Those using the highway were frustrated by the roadworks, even after they left the highway at Plainlands. It will be great to have the work finished though. The predicted showers arrived (five in all) throughout the day, but caused no disruption to play and most players didn’t even don protective clothing. The sixth as players left after presentations was the heaviest until the one the Captain and President drove through on the way home.

The field was 75 (63 Men and 12 Ladies), a very satisfactory number to use as a measuring stick for the success of conducting a shotgun start at Laidley. Needless to say, it was a total success as only a few holdups occurred at the two Par 3’s. The two downsides were not being able to handicap on a non-rated Course and playing from the same tees on both nines. Hopefully, these will be rectified by our next game here. Our membership increased by seven with one new member and six returning for their first game this year. Some thought there was an additional lady member, but Charles Stevenson and Noel Hayes refuted this claim, and the figures above remain the true record.

The Course was not up to the usual Laidley standard because of the lack of rain, but even so with the changing weather conditions and the everpresent breeze, the lush surrounds to the Greens caused many shots to finish short, in particular on the short Par 3 8th where it was expected that most would get on the Green. The Greens were a pleasure to putt on even though they were two-paced after the showers.

A few were fooled into thinking there were no lunches, but the burgers were served from the verandah for a change as there was no real need to catch players as they passed the clubhouse with most finishing by one o’clock.

As happened at Middle Ridge last game, there was only one score over 40 and that was by local Glen Dawson whose 41 won Division 2. Could the yellow shorts have helped? While Fay Steel won two years in a row at Woodford, she recorded her first home game win with 35 points. Ailsa Brown and Barry Geldard handled the windy conditions to win two Pin Shots each. It’s good to have Des Fitzgerald back playing again.

Photos.

1. A good fire went through one section of the Course, but it hasn’t affected one of the future Fairways.

2. The Course needs more than five brief showers to bring the Fairways up to the standard of the Greens.

3. Nev took his time with this shot and lofted it onto the Green.

4. Take note G. These blokes have been around for some time and have had some good wins.

5. Our Association’s team for the Inter-District Ladies four person Ambrose. Late substitutions are permitted after the medical conducted by Charles Stevenson.

The next game is at Esk on Monday 17th March. It is an 8.30am Shotgun start. The following game is Boonah Invitation Day on Monday 24th March.