All this week, I’d been meaning to ask Peter Wells what the deal was with the excavation project by the Chappy slip. I’d also been meaning to write my column. Fortunately, I forgot to write this column longer than I forgot to ask Peter my question. Apparently, according to Peter, the bulkhead on the western side of the very slip needed replacing. But, as with most projects on Chappy, this project requires the completion of another project first: the removal of a Hummer-sized piece of concrete. This concrete had been placed behind the timber bulkhead for reinforcement (by whom? When? I don’t know — I had only about three minutes to extract the pertinent details from Peter), but was an undesirable element for Peter’s work. So this slab of cement needed removal. Not an easy task, hence the heavy equipment. Breaking the concrete into removable hunks first required drilling holes into the concrete in which an expanding compound could be added that would forge cracks into the concrete (not unlike the process that went into debunking Deflategate). An added benefit to the project is that it provides additional work for Peter’s draft horse-like captains. I know, I was disappointed too. I had hoped that digging and crunching had a far more sinister and exciting purpose ­— perhaps providing a resealable permanent tomb for all of Peter’s many enemies (the perpetual ferry line complainers and Donald Trump to name but a few). Who knows, maybe there’s still time to add a couple people to the mix before completion.

I mention the above not simply to illustrate my perverse sensibilities but also as an exhibit of the nature of work on Chappy. Nothing is easy or straightforward. Most jobs require at least one other level of dependability — meaning, one can rarely do something all by oneself. There is a great need for a cooperation of services, forethought, flexibility; and (quite often) the alignment of the stars into a perfect helix. I speak from experience — two words: golf course. Fortunately we do live in a community where most understand this dynamic, and if one can’t be helpful, then most are at least patient.

Speaking of the golf course, we will be holding a tournament here at the Royal and Ancient from which all proceeds will directly benefit MV United, the Vineyard’s youth soccer organization. The tournament will be held all day Sunday, Oct. 4 with both morning and afternoon shotgun starts. Please contact Cindy Flanders at caflan1257@aol.com, or call me at 508-627-2729 for more information.

Finally, the best I can tell, Comcast has started their cabling process. Or the KGB is busy at work bugging Chappy’s highly sensitive correspondences. Either equally likely.

Send Chappy news to ibwsgolf@aol.com.