By David Waters
Round two of the Eastern Suburbs +55 Senior Pennant was held at the Box Hill Golf Club on Friday 7 February. The players and managers expected another very warm day. Similar if not quite as hot as the week before. Mild conditions greeted the players, overcast and almost misty. Did the heavier atmosphere affect the golf? No. The joking and banter in the groups lightened the day as it always does. The new pennant competitors were welcomed in filling the void of those no longer capable of the early starts or long days.
As the veteran players passed along it was interesting to see a variety of knee braces and other bandages, just a sign of wearing out. New parts aren’t easily obtained, and so we persevere. The use of carts, painkillers before playing and a few drinks afterwards help us enjoy our play time.
Apart from the repartee and story telling we have other highlights. Leigh Simons of Churchill/Waverley was putting on the 18th green. His battery driven buggy engaged auto and drove into a bunker. On the same green another player saw his push buggy run away to the road 40 metres away. Both groups had a chuckle at the owner’s expense. Luckily no damage.
Gardiners Creek runs through the Box Hill course. It causes hearts to beat faster and increase blood pressure at the thought of crossing to the green or tree lined fairway. A few players succumbed and plopped the ball in the creek for a drink. One Joe Sykes, the Box Hill team manager, bounced over the creek. He called loudly “oh no” on the first tee only for his ball to land hard and jump the water. With another shot he dropped into the creek but bounced out, much to the dismay of his opponent. Joe went on to win 4 up with 3 to play.
A lot of lucky shots were played and some that were very good too. Duffers aren’t commented on but the thousands ‘do we exaggerate?’ of putts touch the cup and slide past are talked about for ages. In every case the complaint is I can’t read the greens for speed or borrow. That’s what makes our golf so entertaining.
It was topsy-turvy not only with our week-to-week conditions. The results and therefore, the ladders are unpredictable. Teams that were demolished in the first round came back to dismantle the opposition this week. The competition is fairly even currently, with a few matches finishing early at 6 up 5 to play. Many of the matches went the full distance and entered into the last hole one up or square.
Here are the results:
Gold group,
Heritage 6 def Yering Meadows 2, Box Hill 4 ½ def Churchill/Waverley 3 ½, Eastwood 7 def Gardiners Run 1
Green group
Eastwood 7 ½ def Gardiners Run ½, Heritage 4 ½ def Yering Meadows 3 ½, Box Hill 5 ½ def Churchill/Waverley 2 ½.
