I realise we've already moved into planning for the 2020 Vic Champs (which, let's face it, is awesome), but now that the fog is starting to lift from my brain and work is almost of back under control I wanted to get a little recap of the weekend out there. Firstly and most obviously, massive thanks to Lefty and his usual band of helpers, SundayHack for the trophies and Courty for the spreadsheets (and no doubt more unsung heroes out there). It must be a massive amount of work to arrange this and it's a privilege for the rest of us to be able to just turn up and enjoy it. Thanks to all of my playing partners over the 3 days, the many drinking partners an even my car and roommate Johnno (aka 2020 Champ).
UnCivil War (Royal Hobart): Thanks to PTP for coming to the rescue just as the Confederates were about to unfurl the white flag and providing a great group of blokes to reinforce the southerners and allow the event to continue. It was great to get my first win in the UnCivil War, thanks in no small part to my generous opponent Collis letting me in on some local knowledge on the greens. By the way Benno they break only half as much as they appear to (oh that's right, you know that already but didn't find out until after the round). The People's Royal (TM) was thoroughly enjoyable and will no doubt be even better when the redevelopment is finished. Somehow I picked a good day land my first ever comp win, also scoring an individual win and the team win with Bushy. Thanks to the Confederate leadership brains trust for picking me in the mystery fireball too. There's another point for the good guys and another loss for Benno. 3 victories in a row is great but we all know Queenslanders are good for 8 in a row so lets keep the domination going!
Champs Round 1 (Lost Farm): Lost Farm is the most spectacularly beautiful course I've ever seen. Thinking about that opening stretch of holes still gives me movement. I'm not surprised they couldn't cut two of them and am glad we played all 20. You know it's an amazing experience when I could play it after driving for 4 hours with a massive hangover and I still couldn't wipe the smile off my face. Also, for a bloke whose home track only has 15 holes, somehow Toddy got better as the round went on which was impressive.
Champs Round 2 (Dunes): The Dunes may be harder than Lost Farm and arguably not as pretty, but it's my pick of the two and the best course I've ever played. Subjective I know. It looks like it has been there forever and was always meant to be there. The flow from tee to fairway to green is just perfect and the options you have at your disposal are endless. I'm sure I hit some rubbish shots there as always, but I've already forgotten them. I also hit some of my best ever shots and those are the ones that will stick with me. As will Ferrins hitting out of that insane bunker on 4 to a couple of feet. Commiserations to Grumpy for the bizarre way we ended up in a playoff. It's the last time I rely on Bushy's maths!
Dunes round 2: If playing a course like Barnbougle Dunes for $119 is some of the best value in the world, then playing it again for only an extra $31 is inarguably the best value anywhere. As much as I enjoyed the rest of the weekend, this second round is what will stick with me as the most enjoyable round of golf I've ever played. In that late afternoon light, with the company I had, on that course pretty much to ourselves, carrying a couple of persimmons and a half set, playing from different tees and making things up as we go... that's as good as it gets. Special mention to our newly created 125m par 3 from 14th tee to 15th green and blasting balls across to Lost Farm from 16th tee (I'm sure Jono made it over) before Ferrins missing a hole in 1 by millimetres and he and I both getting another kaakaa. Just sensational.
That was the best weekend of golf I've ever had. RH was great and Barny was transcendent. But even better than the golf was the company and it's for that reason that I'll keep coming back. This was my second Vic Champs and I've now managed to finish both last and first. But the result is inconsequential and I had my favourite weekend of the year on both occasions. Golf might be the thing that we have in common and gets us to the event in the first place but it pales into insignificance compared to the banter, good times and general piss taking off the course. Shoutout to the Bridport Inn for one of the unexpectedly better nights I've had at a pub too. If you've never been, you need to get there. If you think your game isn't up to standard to attend you're wrong (and have clearly never seen me or most of the others play). If you've been before then then you know so get your arse back there next year.
So again, thanks Lefty for organising it, thanks to everyone who attended for allowing me the best weekend of the year. See you all in South-West Vic in a years time.