WINNERS: J.VARRICA & M.McCARNEY 52PTS
Another fantastic autumn day greeted thirty five (35) Revesby golfers to play the first of two rounds of the 2-Ball-Better-Ball (2BBB) Stableford Championship.
Why is it called a 2BBB instead of a 4Ball Best Ball (4BBB) ?
Well, up until the start of 2008, the Rules of Golf did not permit the playing of four-ball (team) stroke play competitions in conjunction with singles competitions. Conflicting issues arose, such as providing advice to partner, moving partner’s ball, inability for “swinger” to compete in day’s event.
To get around the four-ball restriction, the concept of a two-ball novelty event (2BBB) arose as a club local rule and the rules were whatever the club decided. In the case of Revesby, recording of individuals scores was necessary for handicapping purposes as well as the running of the “player of the year” award, progressive score award and birdie competitions.
The 2008-2009 Decisions on the Rules of Golf clarified the situation by stating the Rules of Golf are applied only to the competition affected (eg, if player moves partner’s ball then player incurs a penalty in four-ball event and no penalty in individual event).
When it is not possible to separate the competitions, then the four-ball event takes precedence when applying the rules of golf. The only exception is partners are not allowed to exchange advice !!!
Is 2BBB terminology still relevant? – probably not.
Now back to today’s event, strewth, I forgot what it was 🙁
Oh yes, the 2BBB Championship over two rounds. With players allowed to select their own partner, you can bet the winning pair will have a healthy dose of handicap backed up by plenty of power off the tee and neuro-surgeon touch on the putting scalpel.
Play started at 6:59am from the 10th hole (yellow social tees) with players swaggering with renewed confidence knowing they had a partner to back them up when they got into the inevitable trouble.
The greens, fairways and bunkers appeared in great condition, the practice putting and chipping greens were fast, and pins cut in Position “B” quadrant, which meant players had some chance of getting their approach shots near the hole 🙂
Play was quick so Bravo Zulus to all players for their speedy performance 🙂
Scores on the whole were good, with putting being the only hindrance on the day. Some players couldn’t handle the speed of the greens whilst others found the pace to their liking.
The best score on the day went to the team of John Varrica and Mick McCarney with a ballistic 52 points. On a challenging course like Bankstown, that is one heck of a score. Particularly as both are in A grade, so they must have combined well and scored big points on some holes. In fact, John scored 43 points by himself, which is no surprise as he won last week at Campbelltown. Good to see the smile back on his face – must have been infectious as he boot-strapped Mick McCarney’s game as well. Mick’s highlights were his chip in for a birdie 2 on the difficult par3 7th hole from out of the right greenside bunker and the par3 15th hole where he this time went over the bunker and into the hole.
Congratulations fellas on a great win 🙂
The runners-up went to the team of Ian Lindberg and Brad Keen with a great score of 49 points (on a count-back). It was a potent pairing, with Ian firing his deadly irons straight as an arrow and the long-time absent Brad Keen launching the ball with his Saturn5 driver. The pair each scored 21 points on the first nine holes and combined well to amass a team whopping 26 points.
Sadly, Brad’s back started to feel the strain, not from driving but from putting. With a hobbled partner, Ian managed to guide the team home with his deft short game and putting whilst Brad took on the role of an arborist and lopped many branches on the last nine holes. A back-breaking effort fellas 🙂
The Guzzlers Cup winner went to the team of Mark McDonald and Clifford Bourquin with a another great score of 49 points. Not surprised to see Clifford in the mix, he outperformed everyone on the Goulburn visit and has kept up a high standard of golfing ever since. On the other hand, Mark McDonald, well, he can be hot or cold on any given day, but you just know that if he ever grew tomatoes they would come up sliced!
When asked for the secret to his success today, Mark stated it was his putter on the slick greens. In fact, he stated the greens were so fast he had to hold the putter over the ball and hit it with the shadow 🙂 Well done guys, it was a refreshing effort 🙂
The Bradmans went to team Jeff Hilder and John McDonald with a lowly 37 points. Only excuse tendered from the team was John McDonald’s recent purchase of clubs from John Varrica. With the choice of either Titliest clubs or Callaway clubs, Johnny Mac chose the Callaways and that is the reason his game went “that away” 🙁
It was rather ironic that John Varrica is now using the Titliest clubs 🙂
Highlights of the Day:
The greens were fast but that did not stop some from getting birdies today.
Some used raw power like John Varrica and Brad Keen when they hit 7-irons for their second shot into the par5 12th hole !
Gary McMahon had the rare opportunity of nabbing three birdies in a row when he birdied the par5 2nd hole and par3 3rd hole. Unfortunately, the pressure was too great for him when he collapsed on the next hole 🙁
The par3 7th hole is a tough hole and you would think Ronnie Knebusch’s chip in for a birdie would be unmatched. It just so happens it was also matched, if not exceeded, by another player who managed to chip in for a birdie as well.
The player concerned hit his tee shot to the left side of the green. With a cavernous bunker between his ball and the green, he then skulled the chip shot into the bunker, saw the ball zoom across the sand and up the face until it hit the overhanging grass edge and rather miraculously, watch it pop over onto the green where it then ran downhill with a severe left to right break until it hit the flag stick and drop into the hole.
The player requested his name be withheld to avoid embarrassment. All I can say is, he was very POLITEe 🙂
Speaking of highlights, Revesby’s handicapper, Stef Suzor, had a doozy today when he played a 10 metre chip shot to the green on the last hole – yes, you guessed it, he had an AIR SWING 🙁
Revesby results on the day:
Outright Winner: John Varrica [12] & Mick McCarney [16] 52 pts
Runners Up: Ian Lindberg [20] & Brad Keen [21] 49 pts c/b
Guzzlers: Mark McDonald [20] & Clifford Bourquin [22] 49 pts
BRADMANS: Jeff Hilder [18] & John McDonald [23] 37 pts
Nearest To Pins: S.Thorn(3), S.Thorn(7), J.Hilder(11), C.Poletti(13), K.Little(15)
Drive & Pitch: R.Knebusch(5)
