On Saturday 5 March the play was for the Monthly Medal, sponsored by Michael Robinson and Co. The field of 45 players meant that there was greater opportunity to win, but you still needed to deliver. But the best score barely broke Par.

In the A-grade Shane Sallaway used this day to fine tune his Pennants game, winning with 72 nett. Bruce Carpenter was Runner-up with 74, and wished he had not faltered on the 4th with a ‘7’.

Sunday was the regular Stableford Medley. The sunny conditions were welcoming, but the temperatures were quite stifling leading, to a small field. The winner was Joe Davies (P) with 27 points, although it was a near thing as he got there on count back from Roy Bell (P).

They both enjoyed the Forbes excursion. Ron Hurst (F) was back on deck and quickly into his winning ways, although this time it was for the Bradman award.

The Mick Miller shield was a very close contest. The prodigal son, Digit, used his score to get Forbes across the line with 149 points to Parkes 147. Close contests like that are not good for the heart.

And here is the news:
Unfortunately our Pennants teams ran into strong opposition. On Sunday 6 March, both the Div 1 and Div 2 teams played at Duntryleague.
And unfortunately they both lost 3/2. Each team had close encounters with
the result hinging on one game. Well done to all players, and we shall look forward to 2017.

Andrew Dukes keeps the Hole-in-One tradition in the Forbes ASI Capital Sixes comp alive by recording a Hole-in-One on the 3rd. This is the third Hole-in-One scored this comp.

Geoff Drane got his photo in the paper for his efforts in the Diggers Swimming Pup Cup. Unfortunately, he tried to match his slow, lanquid swim stroke to his golf game, but fell way behind his handicap mark because there was no bell for the last lap.

Revel in this warmer weather, as winter will soon be upon us.

On Saturday 20 Feb the Mens competition was a 2-Person Ambrose.
The Winners were Andrew Dukes and Daniel Bayley, who combined well to shoot 4-under for each 9-holes. They pulsed well as Andrew had most of the drives on the front-9 while Daniel had the drives on the back-9.

The Runners-up contest needed a count back to resolve the deadlock. Peter Dawson and Terry Sharpe finished 5-under par to be a smidgeon behind the Parkes pairing of Peachy Dixon and Cranky Kelly on 66, but the Dawson/Sharpe handicap got the win.

Sunday was the regular Stableford Medley. The sunny and hot conditions presented a challenge, but a few looked upon this as sheer bliss. There were even visiting players from Parkes who came to watch the Pennants and play a round after it. Ray Taylor recaptured some of his touch on the green, rolling in a few bombs to help him to a winning score of 35, on countback.

The ever steady Bruce Carpenter also had 35 points, but was less tidy on the back-9. And here is the news:
Last Sunday had mixed fortunes for the Pennants teams. Div 2 and Div 4 played, with a win to the Div 2 and a loss to the Div 4. The heroes for Forbes this week were Kim Herbert and Dave Mylecharane (demolishing
their opponents in Div 2), and Richard Smith and Jim McLuckie – battling
to the very end without due reward. All divisions play at Parkes this Sunday.

We are pleased to see Barry Parker back on the golf course. He may be a bit slower at present, but on the course he can still drive true and be heard by everyone playing. And Ron Morris is doing well after his operation. And perhaps a final word about milestone birthdays. Happy birthday to Scott Kirkman for tomorrow, when he celebrates 60 years.

Swing easy and let it all flow.

Contributed by Short Putt

Steve Betland led the way for scoring at golf on the weekend by carding a 34 for the front-9, two under par. But also interestingly, all winners of the Monthly Medals were previous Forbes 1st Grade Rep players for cricket.

On Saturday 6 Feb the play was for the Monthly Medal. The field of 66 players matched the January Medal round, but the standard of play delivered lower scores. The A-grade was a chance for the Pennant players to fine tune their play. Some of them had a bye the following day and needed to stay in touch while others needed to smooth their style for the contest on Sunday.

