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Historical Add some interest when you 'blow' the competition of the day. Though not really historical, this article does involve a tradition kept here. It's not uniquely Mt. Lofty. The Split-Sixes Side Match. (Mostly played by jokers, but the sheilas are welcome to try it.) For betting purposes, the course is divided into 3 lots of 6 sequential holes. Wagers are made on each six, the match total and "Cuts, Sidies, Extras or Sundries" as below. e.g. $0.50 per "6" & $1.00 for the match, plus "Cuts" at, say, $0.10, $0.20 or $0.50 each. How to Score Note: There are 6 points available on each hole.
Payment is calculated by each player offsetting his winnings against losses to each of the others. Sounds complicated but it's not really. Even on a bad day you can win a $ & keep your temper. Frank Coulter, Club Historian. Reminiscing
The semi final had to be played after lunch The well-earned camaraderie of the clubhouse; a pie or a sandwich, a red and a quick fag for the caddie as once again the heroes stood on the first. Things went well until the 4th, when the sign "Aggressive Wild Bees" deterred close inspection of the rough. If killer bees were in the trees then who knows what inhabited the creek near the green. The heroes let discretion prove the better part of valor and conceded the hole. By now the fairways had dried, the greens were fast and trampled; this was a new game. Three 7 woods got John to putting distance on the 5th, one 7 wood gave him a putt on the 6th and three 7 woods put him within sight of the hole on the 7th. He was two down at the turn. The strategy of 'come from behind' was executed over the next two holes. Nobody has ever executed a nine hole 'come from behind' strategy with such precision. All was square at the 14th. The sun came out, John fell to his knees and the 7 wood was dubbed 'Savior of the Unfortunate'; he has slept with his symbol of divine intervention ever since. The remaining holes were played out sportingly. Don Quixote triumphed. He and his squire were ready for the final of the Summer Cup and Summer came with a chance to go to the polls. Sunshine, a new champion and a new government in the same day! Who would have thought it? Lack of match practice in the opponent's lead up, a four shot advantage in handicap, and denial of sexual favors on the eve of this contest had the duo finely tuned The opponent was the clear leader for more than half the round. Once again the lead was conceded for long enough for the opposition to believe that victory was inevitable, but he was overrun by the l5th where some golfers get 2 strokes in C Grade and some only get one. Never underestimate the l5th. The 16th can be played with courage or safety, but always rewards those who balance the two. It leads you to forget just beating your opponent in match-play and go for personal glory. But, remember Caddie tip number 67; 'Let the opponent make the errors.' John did and won. Are Don Quixote and his faithful caddie heading for the lucrative Masters Tour of the USA? We just raise our glasses to a great course, a great club and our many fans. Incidentally, we deny knowledge of bringing killer bees to the course. Our staff report that nobody knew anything about bees, killer or otherwise. The President can feel secure that the invasion is not the subject of a Senate Inquiry into 'Bees Overboard.' Oh, the glory of match-play at Mount Lofty! The Caddie,
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Morning
regulars face morning chills, intermittent showers and dewy greens
streaked with ball marks; afternoon stalwarts have fitful sunshine,
trading off extra run for worn greens. We've enjoyed a favorable season.
Tomatoes mightn't ripen, but the unseasonable summer has ripened a
veteran. I'll take you around the course from the perspective of a
caddie for the C Grade Champion of the Summer Cup, John Ryan. Such
events are the essence of golf. Two golfers pitting their skills against
the course and each other, hole by hole. In match play, John is the
essential minimalist. As distinct from archery, (equipment 90%, mind 10%
for the amateur), we saw the corollary in the semi final when the
challenger arrived in a Daimler and had a remote controlled, NASA
designed, all terrain, artificial intelligence engineered golf buggy.
Ironically the technology was beaten by a persistent veteran with a 7
wood and an old yet unerring putter. Don Quixote tilts at James Bond.
The C Grade Summer Cup 1/4 final of the was like Hannibal's Wars. The
might of Rome and elephants versus the foot soldiers of Gaul, was
mirrored in the contest between a legal giant and his referee-caddy in
their motorized buggy, against the plucky veteran; his servant pulling a
crude cart. History was rewritten on the 18th; our duo triumphing at
last. War is a harsh term, because the repartee was congenial, not
distracting. Peter Walsh, congratulations on being beaten only by the
champ!