MWSS GOLF

Game 224~ Day 2 Ryder Cup ~ The Dunes ~ 8th July

 Cats don’t like the rain!

The rain came down. Thursday night and on into Friday it bucketed. But around 10.30am Ferg sent the call out “Fuck it, we’re playing. Be at the club at noon or you’ll forfeit your match.” And, lo and behold, the skies cleared, and the bunkers were declared GUR. So, at 12.30 we teed off playing the alternate shot format. Once again, El Pres and the captains had to do a bit of juggling. Thank goodness for our MWSS locals virgins,Tony “Peroni”, and Charlie The Bachelor  whose story  was epic, coming out for a second day, unlike 2 softies who just thought it was to scary to go out in the rain. Now we know Cats don't like rain but the big KP???.

Great matches were taking place across the course, and while there was plenty of chat about getting things done and dusted before the next almighty downpour, most games went down to the wire and having to play out the 18. Which meant that we all got absolutely drenched. Madness, but great fun all the same. 

In my corner, Needle and I dug ourselves out of a 4-hole deficit only for me to throw away (yet another ball and) the match on our 18^th – the dastardly par 3 (hole 7). A win to Schoolboy and the rock-solid Marvel. From all reports it looked like Broomy and Ferg had balanced the matches pretty well, though I did hear that Wolverine had a shocker and was buying beers for Maxy and their opponents Ferdinand and Ferg early in the afternoon. 

Now there was talk of the no shows forfeiting their points, but we had one in each camp, so it didn't realy matter as in the end it was a truly even day with the score ending up  4 to 4 

Home to try and get golf gear drying for tomorrow and then off to the Fire Station for fish and chips and some banter with the locals. The enterprising fundraising crew quickly worked out that thirsty MWSS members are an easy touch, and the Matarangi fire brigade budget should be sweet till the MWSS boys return at Christmas time. 

Day Two done and dusted. 

After a terrible forecast and the talk of a possible cancellation, the Auckland weather turned out to be be pretty bloody good, which is more than I can say for the golf. Congrats to Grim with a massive 35 points to take out another victory. Based on this form, Grim has decided to join us for Ryder cup, and along with Hammer, have decided to bring their better half's (interesting and I hope the fine master does his job here).

Anyway, back to last weeks golf. I had the pleasure of partnering Bede, a true gentleman of the game and we performed extremely well for 17 holes (which we led) to lose on the 18th to Angry and Butch. It all came down to a 6 foot putt on what some would call an unplayable, water soaked green, that should have been GUR. Congrats to them and it seems only fair that got the final word after we talked up our game for the previous 4 hours (and no Butch, Im not related to Lleyton Hewett!)

It was great to see Broomy out there after his most recent health scare "The Vid". We had the pleasure of seeing him hit a pro like wedge from the sand (some might argue, "what sand") on his way to a solid 29 points (a few more than the presidents 26)

We also spent time with School Boy and Batman, as they were playing their second from our fairway, with Schoolboy a long way ahead of the big man and happy to share that his massive draw was after setting up for a low cut (we've all been there).

Overall, it was great to be out, swinging a golf club on a fine winters day.

The MWSS touring group rallied for the last game of the tour at Jack’s Point.A number of the crew were starting to tire due to the pressure of touring and the evening celebrations at Arrowtown. There was fear and trepidation as it was Friday 13th which meant Black tees! The group all split up to have a shotgun start commencing from the 15^th tee.
 

The challenges of the Black tees meant there were some significant carries just to get to the fairway. I can confirm that if you are not hitting your drive well, that Jacks can be a challenging course. Schooner as our resident host had prepared us well for the “Black Tee Day”. Although it is good knowing where to go it still requires proper execution of the golf swing.  The weather was perfect to enable all the field to finish about the same time.  Broomy efficiently managed the after-match, with Rattie showing his skill and expertise as a polished Fines Master. There was robust discussion about fines now being in $5.00 increments because MWSS members can afford it. Please have a supply of $5.00 notes for future fine sessions.  EL Presidente is incredibly happy with this new fining system as it will help him pay off his new house in Millbrook.
 

