Wining and dining went on, but the tornament didn't

If my powers of telepathy can reach 12,000 miles then Graeme Jones' ears should have been burning for the last few days.
It was our boy Graeme that persuaded us that Queen's Birthday Monday would be okay for the staging of the Wine and Dine tournament. This despite the fact that we have had to postpone it twice in five years. Having got his way Graeme then took off for the Northern Hemisphere to get away from our winter. He must be in London by now as I note that the opening mechanism on the historic Tower Bridge failed the other day.
At any rate, the weather decided the fate of the popular Wine and Dine event. About half an hour before start time last Monday the rain started in earnest so the decision to postpone became an easy one. As I write this, in front of a cosy, warm fire, I believe there are a handful of golfers out there battling the elements just for the love of it. Or is it because, if they stay home, they might have to make a start on repainting the kitchen ceiling.
Queen's Birthday weekend often marks a watershed in the year. More often than not it seems to be the time when winter really starts to make its presence felt, with this year no exception. However, it may not be generally known but up to the late 1950s the prestigious men's Wairarapa Open was traditionally staged at this time.
The event took in six rounds over the three days with the first two rounds being qualifying rounds for the championship matches which followed. The top sixteen scores in the stroke section then went into the championship group with a four round knock out match play contest being staged over the last two days of the weekend. The remainder of the field was divided into flights of sixteen with match play on handicap, although the championship group played off the stick.
Occasionally, because every shot counted in the qualifying rounds, you did get some anomalies such as the time a one handicapper from Rotorua got into real trouble on the old 16th hole (now the 12th) and finished with an eleven. Curiously his name was Deadman while the name of the hole then was Deadman's Gulch. Our Mr Deadman didn't qualify in the championship but finished up in the first of the flights which, I believe, was the group on which the annual Calcutta was run.
I'm told that although Queen's Birthday weekend weather was just as unpredictable in those days, the field for the Open was nearly always full. Are modern golfers getting soft, I have to ask.
Back to the Wine and Dine tournament where all this started and I can tell you that it will now be staged later in the season, possibly on Sunday, October 2.
Last Saturday, with the weather every bit as bad as it was on Monday, a dozen or so Vikings took to the fairways to play for the Riverside Salver, a stableford event. I believe they all made it back to the clubhouse where Mike Dixon was proclaimed the winner with a very creditable 38 points, well ahead of second placed Henry Stechman with 34 points.
It is obvious that Trevor Hill is conditioning himself for harsh weather because his round was the last before he takes off to Dunedin to become breakfast host at a radio station there.
On Tuesday the sun came out and looked after the 35 women who played in a mixed stableford competition. It was fortunate that they were into winter starting time (9.30 am) as there was a sharp frost early on. Results:
Silver: Jan Williams 33 pts 1st (on countback from Di Wakeling and Robyn Guildford)
Bronze A: Janna Blundell 31 pts 1st, Ann Kenny 29 pts 2nd.
Bronze B: Pip Morris 30 pts 1st, Sue Falloon 2nd.
Nearest the pin prizes went to Shirley Simpson at the Graeme Jones 8th hole and Rachel Blundell at the Write Price 18th.
Good luck to the Riverside Cup team playing Mahunga at Riversdale on Friday.
Next Monday, June 13, a Pennants round will be hosted by Masterton with the Silver Division playing Judgeford while the Bronze team sit out with a bye.
Next Saturday, June 11, features the final round of the season for all three of the men's Wellington interclub teams. This year there will be no division changes for Masterton with all three teams sitting a little above half-way in each grade so no one is involved in any promotion/relegation series.
Division 2, the Dudding Shield team, play Judgeford at Shandon, starting at 7.30 am but at this point I don't have the team names.
Division 3 are at home to Mornington starting at 9.30 am with the following team: Pete Jackson, Phil Rutene, Kevin Mackay, Ash Peterson, Herb Ruhe, Bob Hill, Paul Fouhy, Murray Wolland, Ian Buchanan, Jeff Ogg.
Division 6 take on Otaki at Otaki with Tony Iggulden, Ithial Stya, Derek Clarkson, Tony Roseingrave, Mike Dixon, Bruce Watkins, Brian Leighton, Joe Tuoro, Barry Smith and Robin Carseldine.
Meanwhile back at the ranch there is a medal round for members coupled with a Markham's shootout qualifier and a further Challenge Shield round.
Off the Fairway
A meal in the clubhouse had been planned to follow the golf last Monday. Despite the earlier disappointment of the golf postponement the meal went ahead as scheduled and a very good occasion it was too, with the caterers doing us proud. It was an evening that must be repeated - and fairly soon too.