MEN'S GOLF
By SHORT PUTT
The Forbes golfers were initially baulked by the early drizzly weather but those who did venture out enjoyed sunny weather albeit accompanied by a cutting breeze. But the enjoyment was high even if the scores were not.
The Saturday event was a 4BBB Stableford Medley, sponsored by Cahill’s Footwear. Because of the poor weather outlook the field was reduced to 33 players with a few swingers among them.
The winners were the pair of Matt Duff and Stuart Fraser who managed a tidy 45 points. They welcomed the refuge of the ‘Golfie’ and while pleased with their score were not confident of a win although were happy to be ‘clubhouse leaders’.
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Theirs was a well-played game where they combined well to keep the score counter ticking over.
Their score comprised of 2- and 3-pointers only with the front-9 producing the best outcome. They started that with four 3-pointers and scattered five more through the remainder of their game.
While neither of them shined individually they did produce the goods.
The runners-up were Caleb Hanrahan and Ash Hogan. Their 44 points did include a couple of 1-pointers which if they had converted would have nipped them into first place. But they did score 22 points on each half.
Caleb started the day well with four 3-pointers and managed others on the 10th and 15th holes.
Ash played a steady game, chiming in with his own contribution when needed. His 3-pointer on the 11th, a 4-pointer on the 13th, and steady 2-pointers to bring them home were priceless.
The Individual comp went to Caleb with his 37 points. He bookended his game with 3-pointers at the front and 1-pointers at the back but did enough in-between to score well.
The ladies were not outdone with Heather Davidson and Sally Perry scoring 43 points and Colleen Venables and Kate Steele-Park only three shots back. They all picked up a ball each.
The ball sweep went to 40 points, going to: 43 – A & L Alley, H Davidson/S Perry; 40 – C Venables/ K Steele-Park. There was one visitor – Phil Edwards (Albert GC) who teamed with Brendan Hayes.
The NTP’s went to: 9th – Ladies: Nil, Men: Dan Bayley; 18th – Ladies: Colleen Venables, Men: Matt Walton. Colleen and Dan got their 2’s but Matt was a bit wayward. There were seven 2’s overall with the 3rd yielding three and the 18th yielding two.
The 3rd hole Super-Pin went to Stuart Thomas who steered his shot to 160 cm from the hole.
It was a difficult shot for him having not yet warmed up and did require quite a bit of ‘body-english’ to draw it in close. But the putt was easy to reward him with a ‘2’.
The weather was most uninviting at the start of the day. Stevie G opted for a cart to stay dry.
The wettest he got was when he jumped into the cart and dislodged a shower of raindrops upon himself.
Once that was dried there was no more rain. So those who had cancelled missed out on some bright conditions.
The key to success in this format is complementing each other well. This the leaders certainly did.
The recent maintenance work on the greens did present some interesting challenges in reading the line of the putt. And there were some sharp influences on what otherwise would have been easy putts.
But some players did manage to putt with success. Stevie G drained a monster putt, the distance is growing with each telling, from off the edge of the 14th green to record a par. And of course the winners had no problems with the putting, showing how easy it was.
Another to have a successful day was Lachlan Alley.
While he had a bit of trouble on the 7th hole he scored well on every other hole to amount 16 points for the front-9.
His round include two 3’s on each half, with each time providing a good score to complement his dad’s not so good score.
But there were many a story where a shortish putt struck with the intent of going into the cup was suddenly diverted away by the core holes. For some players it just was not fair after all their good work from tee to green.
And then there was the wind. One player was putting on the 6th green trying to earn a point. As the ball slowed down in sight of the hole a gust of wind blew it sideways and it edged past the hole.
Here is the news:
The FGA AGM is set for Tuesday 28 October. More information will be distributed soon.
A reminder of the Titleist Equipment Demo Day scheduled for Wed 10 Sep. Contact H/Pro Will to book in or find out more details.
A junior player, Archie Quirk, headed down to Catalina GC on the weekend to play in a Golf NSW Junior event.
He had played there before but this time could not ‘get into sync’ on the course and did not do as well as he had hoped.
The Parkes Men's Open is scheduled for Sunday 14 September.
The club has managed an extension of support to include the Vets golf on Thursday 11 September and make that day something special also. You may consider playing the Vets on Thursday and Bogan Gate on Sunday for some variety in your golf.
