Battle recommenced on the open Eastern Golf Course. After negotiating the partial closure of Victoria Road, the combatants all arrived ready for the 7.30am start. A pleasing site and perhaps unexpected was the manicured, green fairways. Well, they were appreciated, unexpected when surrounding hills and paddocks were dry and brown.
A briefing on local rules set the tone and players were sent to the four points of the compass. Some had to trek up a few hills, others just had a long march to the hit off zones. Overseers in hot air balloons sailed colourfully and majestically by as we began smiting the little white defenceless balls. Pelicans in the pond by the tenth tee were happy to watch. Not one offered or needed to retrieve balls. Lucky for them and golfers. The kangaroos that inhabit the area did not intrude at all. There were no recorded snake sightings to upset concentration. Whew!!
As the day wore on, matches were sorting out who played consistently or erratically. Some players held the lead all day. Erratic players changed the lead with every hole and went the distance. Tentative putting, the bane of all golfers is the undoing of many good rounds and two shots in bunkers helps no one either.
The biggest winner for the day was Darryl Maher, (Heritage team manager) beating his Gardiners Run opponent 9 up with 7 to play. Only six squared matches were recorded. Joe Sykes (Box Hill team manager) slam dunked his pitch to win the last hole and the match. His amazed opponent had only a gimme to halve, but Joe didn’t want that.
Golf is a tough game for old guys but not rough. Tell that to Barry Lacy. He slipped in a bunker on 17, and hurting his elbow and arm was forced to retire and concede. Get well quickly Barry, Box Hill needs you.
Everyone finished by 12.30pm and settled in for a terrific lunch and some rehydration. Sated and slaked, attention spans lengthened, it was time for thanks and presentation of results. All proceeded smoothly including advertising the Star News.
The day was another success for the Eastern Suburbs +55 Senior Pennant players and all were on the way home by 1.30pm to beat school traffic.
Here are the results.
Gold Group:
Gardiners Run 5 def Heritage 3, Eastern 5 ½ def Box Hill 2 ½ Churchill/Waverley 5 ½ def Yering Meadows 2 ½.
Green Group:
Eastern 6 def Box Hill 2, Yering Meadows 4 ½ def Churchill/Waverley 3 ½ ,Heritage 4 ½ def Gardiners Run 3 ½ .
Until next week keep smiling and look out for golf jokes.
