Saturday’s field of 74 players were keen to get off and finished before the expected hot weather eventuated. Player numbers were bolstered by the Saturday-game players, which provided a good mix of interests on the course.

In any four-day event this is moving day, and as expected John Betland kept his focus and returned a solid 70 gross to lead the A Grade (25 players) with his 210 aggregate.

Brother Steve was still in the hunt with his 70 gross (221) followed by Mick Wood, but the question really became “How much ahead would John finish?” The leaders in the B Grade (27 players) were Ted Morgan (255) and Barry Parker (259), closely followed by Paul Kay (264).

In C Grade (19 players) it was a case of the cool head staying in front with Lawrence O’Connor (270) leading Ashley Hogan (274) and Frank Hanns lurking on 288. The A Reserve was led by Dan Bayley from Jeff Haley and Bruce Carpenter.

The results for the day comp (on handicap) were a real tossed salad. In A Grade, Steve Betland had a nett 70 from Paul Pymont with 71 nett, on count back. The B Grade winner was Lawrence O’Connor (69) from Ted Morgan with 70. The C Grade had Ashley Hogan (68) ahead of Les Findley (73).

The ball sweep went to 73 nett on count back, and included those above plus: on 71 - F Donohue, D Bayley, B Carpenter, D Mylecharane; 72 – G West, M Haley, M Wood, B Everest, R Morris, P Cowhan, J Betland; 73 – A McDonald.

Nearest the pins went to: 9th – L O’Connor; 18th – G Newport. Overall there were only four twos scored – two by the A graders and two by the B Graders. That is a five per cent strike rate.

Golf throws up some interesting stories, some of which are humorous and some of which demonstrate the dangerous nature of the game.

‘Ecky’ Dawson had to check his life insurance when going down the 2nd hole. He was in a cart playing alongside Todd Callaghan. They arrived at Todd’s ball, who then proceeded to play his second shot. Todd swung vigorously, shanked his shot straight out of bounds, narrowly missing Ecky sitting in the cart. “Gosh” said Todd, who placed another ball down. The same thing – swing, shank, near miss on Ecky, OB.

Todd went on to card an 8 on that hole, and Ecky was nervous for the rest of the game.

A happy chappie was Doug Churchill. Last week he hit every tree, but finished with a smile. 

This week he was twice as happy, because he only hit half as many trees. And Mick Wood was happy this week because his tee shot on the first was a pearler, much better than last week.

Some players recorded worse scores on holes. Andy Dukes had a 10 on the 7th.

His tee shot did not make the ladies tee, he skulled the second shot, put the 3rd OB, hit a tree with his 4th, and found the fairway with his 5th. Then he lost his 6th, was short with the 8th, chipped and one-putted.  Later he followed that with an ‘8’ on the 15th, made up of drive, water, penalty, trees, chip, three-putt. Like a true champion he was smiling all the way.

Some players had divine intervention on their side. On the 4th Andrew Grierson put his drive in the trees, 2nd into the long grass by the creek, fluffed his third onto the green, and sunk his putt ‘from downtown’.

Alby Callaghan wished for divine intervention, after his three-putt on the 2nd for an eight, and again on the 7th for another eight, and then no brain activity thereafter.

The 9th was again troublesome. Ralph Baker carded a nine after finding the water and overplaying his recovery shot. 

However, if during the next round you find the bunker there filled in, then blame Geoff Drane. 

His tee shot found water, his third found the bunker, his 9th eventually came out of the bunker, and he capped it off with a four putt. Thankfully he does not have a cat at home, and the dog is quick on its feet.

We should be mindful of the woes of other players, so please speak kindly to G Coles (10 on 7th), R Borger (nine on 9th), M Wood Jnr and J Brett (both with 11 on 7th), and the many other players who carded eights.

Andy Cogswell was easily seen early on, but nobody could see Phil Maher.

On Sunday the weather again was sunny and hot, with but a gentle breeze to keep the flies away. The field had reduced to 46 players, with many members wishing to walk and watch others rather than cause ill to themselves. But overall all the scores were as good as for Saturday.

In the A grade (21 players) King John was happy with his round, returning a gross score of 68. Second on the day was Steve Betland with 70.

The B grade (16 players) saw Barry Parker (78) destroy the others, led by Malcolm Langfield (84). The C grade (nine players) honours belong to Jordan Brett (93) ahead of a steady Ashley Hogan (94).

Handicap honours on the day go to: A grade – S Kirkman (69) on count back from S Betland (69); B Grade – B Parker (64) from M Langfield (66); C Grade – J Brett (74) on count back from R Grant (74). Excellent play by all concerned.

The ball sweep went to 70, and included those above plus – M Cartwright (67), T Callaghan (69), S Sallaway, J Betland, P Nixon and B Carpenter all on 70.

Nearest the pins went to: 9th – R Nixon; 18th – M Wood Jnr. There were only five twos scored, with two to the A-graders, and three to the B-graders. While this equates to an 11 per cent strike rate, for the weekend overall and the conditions prevailing it was a sub-par result. Maybe it was nerves?

Funningly there were few stories of real joy or great heroics, but more of woes.

Bob Borger was playing the 10th, determined to do well. 

He played his second which somehow went nowhere he intended. Instead it skipped across the ground, whacked into Max Haley’s cart, bounced into the cabin, rattled around for a bit, then settled in one of the cup holders. Now how did he play his next shot?

