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Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Alabama Slamma - Photo Epilogue
All back to work.. tired.. worn out.. and already discussion about the next trip (woohoo!).
Photographic evidence of the trip can be found here.....
http://picasaweb.google.com/DuncanT3/2009_03_18AlabamaSlamma?authkey=Gv1sRgCPW4wITL2oLNSQ#
Now... if I can only find out what else is tucked inside Dagenator's murse.... the boot/trunk lid was open on the car on the journey to the airport. He was so worried about possible murse-loss, he leaped out of the car on the highway to ensure its safety!.
Enjoy the photo's !
Photographic evidence of the trip can be found here.....
http://picasaweb.google.com/DuncanT3/2009_03_18AlabamaSlamma?authkey=Gv1sRgCPW4wITL2oLNSQ#
Now... if I can only find out what else is tucked inside Dagenator's murse.... the boot/trunk lid was open on the car on the journey to the airport. He was so worried about possible murse-loss, he leaped out of the car on the highway to ensure its safety!.
Enjoy the photo's !
Monday, March 23, 2009
Day 5 AM - Ross Bridge
The final day... the final round.. the marathon golfing adventure is almost over.. but... it snot over yet !!... With 12 points to the winning Tombstone player on the last day.. it's any ones cup (Even 'Almost' .. who has now departed can earn some points.. if everyone else cannot hit a green or a fairway on the longest drive and nearest the pin holes)..
Alice is still smiling from the previous day's play, as is Gazebo who, though superior "course management" put together a back nine worthy of a pro. Papa Hicks, initially wondering what he'd let himself in for when joining this rabble, is relaxed in the knowledge that no matter what the result, his kids will still adore him, and there's a beer and a kiss from the wife awaiting his return home (yes.. in that order). Grand-Par is hoping to get another call from the wife to let him know of another new arrival (his name coming from him scoring a par ON the hole when he received the call last time. He's instructed his daughters to increase production in the hope of him lowering his handicap. Roofer is smiling broadly. His practice swing is starting to match his real swing, and even if it doesn't.. he will still spoon with his Burner 3 wood as he's convinced it will make a difference. LT is hoping to find that place that enabled him to do so well on the first day.. he's actually thinking of persuading the guys to drive the 90 miles back down interstate 65 in the hope of finding his swing at the side of the road along the way. Dagenator searches through his 'murse'... somewhere in here is the key to my game today.. no.. not the cond... err.. headache tablets.. nope.. the GPS wont help you find your way to victory.. ah.. here it is !.. a tiara with PRINCESS written on it.. found the previous day, and now the prize for last place. Looking at it fills him with determination NOT to be wearing it after the game today... that's the key !!
Ross bridge did turn out to be the cream of the Robert Trent Jones trail. A beautiful layout and linked to a nice looking hotel. The players concluded that we should stay here on the next trip, and having 8 guys to one room should make the budget about the same. Roofer was still worried that his wife would find out that the round cost around $150, and was preparing a story that 'it was part of a package'. For Mrs Roofer.. it was part of the package.. and this bit of it DID cost $150 !. Feel free to go shopping.. he won't say a word when you come back with that new pair of shoes...
The play was enjoyable.. but I'll cut to the chase as the plane leaves soon...
The winner... (drum roll please)... with a blistering score of 37 point... was ...
wait for it....
wait for it...
Mr GAZEBO !.. winner of the gold medal... and champion Slamma player of the year,
closely followed by Grand Par.. and awarded a Tshirt sponsored by Guiness (how ironic)
and in third... Alice... after his game yesterday.. he's a happy chap.. and he even scored a birdie today.. and only owing LT a toonie !
and the winner of the PRINCESS tiara... (don't worry Mrs Roofer.. we won't be bringing it home).
Now at the airport.. its all over.. and we're heading home.. last blog entry.. with some photos to be posted in a few days...
Signing off....
The ALABAMA SLAMMA vets blog.
Alice is still smiling from the previous day's play, as is Gazebo who, though superior "course management" put together a back nine worthy of a pro. Papa Hicks, initially wondering what he'd let himself in for when joining this rabble, is relaxed in the knowledge that no matter what the result, his kids will still adore him, and there's a beer and a kiss from the wife awaiting his return home (yes.. in that order). Grand-Par is hoping to get another call from the wife to let him know of another new arrival (his name coming from him scoring a par ON the hole when he received the call last time. He's instructed his daughters to increase production in the hope of him lowering his handicap. Roofer is smiling broadly. His practice swing is starting to match his real swing, and even if it doesn't.. he will still spoon with his Burner 3 wood as he's convinced it will make a difference. LT is hoping to find that place that enabled him to do so well on the first day.. he's actually thinking of persuading the guys to drive the 90 miles back down interstate 65 in the hope of finding his swing at the side of the road along the way. Dagenator searches through his 'murse'... somewhere in here is the key to my game today.. no.. not the cond... err.. headache tablets.. nope.. the GPS wont help you find your way to victory.. ah.. here it is !.. a tiara with PRINCESS written on it.. found the previous day, and now the prize for last place. Looking at it fills him with determination NOT to be wearing it after the game today... that's the key !!
