THE LAKES v CARNARVON GOLF CLUB AT BANKSTOWN GOLF CLUB
MONDAY 14 AUGUST 2023
Here we are at Bankstown Golf Club on Monday 14 August 2023 in our match against Carnarvon Golf Club.
The weather was cloudy, but at the moment it is clear. Rain is forecast for later this afternoon (not again!). The Bankstown Captain told us that the course had taken some water, so there will be some GUR spots and water pooling in low lying areas and in bunkers.
In order of play the team today is:-
Roy Vandersluis
David Buxton
Vince Clark
Kevin Trenorden
Albert Salerno
David Goble
Stuart Beck
Steven Lang
Our numbers 7 and 8 hit nice drives off the tee on the first hole, to be just left of the lefthand fairway bunker. The hole is a strong Par 4 of 370m and we were playing off the blue plates (no quarter given to the old fellas here).
David Goble hit a poor drive into the trees on the left, but was able to come out.
Albert hit a nice draw to the middle of the fairway.
The last two to hit off are David and Roy. So far very few have hit the fairway, from both teams. This group showed their skill by all hitting the fairway off the tee.
Each of our numbers 1 and 2 were just off the green for 2. Unfortunately David 3 putted. Roy 2 putted. They go to the 2nd hole with David 1 down and Roy square. Unhappily I noticed Roy twinge on his iron into the 1st.
At the 4th tee I heard that Steve Lang had birdied the 2nd hole, to go 1 up. His putt on the 3rd green for par just slid by, so he remains 1 up.
Stuart proudly told me that he had just birdied the 3rd hole, a Par 3 of 135m, to go 1 up.
Waiting at the 4th tee I saw Albert’s opponent, Paul Merrigan hit a good tee shot to be 10’ short of the pin. Albert also hit a nice iron shot but it skipped through to the back requiring a chip up to an elevated green, which he put 15’ past. The long putter carried by Paul Merrigan wasn’t good enough to make the birdie, so he is in for 3 with Albert’s 10 footer up the hill required to square the hole.
David Goble’s opponent, John Choi, had missed the green but chipped up to 8’. He missed the putt. David didn’t.
As usual, Albert makes his 10 footer, giving Paul some more grief. Albert’s match is square, but David is 1 down.
On the 3rd Kevin hits a good shot to be to the back of the green with a 25 footer coming down the hill. His opponent chipped it to the right of the green with an uphill chip. Unfortunately it hit the edge of the fringe and raced 20’ past. He couldn’t make the return, so had 4. Kevin left himself nervy 4 footer for his par, but made it. Kevin is 1 up and Vince is square.
Vince had hit his shot off the 3rd tee into the mulga on the left and conceded the hole. That’s why it’s square for his match.
David Buxton hits a beautiful iron to the 3rd hole, but it bounced 6” to the right of where it should, and rolled 15’ down the hill. He has an uphill chip. Roy meanwhile hit a nice shot to the left edge of the green and easily 2 putted for a par. David’s chip is 4’ short of the pin, with an uphill right to left putt. His opponent had putted it to 3’ past and made the putt. Unfortunately David’s 4 footer slid by. Both Roy and David are 2 down.
I got to the 6th green to see Stuart make a nice chip for 3, but it scooted down the hill. He now has to make a 20 footer. After being in trouble off the tee, Steven Lang is on for 4 with a short putt for a bogie. His opponent’s putt slid down the hill but he leaves it about 4’ short.
Stuart sets himself, and even with a little bobble, the putt rolls into the hole for 4. His opponent drains it. The hole is square.
Now it’s up to Steven Lang to make his 5 footer. It just skirted the hole, a miss. His opponent sinks, to win the hole. Stuart is now all square and Steven Lang is 1 down.
Albert boomed his drive on the 6th hole and after an animated conversation with a greenside supporter of his opponent who doesn’t appear to understand the etiquette of golf, he puts his second shot 15’ above the hole. His opponent is short left of the hole for 2 and puts it up to 7’, but then makes the putt for 4. Albert rolled his down the hill a little far. He makes another return putt to square the hole.
After 6, David Goble is 1 down. After numerous breaches of etiquette which upset Albert a bit, I asked Albert what the score was after 6 and he said 1 down. We agreed the best way of teaching the guy good etiquette is to beat his team member.
David Goble is 2 up, but in his own words, playing crap. I told him to keep it up, if he continues to be 2 up.
After 6 holes, Vince is in control at 2 up, but Kevin lost a little bit of ground to be 1 down. A long way to go.
After 6 holes, Roy is 3 down and David Buxton is 3 down. Roy had obviously hurt his back on the 1st hole and I’m wondering whether he shouldn’t retire hurt. He wants to go on and is doing what he can, but we’ll see what happens.
After 9, Stuart is 1 up.
After 9, Roy’s back injury is worse. He is 5 down.
David Buxton has recovered from 3 down to 2 down. He has to win!
The Lakes after 9 holes is 5 matches down, 2 matches up and 1 square.
Something good has to happen for us on the back 9.
I’m waiting at the 13th hole, which is a 152m Par 3.
After 12, Steven Lang is back to square. I see Stuart to the left of the green. He makes a magnificent chip to a pin and a green running front to back. He wins the hole because his opponent’s putt misses and he concedes the hole to Stuart.
Steve’s tee shot is on the green for 1 on 13. He leaves the putt 10’ short but makes the next. His opponent makes his.
After 13 Steve is square and Stuart is 1 up.
