The Forbes golfers once again donned their wet weather gear in order to battle the course and somehow produce a good score.

Saturday was changed to a Stableford Medley due to a very wet course. Thirty golfers were keen to post a score, although nine players did not finish.

It was still very competitive with a count back required for the winner and runner-up. Neil McMillan was the first in with 38 points, having set the pace on the back-9 with 22 points. A little later James Earl (Shortland Waters) carded 38 points but his back-9 was less fruitful, handing the winner prize to Neil.

The NTP’s went to: 9th – Bede Tooth; 18th – Nil. The 3rd Hole Super Pin went to Jacob Bernardi who was ‘eagle-eyed’ and put his ball to 1.34metres, the best shot for a few weeks.

The Ball Sweep went to 32 points, with a big gap between the prize winners and the remainder of the field. The lucky ones were: P Cowhan, R Webb, J Coulthurst, K Herbert, B Tooth, J Bernardi, B Parker and A Alley. The lone, but successful, visitor was James Earl who wandered around in shorts and rain jacket.

There was no Stableford Medley on Sunday due to very wet conditions.

Players please note that with more inclement weather forecast and expected overland water flow a decision on the golf for this weekend to be made and players notified. The club championships will be postponed until early December. Please keep in touch with the Pro Shop.

By Short Putt

The Forbes golfers took advantage of the good weather to enjoy the course and get some early games in, ahead of a busy family weekend.

The men’s comp was the Monthly Medal 18-hole Stroke, sponsored by Forbes Concrete, and pursued by 57 starters.

The A-Grade was won by Alf Davies with 70 nett, on count back from Andrew Dukes. Andy tried his best, finishing with a birdie, but Alf had two birdies on the back-9 to keep his edge.

The B-Grade was won by Anthony Alley with 71 nett, on count back from Tony Cogswell and Niel Duncan. Anthony had the better back-9 of all three.

The C-Grade comp was won by Tony Travers (The Coast) with 71 nett, on count back from Dave Bernardi who was awarded the medal.

The NTP’s went to: 9th – Paul Pymont; 18th – Andrew Dukes. The 3rd Hole Super Pin went to Peter Dawson with a shot to 1.6 metres.

The Ball Sweep went to 75 nett on count back, with six players in the toss but only two successful. The visitors included Tony Travers (The Coast) and Neil Morris (Pacific Dunes), with Lee Grierson (Wollongong).

By Short Putt

The Saturday competition was the ‘Albie Callaghan’ 4-Person Ambrose, contested by 64 players. This was won by Reg Murray, K Herbert, J Bernardi and Alf Davies with a score of 57 ¼ nett. Runners-up were N Duncan, C Duncan, B Duncan and N McMillan with 57 3/8 nett.

On Sunday the Forbes club’s Scramble event saw players from all around the Central West with 20 teams, or 80 players. The winners were P Amor, A Bourke, J Elliott and B Horner (Parkes) who finished with 57 1/8 nett. Runners-up were T Howe, R Grayson, P Grayson and S Betland on 58 ¾.

By Short Putt

The better weather encouraged golfers onto the course, only to find many challenges resulting from the rising water which altered the way many holes were played.

Saturday’s Golf NSW KENO 2-person Ambrose, sponsored by Golf Harvest, had 30 pairs of players competing in the men’s, ladies and mixed categories. The winner in each category qualified for a regional final.

The men’s category had 23 pairs vying for the honour. Playing at the back of the field, the pair of Tom Toohey and Harry Callaghan scored well and putted even better to record 65.25 nett. Runners-up, and eligible to also go forward because of the number of participants, were Sandy Paterson and Reg Murray who scored 67.25 nett.

The ladies category had five pairs and the winners were Nicole Death and Veronica Rebellato with 67.5 nett. Helped by a good handicap, they were streets ahead of the remainder of the field.

The mixed category had two contending pairs with only a half point separating them. The pair of Warwick and Jean Judge took the honours.

The NTP’s went to: 9th – ladies: L Kennedy, men: B Carpenter; 18th – ladies: C Duncan, men: H Callaghan. The 3rd Hole Super Pin went to Jordan Brett.

