2020 VIC Champs 13-17 Feb - Come to ME, Mountain - SW VIC

[LeftyHoges]

From the people who brought you other great drunken 4AM ideas such as...

Ummmm.....

Errrr.......

Potato Parcel....?

Vacuum Shoes....?

Licki Brush....?

Comes the 2020 VIC Champs edition in the wonderful, the magnetic, the what-the-****-is-that?!?! home of LeftyHoges, South West Victoria!!!

Dates locked in for 13 - 17 Feb, 2020.

OZgolf VIC Champs 2020 Course Itinerary (Costs are rough at this stage)

Thursday
Heywood Golf Club - The course where I first learnt to throw a club. Ahhhh, memories....
3PM tee-off
$20.00 Green Fee + $10.00 Prize Fee

Friday
Warrnambool Golf Club[/B][/B] - Home of current world no. 17 Marc Leishman, who I beat once in a schoolboys tournament, and have been riding to death ever since.[B][B]
12.30PM tee-off from the first
28 spots booked
$49 Green Fee + $10.00 Prize Fee + $5 push cart
Carts $40 for anyone with medical cert.

Saturday
Portland Golf Club - The course where I currently throw my clubs. I'm better at it now too.
12.30PM tee-off, shotgun start
$20.00 Green Fee + $10.00 Prize Fee + $10 Comp fee

Sunday

Port Fairy Golf Links - My highest individual honour in golf, 2009 Club Champion
8AM tee-off
$45.00 Green Fee + $10.00 Prize Fee
No Carts (pull buggies available)

Monday
Cobden Golf Club - Not really meaningful, I just like this place, and it's on the way back to Melbourne.
Maybe 9AM start?
$20 Green Fee + $10.00 Prize Fee

Accommodation:
Portland Bay Lodge
$40 per person per night

Chosen because we can be as loud as humanly ****ing possible.

Come one, come all to the weirdest VIC Champs yet!

 

BSB: 303-092
Acc no. 4959945
Acc Name: Nicholas D Hoggan

[JoeS]

Neither were top 20 courses , knee high rough just off the fairway might get you ranked higher but is cruel for the average golfer . Settlers is ranked now but back then they were struggling to get members and was unplayable in winter.

Ok.Only played Settlers once,mid Feb.Tough course,bunkers were good but deep,greens were excellent

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[JoeS]

They have same sand base as sand belt courses but unfortunately isn’t in Melbourne. Played in their pro am a few years ago best score was only 2 under , probably only ranks as a decent country track

Leongatha suffers from being out of Melbourne as well.Sand belt course that is excellent all year round.I would rate Leongatha above Lang Lang IMO,only because of more elevation change

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[Dotty]

... I never had a problem with either Waterford Valley or Settlers Run both were enjoyable and to my liking.

+1

Then again, after the previous year's Yering Meadows, a North Korean minefield would be enjoyable.

p.s. And quieter.

[LeftyHoges]

Yet you played settlers run and Waterford valley as your weekend courses .

Waterford Valley is a ripping track, very enjoyable, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, accessible on a Saturday in Melbourne.

Settlers Run, while not my favourite place, was and is ranked 70-something, and is always in great condition in February. If champs was in July I wouldn't send anyone there, but it wasn't, so it's not an issue.

I'd back both them in to be the equal or better of anything down in West Gippy.

[LeftyHoges]

Neither were top 20 courses , knee high rough just off the fairway might get you ranked higher but is cruel for the average golfer . Settlers is ranked now but back then they were struggling to get members and was unplayable in winter.

"Just" (5+ metres) off the 40m wide fairways. I don't (and no one should) have any issues with that.

[Grumpy8]

Waterford Valley is a ripping track, very enjoyable, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, accessible on a Saturday in Melbourne.Settlers Run, while not my favourite place, was and is ranked 70-something, and is always in great condition in February. If champs was in July I wouldn't send anyone there, but it wasn't, so it's not an issue.I'd back both them in to be the equal or better of anything down in West Gippy.

