Monday, August 18th
Crystal Bay C & A.
1st Anders Nielsen (26) 35 points
2nd Alan Howard (22) 34 points
3rd Michael Brett (13) 32 points
Near pins Alan Howard, & Michael Brett
A new week began at Crystal Bay where those not ill, injured, or away on holiday participated.The course was as good as we have seen it in years, there was even maintenance being carried out on the course, something we can never recall seeing. There was an interval of about forty minutes for the last group, not sure if that fully explains why the winners came from that group.
Fresh back from a scuba diving trip to Vietnam Anders Nielsen showed he is a man of many parts taking first place with thirty-five points, one ahead of Alan Howard in second place. After a long layoff with a shoulder problem third placed Michael Brett showed glimpses of a game with thirty-two points, two wipes put paid to any chance of a better score. Only two near pins were taken, a very poor effort.
Wednesday, August 20th
Greenwood A & B.
1st Alan Howard (22) 37 points
2nd Robbie Watts (13) 37 points
3rd Greg Berry (14) 35 points
4th Anders Nielsen (26) 32 points
Near pins Greg Berry, Alan Howard, & Gerry Cooney X 2.
One might reasonably think that if you had a quality course at very favourable all-in fees that you hit the jackpot, particularly in low season. Alas it was not to be, four golf societies were booked in to play Greenwood today and we unfortunately were stuck behind a group playing at snails pace. The problem was exacerbated by the fact the C nine was closed so everybody was crammed onto the A & B nines. Under the circumstances one might think the officials would open the C nine, no such luck. To make matters worse we had our biggest field of this low season, eighteen, even with one late withdrawal.
The course was damp in places resulting in several mud-balls and there was no relief from that situation, we used to allow cleaning the ball with mud on it, however due to abuse of that rule we had to cancel cleaning. The greens were the best we have played in recent weeks.
Overall scores were low for this course with only Alan Howard and Robbie Watts putting in a decent shift, both with thirty-seven points .Greg Berry had his best round for a while with thirty-five points in third place and Anders Nielsen rounded out the winners list in fourth place with thirty-two points. Gerry Cooney was on target with the near pins taking the both on the A nine, Greg Berry and Alan Howard got them on the B nine.
Friday, August 22nd
Eastern Star.
1st Bil Richardson (23) 32 points
2nd Anders Nielsen (25) 31 points
3rd Hubert Stiefenhofer (17) 27 points
Near pins.Alan Sullivan, Hubert Stiefenhofer, & Michael Brett
A rather unpleasant day for golf today at Eastern Star. When we arrived early at the course it was raining and as no rain checks were allowed we had to sit it out for about forty minutes till the rain stopped. In the meantime two bus loads from another society arrived and were put out ahead of us so we had to tee off from hole ten. Rain continued for much of the round although it was only a light drizzle. When we got back to the first tee several groups were waiting, luckily we were allowed to play through. This didn’t help as much as we would have liked as several jumped a couple of holes so the back nine was very slow.
With the combination of a damp course with no run and very heavy air the course played particularly long so scoring was very modest to say the least, with nobody coming to terms with the course or the conditions. A five pointer on one hole completely changed the complexion of Bil Richardson’s card allowing him to squeeze past Anders Nielsen by a single stroke, Anders was in the winners circle every day this week. Hubert Stiefenhofer took third. Only three near wins were taken as listed.
Today was the last game for Anders for this tour and the first game for Dave Galvin. More seasonal visitors are now starting to appear, we expect Keith Hemmings to play on Monday, and Tony Robbins back from Oz.
Anders Nielsen, winner at Crystal Bay.
Many golfers may relate to this cartoon.
Alan Howard, winner at Greenwood.
Winner at Eastern Star, Bil Richardson.
