Eric’s Golden Week

After weeks of heatwave conditions, the cloudy conditions and the 6am start was welcomed by 16 players who arrived at Gailes for Scott Porter’s trophy. Visitors Carl Sirianni and Mark Thornton both played with us for the second time this year, as the field contested a single stableford competition, starting with the back-nine first.

As often happens with this club, only our winner broke his handicap. Eric Brunovs just shaded his, with 37 points. That’s Eric’s second win in a week, after his 43 points around Redcliffe on Tuesday took out the prize with the Solomons. Runner up was Captain Noel Gilby with 34, who had to struggle around the course without the usual moral support of the President.

Pin shots went to Ian van der Hoeven on the second-shot 17th, Steve Gifkins on the 3rd (supposedly – he didn’t write it on OUR pin-shot marker), Troy van der Haar on the 6th of his home course, and no-one got on the 12th, perhaps because it was too early in the round. Longest Drive was moved to the 16th since we played the back-nine first, and also went to our winner Eric.

Another 6am start awaits us next week at Redland Bay, so no Sunday sleep-in yet. Your fees there usually include a drink voucher, so collect it from the Treasurer when you pay.

Mick breezes through Carbrook

Fourteen folks arrived for an early start at Carbrook on Valentine’s Day. Visitor Carl Sirianni joined the regular membership for the Ray Bugg trophy, which he chose to be a single Stableford.

The Treasurer combined this day of love with his love of money, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the introduction of Decimal currency. He charged only twenty dollars, to celebrate the largest banknote available on the first day of the new money.

The golfers made good time after the early start, but had a slight delay at the back-nine with the 10th tee still occupied. A stiff breeze coming across the shark-lake then greeted them, and all had to account for it to keep their scores competitive.

Secretary Mick van Bemmel coped the best, returning 39 points for the win. Allan Gillam got runner-up with 38, which joins a list of second-placings he’s gained with his Tuesday club. Pin shots went to President Dennis Hogan on the 2nd, Mike Brennan on the 7th, Treasurer Steve Friedrichs on the 14th, with no-one getting on the wind-swept 11th. Longest Drive went to Ian Davidson.

Next game is another 6am start at Gailes in two weeks.

Chris the Partner of Choice at St. Lucia

After a 16-year Absence, the Rocklea Sparks returned to the St. Lucia golf course. The previous outing there was 2 April 2000 when nine players attended, including Mike Brennan, and Steve Friedrichs. That was to be the last game there for a while, as they increased the price to a shocking $26 a game, and required pre-payment the week before playing.

17 players arrived, curious to see what we’d been missing, and to contest the annual Lew’s 4BBB perpetual trophy. What they found was saturation-level humidity, on a searing 33-degree day, which made it a tough walk around the hilly layout. Visitor Mark Thornton accompanied the eight teams randomly drawn to contest the main prize.

Since the numbers required three groups of three in a pairs competition, it required one team to be split across groups, that of Steve Friedrichs and Chris Young. This happened before with the Mal Curnow 4-ball at Keperra, where the split team ended up winning.

Seems that’s a good omen, since Steve and Chris ended up winning the shield with a net stroke score of 56. Chris won it last year with Blair George, so already holds the prize, and Blair paired up with Mick van Bemmel this year to take runner-up with 61.

Turns out that the 60 net that Chris scored alone would have been enough to win without help, but Steve contributed a couple of birdies on the second and third to shore up the margin.

Two Pin shots went to Blair George, with one each to Ian Davidson and Steve Gifkins. Ian Davidson also took out the Longest Drive, which we put on the 15th hole, based on Eric’s recommendation. I had a vague recollection that we had it on the 17th hole 16 years ago, but only remembered that when we got there!

Next game is an early start on Valentine’s day at Carbrook. This game is donor’s choice, so Ray Bugg gets to decide the format. The Treasurer has promised a special fees discount to encourage attendance!