At the 13th David Goble’s opponent is about 40’ below the hole. He makes the putt to 6”. David is above the hole,20’.
Albert’s opponent topped his tee shot and put it in the lake 30m from the hole. Albert unfortunately faded his ball into the hazard on the right, but chipped up to 40’ and saw his first putt run by 8’.
Albert’s opponent’s 3rd shot was short of the green and he chipped up to 15’. He’s on for 4 and Albert is also on for 4 with a shorter putt. Albert’s opponent misses and has 6. Albert needs this 8 footer for a 5 and a win. What else? It went in. Albert is now 1 up. David is still 1 up, because they squared that hole.
It’s raining now, not heavily, but enough to be annoying.
Kevin’s tee shot to the Par 3, 13th is short of the green. Vince hits a beautiful iron to a very large green, to be under the hole but still 50’ away. His opponent hit his ball short of the green. Kevin’s opponent pushed the ball to the right of the green and chipped it up, but it went 20’ past. Kevin’s second shot was nicely chipped, but still finished 20’ away. 2 shots all.
Vince’s opponent nicely chipped up to 12’. It’s now up to Vince.
Vince’s 50 footer finishes 10’ short and he makes the putt. He has 3. His opponent makes his 3. Vince is 1 up. Kevin’s opponent misses his par putt. Kevin make’s his downhill 10’ putt. The hole is squared, but Kevin is 1 down.
We are now waiting for David Buxton to come to the 13th. I had just found out that Roy had finished on 11 because his back problems had not allowed him to continue. A pity. Hopefully he will be okay for next week.
I’m waiting for David to hit his tee shot on 13. He hits a good one, but it just catches the bunker. The bunker is GUR today. He takes a drop but hits his Texas wedge a little long. He’s on for 2.
His opponent is short, left of the green. Unfortunately (or fortunately, whichever you way you look at it) he chips it into the bunker in front of him, between him and the green. He gets a drop out and then chips it to 15’ away. He has a 15 footer for 4 and David has a 2 footer back for 4. The hole is squared. David is 2 down going to 14.
I’m at the 16th green. Our match is teetering on the edge for The Lakes. Roy has lost. David Buxton is 2 down after 16 and all the other matches are still playing, with a few holes to go. The way things are going, this could be anything from 7 – 1 our way to 7 – 1 against us.
I said to Gary Snow who was watching with me, this is more nerve-racking than playing.
Steve Lang hit a beautiful drive on 16 just left of the fairway, and then rifled an iron in to be 20’ from the hole. He has a downhill putt. The rain has softened things a bit, so he should be able to play it like a flat putt.
Stuart pushed his drive into the trees on the right, but I think he’s got a shot at the hole. The best Stuart could do out of his drive was to put it into the bunker, front right of the green. He has a very long bunker shot now. Tough. He pumps it out, but its still short of the green. His opponent pulled his shot to the left for 2, so he’s in no better shape. Steve putts first. He lags it to 18”. Par 4. His opponent needs to make a 10 footer. He misses it. Steve wins the hole and goes 1 up.
Stuart needs to make a 10 footer to square the hole, with his opponent making 5. It just sneaks by. Stuart is now 1 down going to 17.
I see Albert to the right of the trees on 16. He tries to hook his second onto the green, but hits the tree. He’s got a shot to the green, but he’s lying two. His 3rd is on the green. Albert 2 putts for 5, as does his opponent. Going to 17 the match is square.
David Goble makes a terrific chip to an elevated green to be 10’ away. He needs the putt for a 4, but it just falls short. His opponent makes 5. David remains 1 up, with 2 to play.
On 16, Vince’s opponent chipped it to 18”. Vince conceded the putt. Vince now has a 50 footer. He putts it to 12”. Conceded. Vince goes to 17, 1 up.
Kevin hits a great shot from under the trees, to 20’ above the hole. He also makes a good putt, but it stops 6” before the hole. A pity. His opponent makes 2 putt for a par. Kevin is 1 down going to 17.
I see David Buxton coming into the 16th. He hits a fabulous iron to 5’ under the hole. His opponent’s shot is not as good and 30’ away. This is a close one.
David hasn’t made a putt all day. This one slides by. All the same, he gave his opponent a 3’ putt. I don’t think I would have done that. David is going to the 17th, 2 down.
Coming up the 18th hole I raced to the carpark to see Stuart. He told me that he’d gone down in his match 2 and 1, and Steve Lang had squared his match.
Back to the green to see the groups coming up in all matches, which are very close. I’m on the 18th hole. David Goble is walking up. I hear from David Williams, also supporting, that he had won his match 2 and 1.
Albert is 1 down coming to 18. He pushed his second shot to the right. He chips up to 15’. His opponent chips to 10’. If Albert makes and his opponent misses, the match is square.
Albert makes. His opponent’s ball does a 360 and goes in. Albert has lost the match, 1 down.
We are waiting for Vince and Kevin to come to the 18th. Vince squares the hole to win 1 up. Kevin needs to make his putt to win, but it misses. Match squared.
David Buxton had won 17 with a birdie and is on the 18th green for 3, needing a 6 footer (yet again). His opponent is on the green for 3, not far away. David needs to make this putt to have a chance to win the hole and square the match. It slides by yet again. David concedes the hole and the match is lost, 1 down.
The final result is The Lakes 3, Carnarvon 5.
A great disappointment, but that’s golf!
Next week we play Bonnie Doon at Cronulla. We need a big one here.
Regards
Joe Gilles