The latest details, info, facts, weather etc for the JAM 2001
James Abbott
Murray Downs, just north of Swan Hill is about 3 � hours from Melbourne. Some people don�t go that far on their holidays, perhaps they should. Murray Downs represents the finest in golf courses on the Murray. It is a tough layout with most holes guarded by big $%#@-off bunkers and plenty of water. The toughest hole is a par three measuring a daring 200 odd meters with a carry over water of at least 175 meters and this beastie is surrounded by guess what? BUNKERS!
The great thing about this track is the options off the tee. You have the choice of taking on this fine layout at your Peril. Carry bunkers, water or flora and you set up opportunities, play soft option, lay-up weak as piss and you are facing a tough second shot. The JAM could wax lyrical about this course and we will!! The fairways are immaculate, well, before the JAM got there anyway, and the greens are tough and multi-sloping. Very, very rarely are you faced with a straight putt of more than 4 feet. (Notice the change from metric to imperial?). By the way, the greens are fast, we�ll say it again�fast. Like Schumacher fast, even in the wet!!!!
Day 1 approached at a civilised tee time of 11.30; the reason for this was the card playing the night before. Arriving at Murray downs from Melbourne at 12am and then playing cards until 3.30am means late tee times are mandatory. It took us 7 years to work that out!!
Last years winner Mackie was first off the tee, Pairings were determined and away we go. Abbott took Mackie, and Avery picked up Gibbons, Gibbons pretty easy these days! Mackie got 2 shots over Abbott & Gibbons the same over Avery. The end of Day 1 saw Abbott leading 13.5 to Avery 13 followed by Gibbons on 8 and Mackie a poor 5.5. Outstanding golf was absent on the first day, the leaders results were more a reflection on the frustrations suffered by Gibbons and Mackie. Abbott won a bonus point for longest drive, Avery picked up closest to the pin & straightest drive. No winners on the Eagles Nest, or Pro Pin, both new additions to the JAM. For the unwashed, a point is awarded at the Eagles Nest for a second shot to the green that finishes within a putter�s length of the hole (Go, go Gadget putter!). The Pro Pin is much the same, a point reward for the closest second shot to the flag on a difficult par 4. Some solid golf was on display for day one, Abbott knocked his 6 iron on the Par 3 15th to within a metre, and the putt was short. He then followed up with two cracking wood shots to reach the 460-metre par 5 in two; he missed the eagle and settled for birdie. Avery was steady all day. A very simple swing means he rarely gets into too much trouble, albeit for the bunker, the natural enemy of the hack golfer. That night the JAMers set up for a long night of card playing and red wine drinking.
Day 2 saw leaders Abbott & Avery in battle, Abbott handing Avery whopping 12 shots, while Mackie took on Gibbons also giving him 12 shots. With a southerly wind blowing and the course off the back pegs, length off the tee was crucial. Gibbons knock in the first monster putt in a long time, three JAM�s perhaps, but he was still unable to best Mackie while Avery had the wood on Abbott by a single point before bonuses. Bonuses we shared between Mackie & Avery. Some great golf was on show on day two. Mackie�s game shifted from brilliant to poor in a single hole. His tee to green play was very solid, put a putter in his hand and the ball could go anywhere. Hid did rim out a few putts but managed to skilfully avoid the hole from 4 feet on more than one occasion. After a tough day the JAMmers headed back to their palatial accommodation and took a well-earned rest in the spa to relieve the pain of aching muscles and stiff bones. Boy are we getting old!!
Day 3 dawned and for the first time blue skies and bright sunshine were absent. Clouds loomed as the final permutation began. Abbott�s sideshow Bob, Gibbons was out to spoil his fun, while Mackie, who had the slightest sniff, was looking to emulate his butchering of Avery from JAM 2000. Avery was just 3 points clear of Abbott. The three-point gap to Avery was going to be tough on Abbott due to the phenomenon of Gibbons who take it up a level when playing Abbott.
The first few holes saw little change. Mackie was having a good battle with Avery while Gibbons worked hard keeping Abbott in check. On the Par 5 4th things turned as Gibbons found the trees and began an odyssey down the long fairway. The morning tranquillity was butchered after two golf balls landed near the ailing Gibbons; he turned to remind the people behind him of his position. HEY YOU##$%#$# #$#%#@#^ WHY DON�T YOU $%^$ LOOK WHERE YOU ARE $$%^$%^%& HITTING!!!!!!!!!! Needless to say Gibbo took a rather large score on the 4th and his demeanour was fragile to say the least. The toughest hole on the course followed, a par 3 of some 200 meters most of the carry over water. All got on safely, some on their second attempt, and moved on toward the green. Etiquette requires you to call up on some par 3 holes. To Gibbon�s delight this was one of them. Now his prey would be a lot closer and his spleen required its mandatory venting. After the JAMmers putted out Gibbons and a surprise guest Avery waited for the meal to arrive. Fingers were pointed and questions asked by the two, much to their disgust the fodder apologised almost falling to their knees begging forgiveness. Avery and Gibbons had the wind taking from their sails, they moved on feeling a little ripped off to join Abbott and Mackie waiting at the next tee.
The on course battle raged with no player giving in easily. With two holes to play two points were required by Abbott to close on Avery. Could this be the first tied JAM? NO!! While Avery came apart on the 17th Abbott had a 5 footer to make, to close within one. You remember the no straight putt outside four feet? Well, we lied, this was a straight putt, Abbott planned for borrow, the putt and the JAM slipped by.
Avery become the first three time winner, Abbott finished second, same as his 2000 result, Mackie third and Gibbons fourth. This was one of the tightest of JAMS a credit to the handicapping and players alike. See you in 2002.
(School Hols April)
Leave Melb Thurs evening 19 April
Stay at Lady Augusta 4km from course (Can't get on course accom)
Friday 20 April tee off 11.30am
Saturday 21 April tee off 11.56am
Sunday 22 April tee off 10.28am
Room is 1 double three singles $145 per night NO MEALS Inc
Golf is $30.00 per person per round.
Other Info
Handicap controversy continues to dog the 2001 JAM pre-PRAM. Full details here.
Here are the rules to Black Bitch, quintessential JAM reading.
The home of the 2001 JAM. Murray Downs
Online and uptodate .... Our mate Edwin Maher gives us the latest weather details from the JAM weather central.