In 2016 the COD returned to the Wimmera region, namely the Horsham and Chalambar Golf Clubs. It was great to return to Horsham after having to abandon in 2009 due to the Black Saturday bushfires.
Day 1
Play started at Royal Horsham pretty close to the scheduled 12.30 tee time with the following handicaps:
- Nifty 9
- Iggy Pop 9
- Duuungo 14
- Hujakate 18
- Indahouse 18
- Mike Sheahan 30
Playing groups were:
- Iggy, Hujakate, Sheahan
- Nifty, Duuungo, Inda
Horsham was in magnificent condition. The long drive in the Commodore had seemingly no effect on the Taylor Made long drive for Nifty as the usually conservative defending champion used his driver to great effect on the way to an 81, thus being the scratch and net winner for the day. Iggy came with big wraps and kept pace with an 83. The rest disappointed, in particular Duungo who had also come with big wraps.
Notable Incidents – Iggy’s white skivvy reminiscent of Seve Ballesteros and his hair blowing into his face on the tee.
After Day 1:
| Green Jacket | Auld Mug |
| 81 Nifty | 72 Nifty |
| 83 Iggy | 74 Iggy |
| 98 Duuungo, Hujakate | 80 Hujakate |
| 108 Inda | 84 Duuungo |
| 115 Sheahan | 85 Sheahan |
| 90 Inda |
We were lucky to avoid a bit of a downpour at the end of the first round.
Day 2
Play got started before the scheduled 8.32 and 8.39 tee times with the following handicaps:
- Nifty 9
- Iggy Pop 10
- Duuungo 20
- Hujakate 22
- Indahouse 27
- Mike Sheahan 36
Playing groups were:
- Iggy, Duuungo, Sheahan
- Nifty, Hujakate, Inda
Roles appeared to be reversed as the leaders gave ground and those who disappointed on Day 1 came good. Inda, in particular, was the big improver in carding a 91 net 64 to be the net winner for the day. Scratch honours were a three way tie on 88 between Nifty, Iggy and the improving Duuungo.
Notable Incidents – Inda chipping in from 20 metres on the 18th. Hujakate playing from beyond the practice green in front of a strong gallery of club members. Serial offender Duuungo playing the wrong ball not once but twice.
After Day 2:
| Green Jacket | Auld Mug |
| 169 Nifty (81,88) | 151 Nifty (72,79) |
| 171 Iggy (83,88) | 152 Iggy (74,78), Duuungo (84,68) |
| 186 Duuungo (98,88) | 153 Hujakate (80,73) |
| 193 Hujakate (98,95) | 154 Inda (90,64) |
| 199 Inda (108,91) | 160 Sheahan (85,75) |
| 226 Sheahan (115,111) |
A misty start.
The 9th.
Inda at the 18th. This bunker shot flew over the green – from where Inda calmly chipped in from 20-odd metres.
Duuungo lagged this monster right up to the hole.
No, Huja is not practising – he has overshot the 18th by a long way and has to chip back over the practice putting green. That bloke isn’t hailing the shot; he’s doing the “quiet please”.
Day 3
Day 3 saw play move to Royal Chalambar, just outside Ararat, after a one hour drive through fog. We were obviously a few days late to catch a “champion” hoop:
Play got started bang on the scheduled 9.00 tee time with the following handicaps:
- Nifty 12
- Iggy Pop 13
- Duuungo 16
- Indahouse 19
- Hujakate 22
- Mike Sheahan 37
Playing groups were:
- Hujakate, Duuungo, Sheahan
- Nifty, Iggy, Inda
Chalambar is ostensibly an easier course, but the condition of some of the fairways was a little substandard as they were affected by some sort of bug which gave them the appearance and texture of “mud acne”. Course design is also an issue, although the greens were in good nick and rolled smoothly.
The brochure:
The reality:
The two leaders went head-to-head for the green jacket. Unfortunately for Nifty, he slipped on the front nine and despite coming back later in the round, he saw his two shot overnight lead turn into a two shot deficit as Iggy took out the Green Jacket. Iggy also took out the Auld Mug in a tightly fought contest that was a triumph for both the handicapper and the kooky COD handicapping system.
Notable Incident – Duuungo slamming a big tee shot into the sand box next to the ladies tee on the 17th; genuine side splitting laughter.
| Green Jacket | Auld Mug |
| 258 Iggy (83,88,87) | 226 Iggy (74,78,74) |
| 260 Nifty (81,88,91) | 230 Nifty (72,79,79) |
| 283 Duuungo (98,88,97) | 231 Hujakate (80,73,78) |
| 293 Hujakate (98,95,100) | 232 Inda (90,64,78) |
| 296 Inda (108,91,97) | 233 Duuungo (84,68,81) |
| 347 Sheahan (115,111,121) | 244 Sheahan (85,75,84) |
Drive for show….
Putt for dough….
A new champion is crowned – Iggy Pop.
MOUTH OF COD INVITATIONAL 