Congratulations to all the winners and losers. It was a fitting finale to another successful MWSS tour!

When you arrive by helicopter at The Hills for your two hundredth game and the conditions are perfect you'd be expecting to play like a champ, but when Rule Number 1 is applied on the first tee following an errant tee shot by his eminence El Prez in his 200th game, you know you're in for a roller coaster day. Perhaps the emotion of the day was a factor, but the reality was that the course was a brute and it beat a few of us up with its severe rough, fast greens and plenty of sand in between. Even a bit of local knowledge from AT failed to help lift the scores in El Prez's group.

The figures that came in at the end reflected how tough it was. TJ took the Best Stabies with a measly 33 (probably the lowest ever?) and Scooner the plate on countback, while the best gross was a hard earned 82 by Ernie - a mere 41 shots better than the fool who took home the Shanksy trophy (and who did manage to shank twice in a row that day). Broomy's 29 putts for Glugs Mug was a fine effort on those smooth fast greens, significantly better than Spring Dogs 41 for the Yipsy prize. The longest drive and closest to the pin prizes went to the usual suspects.
 

Forgetting the average golf that many played, it was a great day to celebrate the 200th with the leader and reflect on his accomplishments and all the effort he and others put into organizing the rabble who play in the MWSS. He showed a never seen before bit of emotion when he arrived at the helicopter pick up, and deservedly so I say because he's achieved a lot with the MWSS, even if after 200 games his handicap might not have progressed as well as he hoped. At the end of the day the orange blazer was rightly returned to Four Door - the only man in the group who wears it with pride.

With some level of disappointment, I donned the Orange blazer once again. 2Guns 16th appearance, with a great a cart mate Crazy, versus the Home advantage AT and “let’s start on my times, miss the plane -Polley”. Before I comment on the game, it is fair to say pre game activities particularly, sharing accommodation with four Taka guys (Dowdy, Rat, Ernie and Hone) was not the appropriate warm up. Also, the prior evening continued as it left off from prior MWSS tours with me and Rat having tackling practice, which then quickly moved into a crocodile roll with a few dukes in the ribs. Furthermore, on the game brief I felt discriminated on the group split announcements of Fatty’s and thiny’s. I was waiting in anticipation during the thiny’s category announcement with no mention, which followed with the fatty’s, and with some confusion and pause from El-Prezo he announces that I am the coxian for the Fatty’s. I HAVE FEELINGs TO, I felt labelled little bald guys matter (by the way I am taller than Broomy- it was proofed at AT’s place that night). As you can see I have vented and run out of words to mention the game……… to emotional.

A smaller than normal field gathered at the North Shore Golf Club for the annual Masters Monday. After watching the last round of the Masters while enjoying another great breakfast provided by the kitchen team, with the leader board changing with the final holes to play, all eyes were on the sweepstake leader board to see who was taking away the cash. Coogs took it out over Grandad, but it had to go back to the Tiebreaker on the winners winning score which was -10 which Coogs was on the dot.

With the winner decided it was our turn to emulate the winners and pull off that miracle shot.

The weather was fantastic and I’m sure glad I was in a cart rather than walking, I had forgotten how hilly that course was. The greens were as always super fast and our group were all guilty of more than one three punt.

Congradulations to the winners on the day Rat (Green Jacket) Maxy (Black Jacket) Hammer (Glug’s Mug) and Coogs (Sweepstake)

On a soper note I must congratulate the greens staff for the great condition the course was in with the recent passing of the Greens Superintendant Tony Jonus.

Regards

The weather was again extremely kind to us Friday at Wellsford so no excuses for poor golf. Could have done with a cart instead of grunting the trundler up and down the hills as it was so bloody hot. Nice to see the new shirts being worn by just about everyone… for those who weren’t present I just want to mention the shot of the day, on the 10^th, the hole that runs parallel the main road, Spring dog was slightly wayward with an iron shot which was heading out onto oncoming traffic and hit the side of a forty foot container truck and bounced back in 3 meters beyond the green, a marvellous result.