Post Round 5 Review: Riverside

Scotty

// Dec 27, 2019

In one of the weaker fields of the season, we turned our attention to the annual Party Round at Royal Riverside.

Another perfect day loomed for golf and the new inclusion of party shirts, which were a hit for the fans during round 5! With only 9 holes on offer and points doubled, there was little time to mess around for the field, as it felt like moving day!

Highlights of the day came from Scott McGregor who won NTP on the par 3, 4th, and took home the money, but chose to donate it back across the bar... what a guy. Longest drive was won by Daniel Sheehan! Onya Sheo!

Again, there were some solid scores, with some of the notables being Michael Stapleton with 36 points, and 3 tied for second place on 38 points; Daniel Sheehan, Michael Caridi & Ivan Jurcic, but the winner for the day, Scott McGregor, prevailed with 40 points to take home the Blue Jacket!

However!... the day's play wasn’t without controversy!... the blue jacket winners integrity was questioned prior to accepting the jacket, when his playing partner Michael ‘Im a snake’ Stapleton, decided it was a good idea to throw up the word ‘cheat’ before scurrying off to the bar! Turns out it was Michael who thinks picking up playing partners balls without telling them it's just part of golf!

So... the controversy was put to bed and it was decided then and there that it would never, EVER be spoken of again... EVER.

We venture out to Growling Frog for Round 6 of the season on Sunday January 19th. Make sure you pay up on time, and don’t upset the President!

Post Round 4 Review: Goonawarra

Scotty

// Dec 8, 2019

In one of the smaller fields of the GMGA season, we ventured out past the Tullamarine Bomber's home ground to Goonawarra Country Club, where 4 groups took aim at the blue jacket.

Fines seemed to be prevalent early with the James brothers not making their tee times after a night on the the turps at the NBL. Flames making it known with his social media prowess.

It seemed like it could have been anyone's day with a light breeze and perfect sunny conditions, but scores were not reflecting that of another high scoring day like previous years.

Highlights for the day came from James Mount smashing a driver down the 18th to win longest drive, Michael Caridi getting one somewhere on the green for 2nd shot NTP on the short but elusive Par 4th 13th, and Daniel Igoe sticking one close on the Par 3, 16th for NTP.

But the day belonged to the Italian, Matteo Pannelldo, who after starting with a 1-pointer on the first hole, held his nerve and came home strong to finish with 38 points, 1 ahead of rival Patty Sherlock. Matteo attributes his win to his Nonna's arrancinis the night prior. Molto bene Matteo! Diamo il benvenuto a tutti i tipi di internazionali a grandi uomini dell'associazione golf!

We venture out from Goonawarra for Round 5 of the season on Sunday December 8th, for the infamous Party Round at Royal Riverside! Make sure you get there and pay up on time... don’t upset the President!

Post Round 3 Review: 13th Beach

Scotty

// Dec 6, 2019

Yet another great turnout for Round 3 of the GMGA season at 13th Beach Golf links, including a bus driven by Peter Bishop! A huge thank you goes out to Pistol Pete for donating his time!

It was perfect golf conditions for Round 3... the sun was shining and wind wasn’t too much of a factor for most of the day, until a zephyr turned up late in the piece.

Highlights seemed unlikely for Hollywood Showgirls ambassador, Scott McGregor cold-topping one off the first tee with driver, but managed to walk away with the cash for NTP on the Par 3, 12th. Other notable efforts came from Matt Pannell for longest drive, hitting it 30 meters the next longest on the Par 4, 18th, and Daniel Popovic for the 2nd shot NTP on the Par 4, 14th! Well done lads.

There were some strong scores when the day was done, with Doc Livingston stiff to come up short with 40 points, but the day belonged to the man that wears the GMGA on his sleeve better than anyone else... Mike Caridi. Mike shot a blistering 43 points to claim the win, and with that, shot himself to the top of the leaderboard! Believe it or not, Mike still hasn’t missed one round of the GMGA since its inception! An unbelievable effort from the man from Maribyrnong! Congratulations Mike! Well played and good luck on the lower handicap! #WindHimIn!