Upcoming events are: The ‘Australian Naggers Cup’ at Condo GC on 21 September, and the NSW Country Champs at Cowra on 20 and 21 September.
Also, advice that the “Roylances Tractor Replacement Cup” scheduled for Saturday 20 September will now only be a daily event. The Roylances contingent are unable to participate this year but still want to support Forbes golf.
Please note: The Bogan Gate Open was originally scheduled for Sunday 7 September but has been moved to the following Sunday, being the 14 September.
This avoids any clash with Father’s Day celebrations and of course the rugby league grand final where the Forbes Magpies are in contention for another trophy.
It is crystal ball time:
Saturday 6 September has the Monthly Medal, sponsored by McFeeters Motor Museum. And Sunday has the usual Stableford Medley comp.
VETS GOLF
He’s very likeable, rough and tough all with soft hands as Forbes veteran golfer Les Little displayed last Thursday winning the twin towns competition with 39 points.
As playing partners commented after over a BBQ sanger the ever popular Les did all possible to loose ‘throwing out the anchor’ on the last hole.
However, Les had the paper work up to date winning on a count-back from fellow club member, Ken Walton.
Recently joined Parkes member Ron Hetherington also found the trophy table with the encouragement award also being the most popular after play manning the barbecue with chief cook Lindsay Elliott.
Nearest the pins, 4th A grade Kim Herbert (F), B grade Bruce Chandler (F), 11th A grade nil, B grade Rob Staples (P).
Little changed in the twin town challenge with Forbes (18 players) scoring 222 point to Parkes (11 players) 196 points.
There was one visitor in Peter Mawhinney from Grenfell enjoying the testing conditions despite being drawn to cart by himself.
Ball sweep to 32 points. 38 Niel Duncan (F), 37 Bruce Chandler (F), 35 Richard Hamilton (P), Mick Bond (P), Kim Herbert (F), 34 Stuart French (F), 32 Lindsay Elliott (P), Joe Davies (P), Warwick Judge (F).
Interesting to note that due to damp fairways and fast greens 11 of the 30 starters finished with less then 30 points.
This Thursday twin towns vets play in Forbes prior to what is being planned as a ‘monster’ day in Parkes the following week (September 11).
Forward thinking Parkes president Peter Bristol has big plans for 11 September which is the Thursday prior to the annual Parkes Open.
“Sponsors for the Open are Bridgestone Mining Solutions Australia and we have them on board to sponsor our weekly twin towns vets, but with a slight difference,” Peter said.
“We will be going up a bit in ‘class’ playing the day on the same format as the Lachlan Valley in the hope of getting a few coming for the Open to play a couple of days earlier.
"And besides it is Alf’s (Davies) birthday so a cake, if I remember, will be ordered,” Peter added.
A word of warning, Peter who has been off the scene for a few weeks, had no hesitation in stating last week he is ready to ‘collect’ so if thinking of a win, get it in now.
No casual 12 hole comp in Forbes last Tuesday due to course closure with green renovations well underway. However, back in the swing this week with ball toss at 9am for all interested.
LADIES GOLF
Due to work on the greensand no sand, ladies golf was cancelled last Wednesday.
Weather conditions were not the best Saturday 30th for the 4BBB Stableford Medley with a brave few choosing to play the event.
Heather Davidson and Sally Perry combined well to place themselves 4th in the mix with 43 points.
Kate Steel-Park and Colleen Venables scored 40 points and finished 5th with the girls winning a ball each.
In the single comp Sally Perry carded 35 followed by Kate Steel-Park carding 32 points.
Two of our road trippers drove to Narromine Sunday August 31 to play the ladies tournament.
Both girls finished well with Heather Davidson placing runner up in Division 1 Scratch.
Heather also netted the straightest drive in Division 1.
Robin Lyell took out division 1 Handicap. Reports were that Narromine had lovely wide fairways and consistent sand on the greens.
Matches set down for play this week include on Saturday September 3 the Lindy Pollock and Jenny Hubbard sponsored 4BBB Par.
Sunday September 7th is the Trangie annual Ladies Tournament.
Wednesday September 10 is Individual Par sponsored by Sally Perry and Margaret Woodburn.
Until next week fingers crossed for lovely weather and good golf.
