Ideal golfing conditions was the key for some exceptional scores that came from the stableford round at Penola Golf Course on Saturday.
It was a two horse race for the A Grade with Greg Hutchesson winning on countback with 43 points and a 76 off the stick.
His game was on from the start with long straight drives rarely missing fairways and pinpoint accurate approach shots hitting greens regularly.
Hutchesson had a little trouble on the sixth, losing his ball in the sand after another drive carried through the fairway.
After much searching he made the long walk back to the tee and was rewarded by managing to score a point.
On the 17th he landed his second shot on and calmly knocked in the three metre putt to clean out the eagles nest.
Lindsay Storer also had a day out with 43 points and was square with the card playing the last hole, which unfortunately he double bogeyed for a 74 off the stick.
His front nine got the ball rolling with 23 points starting the day with a birdie.
He was travelling well on the back nine also till the last hole where perhaps he may have been a little bit pleased with how his card was going.
In third place was Leo Price with 40 points which in recent weeks would have been enough for the win.
He also played some terrific golf and was consistent in scoring.
The final place went to Jeremy Briggs with a lazy 36 points.
The B Grade winner was Curt Evans whose card was of two completely different nines.
He scratched around the front nine with three wipes and scoring only 14 points.
After the break of a hot dog and Gatorade he came out firing with a 42 off the stick and a massive 24 points.
The handicapper may have to look long and hard at his future rounds with consistent play starting to reward him.
A countback was needed for the runner-up spot which went to the Nangwarry south player in John Wilkinson over Terry Devlin both with 36 points.
Brad Mathys found some of his past form for 35 points.
The nearest the pin winners were Nathan Williams on the seventh, Terry Devlin on the ninth and Pete Bullock on the 16th.
Grant Stephenson had the best 3rd on the 14th for an easy tap in birdie.
The prized chocolates went to David Boyd who could do nothing like last week when he came home with the top prize, proving a week is a long time in golf.
Next week will be the local heroes IGA Monthly Medal and with hot temperatures forecast an early tee off may be on the cards.
Players please notify captain if you would like to tee off early.

Full results to be found here.

The weather was near perfect as a merry group of 16 golfers hit the course for a stableford round.

With a light breeze blowing scores were going to be hot but David ‘Stump’ Murray took it to the extreme to win the A grade and have score of the day. His round of 42 points was by far the standout. He had 10 pars for the day and the only trouble Stump had was on the 9th and 18th where he only just managed to score on both.

A distant second was his playing partner who scored a creditable 38 points. Andrew ‘Senior’ Hutchesson  had 8 pars for the day and as always as he lets all know it could have been a lot better if some of the putts would just fall in.

Peter Walker enjoyed the half time hot dog and came out firing for a total of 36 points to do enough to get over the line on countback over Peter Lunnay who did the opposite after the break by going of the boil and struggled to score on 2 holes.

The B grade was a lot closer with Dean Moore winning on countback with 36 points. He has glimpses of past form but each week he still seems to maintain his current handicap. Also on 36 was Mark Edwards who after a day at the races it could be said that he is definitely a sprinter and not a stayer. He fired an impressive front 9 with 23 points but petered out near the finish with only 13 points.

A three-way countback was needed to work out the minor placings going to David Boyd, Ant Mathys and Allen Meyer all finishing on 33 points.

The Patrick’s of Coonawarra NTP’s winners were David Boyd on the 7th and 9th with Lindsay Storer taking home the best 2nd on the 12th.Meanwhile the Redman Wines Progressive NTP still there for Boydy to lose with his shot coming to rest just a tad over a metre away, which will take some beating.

Next week will be Young’s the Man Shop Monthly Medal and hopefully the numbers will be on the increase as people slowly start getting back to work after their extended Xmas break.

Full results to be found here.

New member, Pete Bullock, took advantage of his first Saturday outing with an official handicap to obliterate the course and the opposition for a stunning net 56 at Penola Golf Club on Saturday. With a jovial group of 23 players playing in the first competition in the new year, the atmosphere was pretty relaxed. Conditions were tricky with a strong westerly gusting throughout the day. The only good thing about playing in a strong breeze, was that it limited the fly population on each player to slightly less than 100.

Bullock was impressive from the outset parring the difficult first hole. He was consistent all day, with only one double bogey amongst two pars and two great birdies on the 5th and 17th holes. So impressive was his form, that he beat his previous handicap setting score by 16 shots! Bullock not only had round of the day, but took out the B-Grade prize as well.

In the A-Grade, Leo Price continued on his rich vein of form with nett 71. Starting with three pars, he continued to pepper the pin, notching up another seven in the rest of his round.

Hot on his heels were Schnitzel Williams and Grant Stephenson who had to be split on countback, with the former getting the nod. Williams was ensuring that he gets in as many good rounds as possible before Dustin Fletcher Jnr is born in a few weeks’ time. Shooting 37 on the back nine indicated that he is not far away from peak form.

Stephenson also did his best work on the back nine shooting 40 with three pars and a birdie.

The wily old veteran, Peter Walker, rounded out the placings with net 74.

The B-Grade was a one horse- or bullock rather – race with a runaway winner. Finishing runner up and rather despondent was Dean Moore, who’s score of net 68 would normally be enough to see the cash, but not today. This would have been devastating for Moore, who takes every opportunity to cash up. He played his normal steady round, somehow without ever losing shots on his handicap. He had 42 on the front nine – with four pars, a very good score for anyone in B-Grade.

In third place was Curt Evans with a steady nett 72. Evans played well despite using a second had putter after the head and handle of his own parted company sometime before Christmas.   

Mark Edwards also continued a good run of form with net 73 to finish fourth.

The Lone Ranger competition was won the consistent grouping of Schnitzel, Evans, Moore and Kuhl, who had a very impressive nett 64 ¾.

Other prizes were won by Nathan Williams on the 7th and 17th and Lindsay Storer on the 9th. The Redman’s December progressive nearest the pin was won by Bill Cheers, who hit a great shot to 59cm of the hole to take home the claret.

Greg Hutchesson had a day to forget as he took home the chocolates. His round included a 15 and a drive on the 17th that finished up behind the men’s tee block. Neither of which are easy to achieve.

The other special mention goes to George Kidman, who had 44 points on Thursday. For those not on social media or within listening distance to the POW Thursday night, probably hadn’t heard. Well played George.      

As the seaside holiday makers slowly meander back to the village and work, fields will continue to grow as players take advantage of the sun. Check the program or website for this week’s competition details.   

Full results to be found here.