It's not considered polite at GCA events for the results to be reported, much less celebrated, but Australia is nothing if not a competitive country, especially in sport, so it wouldn't be right if the outcome of Australia's new GCA event were ignored.
Sadly, as a member of the Rest Of World team, it is my duty to report that the Australian Mainland team won the inaugural Boomerang by 26 points to 21.
But anyone who has been to a GCA event knows the result and the scores pale in comparison with how much fun is had on and off the course by those in attendance.
We had a brilliant time in Tassie this past weekend, perfect weather, light winds (other than Thursday afternoon when those who arrived early copped a hiding at Lost Farm) and plenty of laughs.
After 16 months of planning, it was fantastic to see the event run without a hitch - though Kyle Henderson might argue flight delays that saw him arrive at Melbourne Airport at 10am on Thursday and finally exit Launceston Airport (45 minutes' flight away) just before 9pm constitutes a hitch...
Above all it was a highlight to renew some friendships with mates from around the globe and meet a heap of new folks.
Some other highlights include:
* A presentation from Barnbougle Superintendent, Phil Hill, who shared a story of going to Mike Clayton over the issue of sand blowing from bunkers and settling on greens, only to be met with the solution of "Fuck it. It's going to keep happening, we just have to live with it!". It was also revealled that his 2IC is Ricky Ponting's (Aussie cricket captain) younger brother.
* Owner Richard Sattler detailing the long road that led to the facility as we know it today, including the interesting tidbit that Tom Doak is a minority owner of Barnbougle Dunes.
* Kyle Henderson ensuring that Sean Walsh's warning about the native animals causing issues on the drive was not in vain - obliterating a wallaby at 85km/h as he made his way back to the airport on Sunday.
* Wayne Freeman (-3), Michael Taylor (+1) and Scott Coan (+3) [all scored over 20 holes] putting Barnbougle Lost Farm to the sword on a very still Saturday morning.
* David Elvins' shirt at dinner on Friday night.
* David Shannon (one of our non-GCA.com participants), playing off 8, recording a whopping 10 birdies in his first four rounds of the weekend.
* The commemorative shirts and hats Dieter Jones created.
* David Kelly's glove tan.
* Patrick Kiser soldiering on with some of the most inflamed feet I have ever seen to steal second place in a game of Wolf on Saturday afternoon at LOst Farm, despite remaining blissfully ignorant of the rules up to the final hole, where he had to be talked out of going Lone Wolf after yanking his tee shot into the gunch.
* Mike Whitaker's resolve to stay on the course after a night damaging the Doulton, fixing himself with a stare in the mirror and reminding himself he didn't fly 15,000 miles to lie in bed all day.
* Scott Coan, Andy Gray and Dustin Knight's contingents managing to play some golf on Sunday after what was by all accounts a sterling display of support for the local James Boag Brewery the previous night.
So where to next year?
There are a few options on the table, though Paraparaumu Beach is an early favourite, with a loose plan that we will return to Barnbougle every second year.
Of course many of us took advantage of Melbourne's proximity to Tasmania and spent some time on the Sandbelt before flying to Tassie.
I think many of us were blown away by Royal Melbourne (West) as well as the free scones on offer in the clubhouse, while a small group of us were treated to a fantastic afternoon and evening at Yarra Yarra by head pro and GCAer Andrew Bertram, for which we are all extremely grateful.
Those of us who saw Peninsula (North) with a wonderful host were, to a man, really impressed by a bit of a sleeper that is packed with great holes, while two very generous Kingston Heath members ensured the tour for many included a round at their gem, which for mine is remarkably similar in many ways to Walton Heath's Old Course back in London.
Metro and St Andrews Beach completed the rota for some of us, while others took in The National and Kyle Henderson completed a tour de force that included upwards of 24 courses in about two weeks!
As the organiser, I want to thank everyone who made the effort to attend the event - from Dieter Jones making the short drive from Hobart to New York/New Jersey duo Mike Whitaker and Bill Brightly making the longest journey of the group. It was a hell of a good weekend, and hopefully one we can repeat again in 2012.
The pic tour threads and reviews will no doubt begin soon as everyone returns home, but here a few of the participants in action:
A local enjoying Barnbougle Dunes on Friday morning.
Bill Brightly in a uncomfortable position on 7 at Lost Farm.
David Elvins in his golf-themed shirt on Friday night. John Mayhugh had played all bar two of them, unsurprisingly!
Patrick with his divot on 13A at Lost Farm, so fat and pefectly carved that the tee stayed in it!
David Kelly on 16 at RM East.
Andy Gray takes a sun-drenched walk to the 5th at Barny Dunes.
Brett Morrissy narrowly misses saving par from the beach on 17 at Barny Dunes.
Andy Gray impersonates the 10 handicapper he claims to be, before reeling off a stretch of +1 over 11 holes that put me to the sword and saw his bandit handicap called into question
Patrick Kiser putts for eagle on 15 at RM West. He left the 40-footer 25ft short!
Mark Ferguson channeling Camilo Villegas on the 3rd at RM East.
Patrick Kiser on the 4th at RM West.
Dustin Knight shows how a golf swing should look on the 4th at Lost Farm, but looks aren't everything - he still went on to take his career record v S. Warren to 0-2! (and how about those strides?!)
John Mayhugh with a couple of kick-in birdies on the 8th at St Andrews Beach.
Mayhugh on 16 at RM East, en route to a par.
Matt Mollica shows off his style on 15 at Kingston Heath, eventually saving an incredible par from the front left trap.
Mayhugh, Kelly and Sven Nilsen capture the 2nd at St Andrews Beach.
Kevin Pallier plugged in the face of the gigantic bunker on the 4th at Barny Dunes. Not a favourite holes of his, somehow...
Sven Nilsen's hard-earned sunglasses tan.
Raymond Floyd circa 1976Brett Morrissy in a spot of trouble on 15 at Metro.