The third running of the Sand Grass Green Championship was played. The event is sponsored by Forbes Shire Council, managed under the GolfNSW banner, run by local committees at both Clubs, and played by 73 golfers from across NSW.

The Championship is played over Grenfell and Forbes golf clubs, using a Stableford format. Results are compiled for Scratch Stableford and Nett Stableford over 36-holes, with Men's and Ladies winners for Nett Stableford on each day.

Conditions at Grenfell on Saturday were a stark contrast from previous years. The players were initially greeted by a chilly morning, but then the fog cleared, the sun shone and the course played relatively soft after a small amount of recent rain.

On Sunday at Forbes the players had an earlier and chilly start, but once again the sun shone. However blustery wind conditions affected many scores, with some players losing hats during mid stroke.

The 36-hole Men's Scratch Champion was John Betland (Forbes) with a Scratch Stableford score of 72 points. He played better on the sand greens at Grenfell, scoring 37 points which equates to a stroke score of one-under. John could only manage 35 points on his home course, which was equal best for the day.

The 36-hole Womens Scratch Champion was Jan Crichton (Killara) with a Scratch Stableford score of 56. Jan also played better at Grenfell than at Forbes, despite having grass greens at her home course.

The 36-hole scratch runners up were Steve Betland (Forbes) with 69 points, and Chantelle Greaves (Dunedoo) with 49 points. Chantelle was the defending champion having won the event twice before, and was looking for a three-peat, but alas it was not to be.

The 36-hole Mens Nett Winner was Barry Green (Grenfell) with 68 points. He used his 17 handicap well to finish ahead of Dan Bayley (Forbes) with 67 points. Dan got the nod on count-back from two other players on 67.

The 36-hole Womens Nett Winner was Virginia Drogemuller (Grenfell) with 69 points. Virginia was well pleased with her result, but not as pleased as Runner-up Elyse Troth (Grenfell) with 67 points. Elyse was so thrilled in this her first major competition that she wanted to hug everybody in the room.

Other prize winners were:

Mens Round 1 Winner - Mark Troth (Grenfell) 41 points

Mens Round 2 Winner - George Falvey (Forbes) 35 pts on c/b

Womens Rnd 1 Winner - Jan Crichton (Killara) 36 points

Womens Rnd 2 winner - Nina Davidson (Killara) 37 points on c/b

Teams Winner - Forbes (J Betland/S Betland/D Bayley/ M Grant)

Teams 2nd - Grenfell (M Troth/E Troth/D Hancock/B Green)

Teams 3rd - Narromine (Walker/Bullock/Williams/Faro-Mann)

Forbes NTP's (sponsored by Greater West Golf):

Women 9th - Alice Wood (Killara); 18th - Liz Harding (Young)

Men 9th - John Betland; 18th Steve Betland (Forbes).

The Grenfell course provided many challenges for the golfers. The sideways sloping fairways meant that many balls ran down the hill, often away from the hole and forcing players to approach their hole from different fairways. The bounce from high shots was also unpredictable.

This was Adam Brennan's first foray onto sand greens. His approach to his first hole was a typical high wedge from a grass green player. His ball hit the green, bounced very high and then continued to bounce through the green finishing about ten metres away. Lesson learnt, he pitched and ran his next approaches.

Despite Forbes being a flatter course, the golfers still found their golfing skills challenged. The blustery winds made it difficult for players to avoid the trees. And once again, players were required to find their green from a spot on a different fairway. It was surprising also how many player's balls hit 'middle stump' on the trees.

Once on the grass greens at Forbes, many sand-playing golfers had much difficulty with putting. Extra-long putts and extra-short putts were common, as were three and four putts. But then, many grass-playing golfers had trouble. On many occasions a player would sink a long bomb from 15-18 feet, then three-putt from five feet.

With the blustery conditions at Forbes, two were not common. However, there was one standout performance. This was by Peter Tilden, who used the wind expertly to bring his ball into the green with a floating arcing flight. He was undaunted by a middle length putt, reading the borrow correctly and neatly slotting the ball home.

At Forbes on Saturday, the Mens competition was an Individual Stableford, sponsored by Gunn's Traffic Control. Results from the 44 players showed that the early golfers seemed to have the better part of the day, while some of the later golfers definitely needed some traffic control as they strayed across the course.

