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MONTHLY GAME

We were privileged to play at “my favourite club – Glendower” for our Gold Cup, the culminating Gauteng Nomads game of the 2014/15 year.  As one gets older a Club of this calibre gets more and more difficult to play and score on but as always it was in impeccable condition from tee to green which obviously includes the fairways, the bunkers, etc. This was the course, 55 years ago, that the Transvaal Nomads were due to play their first game at but it was washed out, they then tried the next month at Parkview, also washed out.  Eventually in June 1960 the first ever Nomads game was played at Irene, all under correction, as I wasn’t a Nomad until 10 years later.

Those who stayed for the prizegiving were privileged to see a Founder and Honorary Life Member, Andrew Mentis, receive his 55-year tie.  Right now, besides Andrew, there are only three other original Founder Members still around, namely Arthur Ferneyhough (Western Province), Jack Matthews (Southern Natal) and Gary Player (Gauteng).  We congratulate all of them and hope they too will enjoy their 55-year ties, when they receive them.  Andrew’s son, Roy, read out a very short poem written by Andrew and also some words that Andrew wrote, which were appropriate for the occasion.  It was fabulous that Andrew’s grandson (Andrew too) played with us, on the afternoon.

We were fortunate to have quite an illustrious field of 146 players, which included, amongst others, the current National Chairman Gary Rodwell, Honorary Life Members, Past National Chairmen, Past Captains, 6 Easterns Nomads and 23 Guests.  Well done to everyone and a special thank you to Bev, Roz, Wilma and Tony for processing this rather large contingent.

Congratulations to Ron Bartram and Eugene Marais who were awarded their 25 and 10-year ties respectively.

The Gold Cup is always a long evening, with two prizegivings and we must always try to keep a sense of decorum while all the winners come up and receive their prizes.  Special congratulations go out to John van der Spuy and Johnny Myburgh and to Ian Bradley and Ian Taylor who were the first tine winners of the Gary Player Knockout and the Gary Player Plate respectively.  Understandably there were a lot of prizes to get through on the evening and that was done very well and very slickly.  There is no truth in the rumour that Ian Bradley had to borrow Dave Tunbridge’s equipment trailer to take home all his prizes

We say a warm welcome to Guy Rae who was inducted on the evening.   We all hope you enjoy many Gold Cups and the camaraderie of Nomads for many years to come, always remembering that the more you participate the more fun you will have.

Sean Johnston didn’t think the course was too tough as he shot a one over par round, off of a 6 handicap, to record a magnificent 41 points.  Just an eight-month Nomad and he’s won his first Silver Tray.  Well done to our new JVC, Sean Ledden, who had his very first Divisional win!  On the other end of the scale Craig Edwards won Mercado’s Matchbox, with 19 points off Scratch and the Gary Player Plate “beaten pair” recorded a total of 45 points to win the Worst Playing Pair.

For the first time in 45 years, under correction again, we had a finesmaster at the Gold Cup and it was left to Nic du Toit to do his usual slick and witty rendering thereof.

 

BIRTHDAY AND ANNIVERSARY WISHES

Colin Barlow    80    Richard Isaac    60    James Luyt    40

Mike & Susan Olive     40th    Dave & Samantha Stevens     25th

 

CONDOLENCES TO

Zimbabwe Nomads on the passing of Ken Powell.  Ken was the Treasurer of Transvaal Nomads for a number of years and also the National Treasurer.  He was a Gauteng Nomad from 1969 until he transferred to Zimbabwe in 2006.  He played in excess of 25 National Tournaments and had received his 500 game badge (I don’t think there are too many of those in Zimbabwe!).  We extend our condolences to his wife June, daughter Bronwyn and sons Robert and Allan all of whom would like to thank those Nomads who attended Ken’s Memorial service.

Eastern Cape Nomads on their loss of a Past Captain Tony Huggett.  Many of you will remember Tony from the numerous National Tournaments in which he participated.

Late Flash – 24/04/15 : We have lost another original Founder.  Our condolences to Easterns Nomads, who this morning have lost an icon in Bill Wilson.  Bill took over from Ludie Ludeman, mid 1965, as Captain and was then Captain for 18 months.  At 37 years and 10 months he was the youngest Transvaal/Gauteng Captain up until 2003. He was the originator of the Gary Player Knockout Competition.  National Chairman 1969/70.  Transferred to Easterns, as a Founder member, 1n 1968.  Our condolences go out to his wife Peggy and family.

 

GET WELL/CASUALTIES

Sue Swallow has not been at all well, but I am glad to report that she is back home and on the mend.

 

JUST ME

I had a call from Dick Smith, who was a Transvaal Nomad in the 70’s and 80’s.  He read, in the Inside Right magazine, about us playing at the New Houghton.  He phoned to tell me that he was fortunate to win a Silver Tray at the Old Houghton in 1982 and he sends his best wishes to us, especially those “older” Nomads who may remember him.

Andrew Souris was the best playing Gauteng Nomad at the recent National Tournament and he will thus be awarded the Derrick Transell Trophy.  Andrew had a Hole in One at the 7th hole on the Friday of the Champagne Nationals and he has offered to buy a round at the Kyalami game.

I was privileged to play with an entire fourball, of Senior Tee participants, at Gold Cup.  Our combined records stood at 142 Years of Nomads participation, 208 years married, 310 years of age and 1562 Nomads games, quite an achievement.

Graham Bishop comes in as Transvaal/Gauteng’s 51st Captain and he brings our average Captain’s age down to 50 years and 9 months, which he is quite a bit below.  The current age of a Gauteng Nomad stands at 59 years and 3 months despite all the young inductees during the past year, imagine what it was before they joined!!

From all the reports I received, the 50th National Tournament was absolutely fabulous.  The accommodation, the course (although pretty waterlogged and unplayable the one day was superb), the entertainment and food at the evening meals was outstanding.  All in all a fabulous week with many suggestions that all future Nationals should be done exactly the same way!!

We wish both Byron Price and Basil Wilcox well in their transfer to Easterns and we say thanks to Byron as he will still be sponsoring Byron’s Birdie at our Club.

The handicap Divisions at Gauteng Club, for the 2015/16 year will be A division up to 9 handicap, B Division 10 to 14 handicap and C Division 15 to 25 handicap and will not change during the year.

I guess that just leaves me to say Goodbye and I hope that I have kept everybody up to date with many of the goings-on at Transvaal/Gauteng Nomads over the past ±25 years of my Editor’s Snippets and my Blah! Blah!, and not one story was repeated in that time!

 

ABORIGINAL TRACKER

An Australian tour guide was showing a group of American tourists the top end of Australia.  On their way to Kakadu he was describing the abilities of the Australian Aborigine to track man or beast over land, through the air, under the sea.  The Americans were incredulous.

Later in the day, the tour rounded a bend on the highway and discovered, lying in the middle of the road, an Aborigine . . . He had one ear pressed to the white line whilst his left leg was held high in the air.  “Jacky”, said the tour guide, “what are you tracking and what are you listening for?” The aborigine replied, “Down the road about 15 miles is a 1971 Valiant pick-up.  It’s a red one… The left front tyre is bald.  The front end is out of whack and him got bloody dents in every panel. There are 9 fellas like me, in the back, all drinking warm sherry.  There are 3 kangaroos on the roof rack and 6 dogs on the front seat.

The Ämerican Tourists moved forward, astounded by this precise and detailed knowledge.  “Good grief man, how do you know all that?” asked one. The Aborigine replied . . . . . ”I fell out of the frigging thing about an hour ago!”