GOLF Report for week ending Sunday 4th June 2023.

Great golfing weather for the first week of Winter, finishing off with a good dumping of rain on Sunday which will do wonders for the First Fairway refurbishment. This week’s featured sponsor was Nambucca Glass – thank you!

Tuesday’s “Island Challenge” Medley Stroke sponsored by Toyota Genuine Service continues to grow in popularity – great Trophies on offer to reward those golfers that rise to the challenge of playing the Island at it’s best. Excellent scoring from Stephen Carr (4), Nev Newman (11) and Christopher Lucas (25) who all scored net 66, with Stephen winning the 3 way countback. David Gourlay (3) from Coffs Harbour won the gross with 70 off the stick. Best Lady golfer was Heather Gray (26) with net 70. Others to play to their handicaps or better were Jeffrey Vanderwyk and Colin Habgood net 69. David Gourlay got the “Ecomist” sponsored Longest Putt on 2 and the NTP on 8, other NTP’s winning a sleeve of Premium Golf Balls going to Scott Burley on 5, Geoff Brooks on 7, Michael Tarleton won the “Pizza This” voucher on 13, Philip Mander on 15 and Peter Bush on 18.

The Women played a Single Stableford on Wednesday with Ann Antcliff (23) winning Division 1 (0 to 28) with 39 points from Kerry Naylor (21) with 34 points. Wendy Ritchie (31) top scored for the day with 41 points to win Division 2 (29 to 45) from Robyn Jones (29) with 40 points. Good scores also from Shayne Scott & Dianne Hopkins with 36 points – the Ball Rundown to 31 points on countback. NTP’s went to Fiona Chaffey on 5, Wendy Ritchie on 13 and Narelle Delaney won the Pro Pin Jackpot on 18.

Congratulations to Susan Barnett who scored her first Hole-in-One on the Par 3 5th Hole during the Women’s competition on 3rd May and was recently presented with her HIO Trophy. Susan has only been playing golf for 6 years, has a 27 Handicap, and used her trusty Driver to make sure that she carried the large pond in from of the Tee – no worries there! It seems that HIO’s run in the family – her brother “Robbo” has also holed out on the same hole some years back.

Nev Newman continued his good form from Tuesday with a win in Division 1 (0 to 15) of Thursdays Medley Stableford scoring 38 points to win from Stuart Johnston (8) with 37 points. Hans Jansen (21) scored 40 points to win Division 2 (16 to 21) from Bryan Ussher (20) with 36 points. And in Division 3 (22 to 45), Scott Brown (34) scored 40 points to win from Edward Beaton (23) on 37 points. Other good scores from Mark Blake, Paul McElhinney & Greg McCoy 36 points, the Ball Rundown to 33 points on countback. Paul Maxwell had the putter working on 2 to get “Ecomist’s” Longest Putt, with NTP’s going to Drew Glasson on 5, New Newman to 88cms on 7, Edward Beaton to 40 cms on 8, Stephen McNeil to 96 cms on the “Pizza This” sponsored 13th, Ken Marriott on 15 and Philip Mander pocketed the Pro Pin Jackpot with 174cms to the 18th.

Saturday’s Monthly Medal was sponsored by Nambucca Local Liquor, some members chose to try their luck at the Bellingen Cup instead. The winner of “A” Grade (0 to 12) was Nigel Black (11) from Muirfield with a great score of Net 62 from Troy Herbert (5) net 69. Gross winner Stephen Carr 75. In “B” Grade (13 to 18), Phillip Frost (14) scored net 67 to win from Peter Miller (14) net 68. Gross winner was Ashton Herbert 83. In “C” Grade, Urpo Ylinen (19) scored net 69 to win from Hans Jansen (20) net 70. Gross winner was Kevin Mulhall 90. The ball rundown went to net 75 on countback. Daryl Wall got the “Ecomist” Longest Putt on 2, other NTP’s going to Colin Wormleaton on 5, Joe Street to 120cms on 7, Ashton Herbert on 8, Greg McCoy a very close 38 cms on the “Pizza This” 13th Hole, Andrew Johnston got Stu’s ball on 15, and Hans Jansen got to 92cms on 18 to win the Pro Pin Jackpot.

The Eclectic progressive results have been posted showing Christian Knight & Troy Herbert leading the charge in both Gross & Net, but a few Birdies from any of those following could easily put a cat amongst the pidgeons – don’t give up yet, boys!

Unfortunately, the welcome rain was too much on the Course on Sunday, and this month’s Island Sunday Mixed 4BBB Stableford had to be cancelled.

The Skins Knockout Semi Final Draw has been posted – if unable to play on 24th June at 10.00am, please let your Committee know so that the next qualifier can get a start.

By Geoffrey McCANN