Captain's Report - Jan 2010

The year started with mixed emotions with Danie du Toit that deceased on the one hand and one of the biggest fields in Ladybrand that I can remember on the other hand.

Quite a number of Nomads attended the memorial service of Danie in Ficksburg on Wednesday, 13 January in the 13^th year of FS Nomads’ existence of which Danie was a founder member. The fact that he had played more than 100 games and his contribution by manufacturing and sponsoring the champion of the day trophies is an indication of his commitment to the FS Nomads. The trophies were made by the hands of a perfectionist and unique to the FS Nomads. Danie’s huge smile will also stay in our memories for many a year.

I had the honour to attach Danie’s name tag during prize giving to the alter while Colin Callaway was reading the creed: “No man is an island, entire of itself; Every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;…Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind;   And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

Danie, may your soul rest in peace. We will miss you.

The year 2010 is going to have a number of changes. The first change we have tried was to start the game at Ladybrand an hour later in the summer months. I was absolutely amazed to see a field of 60 players and I was very proud of my fellow Nomads. I am also very proud of the effort of the committee with there efforts and to make the day enjoyable to all of us. I also can’t thank Martin Hoekstra, from AutoNiche Volvo enough for his sponsorship of our first monthly game. The proof is in the pudding as it could be seen from the prizes that were on the table. A pity my game was down and I missed out, even on the pink hat. With all the rain the past two weeks, you couldn’t afford to miss the fairway. I looked like a beginner and the harder I try the more I miss the fairways, greens and putts. One good hit every fourth hole was my trend. I was trying to fade my draw and drawing my fade ending up hitting the ball on the head. It’s embarrassing when it happens on the first hole. I can’t blame Herman Braam this time since he was still in the clubhouse, having whiskey and milk.  The past captains warned me that I am going to play my worst golf this year since I will have too much on my mind. I didn’t want to believe them after my 40 pointer at Gold Cup. Even passion fruit and soda the previous night didn’t help this time. Looks like I will have to go back to the “Old Faithful”. Usually I am having my breakfast during halfway, but since I had so much time before I teed off, I have climbed into the huge breakfast that Ladybrand prepared for us. The best in the East. Thanks to the kitchen staff of Ladybrand.

We all know that the abbreviation B.I.P. stands for “Ball-In-Pocket”. Bernardus Badenhorst created a new abbreviation; C.I.P. which stands for “Club head in Pocket” after separating the club head of his 4 iron from it’s shaft trying to clear the ditch with his drive on the 2^nd hole, stroke 1. Fortunately he could recover his club head, but his ball was donated to the caddies.

After scrambling through 18 holes, I’ve experienced someone who consumes beer faster than I could drink passion fruit and soda and faster than Sir Herman Richard Braam can drink Castle Lights. None other than Bernardus. I must admit, it was very hot???!!!

If Hennie Labuschagne is playing, all the Nomads with a handicap higher than 17, can be rest assured that you won’t win the pink hat. Well done Hennie, at least you can compete for the golden match box at Gold Cup day. Hope your game picks up before Nationals. Remember, we are trying to win the Bert Hunt trophy back this year. Look who’s talking with his 22 points.

Thanks to Bryan Joliffe, translated in Afrikaans as “Bryan Jou Liefie”, who did a great job as fines master. A bit nervous at first, but I trust everybody enjoyed it. I love it when a fines master fines his captain forgetting the captain has the last say. Please do not stutter next time before you fine the captain. Just go for it. You now know what is to follow. Your 2010 idea for the fines to be paid in R20’s and R10’s, was great. That’s why you had to pay two R20’s and a R10 for the captain’s fine and Nico Gordon four R20’s for his negligence.

Apparently Patrick Dinthloane was trying to hit the skin off the white ball and Andre Rheeder thought it to be a good idea to give him a black golf ball to play with. It is all in the rhythm and timing and not to force your game. Patrick, save the black ball for the February game at Bloem. Maybe you will make a 40 pointer. Just finish before dark.

Knowing that our past captain has a great sense of humour, we thought of playing a trick on him by giving him a miniature “cast iron” pot, the 3 legged one, if you know what I mean, for his request to have a Weber Braai as his captain’s gift. Wilfred, you can put that next to your 50^th year commemorative book on the coffee table. Your original actual size Weber will be handed to you at the Bloemfontein game. By the way, Ike Heyns, the coffee table book is a book and not a coffee table you can buy. It is the 50^th commemorative book of the Nomads which you can put onto a coffee table in your lounge, if you like.

