For want of a better name, the "Doughty Dozen" have just returned from their annual trek to the "Golf" Coast of Queensland.
With only a few changes in personnel the group has been playing golf in the same general area for the last six years.
This year they were based at Broadbeach
south of Surfers for nine days, during which time they played six different courses, all of them resort or privately owned. The group has usually included a Club Course or two in its itinerary but this year they stayed with the Resort layouts.
There are a growing number of similar style courses in New Zealand with the usual pattern having golf mansions built around the fairways. Millbrook in Queenstown has something of that format.
The Masterton golfers were this year blessed with nine perfect weather days, something that they haven't always experienced.
Of the six courses everyone appeared to agree on the Brookwater course as being the one that really stood out.
Most of them played Brookwater last year and came away from a bruising encounter with the feeling that they'd like to have another shot at it.
They weren't disappointed because this Greg Norman designed layout is a great challenge, carved out of the original bush and providing spectacular scenery. There are certainly residential properties around the course but they are not at all intrusive.
Features of all these courses, which the local lads always have trouble with were water and sand. Regarding the latter the bunkers are massive and deep with everyone getting loads of experience in them.
While there was plenty of competition in the group, the big prize is the "International Shield" and in this Paul Fouhy was totally dominant, winning the Trophy by a country mile.
Last Saturday featured a South African Stableford, a pairs event, where you multiply the partners' stableford scores on each hole together.
Results:
Graeme IcIsaac and Hira Renata 81 pts 1, Jack Forrester and John Farmer 78 pts 2, Alan Sadler and Gavin Fair 77 pts 3, Gavin Harris and Kevin Mackay 73 pts 4.
In the women's medal event Hannah Meulenbrock did best with a net 72, one ahead of Sam-Marie Brown.
David Mettrick was nearest the pin at the Alex McLeod 8th hole, Jeff Ogg at the Money Managers 18th and Carolyn Stevenson at the All Teed Up 8th hole.
The sun brought out 20 nine holers last week for their stroke round, with Davinia Schofield showing a clean pair of heels to the rest, with a net 35.
Back on net 38 were second placed Sylvia Howden and Rosey Wellbrock, while Pamela Andrew punched out the longest drive.
Ian Harrowfield topped the field in last Thursday's New World Stableford with 40 points, ahead of the trio of Roy Mahood, Dennis Hogg and David Cook, all on 38, while Geoff McKay and Mike Falloon were back on 37 points.
John Hopkirk was nearest the pin at the All Teed Up 8th, but the "Birdsnest" was not struck.
Next Saturday 15 August features a par round with starters Kel Biggs and Barry Smith.
Then on Sunday there's the 18 hole Club Mixed Foursomes, which provides the ideal opportunity for you and your partner to have a trial run before the TRC Toyota Wairarapa Open Mixed Foursomes on Sunday 6 September.
On Monday 40 Vets took to the fairways in lovely sunny conditions for their weekly stableford.
Women:
Sylvia Howden 25 pts 1, Shirley King 24 pts 2, Theresa Cameron 23 pts 3.
Men Group 1:
Blyth King 27 pts 1, Gerald Blathwayt 27 pts 2, Harvey Ward 26 pts 3
Men Group 2:
David Brenkley 23 pts 1, Bob Tatham 22 pts 2, Colin Henwood 22 pts 3.
Gerald Blathwayt was nearest the pin at the Fagan Ford 8th hole.
The great conditions on Tuesday drew out a big field of well over 40 women playing in an LGU, an Adam Philps Podiatry shootout qualifier, and a putting event.
Pam Griffith, with a net 68 took the Clarkes Jeweller's overall prize, and won the bronze division.
Hannah Meulenbrock won the Silver with a net 70, with Liz Jones doing best in the putting with just 26.
Nearest the pin prize at the Graeme Jones 8th hole went to Carol Henson, while Hannah did best at the New World 18th hole.
A feature of the day was the entertainment provided by the huge numbers of tuis cavorting in the gum trees and banksias.
This resurgence in the tui population may well be in part due to the large cull of magpies that was done a year or two back.
Please note that next Tuesday 18 August features the Captain's Trophy, a drawn foursomes competition.
OFF THE FAIRWAY
I was watching a bit of golf on the US Pro Circuit the other day and it appeared that as one of the players addressed the ball, it must have "oscillated" - in other words it moved, but returned to its original position.
I'm not sure what the ruling was for the player, but as I understand it there is no penalty.
Am I correct?