PSC golf from Tropical Bert’s
Tuesday, Dec. 20, Silky Oak – Stableford
Yes that is correct we played Silky Oak, and for those who do not know it, the course is at present a nine hole layout you play twice off different tees with a bit of finagling that makes some holes par 5’s on one nine and par 4’s on the other nine and vice versa. It is also played out of the normal Green Valley clubhouse and like most of our players, I had never played the course before, so what did it bring?
Well we were provided with a sheet that told us the line of shot on each tee, although this instruction at times proved difficult to visualise as we stood on some tee boxes. However I suspect if we play it again we will have a better view of the direction of some shots. Most were easy to find but I have to admit all first timers made some direction mistakes.
The winners and runners-up in each flight with one of Bert’s finest.
The course itself, as said, is nine holes but construction can be seen and one day we can expect it will be this ‘Green Valley complex’s third 18 hole course. And what of the course? Well it is certainly different. The fairways are in pretty good condition, but having lost 2 balls off the first tee, I found myself under a bit of pressure as did many golfers. The rough is penal and some of the tee shots are a long way over water and many balls ended up in a watery grave. However the greens must be about the worst we have seen, maybe we got them on a bad day, and I hope they can be improved.
The general opinion after the round was that it was ‘interesting’, and comments varied, however I suspect if we played it again in the near future I would have less players than the full house who went this time. It does have great future promise though. Also it was a very late start so we were back at Tropical Bert’s very late, in fact the latest I can remember.
When the results were declared it was found that the scores were not too bad. In the A Flight, 0 to 19, the winner was Brian Gabe with 37 points ahead of Daryl Evans with 35 points in second place. We then had a count back on 31 points that saw Paul Sharples in third and Mike Gaussa in fourth, with Rob Brown just missing out.
In the B Flight, 20 upwards, we had a count back on 36 points that saw Henry Wong as winner and Barry Elphick in second. We then had a count back on 35 points that saw Pat Murphy in third and Don Carmody in fourth.
Despite the late hour we still had time to enjoy Bert’s ‘Happy Hour’, and thanks to Bert and Pu for looking after the golfers so well. T.T.F.N.
Near Pins: Don Carmody, Henry Wong, Derek Brook, Brian Gabe.
Long Putts: Graham Buckingham, Barry Elphick.
