Golf on the weekend focused on the Forbes course, with Parkes playing their Saturday comp here and the CWDGA Pennants being hosted by Forbes on Sunday.
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Amongst all that there was some pretty good golf played.
Saturday’s event was the Monthly Medal, sponsored by Michael Robinson Real Estate.
The field of 73 had their eyes across the landscape. Some had water views as they looked into the creek for the balls, and others had country views as they watched their balls sail out of bounds.
And yet others had a tree change, with some moving from one group of trees to another.
The A grade winner was Mark Collits with a nett 69. He started well with birdies on the opening par threes and turned one under.
Four bogeys on the back nine meant he was caught in a count-back with Todd Callaghan, also on 69. Todd had a real success story.
After months of indifferent golf, he sought the counsel of Simon. The very next day he fires on all cylinders for an even par front nine, then used his handicap to level with Stubbie.
Unfortunately a bad 15th cost him, but he stayed ahead of Phil Maher who also had 69 nett.
The B grade produced the best round of the day. Barry Shine reversed convention and had a better back nine than front nine, helped by a birdie on the 15th.
His 65 nett shone like the flame on the Statue of Liberty. A little way back was Niel Duncan with 67.
A tidy front nine of 37 was distorted by a consistent back nine. He scored seven fives and two fours in what was a tidily presented card.
The C grade was a runaway affair by Mitch ‘Adam’ Andrew. His 67 nett won him the grade, but also ensured he and partner Max Haley won the Medallion.
Adam saw plenty of the country but managed to recover very well in a classy front nine.
Runner-up was Richard Smith with a 71. His front nine was quite haphazard, but then he streaked home very well in a seven shot turnaround.
The ball sweep went to 73 nett on count back, being distributed to: 65 – B Shine, 67 – N Duncan, A Andrews; 69 – B Everest, B carpenter, M Collits, T Callaghan, P Maher; 70 – C Barrett; 71 – R Smith, L Little; 72 – A Davies, D Churchill, B Slack-Smith, L O’Connor, D Earl, K Herbert; 73 – M Watts.
The NTP’s went to: ninth – Martin Woods, 18th – R Webb. There were nine twos with a couple being scored on the first hole. Luckily it did not spoil their round.
Mark Collits had twos on the first and the third, hoping to win extra prizes no doubt.
The visitors included Ben Mackay (Bathurst), getting a practice round in, and Stuart Hayes (Murrumbidgee) who kept Bob Grant on his toes.
As always, the stories provide a glimpse of the glory and heartache of golf.
The glory is excellently shown by Todd’s good form, and a testament to Simon’s patience on the practice fairway. It certainly worked.
Fred had great concern for a player in his group. This player had been doing really well, then produced a run of double bogey, bogey, triple bogey to really blow his score away.
If you listen carefully you may hear him moaning ‘Help me, Help me’ behind the bushes at the Pro Shop.
Pete Cowhan was looking good early in his round, being one over after six holes.
Then the dreaded seventh grabbed him and he turned 5-over. He parred the tenth, thinking he was coming good, then had a run of bogeys all the way home, bar a par on the 15th. But he will be back.
However, we are not sure where Kim Herbert will be. On one hole he chipped up close, then disappeared around the side of the green.
A playing partner marked his ball and rolled it to the edge of the green, where Kim marked it.
After cleaning his ball Kim shaped up to putt from that spot, but was stopped by his group who pointed out where he should be putting from.
Someone who had no problems was Terry Griffiths. And least of all on the ninth hole where a good tee shot was followed by three putts. But spare a thought for Geoff Betland.
His tee shot on the 16th was heading towards, but curling away from the big tree. It hit the ground and jumped sideways to hit the tree dead centre, and probably middle stump. His second shot was most awkward.
Marty Cahill used this day to practice for the next running of the Australian two Club two Person Ambrose Champs, scheduled for January 2019.
Down the 13th hole Marty used his driver four times, then finished with a single putt. Who needs 14 clubs?
Another to find the wood, but perhaps not in a useful way, was Frank Hanns.
On the 15th he had a bit of trouble getting away, but eventually saw his ball roll into the lateral water hazard on the left.
It was sitting pretty, and rather than take a penalty dropped he played it as it lay. Unfortunately the ball struck one of the hazard markers and rebounded further into the hazard. Luckily it was not muddy.
The Parkes Club was closed for the day, so the Parkes players had their own comp at Forbes.
The Club Captains used this opportunity to feature the running of the Twin Towns Shield.
This was run over three Men’s grades, a Ladies grade and a Vets grade. The best five nett score cards in each grade were collated for an overall score.
Forbes were the resounding winners, finishing with a healthy margin of nearly 100 points.
This was set up by the Forbes Ladies who had a 26 shot buffer over their Parkes combatants. The return match will be next year.
On Sunday, February 4 there was no regular Stableford Medley, as Forbes hosted the CWDGA Inter-Club Pennants.
There were 70 players from Bathurst, Cowra, Duntryleague and Parkes clubs, playing across four Divisions.
They were all trying their best to help their team make it into the Semi-Finals. Forbes was the host so their teams did not compete on the day.
Some Divisions had clear winners already, but other Divisions were on a knife edge.
The end result of five weeks of round-robin play is that the Forbes Division 1 and Division 4 teams have made it to the Semi-Finals.
Parkes teams won the Division 2 and Division 3 groups, and were runners-up in Division 4.