According to Aubrey Josiah, is Thabo Khunyeli playing golf for 23 years now and is still playing off a 23 handicap and almost never in the prizes. So you can’t accuse him of nursing his handicap.

The starting went fairly well apart from a few hiccups like partner swopping, which was dealt with by the fines master and a few no shows. Magersfontein, oh Magersfontein, has claimed another victim, Klasie Viljoen, who first drove head first into a bunker with his golf cart, not looking where he was going while searching for his ball, completely sober they claimed, falling through the windscreen and then ran into a number of hurdles like the Magersfontein clubhouse, Halfway House in Kimberley and the Boshoff Hotel and then last but not least had to bat against his wife who was the bowler when he got home. He then forgot to take his phone off silent when he set his alarm clock. Needless to say he missed the game and I missed my lift to Ladybrand. Never a dull moment.

Due to work commitments and his son’s busy junior golf programme, Klasie has resigned his post as PRO from the committee and applied for associate membership but will still assist in obtaining sponsors and will still participating in other Nomads events. Thanks to Jean Khouri that volunteered to take the PRO post on and will be assisted by Sergio Pita. Jean will also assist Peter Rogers as assistant treasurer.

What is it about Ladybrand that I always have to leave last? After greeting everybody fairly early, I thought I’ll be home early. On my way out I was invited by Bryan “Jou Liefie” and Bernardus to have a “vinnige enetjie”. That “vinnige enetjie” changed into the most enjoyable laughing time I had since Clocolan. If all goes according to plan, Bryan and Bernardus will be joining us at the Easterns Challenge. Not be missed for anything in the world.

It was a privilege having Ron Jose from Border Nomads, joining us in our monthly game and I assured him that the BordFree challenge will be resumed this year. Our visitors, Sven Greyling, Henk Visser and Coert de Lange all indicated that they want to join Nomads and we are looking forward having them. Thanks to Louis Sutil for bringing the two youngsters, Marco Sutil and Toffie Adendorff along. Hope they will become Nomads one day.

I need to remind Nomads that our monthly game for February will be at Bloemfontein Golf Course and not at Schoeman Park as initially booked. This is due to the late notice received by Schoeman Park to host the qualifier for the Glacier SA Amateurs.

We have to sell a minimum of twenty Nomads 50^th Commemorative books of which there are still 9 up for grabs. Please place your orders with Mellaney as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Sergio Pita, our clothing officer will in future work on a C.O.D. basis and should you need any clothing, to place an order with him so that he will have the clothes for you at the next game. He will however bring the smaller items like caps and socks along to each game.

In future, our equipment officer, Peter Hanton, will have a table at registration where items with Nomads insignia like wallets, belts, key rings, pitch markers, etc can be bought.

We have changed our website to a new webmaster and we trust that our newsletter will come out within 2 weeks after our monthly game in future.

I hope all FS Nomads are looking forward to the excitement we have lined up for 2010. See in you on 7 February at Bloemfontein Golf Course.

Just for laughs:

LUCK

“You can’t believe this guys luck. Just 2 days after he won the lottery of $81 million dollars, he found the love of his life!!!?   That’s Luck.”

BLONDE'S DIARY ON A CRUISE SHIP

DEAR DIARY: DAY 1

All packed for the cruise ship - all my sexiest dresses and make-up...Really excited.

DEAR DIARY: DAY 2

Entire day at sea, beautiful and saw whales and dolphins. Met the Captain today - seems a very nice man.

DEAR DIARY: DAY 3

At the pool today. Also some shuffle boarding and hit golf balls off the deck. Captain invited me to join him at his table for dinner. Felt honoured and had a wonderful time. He is very attractive and attentive.

DEAR DIARY: DAY 4

Won $800.00 in the ship's casino. Captain asked me to have dinner with him in his own cabin. Had a luxurious meal complete with caviar and champagne. He asked me to stay the night but I declined. Told him I could not be unfaithful to my husband.

DEAR DIARY: DAY 5

Pool again today, got sun burnt, and went inside to drink at piano bar for rest of day. Captain saw me, bought me several large drinks. He really is charming. Again asked me to visit his cabin for the night. Again I declined. He told me if I did not let him have his way with me he would sink the ship. I was shocked.

DEAR DIARY: DAY 6

Today I saved 2,600 lives. Twice.