We venture out to Goonawarra for Round 4 of the season on Sunday December 8th, before the infamous Party Round at Royal Riverside! Make sure you pay up on time, and don’t upset the President!

Round 3 Preview: 13th Beach

Scotty

// Nov 22, 2019

The 2019/20 GMGA season is well underway and the leaderboard will well and truly start taking shape after round 3 this weekend at 13th Beach Golf Links in Barwon Heads!

Home of the Australian Vic Open, the Nick Faldo designed ‘Creek’ course stretches across 6401 Meters of pure Couch. In Faldo’s words; “The Creek Course has more of a Melbourne sand-belt feel to it and I think that works well as an interesting alternative to the Beach Course. We incorporated generously wide fairways with bold, rugged bunkering to offer strong strategic challenges to a broad range of golfing abilities. The greens are subtly contoured and their approaches encourage a wide diversity of shot-making options. The course gains its name from the semi-dry creeks that meander across the site, further adding to the strategic interest of the course”.

On top of the round of golf for the day, the very generous Peter Bishop has donated his time and wheel-steering expertise to drive us lads down to the Greater Barwon area, and then on to Little Creatures Brewery via his very own favourite strip clubs. Now we know where Antony gets it from! Thanks Pistol Pete!

Good luck out there again lads! Make sure those putts go in, and again looking forward to some froffies post round!

Post Round 2 Review: St. Andrew's

Scotty

// Oct 29, 2019

Nerves were a plenty on the first tee during round 2 of the GMGA season, as 29 players took to the field with one late withdrawal from Anthony Bishop who couldn't handle the heat.

The days highlights began with Irish O’Dea staying put in his golf cart after hitting 2 tee balls into dead elephant's territory on the first tee! Rick Tapper didn’t do much better after topping 2 balls off the tee to wipe the first hole and finishing with $50 worth of fines! Terrence Thean and Brian Kenny had a day to remember in what can only be described as poo-golf, with 14 points & 15 points respectively. WahWahWeeWah!

New GMGA recruit Daniel Popovic shot a lazy 1 over the card to finish with 32 points and took home some red wine and golf balls for winning longest drive & 2nd shot NTP. Patty Sherlock also took out NTP on the Par-3, 11th hole, almost holing out after rolling it off the backbord to 3 feet!

Michael Stapleton had a measley 25 points and decided to take his anger out on the rules committee, but with tough conditions and low scores, the day belonged to Tom ‘Rock’ Caven, who shot 34 points with 4 wipes! Congratulations Tom... although I’m sure you will be stripped of your win before the year's end, when the committee realise you were wearing your swimsuit underneath (see left). #Cheat #FineHim

But the day belonged to newcomer Jacob Bevanda who held his nerve in a thrilling playoff after shooting 44 points! Jacob holed a fantastic 15 footer to secure the blue jacket, and the win saw his handicap wound-in from 21 to 15! Congratulations Jacob! #WindHimIn

With a month in between rounds, we have just enough time for the vein in Stapo’s neck to calm down and we look forward to Round 3 of GMGA, which will take place at 13th Beach on Saturday November 23rd!

Round 2 Preview: St. Andrew's

Scotty

// Oct 25, 2019

It seems as though the bug has well and truly bitten, as another huge turnout looms for Round 2 of the 2019/20 GMGA season at St. Andrew's Beach Golf Links!

Designed by Tom Doak & Michael Clayton, St Andrews Beach is arguably inside Australia’s Top 10 Public access courses year on year. Measuring a little over 6000m, it certainly isn’t the longest course around, but with thick rough and tricky greens, shooting a low round is easier said than done. Its also home to the longest Par-4 in Australia!!... The brutal 13th! Good luck O’Dea!

The Blue Jacket holder, Jacob Bevanda, will certainly be hoping for a repeat of form after his maiden victory of Round 1! Although his shortened handicap this time round, might play a hindrance!