The Semi-Finals being contested by Forbes teams will be contested at Duntryleague on Sunday, March 11, where coincidently both teams will face opponents from Dubbo.
The Parkes teams will face their opponents at Dubbo.
Here is the news
Sat 10 Mar is ‘Pink Day’ at the Forbes GC. Players are encouraged to wear something pink in support of the Forbes Breast Cancer support group, and to provide a donation on the day.
Let us really make the course stand out!
The LVDGA Veterans AGM will be held on March 15 at the Golfie Hotel, commencing at 9:30am.
The AGM will be held before the 18-hole event scheduled at Forbes that day. Players are requested to bring a plate for morning tea after the AGM.
The Forbes club will soon be running into a heavy schedule of golf.
One of those events is the Veterans ‘Week of Golf’, set for April 23-27. Entry forms are available in the Pro Shop now.
Our next major event is the Sanderson Memorial Day, set for March 24.
This is a four Ball Ambrose event. A time sheet is in the Pro Shop, so get your group together and be ready to play.
It is crystal ball time
Saturday, March 10 we have an 18-hole Stableford comp, sponsored by Ian Simpson and Co Real Estate. This is also the Pink Day so come appropriately attired. Sunday is the Stableford Medley.
On Saturday, March 17 is a 4BBB Stableford event, sponsored by C&D Floorcoverings. If you do wrong in this you could be hauled over the carpet by your partner.
Sunday is the 18-hole Stableford Medley.
- by Short Putt
Sixes final play offs decided
The final round round of the ASI Capital sponsored Super Sixes golf comp capped off a very good round-robin series for some teams, and a ‘we shall try again next year’ for others..
In Pool 1 ‘The Never Coulds’ squeaked in over the Boys and Girls by a half point, and in Pool 2 goes to Bush Divas were unassailable.
Pool 3 winners, Postie Top Six, were also dominant, while Pool 4 comfortably went to Bushrangers.
In the scores this week, the best Members score of the round was made by Graeme Hopkins (30), with Kate Steel-Park (31.5) and Mary Ewing (32.5) doing well.
The best Non-members Lindy Cowhan (32.5) for the second week running, followed by a duo of Lara Stibbard and Greg Gunn on 33 each.
The ball/money voucher winners for each Pool are:
Pool 1 – Teresa Armitage, Heather Davidson, Laurie O’Connor, Doug Churchill, Kerry Stirling, Greg Webb and Bede Tooth.
Pool 2 – Mary Ewing, Lara Stibbard, Lionel Stevens, Toni Townsend, Mike Sutcliffe, Anne Reade and Doreen Barnes.
Pool 3 – Graeme Hopkins, Lindy Cowhan, Beth Dickens, Greg Gunn, Terry Shannon, Greg Hanns and Gerard Everson.
Pool 4 – Kate Steel-Park, Darren Clarke, Shirley Fuge, Libby Godden, Alison Baker, Lyn Kennedy and Bess Shields.
So, this week the top four teams in each Pool start the Finals series playing for the Cup, and the bottom four teams in each Pool play for the Plate.
This begins the knock-out phase, where some teams will go immediately while others have a second chance.
In each Pool teams 1 versus 2, and 3 versus 4 play, with the loser of the 3 versus 4 match dropping out and the winner to play the loser of the 1 versus 2 match. It is the same format for the bottom four teams.
Where would you rather be? In the top-4 or the bottom-4?
In Pools 1, 2 and 3 the fourth and fifth were separated by a half point.
It now remains to see how they might fare in these matches. Are they the bottom of the top, or the top of the bottom?
And who may win? The Never Coulds have been strong and may just do it, but Bush Divas and Postie Top Six have looked comfortable in their top spots. Bushrangers have had a topsy-turvy time, finishing well to take the honours. Stay tuned.
Whatever the result we have three weeks to play, then a break over Easter and the Finals on April 8.
The Final sees the four victorious teams from each Pool go head to head.
For all the golfers, there are still opportunities to have fun and earn a prize or two. So get out there and enjoy the fresh air, and keep the laughter going.
-by Smooth Swinger
Ladies Golf
The Lady Golfers played their first Round of Golf NSW Medal and Bowns Sportspower being the sponsor of the Stroke Competition, there were 19 players on Saturday, March 3.
Winner was Rebecca Cowling with 71 and Runner Up Janet Smith 73. Nearest the Pin 9th was Bess Shields and 18th Kasey Fay-Rice with all four players also winning a ball.
Wednesday, March 7 saw 22 Ladies play a Stableford round Sponsored by Van on the Park in two divisions. Winner of Division One with 39 points was Janet Smith who has started her season of in fine form. Winner Division two was Ev Uphill on 34.
Nearest the Pin ninth Bev Gerdes and 18th Meg Schoefield.
Ball Sweep to Janet, Ev , Meg Schoefield, Judy Hodge and Julie Wood. Congratulations to all who have started the season of so well.
This Saturday Sephora the Beauty Studio is sponsoring our Pink Day Fundraiser which is a Stableford round so get along and have a good game of golf and wear your best pink outfit for a good cause.
Heather is on Cards
Next Wednesday, March 14 two Divisions of Stableford sponsored by Fleur Wells and Jill Morgan. Bev is on cards
-by Roving Reporter
Forbes Golf Club
All are welcome. The club is opening from 7am to 6pm daily. The Forbes 18 hole championship golf course is located beside the Newell Highway on the northern side of town.
For more information visit www.forbesgolf.org.au.