On the weekend the Mens golf participants were playing for the ‘Wilf Hodges Trophy’, sponsored by the Hodges Family. The event was contested by 54 visitors across an Individual Stableford event. The weath­er was perfect for good scoring but only a handful of players played to or bettered their handicap. The greens had maintained their pacey nature after the Mens Open the previous week which may have contributed to the results.

Winner of the ‘Wilf Hodges’ Trophy was Dave Mylecharane with 40 points. After a bogey start he played near flawless golf to finish a clear winner.

In the Stableford comp the Div-1 winner was Dave Mylecharane (40 pts). Despite two bogeys on the front-9 he turned on 18 points then carved up the back-9 to score 22 points. Runner-up was Adrian Matthews with 37 points. Scoring well on the front-9 but managing only 18 points on the back-9.

The Div-2 saw Jake Banks enter the winners circle, his 37 points was primar­ily due to his front-9 effort. Runner-up was Paul Pymont with an even handicap 36 points. He was slow on the front-9 but was warmed up for the back-9 where he man­aged 20 points.

The ball sweep went to 32 points on count back. Check in the Pro Shop to see if you were among the recipients. The NTP’s went to: 9th Reggie Murray; 18th Stephen Uphill. Both of them converted for a ‘2’ and were among the ten scored overall.

This weekend is the May Monthly Medal sponsored by Adept Plumbing. Sunday will have a Stableford Medley as a diversion from the ‘Mother’s Day’ celebrations.

The Bogan Gate Golf Course has a colourful history dating back to the 1920s when the original golf club was located at the western end of Bogan Gate and you had to hit over the Trundle Railway Line. One fellow claims he holds the longest drive; he hit off as a train was going past and the ball landed in a carriage and ended up in Tottenham.

The golf club were originally granted an area of 86 acres of crown land, and on the western side they also had a rifle range. Years later a Major came to the Army Camp who loved golf so much he set up a golf course and invited the locals to come and play. That lasted until the mid 1970s when a new Major arrived and it closed down.Then in 1976, the golfers obtained permission from Crown Lands to set up a golf course on the showground and the adjoini­ing land over the creek, making a 9 hole course with sand greens.

Over the years, successful grant applications have enhanced the clubhouse greatly.

The club is completely run by voluntary labour, meaning all the mowing and maintenance of the greens and course is carried out by volunteers. Many players say the sand greens are the best in the central west. The club has approximately 20 members, with quite a few of them who live in Parkes or Forbes and travel out.

About four times a year the club put on a meal after golf which is a great social event.

Meeting the insurance costs is a great struggle for this tiny club, so they need your support. They play 18 holes from the end of March until the beginning of November on weekends, mostly Sun­days, and over the summer they play Chicken Runs on Sunday afternoons at 5pm. The club is holding a free Family Golf Day on Saturday 3 May, so please head along and show your support. For further information contact 0457 709 829.

The Forbes Golf men’s event played on Saturday saw a scintillating performance by Neil Duncan as he recorded one of the lowest scores this year. The event was an Individual Stroke sponsored by ‘J&J Rid­ley’. The field of 57 players enjoyed the sunny conditions.

The A-Grade Winner was Neil Duncan with a score of 66 nett. He managed a 39 scratch on the front-9 which included a ‘9’ on the 7th hole. His back-9 was equally im­pressive with a 39 scratch again. Runnerup Fons Melisi with a nett 70. This also was compiled through steadfast golf with a 4241 split.

The B-Grade went to new member An­thony Boshoff with a nett 69. He had a steady front-9 but lost concentration on the back-9. Runner-up was Brian Clarke with craftsman-like 70 nett. He also was fairly even on both halves with a better score on the back-9.

The ball sweep went to 75 nett on count back. Check in the Pro Shop to see if you were successful.

There were two visitors, being Char­lie Goodsell (Condo) and Wayne Harriott (Headland GC). Charlie enjoyed his outing having played here before but Wayne had a few problems, notably starting each half with two double-bogeys.

The NTP’s went to: 9th Jarrod Hall; 18th Archie Quirk, with both converting for a ‘2’. The 3rd hole Super Pin went to Jenny Fletcher with a shot to 60 cm.

On Sunday a 3-Person Ambrose was played. The winning team comprising Glen Hooper, Cooper Byrnes and Scott Northey took the prize with a 60 nett. Scott also got the NTP on the 18th.

This Saturday, 19 April will be an 18-Hole Par event, sponsored by Forbes Tuesday Golfers. Across Easter there will be Stabl­eford Medleys offered on Friday, Sunday and Monday.

By Short Putt

On Saturday the Forbes Golf men’s event held was the Monthly Medal sponsored by ‘The Roadies’, a group composed of mem­bers Grayson, Earl, French and Haley. The field of 59 players enjoyed the comfortable conditions but were left floundering by the inspired golf played by Brett Slack-Smith.

The A-Grade winner was again a visi­tor, this time Jack Sharkey (Dubbo) with a nett 70. He started his round 2-under after three holes and maintained his form with only one blemish on the 4th. Runner-up and medal winner was Jacob Reid with an even par 72 nett. He did well on the back-9.

The B-Grade was won by Mark Sim­monds with a nett 69 derived from steady golf throughout playing alongside Jacob Reid. Unfortunately, he was not eligible for the medal. Runner-up and medal winner was Paul Pymont with 71 nett. He was an early starter and relished the cool condi­tions to have 44 scratch ‘each way’.The C-Grade was where the fireworks were had. Brett Slack-Smith was ‘in the zone’ which led to his 66 nett. He turned only 4-over but showed fatigue towards the end of the back-9. The runner-up was Jake Banks with his 73 nett. He was disap­pointed with his front-9 but settled to finish well on his back-9.