Dan Bayley presented an immaculate card that reflected his immaculate game. He scored 36-38 for a nett 69. Runner-up was Peter Dawson who scored 36-37 for a nett 70.

Do not forget that next week, Thursday 18 Feb, we head to Condobolin for an 18-hole competition, and where most rate it the best ‘feed’ in the Lachlan Valley. On a sad note, Forbes Golfers lost a good friend last week with the passing of Les Findlay. Les was President of the Forbes Services Club when the Golf Club went through a few changes, and a great supporter of Forbes golf.

Saturday’s play was the Monthly Medal, sponsored by Central West Diesel. Once again Peter Dawson played exceptional golf to finish on 70 nett. His front-9 was 2-over, courtesy of a ‘7’ on the second, but his back-9 was 1-under, helped by a couple of birdies. Close behind was Barry Parker, with a fine 71 nett.

The B-grade (24) culminated in a nailbiting finish. An early player, Jeff House was 3-over after 15, but then it went wrong and he dropped 8 shots on the last holes finishing with 68 nett. At the end of the field, Adam Borger came home in par figures for his 68 nett. This ensured he won on count back from Jeff.

The C-grade was a triumph for consistency when Frank Hanns came in with a nett 69. Close behind was Stuart French with 70 nett. Sunday was the regular Stableford Medley. Many players were out early, among the ‘Sixes’ players to beat the heat. Dave Rhodes fired home with 39 points.

He had a comfortable lead over Stuart French (37), who is truly enjoying his golf, until of course the handicapper catches him. The Vets Golf, played on Thursday Dec 3rd, included the Single Stableford and Xmas Hamper comp played over 18 holes, and the Yearly results as compiled for both Parkes and Forbes players. Now for the Mick Miller Shield Results, tabulated over the year:

Points Comp: Winner – M Cartwright (F) 100; R/up – D Rogers (P) 90.
Stableford comp: Winner – T Edols (F) 576;
R/up J O’Shannessy (P) 564.

And there are a few stories. Local history was made when a group of five players each scored a birdie on the 1st hole. Luckily they did not par the first, or else their scores would have crumbled, as folk lore indicates.

On Saturday the golfers competed in a Stroke event over two Divisions. This was also the competition round to determine the ‘Medal of Medallists’, whereby each of the winners of Monthly Medals through the year was eligible to be crowned “the Best of the Best”.

In the “Medal of Medallists’, 27 of the 32 eligible medallists participated. Denis Culley relished the warmer temperatures, last winning medal in May, and played well under his handicap to record a nett 66. The best eligible A-Grader was Peter Dawson on nett 73, alongside Steve Betland. In the A Division, Phil Maher was the winner when he played within his handicap to score a nett 71. Runner-Up was David Rhodes, with72.

The B Division went to Denis Culley, with 66 nett, from a determined Andrew McDonald with 69. Denis played well under his handicap. Andrew was fortunate to scrape in on countback from Gary Collitts and Stuart French. Nearest the pins were: 9th – Brian Monaghan; 18th – Brian Everest. They were the only two ‘Brians’ in the field, not counting
Fred Collie. The ball sweep went to 73 nett, being awarded to those above plus: 69 – G Collitts, S French, 70 – R Morris, A Callaghan, 71 – R Baker, 72 – J Clarke, B Everest, 73 – P Dawson, S Betland, A Grierson, N McMillan, S Kirkman, P Duke. Sunday’s Stableford Medley was a quiet day, with many persons wishing to rest and recover from the weather influences.

Richard Smith took the winners circle with 45 points. The NTP’s went to: 9th – Ron Morris; 18th – Brian Monaghan.
The Vets played an 18-hole event at Condobolin on 19 November, the last 18-hole event for the year. The Winners list for the day‘s competition includes:
A-Grade: 1st – J Haley (Fbs) 44 Points; 2nd – D Rogers (Pks) 41; 3rd – B Toms (Cdo) 41 B-Grade: 1st – G Griffiths (Cdo) 43; 2nd – A Luff (Cwa) 40; 3rd F Donahue (Fbs) 40. B-Grade: 1st – T Broadley(Cdo) 45; 2nd – L Archer (Pks) 42; 3rd – B Menzies (Cdo) 42. NTP’s went to: A-grade – D Rodgers; BGrade – F Donohue; C-Grade – R Glover.

