Golf from The Billabong Bar
Monday, Oct. 31, Phoenix – Stableford
Phoenix Gold presented a bit of a wet course but it was still in excellent condition and considering the amount of rain the courses in the area have had, it’s lucky we can actually play at all.
Playing Lake and Ocean it was a great day out, rain again threatened but didn’t arrive until were having a drink after the game. With five groups playing we were all finished in about four hours and still dry.
The scores were not what one would call up to scratch but they did reflect the lack of run, wherever your ball landed it stopped, which made for a long day out.
There were no ‘2’s and a five-way count back for second between Nipper Truscott, Thiery Temine, John O’Keefe, George Barrie and Capt Bob (all with 30 points) saw Capt. Bob secure silver while John O’Keefe got the nod for the bronze. Taking first place today was Francis Goyons with 31 points. That would have to be the lowest scoring game ever!
Wednesday, Nov. 2, Green Valley – Stableford
The changes to the course have now been delayed until December 1, which will give the management time to be able to have the cards re-printed with the correct information. Following recent heavy rain the course is looking really good now but many wet patches exist either through heavy rain or damaged sprinkler heads and it is a shame that these areas appear to be situated exactly where the greens staff want to drive their heavy machinery, causing deep ruts around the course. A little more caution should, perhaps, be exercised?
Wednesday is always well supported by the Billabong regulars with 12 ladies taking part and making a total of 36 today. Miss Sa continued her recent good form, having a good back-nine of 20 points for 3rd place. Miss Eng had the misfortune to start with a blob on the first hole and another on the last but still had 38 points, only for Miss Poopay to win the day on 40 points with 2 four-pointers doing her cause no harm at all.
Lloyd Shuttleworth, on his return from foreign parts, played well for 37 points but not quite good enough to beat Auke Engelkes on the same score for 3rd place. Keith Allen thought he was going to have a really good day when he had 22 points on the front nine, only to stumble a little on the return journey with 2 blobs and coming second with 38 points. Keith just missed out to Jeff – my back is sore – North, confirming the old saying ‘beware the injured golfer’ as Jeff came home with 39 points.
The greens are certainly improving here, a fact that was established with six ‘2’s, three of them coming from the same group, William Macey, Richard Steadman and Tony Oakes, the others being Jeff North, John Player and Miss Yen.