Ross bridge did turn out to be the cream of the Robert Trent Jones trail. A beautiful layout and linked to a nice looking hotel. The players concluded that we should stay here on the next trip, and having 8 guys to one room should make the budget about the same. Roofer was still worried that his wife would find out that the round cost around $150, and was preparing a story that 'it was part of a package'. For Mrs Roofer.. it was part of the package.. and this bit of it DID cost $150 !. Feel free to go shopping.. he won't say a word when you come back with that new pair of shoes...
The play was enjoyable.. but I'll cut to the chase as the plane leaves soon...
The winner... (drum roll please)... with a blistering score of 37 point... was ...
wait for it....
wait for it...
Mr GAZEBO !.. winner of the gold medal... and champion Slamma player of the year,
closely followed by Grand Par.. and awarded a Tshirt sponsored by Guiness (how ironic)
and in third... Alice... after his game yesterday.. he's a happy chap.. and he even scored a birdie today.. and only owing LT a toonie !
and the winner of the PRINCESS tiara... (don't worry Mrs Roofer.. we won't be bringing it home).
Now at the airport.. its all over.. and we're heading home.. last blog entry.. with some photos to be posted in a few days...
Signing off....
The ALABAMA SLAMMA vets blog.
Day 5 AM - Wake up
So... last nights blog was a bit curtailed... after refusing the beer back at the hotel after the meal, LT attempts to update the blog... only to ACTALLY fall asleep with his laptop on his lap.. in bed.. with his hands on the keyboard.. Dagenator kindly rewoke him to get some finishing words done... and it was off to the land of nod.. dreaming of shooting par at Ross Bridge tomorrow.
No need for the alarm call YET again this morning... Everyone seems to have same golfers body clock.. when it comes to morning when the fair game is scheduled.. all golfers seem able to awaken before the alarm, get themselves ready with remarkable speed, are happy, chatty, enthusiastic and ready for action... If only this applied to other requirements to getting up and about!.. such is life
The last round awaits... Ross Bridge.. the crowning glory of the courses played so far (or at least.. for $150 per round.. it had better be !!).. More to report later as the race for the Slamma Cup draws to a conclusion...
Points standings before the last round.....
LT 22
Alice 26
Papa Hicks 19
Dagenator 17
Gazebo 23
Almost Aussie 25
Grand-Par 19
Roofer 18
and with 12 points on offer to the winner today... there's all to play for !!
No need for the alarm call YET again this morning... Everyone seems to have same golfers body clock.. when it comes to morning when the fair game is scheduled.. all golfers seem able to awaken before the alarm, get themselves ready with remarkable speed, are happy, chatty, enthusiastic and ready for action... If only this applied to other requirements to getting up and about!.. such is life
The last round awaits... Ross Bridge.. the crowning glory of the courses played so far (or at least.. for $150 per round.. it had better be !!).. More to report later as the race for the Slamma Cup draws to a conclusion...
Points standings before the last round.....
LT 22
Alice 26
Papa Hicks 19
Dagenator 17
Gazebo 23
Almost Aussie 25
Grand-Par 19
Roofer 18
and with 12 points on offer to the winner today... there's all to play for !!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Day 4 - Oxmoor Valley - Hoover
Back into Birmingham, and the sun continues to shine on the slamma tour veterans. After a night with slightly less sleep that is required for a full renewal of energy, the enthusiastic-but red-eyed group makes their way to the golf course. Things do not go exactly to plan, as LT selects the wrong address in the GPS, and sets the team off on a wild goose chase wondering why John Cleese (the voice selected in LT's GPS unit) is making such a royal cock up of getting them to the course....
Enter 'Dagenator the Cool' . After a quick rummage through his 'murse' (English/Canadian for purse beloging to a man), out comes Garmin GPS with accurate golf course selection, and the team get to the course within a few minutes... A cool morning, and a wind greet the players on the practice tee, but thanks to the area having a severe downslope, even Roofer's topped irons make it a good 450 yards down the hill. Grand-par is being reminded of Blighty (overcast, cold and windy).., "Almost" is thinking the same, apart from the inclusion of small white wool-bering mammals added to the equation.