Top 20 was cited as a criteria for a vic champs course , just responding to that , I don’t have a problem with either course , although every golfer I know bags Waterford, I did hear criticism of settlers as being to tough at vic champs . At least both courses are in Victoria .I am not saying west gipy courses are better or even as good , but where I am coming from is $1000 that 20 golfers generate would be much more appreciated and valuable to /by a traf , beaconhills or Lang Lang than a big Melbourne club

[LeftyHoges]

Top 20 was cited as a criteria for a vic champs course , just responding to that , I don’t have a problem with either course , although every golfer I know bags Waterford, I did hear criticism of settlers as being to tough at vic champs . At least both courses are in Victoria .I am not saying west gipy courses are better or even as good , but where I am coming from is $1000 that 20 golfers generate would be much more appreciated and valuable to /by a traf , beaconhills or Lang Lang than a big Melbourne club

Top 20 was a figure of speech, but each trip does usually contain at least A top 20 or 30 course, the exception being this year when we went to MY home, which still contained a top 40.

Everyone you know doesn't know what the hell they're talking about then, Waterford Valley is perfectly fine, especially as a Saturday champs venue, and not one person said to me that Settlers was too tough, and if they did there's every chance I would've told that princess to harden up. It's not a tough track at all.

I get the country tracks appreciate the $$$ more, of course they do, but you don't get bums on seats by sending people to Gippsland, Mildura, Sunraysia, Tocumwal / Yarrawonga, Wimmera or even as it turns out Port Fairy and Warrnambool, both top 100 tracks. This year was our lowest attendance apart from the first year. It's no coincidence.

I'm not gonna send people to Gippy when there's still a multitude of top Melbourne tracks we haven't played, and the reason people travel so far to a golf weekend is the commaraderie, just ever so slightly ahead of playing the best tracks humanly possible.

[Webster]

Top 20 was cited as a criteria for a vic champs course , just responding to that , I don’t have a problem with either course , although every golfer I know bags Waterford, I did hear criticism of settlers as being to tough at vic champs . At least both courses are in Victoria .I am not saying west gipy courses are better or even as good , but where I am coming from is $1000 that 20 golfers generate would be much more appreciated and valuable to /by a traf , beaconhills or Lang Lang than a big Melbourne club

You are behaving like a ****wit. Pls stop shitting in this fine thread.

[3Puttpete]

It's been a bit hectic since I got home but I think it's about time I did this.

A lot of us refer to Vic Champs as the best week of the year and this is not hyperbole, every time I go it does nothing but reinforce this opinion for me.

After a not so great year since the last one I needed the getaway and laughs. I want to sincerely thank everybody who turned up for allowing me to enjoy the week more than I could have hoped. Individually and collectively, you played your part and contributed greatly in putting a smile on a not so young bloke's face.

Lefty, I don't know where you find the energy and patience to organise the week. A simple thank you seems insufficient but it's all I have. You have my endless gratitude and admiration. When we decided to go to your "home" I didn't think we'd actually be invited into your lounge room. That's what it felt like having a drink and chat with your mum and dad. Mum's lovely and your old man might be the best judge of character any of us have ever met.

Thanks to Peppas and Benno_r for driving the Venga Bus so we could party. Clearly I was in no condition to do so.

SundayHack and wbennett my Venga Bus buddies, as always it was a pleasure.

I enjoyed all 5 courses we played with special mention to the 8 ball at Cobden which was just about the perfect way end a trip and Port Fairy which might just be the perfect way to play golf. It's a very special place and has knocked Lost Farm and RA down to 2 and 3 on my list of favourite courses. It has also knocked the Bethpage Black putter cover out of the bag. Every time I grab my putter I'll remember that place fondly.

Congrats to JoeS on the win. As was predicted early in the week you just don't play bad golf. Sometimes it's even exceptional.

Lastly, to everyone I played with, thanks for making the time spend playing golf enjoyable too.

Oops, I nearly forgot....Ron Burgundy, EAD.

[Grumpy8]

You are behaving like a ****wit. Pls stop shitting in this fine thread.

I’ll keeping going now ,

[LeftyHoges]

Well and truly overdue, but really the first chance I've had since getting home....

First and foremost, a massive and hearty congratulations to JoeS, the 2020 OZGolf Victorian champion!!! You had a massive week with us, bookended quite nicely by opening with 42 points at Heywood, and finishing with 26 points through 14 holes at the Hit and Giggle Cobden on Monday. 40 points on Sunday at PF was nothing to sneeze at too. Well done! (I did also have to laugh when it was mentioned on Monday that Joe was likely to win more trophies in a week than 3 of the other guys combined in their lives, can't remember who they were sadly...)