Putting woes continued for some, none more so than Ralph Baker. On the 15th he had an adventurous journey to green. His first putt was short, his second only inches from the hole, his third was all broken wrist and grass but no ball, and his fourth only just tipped into the hole. How bad is that?

As we have seen in the USPGA circuit, it is important to mark your ball so you can identify it clearly. Players use dots of different colours, ‘smileys’, lines, and many more. 

One player was searching in some rough grass area (do not ask why!) and found another ball. This had unique markings. Written on the ball was – “1 swing, 2 swear, 3 search for ball, 4 repeat”. Obviously the previous owner gave up after “2”.

And now for the final results:

A Grade Scratch – John Betland (278); Runner Up Steve Betland (291)

A Grade Handicap – Steve Betland (287); R/Up John Betland (288)

A Reserve Scratch – Richard Nixon (324); R/Up Bruce Carpenter (327)

B Grade Scratch –Barry Parker (337); R/Up Ted Morgan (340)

B Grade Handicap – Ron Morris (296); R/Up Richard Smith (297 on c/b)

C Grade Scratch – Lawrence O’Connor (365); R/Up Ashley Hogan (368)

C Grade Handicap – Lawrence O’Connor (284 on c/b); R/Up Ashley Hogan (284)

Vets Scratch – Richard Nixon (324); R/Up Bruce Carpenter (327)

Vets Handicap – Barry Parker (281); R/Up Lawrence O’Connor (284 on c/b)

Juniors Scratch Winner – Jarrod Andrews (366)

Juniors Handicap Winner – Sam Clarke (297)

The scores reflect such good conditions, both for the weather and the course. There was enough “bite” out there to cause some players havoc, including a player who played three glorious shots down the 15th, only to be stymied behind the very last gum tree. 

Perhaps a measure of how good was John ‘King’ Betland’s play was that he finished exactly 100 shots ahead of the FGA President Andrew McDonald.

There was no stableford medley on Sunday.

Last Thursday the vets played at Cowra in an 18-hole comp. This was the Lachlan Valley Vets invitation day. A field of 67 players enjoyed benign weather conditions and slightly soft fairways, all wrapped in convivial conversation.

The winners for the day were:

A Grade – D Wentworth 39 (Cowra) from Jeff Haley 37 on c/b (Fbs).

B Grade – Harvey Tarrant 38 from John O’Shannessy 36 (Pks).

C Grade - Denis Smith 37 on count back from G Graybachmaker on 37 (Gfl).

Nearest the pins were not recorded as somebody forgot to bring them in. However, I do know that Laurie Wakefield was very close for B grade honours on the 7th. Oh well, next time maybe. The ball sweep went to 31 and was well received by 29 players.

The Miller Coles Shield went to Cowra with 182 points over Parkes 176, Forbes 174, West Wyalong 156 and Grenfell 155. Everyone commented on how well the course was, especially those from Grenfell who very quickly adjusted to the grass greens, and rolled putts in from all over.

Today we shall be playing a 12-holer at Forbes. Cooler weather beckons, be out there to enjoy it.

The FGA AGM has been held, with congratulations due to those who were elected, old and new members alike.  

Here is to a successful year ahead as the club and the course consolidate on the benefits to be derived from the irrigation system. And thank you to all who attended.

This is the last week to pay your money to join the eclectic comp and reap the benefits of the previous four weeks play. From this weekend on, the scores that count will be those from the date you pay.

The leader board has been on display for some time now. Those keen observers would have noticed how easily the top contenders change around. As we progress through the year the changes will be less  dramatic, but the excitement enhanced as individual players strive to improve their score on individual holes. Pay your money at the pro shop.

We await the results of our Holden Scramble players. Let us hope that Mike Spice, Tanya Spice, John Betland and the others can keep their good form going to return with a prize.

Some stories are heard of events that occur while members are travelling the countryside. Some stories are never repeated, but others are worth a repeat telling. Graham ‘Captn’ Newport was merrily driving along the road to Lennox Head, when he was swooped by hang gliders.

He stopped to confront these people, and was so enamoured with their activity that he signed the papers, donned a helmet, grabbed an Instructor and stepped off the cliff. 

Luckily the hang glider was attached and he was seen swooping through the air, little bald legs dangling until he could get them into a cocoon.

And his verdict? It looks silly, it is possibly dangerous, but it is so exhilarating. One for the old fellas!

It is crystal ball time.

Saturday, October 25 jumps back to near normality with a stableford competition, sponsored by the Post Office Hotel (I haven’t worked out how to post a schooner of beer yet).

Sunday, October 26 is the stableford medley.

November 1 is a stableford event sponsored by Country Mile Motor Inn, where you can rest and listen to many a story. Sunday, November 2 has the stableford medley.

On Saturday, November 8 is the monthly medal sponsored by Jelbart’s Tyrepower, who are still pleased following the Bathurst race results. And Sunday, November 9 has the stableford medley. Also on that weekend is the Duntryleague Open, played over two days.

And then the Forbes Classic on November 15 and 16. Just picture bright sunshine on vivid grass greens and you have a mental image of the Forbes course.

And finally: A grandfather and grandson were playing golf together. On a severely dog-legged par four the grandfather said, “When I was your age I would aim over those trees and hit the green every time.”

The grandson was not to be outdone, and lined up to cut the corner. He cracked his drive, but then his ball got caught in the trees and fell to the ground in the middle of the thicket.

“Of course”, said the grandfather, “The trees were only eight foot tall then”.