The Ball Sweep went to 69 nett, being distributed to: J Brett/C Hanrahan, S Paterson/R Murray, S Grallelis/J House, D Rhodes/M Brindle, B Chandler/S Uphill, R Webb/P Tisdell, A and L Alley. 

The Sunday Stableford Medley did not take place because of rising water.

This weekend we have a 4-ball Ambrose Medley sponsored by Alby Callaghan, and on Sunday the Annual VW Scramble.

By Short Putt

The Parkes Prostate Cancer Group is having an ‘Awareness’ Charity Golf Day on Saturday, 8th October on the renovated course. The day includes a longest drive competition for men and women, nearest the pins and a few other surprises. 

Paul Lewin of Bugman has stepped up to help sponsor the day, as well as the Parkes Services Club. (More about their sponsorship next week.) Funds raised on the day will be used to invite prostate cancer specialists to Parkes meetings and will increase the possibilities to have more Prostate Cancer Nurses in our area.

“The support of ‘Bugman’ is greatly appreciated and goes a long way in promoting our cause,” said Michael Lynch of the Parkes Prostate Cancer Group.

Junior Forbes golf member Lachlan Alley scored a hole-in-one during competition on the weekend.

There were 63 starters for the Individual Stableford for men on Saturday with Wade Ricthie the division 1 winner with 36 points. Runner-up was Shane Sallaway with 36 points.

Division 2 was won by Lachlan Alley with 36 points, helped along by his hole-in-one which earned him ‘5’ points alone. Runner-up was Matt Duff with 35 points.

The NTP’s went to: 9th – Kim Herbert; 18th – Graham Newport. The 3rd hole super pin went to Lachlan Alley with a shot ‘zero’ metres.

The Ball Sweep went to 30 points on count back, with many scores affected by the sandy greens. 

Once again the numbers on Sunday were too few for a Stableford Medley comp, but at least the weather was good.

This weekend the men’s golf competition is the Monthly Medal. Sunday has a Stableford Medley, and the Inaugural ‘Naggers Cup’ at Condobolin.

Do not forget the ‘Roylances Ambrose Day’ on Saturday, 10th September. Get your nominations into the Pro Shop.

By Short Putt

The Saturday Men’s golf Individual Stableford, sponsored by Gunns Traffic Control, had a field of 54 starters in Forbes.

The Div-1 winner was Jack Dobell with 39 points. Runner-up was Kim Herbert with 37 points.

Div-2 was won by a player in good form, Reggie Murray with 40 points, the best of the day. Runner-up was Matt Coles with 39 points.

NTPs: 9th – Matt Coles; 18th – Greg Webb; 3rd Hole Super Pin – Matt Skene with a shot to 2.46m.

The Ball Sweep went to 33 points on count back. 

By Short Putt

In changeable weather the Forbes Golfers had mixed fortunes with good scores recorded in the morning, while afternoon scores were affected by the weather.

On Saturday the golf competition was a 4BBB Stableford Medley, playing for the Bob & Daine Doolin Memorial trophy. A small field of 48 starters braved the forecast conditions, producing a wide range of scores.

The overall winners were the pairing of Jean and Warwick Judge, who scored 45 points. Jean’s handicap was very beneficial for their scoring and allowed her to contribute most of the scores. They faltered on only one hole, scoring a ‘7’ on the 4th but still managed one point.

The runners-up were Scott Kirkman and Doug Churchill with 44 points. They teamed well, sharing the scoring load, but really shone on the back-9 with 24 points. Single-pointers on the 5th and 9th holes held them back from a win.

The NTP’s went to: 9th – Ladies: Carolyn Duncan, Men: Jeff Haley; 18th – Ladies: Nil, Men: Doug Churchill. The 3rd hole super pin went to Allan Rees with a shot to 4.4 metres.

The Ball Sweep went to 40 points, with most pairings scoring under par. The visitors included: Valarie and Wane Turner from Beerwah who were passing through from Queensland.

There was no Sunday Stableford Medley due to the inclement weather.

This weekend the Men’s comp is an 18-hole Individual Stableford, sponsored by Gunns Traffic Control, with a Stableford Medley on Sunday. The Peak Hill Open is listed for Sunday, 28th August but not confirmed.

By Short Putt