Well done also to Ron Burgundy, who came as close as anyone yet to backing up and doing the back-to-back. A commendable effort that save for a loose shot or three on holes 12 - 14 at PF could've seen him walk this in again.

On to my thank you's now, and as every year my first cab off the rank is Courty. Helps me massively in the lead up with the fine intricacies of a Google Spreadsheet, but also constantly offers to do anything else that is required. Couldn't do it without you bud.

To SundayHack in the manufacture again of a fine array of trophies, I know mine certainly take pride of place on the buffet and trophy shelf at home and I'm extremely grateful for the work you do with them. For also running the birdie comp, I know it can be a pain chasing guys for cash, but it obviously all goes to a great cause, so thanks for the work you do with this. Great bit of fun, also.

Congratulations to Dotty and the Union Uncivil War team, that now makes it 4 in a row for a score of 5-3. Thank you to all for participating in the premier OZgolf event, and taking it all in stride the way you do. It's THE day on the calendar I look forward to most, and to see it still being taken as seriously and competitively, but also light-heartedly as it is, well, it gives me the feels guys and gals....

Thankyou again to AndyP for graciously accepting the move of sides to even the teams out, it made life so much easier for me. Commiserations to SundayHack who in all likelihood was marching on to what may have been the biggest Uncivil War win yet before God took pity on thine Confederates. Commiserations also to me, who got bent over and arse-raped but in all honesty, probably should've lost his match despite the 39 points. It was particularly ironic that the only thing that kept me in the match was Ron missing short putts.

To 3PuttPete for the pizza order on Friday, thank you so much for taking that off my hands, there's no way I'd have been able to muster that on top of the other stuff so it was greatly appreciated. You know how I feel about you little buddy....

To Bushy, benno_r and Courty, thank you so much for the pre-champs (and post, too) experience, your love for the game is so close to being infectious, if any group of guys was ever going to get me back over the line from #hater4lyf it'd be you guys and that second 9 barefoot at The Cups with the mini games was the most fun I've had on a golf course in a LONG time. Still a #hater4lyf though, sorry.

It's not a normal thing to do but I need to thank Peter_rs and Shazza_rs for making the journey in the end. They had a lot of stuff going on pre-champs and it would've been so easy to pull the pin and say it was all just too hard. Thank you guys, it means a lot that you made it, and of course keeps alive your attendee streak. We're still the Fabulous Five.

Pickles, for taking it all in your stride mate, we may have been a little brutal there at stages so I'm glad to see you still come out with a smile on your face, and a promise to come back next year. Guys that can take the crap like that make trips like these. (And we've all been there, so don't worry about that). Hope you can make it back next year and pass on that pink monstrosity to someone more "deserving".

A big thankyou to EVERYONE who travelled for this event. It's hard enough to get blokes to come to Melbourne, let alone get them there and then drag them 4.5 hours into the countryside where Ivan Milat would feel right at home. Showing off my hometown(s), my memories as a kid growing up, and then also being able to share my parents and friends with you meant a hell of a lot more than I thought it would. I appreciate all your words and patience with me over those 3-5 days.

I feel like I need to thank the NSW guys too, not for any one particular reason, but just their attendance to me feels like a massive thing. And to the late entrants / confirmations, I do wish to thank you for your efforts to get here. With only weeks to go there was AndyP, Johnno, Peppas, Slug, RightyHoges and Chappy all looking likely to not be here. A group of 20 is a hell of a lot more fun than 14, so cheers for making your big efforts to get here.

My biggest thanks of all go to MrsLeftyHoges, who I really cannot do this without. The hours spent helping me sort my shit into some sort of organised chaos, the creation of what I believe to be the worlds best NAGA vests, help with prize envelopes, NTP labels etc, and just generally being the most supportive person going, thanks to her so much for everything she does.

To anyone I've forgotten, thank you, just because I don't remember it now, doesn't mean I don't appreciate it.

Another post will shortly follow this one, but I want to keep that seperate from this to show you my true appreciation. I do get a massive kick out of seeing you guys having a great time, and that most will say it's THE trip of the year for them tickles me just right.