The morning Scramble concludes with a dead heat (After Gazebo comes up with the idea of writing up a few score cards for every occasion to ensure their 7 over par won't be discovered. OK..OK.. they did VERY well , with some inspired draft picks from GP the night before.the favoured team gets off to a good start... Unfortunately "captain Dag" had forgotten that LT don't wake up his swing until at least 11am, so could be a while before the teams start scoring..
Said farewell to "Almost" at lunchtime. His event is over and he's heading on to a new venue to sandbag the locals with whatever sport he takes along for the ride..
COMETH THE MOMENT... COMETH THE MEN !
The afternoon game gets underway.. with Roofer getting off to a blistering start on the 2nd round of the day... unfortunately.. it all went "Pete Tong" at that point as his practice swing gave way to his actual one, and his game was rudely stolen..
Gazebo finds his form !.. shooting a terrific 34 point Stableford, but NOOOO... here comes a charging Alice, all guns blazing , and posts an 85, ensuring victory for himself...
OK.. blog getting cut short... falling asleep !!..more tomorrow. final round at Ross Bridge!
OK.. cutting the blog entry short this evening..
Enter 'Dagenator the Cool' . After a quick rummage through his 'murse' (English/Canadian for purse beloging to a man), out comes Garmin GPS with accurate golf course selection, and the team get to the course within a few minutes... A cool morning, and a wind greet the players on the practice tee, but thanks to the area having a severe downslope, even Roofer's topped irons make it a good 450 yards down the hill. Grand-par is being reminded of Blighty (overcast, cold and windy).., "Almost" is thinking the same, apart from the inclusion of small white wool-bering mammals added to the equation.
The morning Scramble concludes with a dead heat (After Gazebo comes up with the idea of writing up a few score cards for every occasion to ensure their 7 over par won't be discovered. OK..OK.. they did VERY well , with some inspired draft picks from GP the night before.the favoured team gets off to a good start... Unfortunately "captain Dag" had forgotten that LT don't wake up his swing until at least 11am, so could be a while before the teams start scoring..
Said farewell to "Almost" at lunchtime. His event is over and he's heading on to a new venue to sandbag the locals with whatever sport he takes along for the ride..
COMETH THE MOMENT... COMETH THE MEN !
The afternoon game gets underway.. with Roofer getting off to a blistering start on the 2nd round of the day... unfortunately.. it all went "Pete Tong" at that point as his practice swing gave way to his actual one, and his game was rudely stolen..
Gazebo finds his form !.. shooting a terrific 34 point Stableford, but NOOOO... here comes a charging Alice, all guns blazing , and posts an 85, ensuring victory for himself...
OK.. blog getting cut short... falling asleep !!..more tomorrow. final round at Ross Bridge!
OK.. cutting the blog entry short this evening..
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Day 3 - Capitol Hill..
The guys return to Capitol hill.. scene of so much hope on the first day.. all the optimism is now a distant memory.. reality has set in.. and the determined golfers that appeared on day one are now bedraggled.. worn down.. demotivated... beaten... whupped by Grand National...
but NOOOO.. .they're back.. fresher than ever!..
LT has been looking forward to this moment for 4 months.. hole 1 at the Judge.. its been on his wallpaper since November.. and here it is .. Hole 1 at THE JUDGE... a beautiful par 4.. a hugely elevated tee, with water on the right.. he's looked at the length of the hole, how far out the bunker is.. and how he'd need to feed his drive around it.. and where the next tee is ... Now for reality... he lines up the drive.. and does a beautiful shot.. severe slice right.. and sails off in the direction of the fishes... sigh... sigh... breath... calm... DOH.. (throw club.. curse in a colonial British sort of way.. using lots of words the collonies don't understand)
Someone mentioned to Gazebo.. that there was a gazebo within driving range... so Gazebo decided to reinforce his name by launching his drive back to his namesake.. unfortunately missing.. but still receiving the congratulations from his team mates..
To mark the moment... the camera was handed to the starter for the team photo opportunity... unfortunately.. when looking a the screen .. the starter turned around to take a photo of the clubhouse.. claiming that the golfers that were the ugliest bunch of golfers he had ever seen, and would be rude to subject others to such a disgusting sight...
I've decides... Gazebo is the ultimate enthusiast for golf... he never lets his score get in the way of his next round possibilities...
As for the scoring... Almost is still leading the way... in the winning team in the team score this morning... and teaming up with Grand-Par for a successful 2 man scramble... Despite his arbitrary handicap trimming by the committee (i.e... LT).. he's still sandbagging his way quietly to victory... and the remainder of the team are trailing in his wake....