The Coles/Miller Shield, which accrues points across the year’s 18-holes Comps went to: Parkes (2170 points) from Forbes (2146), Grenfell (1578), W/Wyalong (1467), Cowra (1342) and Condobolin (1038). Maybe 2016 will see a different result.

This was also the Inaugural Lachlan Valley Districts Vets Golf Medal, sponsored by NSW Veteran Golfers Association. This is played for only between eligible players, those being the grade winners from the first six 18-hole events of the year.

The winner was Len Archer (Pks) with 42 points. He pipped Ralph Baker (Fbs) on count back from his 42 points. The next game is a 12-hole event at Parkes. We return to a gathering time of 12:30 pm for a 1:00 pm start. It could be hot again so take plenty of drink.

Golf Pro Tip Myth busted! We have all heard it before ‘KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN’. I’m sorry to tell you but it is one of the most unproductive things you can tell a golfer. Let’s think about it for a second, when we tell someone to keep their head down what do they usually do? Tuck their chin on their chest! This causes many problems including a restricted shoulder turn and a rigid golf swing. Try it yourself and you will soon see!

Yes, we must keep our head still but, when you miss or ‘top’ the ball that’s not because you lifted your head it is because your chest has come up to where it was causing the club to not stay on path and hit the ball. This is usually caused by the golfer trying to ‘scoop’ the ball in the air.

So next time rather than telling someone to keep your head down, tell them keep their head still and focus on hitting down on the back of the golf ball. This is a much more effective and productive way for someone to improve.

Happy Golfing! Daniel

A Grade 18-Hole Scratch Winner: John Betland 69. A Grade 18-Hole Handicap R/up: Kim Herbert 70. A Grade 18-Hole Stableford R/up: Neil McMillan 36. B Grade 18-Hole Scratch Winner: Ted Morgan 85. B Grade 18-Hole Scratch R/up: Paul Pymont 87 on count back. B Grade 18- Hole Handicap R/up: Andrew Cogswell 73. B Grade 18-Hole Stableford R/up: Scott Kirkman 33 on count back. C Grade 18-Hole Handicap Winner: Gerard Everson 75. C Grade 18-Hole Handicap R/ up: Geoff Drane 76. C Grade 18-Hole Stableford R/up: James McLuckie 32. Ladies 18-Hole Scratch Winner: Robyn Hammond 87. Ladies 18-Hole Scratch R/ up: Julie Hurkett 92 on count back. Ladies 18-Hole Handicap R/up: Jill Cripps 72. Ladies 18-Hole Stableford Winner: Brianna Duncan 37. Ladies 18-Hole Stableford R/up: Judy Hodge 35.

Junior 18-Hole Scratch Winner: Lee Grierson 79. Junior 18-Hole Handicap Winner: Jordan Brett 76. Veterans 18-Hole Scratch Winner: Richard Nixon 81.Veterans 18-Hole Handicap Winner: Ted Morgan 71.
Best Scratch score by a Visitor – Peter Kirwan 75.

And now the NTP’s, played on all par-3’s. Ladies 1st – Kathy Collitts. Ladies 3rd – Denise Squires. Ladies 9th – Libby Godden. Ladies 18th – Judy Hodge. Mens 1st – John Zannes. Mens 9th – Adrian Acheson.

On Saturday the golfers vied for the Monthly Medals.  The A-grade winner was Todd Callaghan, with 76 scratch and 70 nett. Runner-up was Dan Bayley with nett 72. The B-grade (32) winner was Peter Barnes with a 67 nett. Runner-up was John Zannes with a 68. The C-grade (20) winner was Stuart French with a respectable 70 nett. Runnerup
on count back was Bruce Chandler, also with a 70.