And as always any feedback regarding any aspect of the trip will be taken on board, so if you do have any hints / tips / suggestions / criticisms / complaints please feel free to air them, or to speak to me privately. You know where to reach me.

Much love,
Lefty

[LeftyHoges]

OK, so further to my previous post, your homework should you choose to accept it (and please try to) is to share your hopefully wonderful experience. The one thing Grumpy8 HAS said in this thread that we can all agree on is that Country tracks especially get by on word of mouth, and positive reviews to get new people to come along.

So please contact these clubs, email admins, facebook post / page review, tweet, instagram, google review, TripAdvisor, post it here, yelp, hell scream it from the top of your office building and / or scribble it on your office shitter walls, please do everything you can to promote these wonderful places, all small business or community / volunteer run clubs and get the word out. Remember, a number of us had something to do with:

Heywood Bakery
Heywood Golf Club
Portland Bay Lodge
Portland KFC
Warrnambool Golf Club
Warrnambool Red Rooster (48 Cheesy Nuggs, bitchez!)
Ric's Pizza
Oven Peel Bakery
Portland Golf Club
Portland RSL Memorial Bowling Club
Port Fairy Golf Club
Cobden Golf Club

Places like these need our help not only to thrive but even just to survive.

And remember, please, if you don't have anything nice to say...

Feel free to post your reviews from places in here so we can see the nice things said and get ideas....

Thank you all in advance.

[BUSHY]

Well and truly overdue, but really the first chance I've had since getting home....

First and foremost, a massive and hearty congratulations to JoeS, the 2020 OZGolf Victorian champion!!! You had a massive week with us, bookended quite nicely by opening with 42 points at Heywood, and finishing with 26 points through 14 holes at the Hit and Giggle Cobden on Monday. 40 points on Sunday at PF was nothing to sneeze at too. Well done! (I did also have to laugh when it was mentioned on Monday that Joe was likely to win more trophies in a week than 3 of the other guys combined in their lives, can't remember who they were sadly...)

Well done also to Ron Burgundy, who came as close as anyone yet to backing up and doing the back-to-back. A commendable effort that save for a loose shot or three on holes 12 - 14 at PF could've seen him walk this in again.

On to my thank you's now, and as every year my first cab off the rank is Courty. Helps me massively in the lead up with the fine intricacies of a Google Spreadsheet, but also constantly offers to do anything else that is required. Couldn't do it without you bud.

To SundayHack in the manufacture again of a fine array of trophies, I know mine certainly take pride of place on the buffet and trophy shelf at home and I'm extremely grateful for the work you do with them. For also running the birdie comp, I know it can be a pain chasing guys for cash, but it obviously all goes to a great cause, so thanks for the work you do with this. Great bit of fun, also.

Congratulations to Dotty and the Union Uncivil War team, that now makes it 4 in a row for a score of 5-3. Thank you to all for participating in the premier OZgolf event, and taking it all in stride the way you do. It's THE day on the calendar I look forward to most, and to see it still being taken as seriously and competitively, but also light-heartedly as it is, well, it gives me the feels guys and gals....

Thankyou again to AndyP for graciously accepting the move of sides to even the teams out, it made life so much easier for me. Commiserations to SundayHack who in all likelihood was marching on to what may have been the biggest Uncivil War win yet before God took pity on thine Confederates. Commiserations also to me, who got bent over and arse-raped but in all honesty, probably should've lost his match despite the 39 points. It was particularly ironic that the only thing that kept me in the match was Ron missing short putts.

To 3PuttPete for the pizza order on Friday, thank you so much for taking that off my hands, there's no way I'd have been able to muster that on top of the other stuff so it was greatly appreciated. You know how I feel about you little buddy....

To Bushy, benno_r and Courty, thank you so much for the pre-champs (and post, too) experience, your love for the game is so close to being infectious, if any group of guys was ever going to get me back over the line from #hater4lyf it'd be you guys and that second 9 barefoot at The Cups with the mini games was the most fun I've had on a golf course in a LONG time. Still a #hater4lyf though, sorry.

It's not a normal thing to do but I need to thank Peter_rs and Shazza_rs for making the journey in the end. They had a lot of stuff going on pre-champs and it would've been so easy to pull the pin and say it was all just too hard. Thank you guys, it means a lot that you made it, and of course keeps alive your attendee streak. We're still the Fabulous Five.

