Scramble a tied-up affair

The Holden Scramble competition had its inception in Australia in 1992, moving to New Zealand in 2002, the year when the first Wagg's Wairarapa Holden Scramble was held at the Masterton Golf Course.
In its short career at Lansdowne, three records for the event have been created: in 2003, Masterton with 64 teams, attracted the biggest entry anywhere in New Zealand; then last year the team of Jo Bird, Jo Hargood and Cindy Giles became the first all women's side in Australasia to win a Holden Scramble event; finally, in this year's competition, held just last Sunday, Masterton filled the field for the local Wagg's Holden Scramble quicker than at any other venue in this country.
The basic competition is an Ambrose with teams of three, men or women. Each team may have only one member on single figures.
However, the combined handicap of the three team members must total at least 24 and not exceed 81, with the maximum handicap for an individual male being 27, and for a female, 40. In calculating the nett score, the team total is divided by 6.
A point worth noting is that in the Masterton event, women entries have four strokes added to their normal handicap. Apart from last year's big winners, teams including women seem to do well, so there is often a certain amount of strategic planning involved in the composition of the teams.
With the groups going off in sixes, it's a pretty long day, up to 5 ? to 6 hours in most cases. Fortunately last Sunday was a beautiful spring day to lift the spirits, while refreshments along the way kept the bodies going. Then there was the added attraction of the "Holdenone", at the 8th hole. The battered old 1972 HQ Holden had its annual day of glory when golfers attempted to win a golf bag by dropping a short tee shot inside its roofless body.
As far as the results were concerned, it couldn't have been closer with two teams finishing in a tie ? the same gross score, the same handicap and the same nett score. On a count back, it went to the mixed South Wairarapa team of Lance Phelps, Wayne Evans and Scott Reid, from the local side of Mike Dixon, Kevin Mackay and Arthur Sandford.
Brief results:
Lance Phelps (M/b), Wayne Evans (Cart), Scott Reid (Feath) ? Gross 59 nett 53.83 1st
Mike Dixon, Kevin Mackay, Arthur Sandford (all Mast) ? Gross 59 nett 53.83 2nd
Ray White, Tom Bingham, Daniel Schmid (all Carterton) -0 Gross 66, nett 56.83 3rd
Bob Hill (Mast), Steve Hargood (Mah), Tweet Bird (Mast) ? Gross 64, nett 57.00 4th
How are the mighty fallen! Previous regional winners are slapped with a 25 per cent handicap penalty, but even if this rule hadn't been applied, last year's winning team of Peter Kenny, Brian Schaefer and Roger Allan would still have finished last. The Java House Tray went to Lola Ogg, while Alan Poole created the shot of the day. At the 8th hole Alan's drive hit the ladies tee marker, ricocheted back over his head and nearly decapitated the workers on the BBQ! For his efforts he received a burnt sausage.
The top four teams now go on to the Regional Final to be held for the second time at Lansdowne on Sunday 29 October. Apparently the locally run Waggs Holden Scramble has been so well organised, and I'm not kidding either, that the National body are more than happy to have it return to Masterton.
Last week a dozen 9 holers competed in a putting competition, with Patsy White taking the honours with 15 putts, well ahead of second placed Julie Hamilton, who did win the nearest the pin prize.
On Saturday the Stroke Round produced the following results:
Group 1: Derek Clarkson 66 nett 1st
Courtney Gane 68 nett 2nd
Shane Grant 68 nett 3rd
Group 2: Roger Gardner 67 nett 1st
Roley Brown 68 nett 2nd
Jane Buchanan, on plus 3, did best amongst the women, while Courtney Gane with 69 produced the round of the day in th3e Challenge Shield event.
On Tuesday 36 women played a Par round in cool, cloudy conditions.
Results:
Silver: Jenni Johnston +2 1st
Joy Cowan Square 2nd
Bronze A: Lorraine Stewart +1 1st
Diana Roseingrave -1 2nd
Bronze B: Janice Hayes -3 1st
Beryl Stuart -4 2nd
Ngaire Stevens was nearest the pin at the Write Price 18th hole.
Now don't forget ladies that next Tuesday, 13 September, sees the return of summer starting time. Discs should be in by 8.45am for a tee off at 9am.
The Wairarapa Lansdowne Trophy team has finished third in the competition after taking just the 3points from their match against Te Marua/Judgeford at Paraparaumu last Monday. Congratulations to Sereana, Chris and Rachel for their wins, while other matches were all close.
Next Saturday, 10 September, features a South African Stableford, and a Markham's Shootout qualifier, but the big event this weekend comes on Sunday, with the staging of the TCR Toyota Wairarapa Open Mixed Foursomes over 36 holes. The draw is elsewhere in the paper, but you should know that post entries will be taken. So if you want to play in this event, then I suggest you contact the clubhouse right away.
Off the Fairway
Thanks to Mike Dixon for filling in for me, while we were swimming, sunning and sightseeing in Rarotonga. However, like most school teachers you give Mike a chance to say something and away he goes. I do have a current motor bike license, but a very brief look at the scene over there convinced me that a small car was much safer. The motor scooters all go like the clappers, no one wears helmets, while the sight of little piccaninnies on the back of the bikes, clinging precariously to their mommas was just a little scary.