The SMERGS Masters

January 2021

TD Peter Thornton

Following the rapturous response to my email proposing a SMERGS Masters competition and your further enthusiasm expressed this morning, I am pleased to announce that it will be run this coming January for the first time.

The rules (in addition to the Rules of Golf, Local Rules and SMERGS rules):

• Smergs Handicaps (which means that if you win a SMERGS game you lose shots as usual and play off your current h’cap)
• The best total stableford score over any four rounds of the Northbridge Back 9 in a set period
• A minimum of four rounds must be played
• This year the set period will be: Starting date: 3^rd  January 2021, Finishing date 31^st January 2021 giving a possible six eligible games including Australia Day
• Black tees will be available as per club rules
• I want to say no gimmees but I know that this will get ignored so make them sensible <400mm?– low marker to give them but not to himself!
• Prizes assuming 18 final entrants:

  The SMERGS Masters Winner	$100
  The SMERGS Masters First Runner Up	$50
  The SMERGS Masters Second Runner Up	$30
  	$180

• Need to register and preferably cough up the $10 on 10th January
• No loss of a shot for the overall winners, just the glory and the cash and the loss of shots on the way to victory.
• Any other rules I can think of between now and then LOL

The actual event!

Many thanks to all the participants in the inaugural 2021 SMERGS Masters. I thought the tournament was always played in good spirit and I enjoyed the help I received along the way with stuff like the rules and reporting of results.
I don’t expect there were many “gimmes” over 400 mms, were there!!!  And there was  no squabbling about handicaps either!! We were lucky with weather and in the end 14 SMERGS were able to record the required minimum of 4 complete rounds of the back nine out of the six possible. Webby got called away to Melbourne and was unable to do so but had committed to the comp and kindly stuck his $10 in early! Many completed 6 rounds and some 5 rounds.
The results were variously disastrous with, I suspect the first time in SMERG history, the TD running last in his own event and his score being exceeded by one SMERG who only completed 3 rounds – what a disgrace! – and fabulous with the eventual winner basically only having to turn up  for his fourth round and knock a ball around the park. Which is pretty much what he did with some extravagantly wide driving!
Some valiant efforts were made at the last post to catch him but to no avail. The Second Runners – up were Nick Hillyard 69 (18,18,15,18) and James Halliday 69 (17,18,17,17) for (shared) $20. The First Runner Up was Rick Chadwick 71 (18,16,18,19) for $50 and the Winner – Steve Penny 77 (24,17,21,15) for $100. Well done to all!

Click here for the final results and certificates.

I will be happy to organize the 2022 Masters if the voices are sufficiently thunderous in their demand for another go round!

Peter, Convenor, Rule Maker, TD and General Poo Bah of the Smergs Masters 2021

The Photo

TD presents the winners cheque and certificates to Steve Penny - 31 Jan 21