PSC golf from Tropical Bert’s
Tuesday, March 18, Mountain Shadow – Stableford
This course was once the most feared around. Stand on the first tee and you knew you were in for a hard time and I remember taking a large group of golfers here some years ago and they all got beaten out of sight. Indeed, the winning score on that day was just 28 points. Let the wind blow here and you will spend a long time in the trees which seem to swallow the balls up. Best you get out of them as soon as you can, but that can be really difficult!
The real problem in years past though used to be the greens that were really fast and a bit of wind could blow the ball anywhere. Some of them at times were so tricky that a four-putt was really not just a possibility but was the norm. With all this in mind I wondered how the day would pan out with only a mild wind blowing. So it was off the white tees to play safe and let us get underway.
Andre Van Dyk (left) with Derek Brook.
Usually these days when we play this course it is packed, but on this day when we got to the first tee the way ahead was clear and we were away nice and early. In fact it was some time before we spotted the groups ahead. The wind was still a bit blustery but all in all it was a great day out. The greens were still tricky and I suspect they always will be, but the fairways were reasonable and the rough fine except for those trees.
One thing I always do, and only at this course, is sit by the start and have a cold beer from the kiosk. The view over the last few holes and the first few holes is a pleasure and usually a couple of the players stop and spend the time with me. Just a one off but a real pleasure!
Back at Bert’s early it was time to relax before the results. The scores were on the whole good and in the A Flight, 0 to 18, the winner was Andre Van Dyk with a fine 41 points, ahead of Mark west with 38 points on count back over Doug Maiko in third.
In the B Flight the winner with 40 points was your scribe, Derek Brook, while some way back in second was Barry Elphick with 33 on a count back over George King in third. T.T.F.N.
Near Pins: Andre Van Dyk, Doug Maiko, Tom Cotton, Barry Elphick.