The A Division winner was Phil Maher (35 points) on count-back from Brian Everest (35 points). Both players were late starters and would claim undue influence by the weather, but then an earlier starter in Neil McMillan also had 35 points, thus dispelling that theory.

The B Division players seemed to have nobbled most of the really good scores. The winner was Denis Culley with 44 points. Again an early starter, whose putting line may have been helped by the dew on the greens. Runner-up was Martin Cahill, who was refreshed after a recent vacation, and thus quite relaxed.

The ball sweep went to: 44 - D Culley; 39 - M Cahill; 38 - R Scott; 37 - J Cutler; 35 - R Baker, L Little, P Maher, B Everest, H Steel-Park, N McMillan, R Smith. Visitors included Luke Flakelar (Temora), Andrew Brownlow (Peak Hill), and Sid Reynolds (Howlong). All were keen to improve their scores after previous experiences when they enjoyed the course but were badly affected by the scoring. We look forward to their return again.

The NTP's were again a bonus to one player: both the ninth and 18th went to Barry Parker. Well done Barry! He even managed a two on the ninth. There were four twos in total, with none of the B-Division players managing any.

John Ridley deservedly picks up the 'scatter-gun award' for his card. Not only did he have an array of shots that required a wide-angled lens to view them all on his card, but his Stableford points scoring was up and down like a roller-coaster, with many misses, a few ones and twos and more than a scattering of threes and fours.

The consistency award goes to Ray Taylor, ahead of Bruce Carpenter. Both scored between four and six, and both sadly did not have any threes. But the majority of Ray's scores were fives.

Here is the News: This week we started the renovation programme so golfers will find conditions on the greens a little more challenging and footing on the tees a bit spongy. This work will not be as heavy as previous renovations, allowing for the important events coming up, and will be followed by more work in November after the Nissan Classic weekend, weather permitting.

We have the GolfNSW two person Ambrose Medley coming up on August 31, which provides the opportunity for pairings to progress to the Regional Finals. Mark this down as an enjoyable day.

And do not forget the annual Legends Pro-Am scheduled for Friday, September 27. Generous sponsorship and a healthy Pro field are locked in, but we need good support by club and visiting players. Lock that date in.

Pro Adrian is pleased with the progress of the Junior Coaching, but advises that he can handle more kids. Give him a call (0423 356670) to get your child into this game.

Head pro advises that he is implementing a software update on the register system. This will more easily record, and account for, ball, voucher and prize accounts for each player. However, it does mean that he needs to reduce the carry-over of existing "accounts" and asks all players to check in the Pro Shop and reduce or clear their existing accounts.

Ben asks that this is completed within the next month. Arranging for ongoing accounts will also change, but more on that later.

The Presentation for the Winter 3's comp will be held at the Golfie on Sunday, August 19 commencing at 4:30pm. All Winter 3's players are invited to attend.

Crystal Ball Time: August 24 is the American Foursomes, sponsored by Milton Cartwright. This event always seems to trouble many players, but is always enjoyable. Sunday has an 18-hole Stableford Medley, with the Peak Hill Open also on that day.

August 31 is the GolfNSW two person Ambrose Medley, sponsored by Marg and Ron Hurst and E Coombs. A fun and quick format for all. September 1 has the Stableford Medley.

Short Putt

On Saturday, August 17 while the Sand and Green championships were underway at Grenfell the ladies that stayed at home played for the Elders Insurance Trophy in one Division.

After playing the bridesmaid for some time Verna Lane finally had a win with 37 points and also had closest to the pin on ninth. Barb Drabsch won the ball sweep with 34.

On Wednesday, August 21 a Stableford competition sponsored by Blue Sky in two divisions was played in not the most pleasant conditions, wind farm weather I call it.

However it suited Julie Hurkett who won Division won with 38 points from Janet Smith on a count-back who was runner up.

Division two was similar with Julie Wood on 34 winning on a count-back from Alison Kingston who was runner up. NTP on ninth Helen Duff and 18th Robin Lyell.

Ball Sweep to Janet Smith, Alison Kingston, Jill Morgan and Heather Davidson. Coming up this Saturday is the four ball versus Par event sponsored by Jenny Hubbard and Libby Godden.

End of month Cake day is on 28th and last day to have a good score to qualify for the Shootout which is on Sunday, September 8.

The Stableford next Wednesday is a Shot gun start sponsored by Undercover in two divisions with Fleur on cards. Well done to all the winners this week and for getting out and playing the game.

Roving Report