Saturday August 25th – Monthly Medal – Stroke & Putts

For the first time this month the sun was out and there had been no rain for for almost a week.  The fairways, while still soft, were firm enough to mow and the course was looking good.  When play began there was only the slightest of south-westerly winds so golfers were looking to a great day on course and possibly some good scoring.  The field soon found that, despite the good conditions, scoring was going to be tough.  Balls plugged on the fairways but were usually quickly found others, shots a few metres into the rough, often proved far more difficult to locate; every group spent some time chasing down these errant shots.  The speed of the greens proved a real challenge for some whilst others, especially club captain Scott Williams, seemed able to put every putt straight in.  With the football final next door the cheers for a goal sometimes coincided with a great drive or a good putt, the golfer involved appreciated the vicarious support.  On a wonderful, late winter’s day, the results were;

Winner and August Medallist; Anthony Lakey – 95/22/73 from Jim Patton – 93/19/74

NTPs; 15th – Anthony Lakey

Least Putts; Mal Mottram – 27

Thursday August 23rd – Avenel Tournament

Jenny Hartley and Wendy Gosden represented RGC at the Avenel Tournament.   After so many wet weeks in Romsey it was very pleasing to play on a dry course.  The brilliant sunshine for most of the day was also much appreciated.

Wendy did very well winning the C Grade handicap with a score of 104/31/73

Wednesday August 22nd – Stableford – “The Old Course”

Due to a busy week of golf, Tues. Par 3 at Kyneton and Thurs. Avenel Tournament, it was decided to reduce the competition to 12 holes. On a great day for golf, Jenny Hartley continued with her recent good form, only having trouble with the trees on the last hole.

Winner: Jenny Hartley (16) 22 pts. from Wendy Gosden.

Tuesday August 21st – Kyneton G. C. Par 3

Jenny Hartley and Wendy Gosden represented RGC at Kyneton for their Par 3 competition.  The course was quite wet underfoot but a big field of 104 enjoyed a very chilly day.  Despite enjoying the round RGC’s team were not really up with the winners.   bIt was a good day and everyone enjoyed a very nice lunch.

Saturday August 18th – Stableford

After a windy and reasonably dry week members had been able to get on course and cut most of the fairways but rain overnight again saw a very soft course. The forecast of freezing conditions and gusting winds did not really eventuate on the front nine and, despite the soft course,  a number of players were able to play to, or just below, their handicaps.  The back nine was a very different affair.  The wind blew, the temperature dropped and the promised freezing rain fell.  All golfers had difficulty gripping clubs and the gusting westerly wind proved more than challenging, both off the tee and with approach shots.  Players who allowed for the wind often found it dropped as their ball was in the air while others who played directly at the green found their shot ending up well wide.  There was some winter sun but it was capricious, coming and going as only it saw fit.  While the back nine was more than challenging it was very good to see the greens continued to run very true and at a good pace.  On another very difficult “day at the the office” the scores were;

Winner; Anthony Lakey (22) – 28 pts from Chris vanDerVliet (23) – 27 pts  (Yes it was that tough!)

Wednesday August 15th – 4BBB Stableford – 12-hole “Old Course”

With virtually no rain since Saturday, some sun and a deal of wind the course had dried out a lot so there was some run on the fairways.  The wind, which alternated between strong to very strong made it very difficult to achieve any distance and often saw balls veer well off course.  The greens had all dried out considerably and were running very true.  On a very windy morning the rest;ts were;

Winners;  Jenny Hartley (16)/Wendy Gosden (19) – 21pts c/b.

Saturday August 11th – 4B Multiplier Stableford

The very dedicated members who took to the course faced an astoundingly cold afternoon with gusting NW winds.  After 40+mm of rain falling late in the week  the course was again very heavy with casual water on almost every fairway.  Well placed drives were often hard to find as almost every shot plugged, almost to the depth of the ball.  The conditions saw all teams struggling to post a respectable score, the format punishes teams where one player “wipes” a hole and even if the other player had pared or better that hole the team score is zero.  As the round drew to a close there was  20 minutes of freezing wind and sleet which really challenged all pairs who were still on the course.  Under the tough conditions any pair who could play steady golf over the whole 18 holes had a good chance of coming out on top.  On a very challenging afternoon the results were;

Winners; Michael Squire (7)/Scott Williams (19) – 51 pts from Andrew Laing (18)/John Freestone (20) – 40 pts

The annual Romsey  G. C. Vs Mount Macedon G. C. challenge, The Macedon Ranges Spring Cup will be held at Romsey on Saturday September 22nd, 9.00 am for a 9.30 am hit-off. Visitors welcome, $25.00 for the day including hearty afternoon tea and allowing everyone to get home to watch the AFL preliminary Final.

Saturday August 4th – Par

With almost 25mm of rain falling on Friday an already soft, wet course became softer and wetter.  The round began with a gusting NW wind and overcast skies.  The sun shone through after about five holes and the wind died down for the back nine however, scoring proved very difficult.  The wind played havoc  with drives and saw approach shots  often move well wide of the greens.  When on the green players had to allow for the borrow as well as the gusting wind, if the wind suddenly dropped putts often slipped passed, just wide of the cup.  The difficult conditions meant that no-one was able to play near their handicap on the front nine, the slightly better conditions on the back nine saw most players perform better.  On a very “tough day at the office” the results were;

Winner; Anthony Lakey (22) -4 C/B from Chris vanDerVliet (23)

NTPs; 15th – Michael Nicholls Jnr

Wednesday August 1st – Three Club Event

The field teed off in beautiful sunshine but on a very heavy course for the club’s 3 club event (including putter).   Players who were able to keep the ball low and gain some skip off the fairways did well, any high approach shot had to be right on target or players found themselves  with challenging chips or long putts from off the green.  As the round progressed many players wished they had made different choices when selecting their different clubs.   The choice of clubs proved vital, while a few players tried  5 wood, 7 iron and putter Jenny Hartley showed that her choice of driver, 5 wood and putter worked better across the course. On a beautiful, winter’s morning the results were;

Winner; Jenny Hartley (24) – 29 pts from Elaine Scanlon (30) C/B from Wendy Gosden (29) 24 pts

Saturday July 28th – Monthly Medal – Stroke & Putts

A good field teed off in the July medal however conditions were tough.  There was some winter sun and only a gentle south-westerly breeze but all players found it difficult to card a good score.  After 25mm of rain during the week and many heavy dews the course was again very soft meaning virtually no run.  Approach shots had to be”spot-on” or players were left with very difficult chips to get “up and down in regulation”.  It was good to welcome back  member Jim Patton who had not been able to play for a number of months because of a back injury.  On a very challenging day the results were;

Winner; Pat Chisholm – 86/11/75 C/B

July Medalist; Michael Squire – 82/7/75

Least Putts; Michael Squire – 26 (Also won the raffle so an excellent day)