Day 1

For the first time on DC Cup we had a self drive to and from this year’s venue. No buses, coaches, aircraft or major transportation challenges to overcome – all we had to do was get directions sorted out – and even this proved too much for some of us.

As always though, the DC Cup this year had started with some challenges of its own. We were supposedly making it a little simpler my reducing the field from 24 players to 20 players, but with less that 10 days to go both teams suffered a combined cancellation by now less than 5 players.

Having overcome most of these cancellations we arrived at Zebula on Wednesday the 21^st of March with two (almost) complete teams.

The weather for the second year in a row was not going to be a major factor from a rain perspective. But with hard and dry fairways as a result of  the severe heat and drought conditions being experienced in the Waterberg the weather would again play a significant role.

Before we got off to the first days BetterBall, a few of us had breakfast, a few had coffee, some went to the driving range and some had a few beers.

For the most part the golf was tame with the result being a very friendly 2.5/2.5 result. After rapidly consuming 60 beers alongside the 18^th green we went off and checked into our rooms and prepared for dinner and fines.

Dave Marsh this year stepped up to the plate and took on the role of fines master – and what a job he did. The first evening’s fines session required two bottles of Mexico’s finest Tequila. Unfortunately, the author cannot remember anything that happened thereafter that evening! He was however told that the last people to leave the pub did so at about 9:30 pm! A far cry from years before!

Day 2

Arriving at the lodge at 6:30 am, a far cry from some of the earlier starts we had experienced in years before, we were mostly ready to get going with the dreaded foursomes. 7am, and a number of sever hangovers walked onto the 1^st tee in what was to be a very decisive round in this years event.

I am certain that over the months to come there will be plenty of debate and discussion around the morning foursomes of the 22^nd of March 2007.

Given that the Bokkoms have traditionally been stronger in this format that the Gud Gize was only cause to exaggerate the result.

The Gud Gize took the mornings foursomes 5/0 and in doing so recorded the first ever white wash of the DC Cup. To say this hurt the Bokkoms is an understatement and when it is viewed in the context of the tournament, the Bokkoms were at the end of it all only able to recover one of the 5 points lost in the mornings foursomes

Given that the Bokkoms were now 5 points adrift of the Gud Gize, the fact that they were able to win the afternoon’s BetterBall by 3.5/1.5 displayed their determination to at least try and succeed.

After another sixty beers consumed at high speed next to the 18^th green, everyone went off to get ready for fines and dinner.

Dave again expertly dispatched fines and sent us off to dinner feeling a lot better thanks to some more of Mexico’s best. This evening would prove to be a little later that that of the previous evening.

Day 3

Up at 4:30am and off to Elements at 5:30am and there were significantly more of us feeling poorer than the previous morning. Even listening to ‘De La Rey’, courtesy of “Kaptein Caprive” did nothing to lift the sombre mood of the early morning. A dusty 45 minutes later we arrived at a very dry Elements.

Carts and partners were sorted out and we headed off in search of coffee and the 1^st Tee.

The Bokkoms were saved the humiliation of another hiding at the hands of the Gud Gize and took the morning foursomes 3.5/1.5. This meant that with the afternoon round of BetterBall still to go that the Bokkoms had reduced their 5 point difference that the Gud Gize held to only 1.

If only they were able to keep going, but alas they surrended 2 points in the afternoons BetterBall by losing it 3.5/1.5, and the Gud Gize had posted a 3 point lead going into the singles matched on the Saturday.

After another dusty 45 minute trip, and with some people getting lost, we returned to Zebula for what would prove to be a very quite evening. Late nights and early mornings, combined with the extremely warm conditions appeared to be too much for a group of golfers that are now clearly getting on in age. Even the fines were not as raucous the previous evenings, and after a quick dinner most of us headed of to bed for an early night.

Day 4

Singles matches are never to be taken lightly, and this year was no exception. The group started gathering for breakfast from around 7:30 am. The mood was light hearted on the surface but the tension was nevertheless very evident. Lots of time was spent on the practise tee by many of the players in preparation for the all important singles matches. The Gud Gize only needed four points to seal their first victory in five years, and with only 10 points up for grabs, the 7 required by the Bokkoms was going to be a big ask!

As it turned out the result was known before the 5^th and 6^th matches were in. The Gud Gize had 5.5 points after the first 5 matches and had secured victory. The final score being 5.5/4.5 to the Gud Gize.

A thoroughly deserved win!

For old times sake we polished off 60 beers on the 18^th before getting ready for the prize giving.

Louis Barclay won this years best comeback award for being significantly down in three games and coming back to win all three – well done Louis!

For the record books:

The Sharks recorded their first loss of the Season to the Brumbies in Durban.

The Bulls recorded a historic win over the Highlanders in Dunedin. The Bulls recorded the first SA win in Dunedin, and the first ¾ away win.

The Lions thumped the Hurricanes at Ellis Park.

The Highveld Lions won the SBSA Pro 20 Final.

But, the Proteas lost to Australia in the Cricket World Cup.

Prize giving and a few fines later most of us tried to watch the cricket to the end – but for the most part we couldn’t do it.

And that was that, DC Cup 2007 drew to an end