In what has been described as a rare moment for organisers, the first 25 entries in the popular annual Veterans Week of Golf are all first-timers.
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“I couldn’t believe it when I seen it,” one organiser Len Goode.
He and fellow organiser Bill Kearney shared the exciting news when they were accepting a $200 donation, from the Young Services Club, towards the event.
“The message is getting out there,” Bill said.
“Other players have been coming back for 10 to 12 years now.”
Since the first 25 entries of “all newbies”, Bill said entries have been rolling in and already exceed expectations.
Now in its 17th year, last year’s event - held in the third week of November in the lead-up to the National Cherry Festival - attracted 190 players.
“We’re hoping for 200 golfers this year,” Bill said.
He said the social week was much more than just playing golf.
“There’s a lot of foreign money coming into our community for a week, because they’ll be here for the week,” Bill said.
“They buy cherries, the women go shopping because it’s so close to Christmas.
“We do our best to give them a fantastic week so that they come back and so they spread the word.”
The week playing on the Young Golf course wraps up with a presentation dinner on the last night of the event, November 20.
And to make sure visitors go home with a unique Young experience, organisers give away up to 40 boxes of cherries at the dinner.
The money raised for the event - thanks to the generosity of the community and local businesses - goes towards running costs, promotions, prizes and trophies.