Pickles, for taking it all in your stride mate, we may have been a little brutal there at stages so I'm glad to see you still come out with a smile on your face, and a promise to come back next year. Guys that can take the crap like that make trips like these. (And we've all been there, so don't worry about that). Hope you can make it back next year and pass on that pink monstrosity to someone more "deserving".

A big thankyou to EVERYONE who travelled for this event. It's hard enough to get blokes to come to Melbourne, let alone get them there and then drag them 4.5 hours into the countryside where Ivan Milat would feel right at home. Showing off my hometown(s), my memories as a kid growing up, and then also being able to share my parents and friends with you meant a hell of a lot more than I thought it would. I appreciate all your words and patience with me over those 3-5 days.

I feel like I need to thank the NSW guys too, not for any one particular reason, but just their attendance to me feels like a massive thing. And to the late entrants / confirmations, I do wish to thank you for your efforts to get here. With only weeks to go there was AndyP, Johnno, Peppas, Slug, RightyHoges and Chappy all looking likely to not be here. A group of 20 is a hell of a lot more fun than 14, so cheers for making your big efforts to get here.

My biggest thanks of all go to MrsLeftyHoges, who I really cannot do this without. The hours spent helping me sort my shit into some sort of organised chaos, the creation of what I believe to be the worlds best NAGA vests, help with prize envelopes, NTP labels etc, and just generally being the most supportive person going, thanks to her so much for everything she does.

To anyone I've forgotten, thank you, just because I don't remember it now, doesn't mean I don't appreciate it.

Another post will shortly follow this one, but I want to keep that seperate from this to show you my true appreciation. I do get a massive kick out of seeing you guys having a great time, and that most will say it's THE trip of the year for them tickles me just right.

And as always any feedback regarding any aspect of the trip will be taken on board, so if you do have any hints / tips / suggestions / criticisms / complaints please feel free to air them, or to speak to me privately. You know where to reach me.

Much love,
Lefty

[AndyP]

I would've won if the Friday round was a comp. #robbed

[3Puttpete]

[LeftyHoges]

Seriously, how good does that look!?!?! And you can see those letters shimmering from 100m+....

[SundayHack]

Almost got it right Lefty. Joe won more trophies that week than everyone bar yourself combined of those that played Cobden. The remaining 6 (Sundayhack, Courty, 3pp, Bushy, Benno_r and WBennett).

[Pickles]

Seriously, how good does that look!?!?! And you can see those letters shimmering from 100m+....

10/10 effort by MrsLeftyHoges. Thankfully PF was quiet that morning and only a handful of random groups got to laugh at my expense as I wandered by

Will look great on 3puttpete next year

[LeftyHoges]

Almost got it right Lefty. Joe won more trophies that week than everyone bar yourself combined of those that played Cobden. The remaining 7 (Sundayhack, Courty, 3pp, Bushy, Benno_r and WBennett).

****, that's disturbing on a number of levels...

[benno_r]

****, that's disturbing on a number of levels...

Told you i am a ghost south of the Murray...

[3Puttpete]

10/10 effort by MrsLeftyHoges. Thankfully PF was quiet that morning and only a handful of random groups got to laugh at my expense as I wandered by Will look great on 3puttpete next year

If I wear that I’m gonna need an industrial size and strength umbrella to protect me from the shit which will rain down on me. Sounds like fun

[Ron Burgundy]

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9D-x-jl...d=li5m31a9i86l

[AndyP]

Any of you guys got Coronavirus?

These are the symptoms, and I had them all leading up to and on the Champs weekend, except maybe the fever.
• Fever at or above 37.3 degrees Celsius
• Sore throat
• Continuous cough or sneezing
• Extreme nasal congestion

Enjoy!

Love
Andrew

[LeftyHoges]

Any of you guys got Coronavirus?

These are the symptoms, and I had them all leading up to and on the Champs weekend, except maybe the fever.
• Fever at or above 37.3 degrees Celsius
• Sore throat
• Continuous cough or sneezing
• Extreme nasal congestion

Enjoy!

Love
Andrew

3PP had a very sore throat Thursday night...

[3Puttpete]

3PP had a very sore throat Thursday night...

I’m lucky that’s all that was sore after someone attempted to slip me a roofie