IN the last three months of 2012, KZN experienced rain, rain and more rain.
However in the latter part of 2013, every golf club up and down the coast wished for just a little rain and sunny, hot days so at least there would be more players out on the course. We certainly got less rain, scorchingly hot days last year and all the green keepers prayed for rain. One wonders at the moral behind these sentiments and to be careful what you wish for – it just may happen.
Tim Clark was to have played in the Sony open in Hawaii this past weekend but unfortunately had to withdraw from the tournament after the first day due to an elbow injury.
Hopefully this will be sorted out soon – we all look forward to seeing him back on the fairways doing what he does best – playing golf. Injury aside though, belated congratulations to both Tim and Candice on the birth of their second child, a daughter Gabrielle, born on Thursday, 12 December 2013 and a little sister for young Jack.
Wednesday, 8 January saw a past winner in the form of Barrie Taylor taking the first prize on 44 well earned points with Johan Hugo in second spot with 40 points. In third place, right behind Johan was Rob Mathias on 39 points with Andy Davidge fourth place, snatching the last prize on offer on 37 points, counting out Johnny Coetzee and Nelson Moonsamy.
On Saturday, 11 January was the fourball alliance which was very well supported by both members and guests. Our numerous visitors were warmly welcomed to the competition by Peter Toward at prize-giving with many congratulations to Micky Eriksen on achieving a hole-in-one on the fourth hole. Great excitement rippled around the club house after the game since it was Micky’s first ever hole-in-one.
Never has a bigger grin been seen on anyone’s face around the club in a long time. Well done, Micky.
It was only natural that the winning fourball had Micky in their team, along with Ken Harding Wally Kent and Brian Daventry-Bull taking the first prize on 95 points. Very close behind in second spot was the “Rose and three Thorns”, Michelle van der Merwe, Hans Beuthe, Derek Airey and visitor Brian Stephen on an equally good score of 94 points. Losing on the count out was Franco Scarpa, James Reynolds and the “young guns” Rudi Mazzaro and Luca Ioppo, also on 94 points.
Four players shared the jackpot on 11 points, Keith Vergottini, Derek Airey, Johan Roux and Wally Kent. Two clubs were had on the fourth hole by Mike Cromhout and Robert Roux, Charles Norman on the ninth hole and Ken Harding on the 13th hole. Robbie Small was the only player who found the hidden birdie on the third hole. Technically, Micky Eriksen had a big birdie on the fourth hole – could that be called an albatross? Greg Thiel took home the prize in the “non skills dept” just for being at the club for prize-giving.
Next Saturday, 18 January the competition is the four BBB Stableford with social golf on Sunday.
All good wishes go to Ricky Towell as he ventures off to join the many hopefuls at the Golfing Academy in Johannesburg. Ricky has a great talent which will be nurtured by the teaching pros and we wish our “Durban boykie” the very best of luck – especially in the Jo’burg winter.
Our website is regularly updated with the club’s news and so on, so visit www.umkomaasgolf.co.za
