ResultsReport 1Report 2Report 3Photos 1Group 1 by Stu Rich
It was a nervous first swing with the pressure of the jacket on defending Spackler champion Stuart Rich as he got the day off to a good start with a shot up the middle. Little did the others know that he was once a member of this club back in the day, and local knowledge could have come into play. After missing an early birdie putt, he took a regulation par and was confident of a good day ahead. After a solid drive, Matty Kent started with a sprayed approach that headed towards the driveway entrance to the golf club and an early wipe was recorded.
Dave Elms (eventual winner) was off to a solid start with the big man quietly moving through the earlier Spackler grades. Rounding out the group was the third lefty James where he let his hybrid do the talking through all 18 holes, and what a solid decision that was as this group could have displayed the most consistent and long drives I have been involved in.
Throughout the front 9, Dave kept making pars and scoring points, Matty Kent couldn’t make many putts but was playing with consistency, Stu was up and down like a yo-yo in the early holes before getting some rhythm back, and James was quietly going about his work looking for those double bunger big point scoring holes.
Some drama on the infamous 9th with Stu potting both balls from the tee and the drop zone, with a little controversy as both shots cleared the lake, but hit the bank and rolled back into the water. Now as most of us know, this would call for a drop on the other side of the water, no nearer the hole, but the local rule sign took proceedings here… Stu was joined in the water by James while Matt and Dave safely hit the green with no real troubles.
Dave was a few up after 9, and looking to continue his good form through the back, Matt was level, and Stu and James a couple down. After a midway snack of snags, sausage rolls, the boys crunched away to the 10th with birdie chances going begging. I would love to give you all a total of the amount of birdie putts missed by this group. All in all over the next few holes, drives were smashed, Matt Kent outdrove Stu by about 3m to claim the Long drive on the 13th, and some solid golf was being played. Stu rounded out with a nearest the pin on the par 3 18th (but missed the putt as he did for most of his birdie chances all day).
Eventual winner Dave ended with 42 pts in a hassle free round where he just went about his business like a pro, Stu a solid 38 pts without making any clutch putts, Matty Kent 36 which could have been anything… Look out next Spackler XIII, and James who just needs to let rip with a driver on 26 pts.
Group 3 by Herb
Group 3, as it was known on the Carl Spackler Live Leader board, had an up and down day, however Bathwater’s score of 35 points was more than enough to win the coveted 2009 Carl Spackler Trophy. Other scores in the group were ordinary, Mudge 33, Herb 31, Tim(Tammy) 26.
The highlight of the day came as Bathwater got more and more distracted by the chance of winning $200 cash. By the 17th hole he was so caught up with the money he started bagging the importance of the jacket which backfired badly and this is a lesson to all those who play for money and not the Jacket. After the slagging the Jacket he missed his short putt on 17 and proceeded this by hitting his next two shots into the lake on 18, game over. Chris, in a first for Spackler Golf, has been officially reported to the Spackler Committee for disciplinary procedures, so watch the Spackler Blog sight for Judge AD decision.
Tim or Tammy as he became fondly know as, started okay but found great difficulty understanding you weren’t meant to have two chips(rather putts) on each hole. Tammies mental issues got worse as he just could hit the ball past the hole on the green and got heavily questioned about his sexuality. He still had a smile at the end of the day when many of us would have just walked off.
Mudge got off to a flyer with 20 points in the first nine with some great stroke play, at this point he realised he might win if he kept it up, so he blobbed the next two holes and tailed off for a disappointing 33 points in all, maybe next time Mudge. Like Bathwater, he will go in front of the disciplinary committee for taking off with the scores cards and doing a good job of disqualifying himself and his cart buddy(Herb). I understand he got a call from the Wife to come home fast, however I’m not sure AD will have much forgiveness for this excuse.
Herb was never in the contest at the Heritage, a result due to significant mental damage from a shanking feast the night before. How come practise works for Tiger Woods?
