Today (Friday 27th September) anyone driving the Newell Highway will notice more than the ‘norm’ on the fairways of the Golf Club as professional and amateur players will be taking part in the $11,000 Ladbrokes PGA Legends Tour.

The Legends is only part of what is on the horizon at the Golf Club with the club’s championships over 72 holes to be played on October 12, 13, 19 and 20 to be followed by the Frank Spice Nissan Classic on November 9 and 10.

Back to this weekend which will be the popular four-ball medley ambrose sponsored by club stalwart Albie Callaghan on Saturday while on Sunday it will be the regular stableford medley. Sunday was advertised to be the VW Scramble, this is being re-scheduled.

Dust and wind, and plenty of both, greeted golfers for the four-ball stableford multiplier last Saturday where the experience of Tim West and Todd Callaghan rose to the top winning with 76 points. Runners-up were Mick Spice and Martin Cahill with 73 points. Ball winners to 64 points were the top two plus Peter Dawson and Kim Herbert, Mark Watts and Bob Borger.

Nearest the pins, 9th Tim West and 18th Peter Cowhan. Sponsors were the social golfer from the 12 hole Tuesday competition.

Sunday’s stableford medley won by Ethan Gaffney with 40 points, runner-up Julie Hurkett 39 points, Nearest the pins 9th Julie Hurkett, 18th nil.

By Short Putt’s Mate

One of the feature golfing events on the golfing calendar will take place next week, September 27, when the Forbes Golf Club will stage the $11,000 Ladbrokes PGA Legends Tour.

Thirty six professional golfers have nominated while organisers are looking for 78 amateur players to make up the field of 134 players.

Major sponsor is the Forbes Shire Council while support comes from Lachlan Commodities, Walkers Ag-N-Vet, Forbes Machinery, Bernardi Group, BWR Accountants and Jemalong Irrigation.

“It’s not often you get the opportunity to play a round with a professional player so I hope we see a full field and it should be pointed out ladies and juniors can join the men in playing this major event,” organiser Andrew Dukes said. Nominations to the Pro Shop on 6851 1554.

Martin Cahill Sponsor from Cahills Footwear was in attendance last Saturday to present his trophies in the four-ball best ball medley competition where club directors Brian Doyle and Greg Webb defended the title with 47 stableford points.

Runners-up were Ethan Gaffney and Barry Shine with 46 points while ball winners were, 45 points Dennis McGroder and Ted Morgan, 44 Neil McMillan and Bruce Carpenter along with the following all on 43 points, Julie Hurkett and Verna Lane; John Zannes and Dave Rhodes; Debbie Tilley and Kath Collits; Robert Webb and Peter Tisdell; Ross Williams and Alf Davies.

Nearest the pins, 3rd Bess Shields and Dennis Culley, 9th Bruce Carpenter, 18th Julie Hurkett and Dave Rhodes. Second shot ladies to the 13th hole Bess Shields, men second shot to 12th hole Dave Rhodes.

Golf scheduled for this Saturday four-ball multiplier sponsored by Tuesday Golfers, Sunday stableford medley.

By Barry Shine

The Men’s golf on Saturday was the September Monthly medal, sponsored by Mc- Feeter’s Motor Museum, with 58 players vying for the Medals.

The A-Grade was won by Peter Dawson with a very good 72 nett crafted in difficult conditions in his game. Runner-up was Neil McMillan (nett 73) on count back from two others. The B-Grade was won by Greg Webb with 67 nett, helped along by an eagle on the 6th. Runner-up by some distance was Paul Kay with 72 nett.

The best score of the day went to the CGrade winner, Don Ridley with a nett 63. He was way ahead of runner-up Allan Rees on 74 nett. The NTP’s went to: 9th – S Kirkman; 18th – P Tisdell.

The ball sweep went to 74 nett on count back, going to: 63 – D Ridley; 67 – G Webb; 72- P Dawson, P Kay, E Gaffney, B Everest; 73 – K Herbert, T Morgan, B Doyle, R Taylor, S Kirkman; 74 – S Uphill, A Rees, P Barnes, D Earl.

Another ‘2’ that deserves mention is that scored by Ethan Gaffney on the 1st hole.

His tee shot went higher than an angel and was taken by the wind to the 18th fairway.

From there he played a low punch chip which carried onto the green, hit the pin and stuck in the hole.

We wish our Forbes players well who are participating in the Parkes Open on Sunday. Here is hoping they can bring a few trophies home.