The ball sweep went to 78 nett on count back. There were two visitors, being Jack Sharkey (Dubbo) and Andrew Bayley (The Rock). Both enjoyed their outing with Jack especially pleased.

The NTP’s went to: 9th B Thomas; 18th Jack Sharkey, with neither converting for a ‘2’. The 3rd hole Super Pin went to Jeff House with a shot to 153 cm.

This Saturday, 12 April will be an 18-Hole Stroke event, sponsored by J&J Ridley.

Sunday will have a 3-Person Ambrose.

By Short Putt

On Saturday in the Men’s golf 18-Hole Stableford, sponsored by Forbes Holiday Park, John Betland made no errors in scor­ing the best scratch and nett scores of the day. Adding to the excitement the generos­ity of the sponsor saw the remaining play­ers in the field of 54 scrambling for placings down to third.

Div-1 was taken out by John Betland with a score of 40 points. He shot the same scratch score on each half but was unhin­dered by his ‘plus’ handicap on the back9. Runner-up was Anthony Alley with 37 points but stumbling on the back-9. In thirdplace was Cooper Byrnes (36 Points) rid­ing a wave of good golfing form.

Nominations are open for three major events coming up: the Men’s Open on 27 April, Ladies Open on 4 May and the Vets WoG on 5-9 May. Check the website or contact the Pro Shop for details.

This Saturday,5 April, will be the ‘Road­ies Day’ Monthly Medal, sponsored by Grayson, Earl, French and Haley. Sunday will have a Stableford Medley and also the Summer Sixes Grand Final in the after­noon.

By Short Putt

The field of 67 for Forbes Saturdays men’s golf competition in the Individual Stableford, sponsored by Troy Howe Electrical, players enjoyed milder temperatures on the week­end.

Division 1 was won by a fast developing junior golfer. Archie Quirk scored 42 points in his best round to date of 80 scratch. Run­ner-up was Glendon Hooper with 41 points.

The Division 2 had a similar high score for the winner Sam Jarrett who managed 40 points for the day. Runner-up was Brian Doyle with 37 points. The best Scratch score was a 68 by Steve Betland, helped along by seven birdies alongside three bogies.

The ball sweep went to 35 points on count back, with Neal Herbert missing out. Check in the Pro Shop to see if you were success­ful.

The NTP’s went to: 9th Niel Duncan; 18th Brett Slack-Smith, with both converting for a ‘2’ from ‘tap in’ range. The 3rd hole Su­per Pin went to Todd Callaghan with an out­standing shot to 90cm.

This Saturday, 15 February there will be another Individual Stableford event, spon­sored by Forbes Bus Lines. Sunday will have a Stableford Medley.

By Short Putt

On Saturday a field of 68 players participated in the February Monthly Medal event sponsored by Terry Bros Carpets. Scores on the day were low while the temperatures were high.

The A-Grade Winner was Cam McMillan with a nett 68. He has been having good scores of late and capped his game off well.

The B-Grade was won by Sandy Paterson with a nett 66. This was his day when everything fell into place.

The C-Grade was topped by newcomer Anthony Boshoff with 65 nett. He was ecstatic with a par on the 15th but less cheerful to hear that he was ineligible for the Medal.

The ball sweep went to 74 nett on count back. Check in the Pro Shop to see if youwere successful. There was one visitor, being Kyle McGinty from Tally Valley GC in the Gold Coast. He played in company with Anthony and Lachlan Alley. The NTP’s went to: 9th A Dukes; 18th T Cogswell, with only Andy converting for a ‘2’.

The 3rd hole Super Pin went to Cam McMillan with a shot to 275 cm. He did not convert for his ‘2’.

The Long Weekend and the forecast hot weather contributed to the field for Satur­days men’s golf being a little down at 51.

But the competition in the Individual Sta­bleford, sponsored by Rob Allen Livestock Transport, matched the temperature with some very hot scores.

The Division 1 required a count back to decide the Winner when Andrew Dukes and Harry Callaghan both finished on 41 points.Harry had the steadier score of them both but Andrew had too many high points and consequently was declared the winner.

The Division 2 was an easy decision due to a runaway win by Cooper Byrnes. His 40 points was well ahead of runner-up Nick Morrison on 35 points. Both had a steady start but Cooper was well ahead on the back-9.

The best Scratch score was a 69 by Caleb Hanrahan, helped along by four bird­ies and only one bogey.

The ball sweep went to 35 points on count back, with those on 34 points lament­ing those short putts missed. Check in the Pro Shop to see if you were successful.

There were two visitors – Sam Vaughan (Charlestown GC) and Cooper Nielson (Bathurst GC), both of whom seemed to enjoy the course.

The NTP’s went to: 9th D Rhodes; 18th P Dawson, with both converting for a ‘2’.

The 3rd hole Super Pin went to Nick Mor­rison, for the second week running, with a shot to 231 cm. Alas he missed his ‘2’.

This Saturday, 1 February will be the Monthly Medal, an 18-Hole Stroke event, sponsored by Terry Bros Carpets. Sunday will have a Stableford Medley.

By Short Putt

On Saturday, 23 March a good field of 69 Forbes golfers enjoyed a hot day to contest the ‘Deacon Dwyer Trophy’, a 4BBB Stable­ford Medley event sponsored by T&M Tyres.

The winning pair of Kim Herbert and Peter Cowhan combined very well to post a score of 46 points.

The Individual comp was won by Matty Duke with 40 points and on count back from Liam Fraser. Matty managed to play to his handicap on the front-9 then excelled on the back-9.

This Saturday, 30 November, is an 18hole Stableford, sponsored by Knights Fab­rications. Sunday has a Stableford Medley.