me wrong, the courses were fabulous and challenging, with the putting greens fast and slick, with large bunkers right in front of the greens and lakes and water traps, bunkers everywhere. But it was great and I improved each day, so I was happy with that. The winner of the overall C-Grade was an 11-year-old boy – yes, 11 years old. I played with him on the Monday and he is good. The B-Grade was won by a guy from South Australia, and he was in his late 70s, and A-Grade by a young 17-year-old from NZ – and he was also a great young fella. The National Left Handers Golf Week was and is a great experience for everyone, male/female, and I am looking forward to next year in Victor Harbor, South Australia. So, see ya all next week. Cheers, Preferred Lies