Gazebo declared... after stating that .. on a previous occasion he had to borrow clubs.. and they only had right handed clubs... he shot a 112.... that if if he shoots a 122 again.. he's catching the next plane home.. the result... a 116.. which.. isn't too bad .. and kept him in Alabama for at least another day..
Roofer... he's got the best practice swing of the entire group... smooth.. slow.. good tempo.. all you need to NOT put a ball in the middle of the action.. and he's allllll good...
Dagenator.... Wins Tombstone in the afternoon... he's getting some points on the board..but.. ah... ok.. maybe he needs a few more before he reaches the heady heights of NOT last place.. Don't ask him about the "Murse".. there's actually some discussion as to it's contents..
Papa Hicks.. had a rough morning.. Tombstone came down to earth with bump... as his own demise suggested... from first to last.. his win is now a distant memory as he is first to die in the morning competition.. the poor chap..
Alice... Wakes up 45 minutes BEFORE the alarm call at 6.30 am.... anyone would think he's actually in with a chance of winning the thing...
Almost... quiet... confident... how to these south sea convicts get so good at golf?.. surely there's too many sheep to create golf courses..
LT... he didn't need a hug today... but he did count the number of passengers in his car.. reached three.. assumed all were there... and drove away from the gas (ok.. petrol) station... leaving 'Dag' running for the car waving. Apart from the incompetence of the driver.. 'Dag' was particularly upset with Grand-Par and Almost.. as they waved from the rear window as the car drove off.
Grand-Par... the start of positive thinking started today!.. he told himself to make a putt.. and it happened.. how miraculous.. don't tell him that 9 times out of 10 the positive thinking will still end in failure.. but that's the beauty of golf.. it just takes the one in 10 to make you think that the 9 others will happen..
On to tomorrow.. Sunday... the last game for Almost... and the race for the Slamma Cup is starting to draw to a conclusion.. Will "Almost" hang on to his points... or will the chasing pack bribe LT into adjusting the scoring to ensure the southern hemisphere contender doesn't take the cup away from the continent.. . The high quality metal is probably worth thousands in the homeland.. it would probably be melted down to make model sheep...(i.e. relatives)
The evening concluded with the official 'Slamma' steak.. excellent restaurant.. good music.. random food as the server didn't have a clue what was ordered... but gave LT an excuse to use an iron successful .. (since his 'irons' during the day didn't seem to work as well)
LT... signing off...
but NOOOO.. .they're back.. fresher than ever!..
LT has been looking forward to this moment for 4 months.. hole 1 at the Judge.. its been on his wallpaper since November.. and here it is .. Hole 1 at THE JUDGE... a beautiful par 4.. a hugely elevated tee, with water on the right.. he's looked at the length of the hole, how far out the bunker is.. and how he'd need to feed his drive around it.. and where the next tee is ... Now for reality... he lines up the drive.. and does a beautiful shot.. severe slice right.. and sails off in the direction of the fishes... sigh... sigh... breath... calm... DOH.. (throw club.. curse in a colonial British sort of way.. using lots of words the collonies don't understand)
Someone mentioned to Gazebo.. that there was a gazebo within driving range... so Gazebo decided to reinforce his name by launching his drive back to his namesake.. unfortunately missing.. but still receiving the congratulations from his team mates..
To mark the moment... the camera was handed to the starter for the team photo opportunity... unfortunately.. when looking a the screen .. the starter turned around to take a photo of the clubhouse.. claiming that the golfers that were the ugliest bunch of golfers he had ever seen, and would be rude to subject others to such a disgusting sight...
I've decides... Gazebo is the ultimate enthusiast for golf... he never lets his score get in the way of his next round possibilities...
As for the scoring... Almost is still leading the way... in the winning team in the team score this morning... and teaming up with Grand-Par for a successful 2 man scramble... Despite his arbitrary handicap trimming by the committee (i.e... LT).. he's still sandbagging his way quietly to victory... and the remainder of the team are trailing in his wake....
Gazebo declared... after stating that .. on a previous occasion he had to borrow clubs.. and they only had right handed clubs... he shot a 112.... that if if he shoots a 122 again.. he's catching the next plane home.. the result... a 116.. which.. isn't too bad .. and kept him in Alabama for at least another day..
Roofer... he's got the best practice swing of the entire group... smooth.. slow.. good tempo.. all you need to NOT put a ball in the middle of the action.. and he's allllll good...