Group 4 by Greeny
Nick, Ben and Greeny made up the 4th group out for the day and it didn't take Nick and Ben long to get themselves on the board with some fine pars on the first. Ben shot out the blocks with 9 points after 3 holes and was the early leader. Glen managed to breathe a sigh of relief on the 4th gathering his first point for the day, he wasn't to get another 'til the 7th - the biggest culprit, his putter.
Nick began to find water and all players were glad to see the end of the 6th hole with only Ben getting a point. The putts on the green resembled a snapshot from a LHC experiment - particles spiralling off in all directions. Only Nick struggled on the par-3 ninth and going into the back nine, Ben had turned with 21 points and in second place.
Glen's putter decided to play hard ball on the 10th and he rattled in a solid birdie putt that made the back of the whole about a half inch bigger than it was before we arrived. Greeny was solid on the greens as well and really could not have shot any better on the day despite hitting OOB on the short par-3 12th. Ben was rattling along at a great pace but wiped 3 of 4 holes through 13 to 16.
Shout's of "Smurf Power!" greeted Nick from Crapper's group after he'd struggled yet again off the tee on 15 but he managed to pull together a nice couple of holes to finish well including a great par on 17. Glen was beginning to show what could be done once he learns how to putt with 17 points on the back nine and a great up and down (to zero applause) on the final hole.
Greeny's pressure cooker comments had the reverse effect on Ben over the finishing holes. Sensing he might be able to psyche BW out of a good round, Ben responded beautifully with two pars to finish the day. He did however admit later that he was very close to crumbling completely. Lock that away for next time everyone.
Group 6 by AD
Group 6 consisted of a 2009 Jacket winner, a father in-law/son in-law combination and former double winner and inaugural trophy winner! These players also went by the names of Johan, Richard (debut), Nathan and AD!
Heading out last this group felt like they played into the wind on every hole, although AD showed some early glimpses of form of years past with back to back 3 pointers on the 2nd and 3rd holes, that was the highlight of his round! Johan was struggling early losing a ball on each of the first two holes and literally looking under every tree and bush for a point, managing 1 in the first 5 holes and hitting the turn with a total of 7! That pretty much left his trophy aspirations in the hazard and unplayable!
Richard, with the worlds most controlled fade went about hitting fairways and greens and hit the turn with a respectable 15 points. Nathan playing his second game of golf in a week, which was also his second game in a year, couldn’t convert enough 1 pointers into 2’s and 3’s and on the back couldn’t hang on to salvage even a few one pointers, in a day I’m sure he’s rather forget, unless it was some sort of, let your father in-law beat you type of capers!!
On the inward 9, Johan found some form with 18 points, hit some big drives and played more what resembled golf then he had earlier in the day, often to be heard repeating “I’ve probably played 500 rounds of golf in my life, but never this bad…” I really think he was just overawed early by the fact he was sitting next to one of Spackler Golf’s grand champions!!!
Richard didn’t have a bad inward 9, he again just couldn’t convert into big scores, although it could’ve been that the nurofen and beer combination he had BEFORE play was starting to wear off!!! Nathan had conceded to his father in-law and had also given up more then a few balls to the golfing gods, maybe two games in a year is just to much?!
AD was horrible on the way in, hitting three off the tee about 4 holes in a row to start the back nine, it felt more like the driving range then a competitive round, generally the snap hook was followed by something more resembling a golf shot, straight and down the middle, but he had little left by the end and provided little more then light entertainment for his playing group, maybe I’ll try the nurofen/beer combo and see if that works!!
The highlights package would be brief if it was shown, although AD won nearest pin on 9th, Johan really banging the driver on the way in, whilst also getting plenty of bunker practice, while Richard and Nathan added the odd piece of quality!
The bacon and egg rolls and cold beer won the day! Great work to Elmsy “The shandyman” on his win and Bathwater too on taking the trophy, see you all on the trip or early next year.>
