Shotgun start and Bullets reload on the course
“Now we know why you are called the Bullets; it is because you always have to reload”
The Mortimer Toyota League starts again on Sunday, February 5, with an 8am shotgun or church bells ringing start.
This year will see 10 teams made up of five or six players from various businesses or walks of life take up the challenge to see who, after 10 rounds of exhilarating or heartbreaking golf, will lift the coveted Mortimer Toyota trophy.
The league enters its 18th year and is contested on the first Sunday of every month where possible, in a match play format which pits four players per team against team and player against player. The fixtures are set at the beginning of the tournament, but the draw for who plays against who is done on the morning before tee off. Match play is played between two players and whoever sinks the ball in the least shots wins the hole and goes one-up over his opponent.
Should both players take the same number of shots, the hole is halved and nobody gets a result. The player who wins the most holes wins the match and two points for his team.
Should the players halve the game (win the same number of holes each) they both get one point for their team. It has been said that golf is a game of inches, the inches between one’s ears, which explains why over the years we have seen moments of absolute brilliance as well as moments of mind boggling decision making from players, as the pressure mounts and gets into the minds of the golfer. These moments, and there are plenty of them, have become part of the folklore of the league and are a constant reminder that anything can happen in sport.
It is not just about the golf but also as to which teams looks the smartest or in some cases the brightest and having had a sneak preview at the current champions The Rough “car guard” Riders latest outfit, I cannot wait to hear what the other teams have to say. They are so bright that they can be seen in Colenso and will probably add two extra hours of daylight onto Sunday.
TEAM PROFILE: THE BULLETS
The Bullets were founded when a position opened up in the league and its founding members were “Doc” Norris, Geoff Lee, Michele Bozza, Murray Hume and Steve Dixon.
This bright, good looking and young bunch of fine men were often and unofficially referred to as the “old” Bullets by the other teams. This did not concern them at all and they just put it down to jealousy or sour grapes.
There was a youngster, who shall remain anonymous, who after witnessing two of our players drive their ball off the tee box straight into the game farm and out of bounds said “now we know why you are called the Bullets; it is because you always have to reload.” However, this fine upstanding team of honourable gentlemen took the sweetest revenge possible and won the trophy in their first year. It is still said in hushed tones around the club that you have not won the trophy until you beat the Bullets, even though the make-up of the team has changed, the players have gotten a bit older.
THE PLAYERS:
Michele Bozza – is a solid “burgher” and is the dough that keeps the team together. He can make the game look like a “pizza” cake at times. Patrick Pieterse – is the shining light of the team, but has been known to have a few power failures at times which results in a total blackout. Peter Landsdale – although not from the Transvaal, is the nuts and bolts of the side. Andrew Bouwer – is a FEROcious player who will brake for nothing, unless his clutch slips. Steve Dixon – is often found in the country collecting his thoughts or his ball.
DID YOU KNOW?
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