By Short Putt

Saturday’s competition was the Golf NSW/Keno 2-ball Ambrose, jointly sponsored by Marg and Ron Hurst and E Coombs and F Smith. The 72 players, playing in Men’s, Mixed and Ladies categories, were keen to win and go on to the Regional Finals.

With good numbers in the Men’s category the Runners-up team were also nominated for the Regional Final:

• Men’s Winners: M Spice/A Dukes with 62.75 nett.
• Men’s Runners-up: D Bayley/J Boyle with 65 nett.
• Mixed Winners: A Tucker/J Fletcher with 66 nett.
• Ladies Winners: K Steele-Park/ J Ridley with 70.75 nett.

The ball sweep in the Overall event went to 67 points, going to: 62.75 – A Dukes/M Spice; 65 – D Bayley/J Boyle; 66- B Carpenter/N McMillan, A Tucker/J Fletcher; 66.5 – D Williams/S Hayes, R Webb/ D Culley; 66.75 – P Pymont/R Smith; 67 – D Rhodes/ P Tisdell.

The NTP’s went to: Men 9th – B Squires, 18th – A Dukes; Ladies 9th – S Grierson, 18th – B Drabsch.

A delightful ‘2’ was scored by Jenny Fletcher on the 9th. Using Ash’s drive, which had only just cleared the creek, Jenny made a solid stroke from among the tall grass and watched as the ball shot up the green and dived into the hole.

The Sunday Stableford Medley was played in good conditions.

The winner was Stuart Hayes (Murrumbidgee) on 37 points, with Runner-up being Ethel Coombs on 35 points. The Ball Sweep went to Barb Drabsch on 33 points. Unfortunately there were no NTP’s recorded.

On this weekend we have the Monthly Medal, sponsored by Mc- Feeters Motor Museum on Saturday. Sunday has the Stableford Medley, and the Bogan Gate Open.

By Short Putt

Saturday’s Men’s competition was the annual American Foursomes, sponsored by Milton Cartwright, and contested by 28 pairs of players. This event requires good combination of players abilities, which were ably demonstrated by the winners.

Steve and John Betland used their brotherly ESP to produce a winning score of 65 Nett. It was a delightful amalgam of shots which compiled a 34-31 split. Runners-up in a near equal score were Terry Griffiths and Craig Barrett, with a handicap assisted 65.5 nett.

The ball sweep went to 67.5 nett on count back. The lucky recipients were: 65 – S and J Betland; 65.5 – T Griffiths/ C Barrett; 66 – N McMillan/ B Carpenter; 66.5 – B Everest/ P Maher; 67 – L Little/ G Falvey; 67.5 – B Hazell/ W Judge, A Dukes/ S French.

The NTP’s went to: 9th – D Churchill; 18th – S Betland, with only three 2’s scored overall. Visitors included players from Hervey Bay and Dubbo.

The funniest story was provided by Bob Borger and Peter Barnes. Off the 4th tee they both put their shots into the dry dam on the corner. Then swapping balls they both played out to the green with Peter putting his shot onto the flat stuff. It was follow the leader.

The Presentation for the Winter 3’s comp was held at the Golfie, with all teams represented. Congratulations to the Winners (G Besgrove, T Rousell, N Girot), the Runners- up (R Taylor, J Haley, A Tucker), and the best score Winner (Som).

By Short Putt

Last weekend the Sand Grass Green Championship was played at Grenfell and Forbes courses. Sponsored by Forbes Shire Council, the event attracted 73 golfers from across NSW.

The 36-hole Men’s Scratch Champion was John Betland (Forbes) with a Scratch Stableford score of 72 points.

The 36-hole Women’s Scratch Champion was Jan Crichton (Killara) with a Scratch Stableford score of 56, and the Runnerup was defending champion Chantelle Greaves (Dunedoo) with 49 points.

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

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

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 sideways sloping fairways on the Grenfell course provided many challenges, while blustery wind conditions at Forbes pushed many golfers into the trees.

The local Men’s comp on Saturday was an Individual Stableford, sponsored by Gunn’s Traffic Control, and contested by a field of 44 players.

The A-Division winner was Phil Maher (35 points) on count back from Brian Everest (35 points). The B-Division winner was Denis Culley with 44 points, while runner-up was Martin Cahill with 39 points.

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. Both NTP’s went to Barry Parker.

By Short Putt