Safety Beach – 26th January, 2025
A welcome return visit to Safety Beach, more than 14 years since our first and only time there. The course got an unfair rap the last time due to the terrible Melbourne weather which had left the course nothing more than a bog, virtually unplayable.
This time, was much different with the members singing its praises. Although short, it was in good condition with a tight layout, making for a range of scores from 37 down to 26.
The course had 7 par 3s to contend with and the prizes went as follows;
4th – Stork. 6th – Hubba, 9th – Hubba, 12th – Taffy, 13th – Girdy, 16th – Stork.
The previously mentioned tight layout proved to be a tad too tight for one member; Ryan who fired a ball straight onto a house roof with such a bang had the owner flying out of his bed in his pyjamas to confront the culprit who he awoke from his Sunday morning slumber.
As the day unfolded, it was clear where the prizes were heading, the final group had big Stork arrive in the clubhouse, firing all sorts of complaints and accusations at all and sundry, with the sole intention of trying to justify his pitiful 26 points for his days shift. Playing off a very generous handicap, some 5 shots over his official GA handicap, and picking up two nearest the pins couldn’t save the big man from taking out NAGA for the day and see the unicorn adorn his head once again.
But the day belonged to one man, the Macster. Recently under fire and under severe pressure of expulsion from the club should he hit the 50 handicap. Macster knuckled down and turned things around recording a three peat, with three wins in a row, 4-ball, 2-ball and now a singles event, sensational stuff.
Macster wiped the floor with the field a carded a score of 39 points, two shots clear to don the tweed with ease.
As the Macster got up to accept his bounty of prizes, he was clearly not happy with the club’s residential photographer and handed his own phone to his partner “take my photo Ryan,” just ensure the moment was caught.
To all who took part in this historic day, will be able to tell the kids and grandkids “I was there, when the Macster donned the tweed in a singles event”.
The secret six was tied between 4 players, the in-house bookie declared this a non-event.
Handicaps were adjusted with Macster going from 47 down to 45, Joe easing out from 13 to 14, Paul from 9 to 10 and Stork from 13 to 14.
It wasn’t lost on the stand-in reporter Barra, that certain individuals seem to be managing their handicaps, not for the first time, on the eve of a marquee event.
As the afternoon settled, the Macster got on a roll and through down a challenge to Clayton that he could take him in a shootout on the last game of the season at Devilbend, the stake $20. Challenge accepted by Clayton.
Thanks to the event management team of the day Taffy and Mitch, with delivering the much anticipated lamb shanks and Mitch dishing up a couple of cheesecakes and ice-cream, superb.
Round 5: Safety Beach: January 26th: Singles: 8.00am tee-off
Group 1: Taffy (18), Girdy (7), Mitch (22), Hubba (23)
Group 2: Joe (13), Baby Koala (22), Clayton (43), Paul (9)
Group 3: Billy Mc (47), Barra (17), Billy A (14), Ryan (23)
Group 4: Scott (14), Stork (13), Sutho (33), Tommy (27)