Making his GMGA debut is 2012 Australian PGA Champion Daniel Popovic, and he is already talking about shooting -4, which should get him 37 points... good luck Pop! We’ll all be watching and hurling abuse on the 1st tee! We also welcome back the Harvey brothers, Tim & John! Good to have you back lads! Also making a return, is this weeks ‘Great Man’ Michael DiNatale, and Anthony Bishop who, this month celebrated his 49th broken bone! Congrats bish! Just one more to go for that elusive 50! Not bad for a Porno star from Ukraine!

Being a close course to get to, I'm sure it will be a big turnout and as always for round 1, we will be having a BBQ & beers afterwards so make sure you stick around! Get an uber if you can!

Good luck out there fellas! Make sure those putts go in, and looking forward to some froffies post-round!

Post Round 1 Review: Yarra Bend

Scotty

// Oct 8, 2019

The sun was shining, beers were flowing, and scores were high in the GMGA season opener at Royal Yarra Bend on Saturday morning.

Highlights from the day came mainly in the form of the Newcomers... Marcus Solomon winning longest drive on the 13th, Par-5, only needing pitching wedge after blasting one down the hill. Joel Whatshisface hitting it close on the Par-3, 10th for the closest to the pin, and Matty Pannell stiffing one to 3 feet on 18 for the only good shot he hit all day!

Other hightlights inlcuded Freddy Stapleton holing a 20 footer on the 1st green to show up his dad in his bunnings apron, and he couldnt work out why some bloke had pictures of his dad on his socks!? #CommitOfficialsOff

Playing conditions were perfect for scoring in round 1, as 8 players shot 40+ points! Chihan Demirel was a last minute call-up and thought he was home-and-hosed after coming in with 41 points... but it wasn’t to be! Ricky ‘Flames’ James & James Mount had a day out and shot the low-round 44 points but were ultimately denied the blue jacket after choking in a 3-way putt-off!... (the only 3-way the boys have ever had).

But the day belonged to newcomer Jacob Bevanda who held his nerve in a thrilling playoff after shooting 44 points! Jacob holed a fantastic 15 footer to secure the blue jacket, and the win saw his handicap wound-in from 21 to 15! Congratulations Jacob! #WindHimIn

We look forward to Round 2 of GMGA, which will take place at St Andrews Beach on Sunday October 27!

GMGA: Now with Hot Chicks!

Irish

// Oct 4, 2019

Round 1 Preview: Yarra Bend

Scotty

// Sep 25, 2019

It's been a hell of a long winter and as usual, the GMGA members are chomping at the bit to get out and play some much needed (shit) golf in some beautiful Melbourne Spring weather!

We have been fortunate enough to be sponsored again by Mr. Drew Gleeson from ‘Ground Up Building Group’, so make sure you get to him at some stage through the season and give him a huge thank-you. Last season, Drew donated 1000 dollarydoos to the season winner, and he will again be donating for the second season running. It's an amazing contribution for a bloke that can't even swing a golf club, let alone comb his hair! Thank you Drew!

We have probably the biggest number of new members since the GMGA’s inception, which is fantastic, so make sure you get around and say hello and make the new comers feel welcome! We even welcome 2012 PGA of Australia Champion, Daniel Popovic, who I dare say will be playing off about +3 when he gets his handicap sorted out! Good luck Daniel!

Round 1, as always, kicks off at the beautiful Yarra Bend Golf Course on the doorstep of the CBD. Sitting alongside the Yarra river, the picturesque Par 70 bends its way along 5409 meters (or 4516 meters for Nick Serrano off whites, or 3750 meters for Migga off the ladies Red markers, or 3200 meters for Fletch off the Old Cunts Green markers.

Being a close course to get to, I'm sure it will be a big turnout and as always for round 1, we will be having a BBQ & beers afterwards so make sure you stick around! Get an uber if you can!

Looking forward to a fantastic season ahead! Good luck lads!

Welcome to GMGA Season 2019/20!

Diesel

// Sep 19, 2019