Some of us will also remember 'Deacon' as a bad luck golfer. For example, we all loved to see him get par on the first. If not, you could be sure that excuses like 'the wind always blows up when I'm on the tee' or 'the green aren’t true' etc would surface during his round. Just ask Ray Taylor or Rodney Joseph Besgrove who used to play more then most with the big leftie.

Some of those comments are still around today, especially if you played in a group with a lady during the four-ball medley like last Saturday.

More notably if she outdrove you more then once. Enough of all that and back to the scores, and what a round winners Michael Spice and Phil Maher had in the Forbes Catering and Packaging Supplies sponsored event.

They had one of the best four-ball scores this year in posting 50 points, 27 on the front nine and 23 on the way home. Was there a dominating player? If you look closely at their card there are reasons to give both credit for the win.

Michael was on fire over the front nine posting four birdies, at the first, third, sixth and eight holes while Phil dominated overall being on the card 12 times highlighted by a birdie two for four points on the 18th. You could say just about the perfect four-ball card.

Well done and a reward for Michael who only recently was major sponsor of the $5500 Classic through Nissan while Phil is one of the more popular and consistent players in the club. Both very good members of the golfie and as usual played at the end of the field due to their work loads Saturday morning.

That in itself took the shine off the earlier players who sat in the hotel waiting for the last cards to be presented, more so for Bruce Chandler and Gosford visitor, Andrew Drane. With 48 points they looked the winners for a long time, but as they say, you 'always wait for the … lady to sing', and sing she did.

Bruce and Andrew also had a card to be proud of, 25 points on the front nine and 23 the back. Their only birdie came at the fifth, scored by Andrew. Seventy players took part on Saturday with nearest the pins going to Peter Cowhan on the 9th and Ron Morris on the 18th.

Ball sweep to 45 points on a count-back. The two major winners plus, 47 Ken Sanderson and Garry Collits, 36 Peter Barnes and Bob Borger, 46 Adam Borger and Fred Collie, 45 Frank Donohue and Paul Kay, 45 Tom Edols and Milton Cartwright, 45 Ray Sanderson and Ralph Baker, 45 Ian Bown and Graham Newport. Beaten on a count-back with 45 points were two of the big winners from the Nissan Classic, Peter Nixon and Andrew Cogswell.

Winner in the medley on Sunday was Peter Grayson with 41 points, runner-up Ray Taylor with 39. Both nearest the pins to Bess Shields, a lady we can all look up to. Lovely, and another reason we all should continue playing the game of golf.

We must be one of the better travelled clubs with players always somewhere representing. Last Sunday Dubbo welcome 'Big Burly' Adam Andrews, Peter Dawson and Michael Wood Snr and Jnr in their leg of the Holden Scramble.

With a score of 13 under par they won and now advance to the Regional Final at a venue yet to be announced. If 'Big Ad' can keep them on the course and coupled with the length of his partners they should be a show to advance even further in the nation wide tournament.

Coming up: Tomorrow (Saturday) is Stroke and the Monthly Medals sponsored by Central West Diesel, another of our classic sponsors. Sunday is medley Stableford.

Saturday, December 9, Stroke sponsored by Knight's Fabrication and Cranes (also classic sponsor), Saturday, December 16 Ham Day sponsored by Baa-Moo-Oink. 

'A members and guests comp is running every week, does not include members Saturday or ladies Wednesday comp. Play any other day at any time. 18 holes, normal fees apply. Cards need to be in by Sunday for processing.'

-by Short Putts Mate

On Wednesday, November 29 the last sponsored event for the year was held. The event an 18 hole stableford was sponsored by the Flint Street Butchery and was won by Sally Perry with a very good 36 points. 

Heather Davidson was runner-up with 35 points. NTP went to Alison Kingston on the ninth and Julie Hurkett on the 18th. The ball sweep went to Sally Perry to 36. A big thankyou to all the businesses and individuals who have sponsored events throughout the year. Your commitment has been greatly appreciated.

Competition will continue for those who still want to play but it will be a ball comp for both Wednesdays and Saturdays in December and in January and February it will be a Saturday ball comp only. 

Wednesday will be a good chance to play Sixers and catch up for a cuppa afterwards. Don’t forget the Ladies Christmas Party and Presentation Night at the Golfie next Wednesday December 6 at 7pm. It is not too late to put your name down. Items are still being received for the raffle as well. The golfing ladies would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and hope to see you all in 2108.

-by Heather Davidson

The seventh round of the Forbes Golf Club Summer Sixers competition, sponsored by ASI Capital, was full of dynamic play by many players. The theme for the week was ‘how low can you go!’

The best score of the round was made by Matt Roylance with a 27.0 nett. This was on the back of a very good round on the front-9, where Matt was virtually breaking par on every hole. Matt led the non-members scoring, closely followed by Rose Carroll (31) and Greg Hanns (31.5). For the Members we have: Eily Hush (30.5), Bob Borger (31) and Verna Lane (32).

Last week was a ‘Double Points’ week, which helped rocket some teams up their score board. In Pool 1 Coffee Club, with a bog win, leapt ahead of Carlton Dry Boys who had a loss; Pool 2 saw Bush Divas extend their lead; Pool 3 saw Postie Top Six retain their lead; and finally, in Pool 4 – F Troop surged further ahead.

The best team scores in each Pool were: Cobblers Crew 97.5 (Pool 1), The Avengers 101 (Pool 2), Gunns Menswear 103 (Pool 3) and TBC 98.5 (Pool 4).

The ball/ money voucher winners for each Pool are:

No doubt many players are enjoying their round of golf. They must also be pleased at their own improvement, as the continually low scores seem to indicate.

Each week brings a rash of new winners, which is very pleasing. It does mean that it is very difficult to pick an opposing team’s form. This further heightens the determination by each player to do their best to help their team. That fighting spirit lives on.

The handicaps have not had many changes either. As always it is easier to lose shots than gain them. So maybe there is an overall lowering of individual handicaps. Maybe the warmer summer days will sort a few players out.

Also good to see teams participating as a group. Some teams seem to have a cast of thousands, as there are so many on the tee at any one time. No doubt the pressure is there on every shot, and also the bragging rights at the end of the day.

Whatever it is, keep up the good work and enjoy your competition. Only two weeks to the end of this half, so make the most of it. Keep an eye out for the special weeks, for example the double points rounds. I don’t know when they will come, but they will. Enjoy the days now, and enjoy the convivial atmosphere in the Golfie.

-by Smooth Swinger