28 February at Hamersley

• We have 6 groups and 6 carts reserved with a 09:00 start time (to be confirmed)

• We currently require all 6 groups (for 22 players) and only 3 carts

• Tentatively in carts are: JoeB/Tony, Aussie/Lindsay and Barrie/Prickles

• There are 2 playing spots and plenty of cart seats still available

• The Pairs Grand Final is on: Dom/JK v Pete/Brad

• We are playing Stroke for Prickles' trophies

• It is also the Mystery Nine day for February

• The Mug holder for February is Wilbur

Group and cart requirements need to be finalised by Wednesday evening.

I will be confirming numbers with the course on Thursday morning.

21 February at Hamersley

The strong southerly’s forecast for yesterday at Hamersley came true, and Dom compensated for the breeze with a hair containing anti frazzle thingy – it looked good tho’, very good. 19 starters fronted, & played stroke for the Club Trophies (read “Tony’s money”). It was also Pairs Prelim Final day.

OFF COURSE STUFF:

·         Forget the usual format for this column, the big story out of yesterday was Collingwood, yes them, asking their elderly members to donate to the club via their wills. Yes you heard that right, the club wants your money when you are dead, in preference to your dear and grieving wife, let alone your cash strapped kids and hangers on! Crikey. Eddie McGuire said: "Hey, you fish where the fish are, don't you?" – I’ll pay that one Ed! I’ve gotta get on with golfing news now, but here’s the whole terrible story . . . . . . https://www.nine.com.au/sport/afl/news-2026-collingwood-magpies-bequest-letter-will-criticism-social-media-club-response-20260219-p5o3sx.html

·         And more off course – OJ, very generously, offered to play yesterday, to boot the pairs comp along, but first had to get his extra days golf proposal past his better half. He took a very deep breath on Monday and said “Darl, I’d like to play . . .” at which point she chopped him out (spoke over the top of him) and said “I’m really busy with study for the next few months, you should play golf on a Saturday more often”. Whoa, what a win, what a productive discussion! And so OJ is now on the booking sheet, with “P” in the left column, and “P” all the way across to the right column 3 months hence, sensational.

·         And even more off course – JK has been trying to improve his putting in recent months, his summary was that his putting was “F’d”, consistently penciling in 34 and 35 putts per round, no good that. And so 3 months back he watched U-tube, and was sold a “putting mirror” and a mat, from a reputable retailer. This would surely fix his “alignment” issues. The results were outstanding, putting like a demon (high 20’s) 3 weeks in a row from that point. Then it all went south again, and now JK is seriously considering UNPACKING his golf mirror/mat. Yes they haven’t even left the boxes yet! Classic. Can I borrow them JK?

ON COURSE – at last, the proper stuff:

·         A flurry (that means a lot) of hitlers: 1. Andy on the 10th, that’s a tough hole to get a hitler on, sends a ferret along the ground and BANG – IN. Well done Andy! (2 ferrets to Andy yesterday) 2. Dom on 12 sinking a big putt from 35m, to raucous applause. 3. Same for OJ to square the pairs hole – great golf. 4. And Steve on 12, off the green as well, sinking a cracking 15m putt – to no applause whatsoever - cause Clive and Pete weren’t watching. Sorry Steve, but we do believe you!

·         Dom on the P5 6th drives it long and wide right. He hits a provvy but manages to find his original, and 5 other balls, great effort. Then followed Rick-O-Shay’ing amongst the trees to be left 70m out for 10 shots. I love the “stroke” format, it makes you concentrate, for long periods in this case! 10 shots and still 70m out, not good, but he stuck with it & chipped to 4 feet (1.2m) and rolled the putt in for a 12. Well done Dom.
·         Steve on the P3 7th didn’t strike it that well, and let fly with “reserved” expletives – like ####, and $$$$. It wasn’t that bad, I have heard worse, but it was the audience that was the problem. A bunch of primary school age kids were filing down to the driving range approx 30m away, and they all stopped and propped. How do you think those kids responded with their first bad shot of the day Steve? You might have started something here!

·         Tony on the P5 14th has hit 4 good shots, to be on the green, and rewarded with a putt for par. He does his homework on this one, as it’s not everyday that you’re in with a good chance of parring 14 – I never am! He scopes it out and let’s the putt roll, but it’s clear that it’s way right, tracking to be 6” right of the hole, disappointing. BUT, BUT there was a stray leaf, on the green to the right, with pointy end pointing at Tonys ball, and fat end curling left to the hole. Tonys ball was slowing, it ran up onto the leaf, followed the spine of the leaf faithfully, and TIPPED IN for a wonderful par, Sensational.

·         And Pig played the last 3 holes with a 5 iron, cause he doesn’t like Hamersley, it’s the worst golf course in the whole of Karrinyup. We should play our golf on that “other” Karrinyup course – Capt Bruce, OJ, can you make enquiries pls ? ?

PAIRS:

It was 2025 Pairs Prelim final day, time to strap your hair down and get very serious, with the Joeys facing off against the DJ’s. Crunch time, and the match was all square after 2 holes, with the expected jousting match playing out. Holes were being “halved” with birdies, and lost with pars, it was on like Kong! JK and Dom’s noses in front at the turn 1 up.

Dom & JK closed it out on the 16th, 4 up with two to play, and finished with a match score of 7-3.

Later at the Bowlo, Dom explained the secret – that JK had contributed for 10 holes, and Dom for 11. Holey cow I was stuck for the maths on that for a minute, but there’s a salutary lesson here for OJ and Joe - and that is if you are only going to contribute for an aggregate 18 holes, well that’s just not enough – you need to do more. Simple.

But very well done to The Joeys this season, finishing top spot on the ladder, but unfortunately bowing out in straight sets, and taking 3rd place for season 2025.

The DJ’s now face the very daunting task of wresting the Pairs Trophy off Quiet Achievers Brad and Pete in next weeks Grand Final – good luck all.

WINNERS:

In  second place ($20) was yours truly with a net 70, very happy with that.

And winning the day ($40) with a net 69 (off a 15 handicap) was Steve, great golf Steve. I don’t know what you were worried about on the 7th?

Thank you for all the money Tony.

Till next time

Pete