Forbes golfing goodness

The B grade had a very close tussle. Adam Borger had a couple of ‘roughies’ on the front nine but stormed home on the back nine to record a nett 70. This was good enough to push Jeff Haley into runner-up.

The C grade contenders also returned tidy scores. Andrew Norton-Knight capitalised on some good practice to score 70 nett. A good front nine, were he parred the first four holes, was coupled to a consistent back nine. Hot on his heels was Greg Webb, who is really enjoying his golf. Like Andrew he had a good front nine and a consistent back nine but had a few more shots in there.

The ball sweep went to 75 nett on count back, being distributed to: 66 – R Taylor: 68 – R Nixon; 70 – A Borger, A Norton-Knight; 71 – J Haley; 72 – B Doyle, D McAuliffe, G Webb; 73 – J Davis (Orange); 74 - L O’Connor, D Churchill, L Little, Mike Wood; 75 – A McDonald, T Leach, R Morris, B Chandler, and J Zannes. The NTP’s went to: Ninth Steve Bate; 18^th P. Pymont. 

Pleasing to see many visitors on the course. A group of eight players had ventured over from Ex-Services club in Orange. They found the course very good, but challenging. This was a very full weekend of golf. The Forbes players either emulated the world’s top players in Augusta, or showed them how to do it. The ‘Masters’ golf history will always record the ‘13’ shots on one hole, made by Sergio Garcia when he put five balls into the water. Ash Tucker tried a similar thing, but with more adventure.

On the 15^th hole at Forbes, Ash played his second shot from among the palm trees on the island in the water hazard on the left of the fairway. He played a number of other shots from there also, then plonked a ball in the water, recovered and finally scored a ‘12’.

Terry Griffiths taught Jordan Spieth how to do it. Terry sunk a monster putt on the 18^th for his two. His ball sat precariously on the green at the very front, from where Terry could see the pin with the aid of binoculars. Undaunted he calmly slotted the monster. Jordan Spieth did a similar thing in his final round at Augusta, no doubt spurred on by Terry’s success.

One of the fore mentioned Orange players relived his cricket days, when each drive on his first six holes struck a tree dead centre. Also in trouble with trees was Maurie Westwood. He spent so much time amongst them that his playing partners thought he was communing there on almost every hole.

Putting was definitely a challenge for some players. They either left too many putts short, or simply had too many. Steve Bate is awaiting a call from Cricket Australia, thanks to his ‘ton’ scored by courtesy of a five putt on the 18^th, after recovering well from the trees.

April 8 there was no regular Stableford Medley, as many Forbes players were participating in the LVDGA Pennants and Champs at Grenfell, and others were holding their energies to contest the Grand Final of the Forbes Summer Sixes competition. See a separate report about that.

The Lachlan Valley Districts Golf Association Annual Pennants and Championships were held at Grenfell on Sunday.  Forbes sent 12 players, competing in A grade and B grade Pennants, as well as the Individual Championships.

There were 54 players at Grenfell from Grenfell, Forbes, Parkes, West Wyalong, Peak Hill and Bogan Gate clubs. Unfortunately Condobolin were unable to send a team, and Parkes had a clash with an event which reduced their numbers.

It was pleasing to see Forbes take out the A grade Pennants. The scores from M. Collits, A. Dukes, D. Bayley, T. Callaghan, S. Sallaway combined to give them the win. Unfortunately Forbes did not feature in the B grade Pennants or the Vets Pennants. The LVDGA ‘Champion of Champions’ went to Mitch McGlassan from Parkes. While Grenfell players featured highly among the other Grade Championship prize winners, a notable Forbes highlight was the NTP for C grade scored by Steve Grallelis.

Here is the news: We have confirmation that the Forbes Men’s Open has retained its status as a Regional Qualifier for the NSW Open. All are encouraged to enter for the Forbes Open to invite their friends to participate. The next major event is the Forbes GC Veterans ‘Week of Golf’, set for April 23-27. We have entries coming in from other clubs, but the local players are just a little slow. Please hurry up and do so to aid in the catering. Day falls in the middle of that week, so check the programme in the Pro Shop for what is being played when and where.

It is crystal ball time: April 14 we have an 18-hole Par comp. This usually results in some heavy ‘grey cell’ activity but is always a good day of golf. Sunday is the Stableford Medley.

-by Short Putt

Saturday April 7 was an 18 hole stroke event sponsored by Acheson Timber and Hardware. It was the Monthly Medal, Golf NSW Medal and a putting competition. Winner of Division 1 was Verna Lane with a net 71 while Ethel Coombs won Division 2 also with net 71 c/b. NTP was a double for Ev Uphill winning both the ninth and the 18^th. Sweep went to Verna Lane and Ethel Combs 71 c/b. Putting went to Fran Smith with 28 on a c/b.

Monthly Medals:

An 18 hole stableford event sponsored by Flannery’s Pharmacy was played for on Wednesday April 11. The course is looking great but the scores on the day were not so great with most stableford scores being in the 20’s.  Well done to those who broke 30.

Verna Lane was again the winner of Division 1 with 34 points. Great golfing Verna. Jill Cripps was the winner of Division 2 with 30 points c/b. NTP  C Venables on the ninth and J Smith on the 18^th. Ball sweep went to Verna Lane, Robin Lyell and Colleen Venables to 31.

Saturday is an 18 hole Stableford in two Divisions sponsored by McFeeter’s Motor Museum. Enid is on the cards. Next Wednesday is a three ball Stableford Novelty Event sponsored by Colleen Bratton and Patty Jones with Colleen doing the cards. Robin Lyell and Alison Kingston travelled to Orange Ex-Services last Saturday for a tournament. Robin was on the winners list winning B Grade Stableford. Well done.

Colleen Venables, Marie Reid, Jenny Hubbard, Deborah Dingwall, Kerry Stirling and Heather Davidson travelled to Warren for a Veterans Tournament last Monday and Tuesday. The weather was extremely hot and dusty at times making consistent play difficult. Although the group did not come home with any trophies it was an interesting experience playing on the dirt and sand greens, then on the grassed fairways and grass greens or vice versa. There were also lots of trees in places which seemed to keep jumping in the way. There are more Veteran Tournaments coming up, so see Colleen V if you are interested.

Dubbo has a Tournament on Thursday, April 19 and West Wyalong on Sunday, April 22 and Bathurst on April 30, May 1 and 2, for those interested.