The 5th Portsea Masters Awakes

As the US Masters gets into the full swing in Augusta, it signals the beginning of the road to the 'other' prestigious tournament - The Portsea Masters in Mornington Peninsula, Victoria.

The 5th Portsea Masters will be held at the Rosebud Country Club, and it will be the second and final time (for some while) that it will be held there. Over the years the plan is to take the tournament all over the peninsula so we can sample some of the great courses at the 'Golfing Capital of Australia'. This year's charity, RUOK, has been selected by James Brownell. The PM website has more information about why we've gone with it this year.

Falling in line with the final round of the AFL home & away season, this year the tournament will be officially opening at 10.20am on Saturday 25 August and will be played on the East Course at Rosebud CC. This means that the 'Out' 9 will bring back memories of 2017 for many golfers, whilst the 'In' 9 will be new to all of us, and will conclude at an 18th hole that's right next to the clubhouse - where the heckles and cheers from the peanut gallery will be all too close for some. God help the last group.

It all gets bigger and better as Runda and BSA Partnership will be coming on board this year to assist in bringing a foreboding mathematical element to team formation and handicaps*, and the tour bus will again be in action, taking participants from Martins Lane to the course. Hopefully everyone can stay on Friday night to make things simple, and stay on for Saturday night's festivities.

Colour is the theme for 2018, with the introduction of PM team polo shirts of 12 different colours to be worn by all participants; bringing along with it a fresh 'Do as we say' element to the tournament. A 'Best Dressed' prize will still be awarded for the team who looks the sharpest with the new shirts. Unfortunately we don't have the budget for the shirts to be keepsakes, so take care out there.

The Meat Tray sweepstakes will be back again, along with the collectable player cards, so start stretching, get some rounds in and there'll be more news to come as the tournament draws near! - JB

* I'm always up for a quiet chat with free schooners

#Rosebud #Year2018 #PM5 #countdown