We returned to Bird Hills for a 'Full Monty Breakfast' followed by 18 holes of Golf, weather was kind to us, cold and Frosty which was a stark contrast to last year's monsoon conditions. It did make approach shots interesting with bounces very unpredictable but water hazards were less of an issue for the majority as the ball bounced rather than sank! It was nice to see Bryan (Hip replacement) Carter out for a walk and acting as starter on the first, also to see Peter Carfrae back with three new discs in his neck. The operation has an added bonus as he is a little taller, the swing plane better and managed a great 34 points in his first outing of 18 holes since the Operation.
So some notes from around the course which mostly led to fines:
The first two groups out came to the 9th, which has water in front and an area of rubbish behind and so opted to lay up, first group then played over with ease, the second group however laid up well but both Prev and Ian used the water to bounce onto the green. Prev being the luckiest as his lob wedge shot came down from a great height but still managed to bounce.
Much discussion about the longest drive, how so many were past the marker - but being a skill prize there is a requirement for accuracy- it had to be in play and on the fairway
Paul Beard fined himself for not putting NP marker out, none of his group hit the green and it was only Frazer's memory that saw our captain walking back to the edge of the green waving the marker at the group behind, who incidentally all missed the green!!
Frazer fined for using an orange ball, Prev for using a yellow ball - thus two yellow balls in the group.
Dave Sturgeon on the first Tee asked our captain where he got the self-portrait model head cover made.
Hot Chocolate Macca x 2!
Kevin Harris for driving through the green whilst people were still putting & hitting John Thorp's ball.
Peter Carfrae for paring a Par 5 but using slopes of the bunker & ditch to keep the play straight.
Guests were not immune to fines, Bill suggesting a guest should not, got fined for the comment and then for his water shots. Dave Evans fined for not seeing the water even though he walked past two holes previous.
Our Captain fined himself but did not disclose why - something no doubt to do with the game of golf he played.
We had a yellow ball competition as usual, 3 groups lost the ball but the group of Chris T, Peter C and John T managed to keep the ball all the way round but did not beat all the groups who lost theirs, obviously a steady but poor round had managing a portly 52 points!
Individual scores were reasonable but 31 points was popular score as there was a group of 5 players on it.
To the results:
Yellow Ball competition won by Roy Bird, Derek Carter and Dave Sturgeon with 76 Points.
Longest Drive - Ian Turvill
Nearest the Pin - Alan Sutcliffe
Nearest the Pin in 2 shots - Frazer Webb
Nearest the Pin in 3 shots - Dave Evans
Strongest Man - Captain Beard with 24 Points
Winner Dave Sturgeon 38 Points (below in photo with Captain Beard
Roving reporter: Ian Turvill