Forbes golfing news

Saturday’s event, the Daine Doolin Memorial, was postponed again. However, Golf Pro Daniel organised a new format that enabled those competitive and addicted golfers an avenue to strive to claim a new victory.

The event was the Inaugural Par-3 Aqua Golf Medley competition. Daniel arranged a 6-hole, Par-54 layout, utilising unorthodox tee positions to selected holes that challenged each and every golfer.

In all, fifteen golfers rose to the challenge, proclaiming the event a most enjoyable and successful venture, emphasised by many turning in very low nett scores. A common comment, after the unanimous ‘really enjoyed it’, was that each tee shot made you think about what to do. Further, if your tee shot was wayward, often you were playing a recovery shot from a hitherto unfamiliar spot.

Scratch winner was Peter Dawson with a carefully composed 56. There was only one real blemish, a double-bogey on the “15th” hole. This hole required players to play from the actual 10th tee to the 15th green. From this angle it is a very narrow target to hit, and caused many players some angst.

The Handicap winner was Jill Cripps, with nett 45. Jill was one of the group of three Ladies who led the field from the get-go. Each successive rotation of the layout produced a better result for Jill.

The Handicap runner-up was Bob Borger with 46, getting there on count back. While Bob got worse with each rotation, he did reduce his score each time he played to the troublesome 15th green.

The ball sweep went to 47 nett, being picked up by: 46 – B Drabsch, 47 – P Barnes. And the NTP’s went to – 9th: P Dawson; 18th: M Collits. Because each hole was played three times, this gave players more opportunity to record a NTP. But not many took advantage of this.

Some players joked that every player deserved a ball for participating, but then the stories started rolling in and it was just like any normal comp day.

With fine weather we would have expected a heap of two’s. As it was, and despite the heavy conditions, there were eleven two’s scored, demonstrating that most of our players really know their short game. Ecky Dawson scored three two’s, each on different holes. Doug Churchill scored two two’s, also on separate holes. Despite it being a difficult target, the 15th green yielded most of the two’s, with six overall.

A near uproar on the practice green when Gordon Hurry was playing this as his 16th hole. His tee shot placed him in fine position for a birdie, for what was going to be his first ever. Under much duress, and words of encouragement, by his larger-than normal group, Gordon stroked his putt with confidence. It was looking good, right up until it stopped only inches from the hole, at which time bellows emitted from his playing group.

Gordon played well. Not only did he beat the Scratch winner for a Nett score, thanks to a generous handicap, but he was almost undistinguishable from Doug Churchill. Both wore similar striped jumpers, making it difficult to tell them apart at a distance. Except that Gordon was wearing shorts and Dougie wore a white beanie.

More easily recognisable was Andrew McDonald, sporting a flame-red beanie. He was on fire too, being the clubhouse leader until other cards were returned.

Doug Churchill could have scored better if he had more weight in his putter. Almost every putt was left short, with no “Short Putt’ around to take the blame.

Bob Borger improved each time he played the 15th green. His first passage saw his tee shot finish short, then shank his second, then chip on and two putt. Next time he hit the green with his tee shot, then 3-putted. And on the last try his tee shot was short, he chipped well and sunk the putt. The same hole, but with three different results.

One player did have some trouble. Stuart French was teeing off from the nominal 2nd tee, playing to the 9th green. But his shot was very errant to say the least. It somehow made its way through the foliage on the pine tree beside him, and landed beside Ecky Dawson on the 18th green, who luckily was not lining up for a putt. There were profuse apologies all around.

This was a very successful day, well planned and prepared by Daniel, and enjoyed by all of those who participated. Many thought this was good enough to repeat more often through the year, and with a drier course to engineer some challenges along different holes. Look out for the next episode in this format.

Because of the inundation of water there was no Stableford Medley on Sunday. But players were able to try their hand at the Par-3 layout.

Here is the news: October is Australia Golf Month, when the community at large are invited to ‘give golf a go’. Forbes Golf Club is participating in this venture again, although will find it hard to squeeze some activities into the October Schedule.

Generally, items include: the Introductory Membership offer for new players will again be offered; Membership offers will receive a half-price golf Lesson; ‘Introduction to Golf’ lessons will be available, and the possibility of Free lessons for new players on Sunday 30 October. See Daniel for details.

The 2016-17 Summer Sixes competition will begin competitive play in the week beginning October 10. The week of  October 3-9 will be used for practise and handicapping play.

Make sure you get your team name registered and have your team members all geared up to go. And Daniel is offering group lessons for the Sixes teams.

Do not forget the Forbes Junior Golf Camp, to be conducted on September 28 and 29. To find out more or to register, contact Daniel at the Pro Shop (6851 1554), or on 0404 127170. And you can bring your children down to simply watch the activities.

The GolfNSW Open Regional Qualifier, played over 36-holes, is set for October 8 and 9 October. There is a handicap limit for entrants vying for the NSW Open, but there will also be a Club golfers Stableford event, so get your name in now.

Do not forget these important events at other Clubs: Parkes Open on Septembber 17-18. And of course there is our very own Forbes Classic on November 13.

And do not forget the Parkes Vets ‘Week of Golf’, set for September 26-30.

On a sad note, we pass on to Peter Barnes and his family our sincere condolences on the recent passing of his mum. While she was distant in life, living in Brisbane, she was very close in their hearts. Best wishes Pete.

It is crystal ball time: Saturday, September 17 we shall attempt to run the Daine Doolin Memorial 4-BBB Stableford alongside the Cahill sponsored 4-BBB Stableford competition. Sunday 18th is the Stableford Medley, plus the Parkes Open.

Saturday, September 24 is a 4-Ball Ambrose sponsored by Alby Callaghan. He, like many others, enjoys having partners to blame when things go wrong. Sunday 25th is the Stableford Medley.

Saturday October 1 is Monthly Medal day, with Stableford Medleys on both Sunday October 2 and Monday October 3.