The Tropical Golf Group
Tuesday, Sept. 19, Royal Lakeside – Stableford
This is a course you can usually score well on and get good points. The winning score here is usually in the forties and thus it is well liked by the players. On this day the fairways in places were a bit soggy but the carts were allowed to generally get you somewhere near to the ball. The rough was reasonably forgiving, and the greens were fast and true.
When it was time for the results it was obvious that the last four-ball had just about cleaned up and despite the organiser demanding a blood test all turned out well. The average score of the last group was 40.5 points. Really outstanding!
The overall winner with 41 points was Brian Parish on a count back over Andre Van Dyk in second. We then had a three-way count-back on 40 points that saw John Davis in third and Nigel Perry fourth.
The best front nine by non-winners came from Dick Warberg with 22 points and the best back-nine was by Don Carmody with 18.
Friday, Sept. 22, Emerald G.C. – Stableford
Emerald, not a course we visit often, but an interesting and challenging layout. This is only the second visit for the group this year and with recent reports of green maintenance going on, we set off with questions in mind of what we would find. However with the very good rate in effect for green fee, caddie, and cart, it seemed worth the trip no matter what.
As we worked our way around the front-nine there were no signs of greens maintenance and they were rolling true, at a good speed, but typically “quick” if putting down a slope.
After the turn the skies darkened and the drizzle started, turning into a steady, drenching rain stopping play as our last group arrived at the 14th tee. Sheltered there under a small hut they watched the group in front play out the long, uphill par-5 and head off to the 15th tee. After a wait of 45 minutes or so, the rain returned to the drizzle stage and off the last group went, finding the fairways wet but playable and the greens a bit slower but without standing water.
Back at base it into the results of the day and taking the top step was John Davis (CH 15) with 37 points, followed by Dick Warberg (CH 19) with 33 points and John Pierrel (CH 14) on 29.
The consolation nines prizes went to Mashi Kaneta for his 16 points on the front side and Walter Baechli with 13 on the inward half.
