First Let's Deal With The Golf
Today we were back in Noosa and had the delightful opportunity to play Noosa Springs. We were advised on the first tee that course management was a premium. "Keep the ball on the fairway and you'll be OK" was the advice from the local. This was the guy who had 240 people booked to play and was desperately trying to figure out how to fit that into 12 hours daylight.
We were first group off today and in our 4 was the unique Nick Nicolson. The photo above is the first hole, a testing par 4 where there is tree trouble left and right. Nick took his first tee shot and it was obvious he was in some discomfort. Now here I have to be careful and respect the what goes on on tour stays on tour rule. However ....
​
Nick had some discomfort under his arm and swinging a golf club didn't look easy. "Did you fall backwards on the bus on the way here ?" someone asked. "No" said Nick. "Did you fall backwards down an escalator?" someone else enquired. Again Nick answered in the negative. After prolonged probing Nick couldn't identify the reason for his injury despite several suggestions of what it might have been. In the end Nick fossicked in his bag, found some ibuprofen, and took relief. That said, on the second hole, another testing par 4, I have never seen anyone hit a tee shot so gently. It was nothing more than a caress off the tee. It was the easiest golf swing ever seen.
Now the front nine wasn't easy for Nick. It took a while for the drugs to kick in. After nine holes, Nick had 4 points on his card....
Then we came to the back nine and Nick started swinging harder. Not the smartest idea ... Two misdemeanours later and Nick was buying big whiskies for the group. Happy days...
​
​
The Sheriff Has Been Busy
The sheriff didn't start well yesterday... He was in the first group off and as his cart pulled away from the first tee with EVERYBODY watching, his bag fell off and made an almighty clatter. "That'll be a fine" was the advice. "Yeah and a big one" The Sheriff said.
​
Somebody named Sauvignon has had trouble with a phone.
​
Then today the normal advice is don't upset The Sheriff. Particularly if you're sharing a cart with him.... Deano had Eric Clapton on his mind as he sang out "I left the Sheriff". That's right Deano was happily minding his own business, cruising along the fairway and suddenly realised he was all by himself. The guy who he was sharing the cart with - The Sheriff - was standing non-plussed 200 yards back down the fairway.
The Silly Golf Game
Today we played the silly golf game invented by Yatesy where you add your stableford score to the hole number meaning any outer late on in the round proved costly. And so it was that the people who did well were those who made their mistakes early, and protected their cards late on.
Here we see chief pencil pusher ( that's the team name ...) collecting his winnings after posting 191 points.
Dirty Moes
Phil was on dinner duty and advised the group he had struck a deal with a joint just round the corner that we had a set meal lined up for $35 a head. "Dinner is at 6:30 tonight" advised Phil. The use of the term dinner might be stretching it a bit plenty people thought.
First up as we entered the pub we were told our $35 included a beer. Then the food started to arrive. It didn't start well.
​
Our first course was a bowl of chips, the second course was water melon, and the third course was cole slaw. "What's this some strange degustation menu?" asked some. "When do we get some protein ?" begged others. In the end the food kept on coming and coming and coming; pork, brisket, fish, chicken wings, more chips, green beans, you name it we got it. Well done Phil for finding was must be the best value meal in Mooloolaba.
Then There's The After Party ....
The Lefties are the party animals and that's the action zone when the lights go down. Who knew ? Apparently on Night 1, Lefty 1 and Lefty 2 were well oiled and feeling no pain. Lefty 1 at least had the good sense to drink 10 glasses of water before hitting the hay. Lefty 2 wasn't quite so aware. In the morning apparently it was some task for Lefty 1 to get Lefty 2 out of bed and to the bus on time.
​
However, given there had been more than one on-course misdemeanour today, debts had to be paid in the form of whisky, and here you can see those on the receiving end in a good mood.