Dagenator.... Wins Tombstone in the afternoon... he's getting some points on the board..but.. ah... ok.. maybe he needs a few more before he reaches the heady heights of NOT last place.. Don't ask him about the "Murse".. there's actually some discussion as to it's contents..
Papa Hicks.. had a rough morning.. Tombstone came down to earth with bump... as his own demise suggested... from first to last.. his win is now a distant memory as he is first to die in the morning competition.. the poor chap..
Alice... Wakes up 45 minutes BEFORE the alarm call at 6.30 am.... anyone would think he's actually in with a chance of winning the thing...
Almost... quiet... confident... how to these south sea convicts get so good at golf?.. surely there's too many sheep to create golf courses..
LT... he didn't need a hug today... but he did count the number of passengers in his car.. reached three.. assumed all were there... and drove away from the gas (ok.. petrol) station... leaving 'Dag' running for the car waving. Apart from the incompetence of the driver.. 'Dag' was particularly upset with Grand-Par and Almost.. as they waved from the rear window as the car drove off.
Grand-Par... the start of positive thinking started today!.. he told himself to make a putt.. and it happened.. how miraculous.. don't tell him that 9 times out of 10 the positive thinking will still end in failure.. but that's the beauty of golf.. it just takes the one in 10 to make you think that the 9 others will happen..
On to tomorrow.. Sunday... the last game for Almost... and the race for the Slamma Cup is starting to draw to a conclusion.. Will "Almost" hang on to his points... or will the chasing pack bribe LT into adjusting the scoring to ensure the southern hemisphere contender doesn't take the cup away from the continent.. . The high quality metal is probably worth thousands in the homeland.. it would probably be melted down to make model sheep...(i.e. relatives)
The evening concluded with the official 'Slamma' steak.. excellent restaurant.. good music.. random food as the server didn't have a clue what was ordered... but gave LT an excuse to use an iron successful .. (since his 'irons' during the day didn't seem to work as well)
LT... signing off...
Friday, March 20, 2009
Day 2 - Grand National
Only a short blog today... too much golf .. lots of scoring.. lots of lost ball.
Gazebo wins the sweep on total lost balls today... the total ball loss today was 67 !!.. yes you heard it right.. $40 goes to buying himself some new balls, as he contributed to most of them..
Per player highlights....
Gazebo - retreives a ball out of a swamp, the ball covered in mud. decides that the ball is no good and hits it back. The shot was his best of the day, exploding mud from the ball all over his only pair of shorts.
Papa Hicks - acheived a 'fan save', bouncing a ball off one of the industrial fans used to dry the greens... landed it on the green.
Dagenator - recorded a cumulative 8 over par for the holes he had birdie putt opportunities.
Alice - Whistles his way around a green while attempting to get the ball onto the green, going in the water twice... recording an 11, with a 50 foot putt going in.
Almost - 10 on a par three.. 2 balls lost, and an unplayable.... nuff said
Roofer - Not a happy chap.. too many duff shots to mention..., so he's not talking to anyone
LT - Had such a bad round in the afternoon, that when offered a hug from Gazebo, took it gladly and had a little cry.
Grand-Par - Last of the positive speakers.. will get a putter in an unusual place if he doesn't start thinking he can make the putt..
Quote of the day -
" Dont hit the club into the middle of the ball, hit the ball with the middle of the club"
Alice " That's not right"
Team " well it is REALLY right.. not that right"
Gazebo wins the sweep on total lost balls today... the total ball loss today was 67 !!.. yes you heard it right.. $40 goes to buying himself some new balls, as he contributed to most of them..
Per player highlights....
Gazebo - retreives a ball out of a swamp, the ball covered in mud. decides that the ball is no good and hits it back. The shot was his best of the day, exploding mud from the ball all over his only pair of shorts.
Papa Hicks - acheived a 'fan save', bouncing a ball off one of the industrial fans used to dry the greens... landed it on the green.
Dagenator - recorded a cumulative 8 over par for the holes he had birdie putt opportunities.
Alice - Whistles his way around a green while attempting to get the ball onto the green, going in the water twice... recording an 11, with a 50 foot putt going in.
Almost - 10 on a par three.. 2 balls lost, and an unplayable.... nuff said
Roofer - Not a happy chap.. too many duff shots to mention..., so he's not talking to anyone
LT - Had such a bad round in the afternoon, that when offered a hug from Gazebo, took it gladly and had a little cry.
Grand-Par - Last of the positive speakers.. will get a putter in an unusual place if he doesn't start thinking he can make the putt..
Quote of the day -
" Dont hit the club into the middle of the ball, hit the ball with the middle of the club"
Alice " That's not right"
Team " well it is REALLY right.. not that right"
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