On Sunday a field of 18 players, plus a junior, contested the regular Stableford Medley. Ron Hurst played the best he has in a long time to score 39 points, which included a par on the 16th. Runner-up was Dave Mylecharane with 37 points.

The NTP’s went to: 9th – R Morris; 18th – E Coombs.
The ball sweep went to 35 points and included: 36 – D Rhodes, 35 – R Morris.
The Vets Golf was a 12-hole event played at Parkes on 5th November. The winner was Geoff Collitts (F) with 24
points. Close behind was Max Haley (F) with 23 points. And the Encouraging Award went to Rick Glover (P).

The NTP’s were: 4th – A-grade P Bishop (P), B-grade ‘nil’; 11th – A-grade J Davies (P), B-grade ‘nil’. The ball sweep went down to 20 points, being distributed to Parkes – R Hamilton, P Harris, L Sunderland, R Bell, S Bell, R Luyts, and to Forbes – G Coles. The Mick Miller Shield (best six scores) went to Parkes with 126 points against Forbes 122.

The Ping Golf Equipment Demonstration day will be held on Tuesday 17 November. See Daniel to book a spot to try the gear any time between 3 and 6 pm. The 2015 Presentation Night will be held at the Sportsman’s and Golfie Hotel on 21 November, following the day’s play.

Saturday’s play was Round 3 of the Club Men’s Championships. There were 78 players in the field, and while not all were eligible for the championships, they all wanted to do well.

Once again A Dukes played steady golf, compiling a fine 75 Scratch to continue leading the A-Grade. Steve Uphill leads Bgrade after his 86, and Craig Barrett has taken the lead in C-grade with his 88.

The round of the day goes to Pete Cowhan, with his 80 scratch, 68 nett. He was playing alongside Daniel Bayley, a contender in the A Grade, and encouraged all the way by Sam Clarke. The results for the Daily Comp, a nett
event, in three grades, are:
A-Grade: P Cowhan (68) on count back from R Nioxon (68).
B-Grade: A Callaghan (69) from D Rhodes (70 on count back).
C-grade: C Barrett (68) on count back from S French (68).

The ball sweep went to 72 nett and was shared by those above plus: 69 – D Mylecharane, D Bayley, A Grierson, 70 – A Dukes, I Bown, 71 – A McDonald, B Carpenter, P Dawson, T Callaghan, M Haley, S Uphill B Parker, B Chandler, R Borger, L O’Connor.

Nearest the pins were: 9th – Scott Kirkman; 18th – A Dukes. Both got their 2’s.

There were five 2’s scored all day, with only one on the 3rd and none scored by C-graders. It seems strange that with good fairways and good greens very few were able to get close.

The final round on Sunday had a field of 49 players, where the top four contenders in each grade played in their own groups, and others played when they can. In the A-grade, Andrew Dukes was a little unsteady at first, courtesy of a big score on his nemesis hole – an ‘8’ on the 7th – but then he steadied to finish strongly.

Saturday’s Men’s comp was the 18-hole Monthly Medal. There were 61 players in the field, which was quite good when we consider the last weekend of the school holidays, the attention of Grand Finals football, and the many events occurring around the town.

It was apt that the sponsors were Robb’s Jewellers, as there was many a bright crystal among the course conditions and the scoring. The winner of the A Grade Monthly Medal (22 players) was Peter ‘Ecky’ Dawson with a Nett score of 68. To produce his par round, Ecky’s shot 2-under for the front 9 and 2-over for the back 9. A bogey-bogey start to the back 9 put the pressure on him but he recovered well. This was surely a practice round with Ecky’s eye on the Championships commencing next week.

Rob Webb did very well, shooting a balanced 41 for both 9’s to finish Runner-up on nett 70, by count back. Rob was cruising on the front nine, then really whooped up with an eagle on the 6th. In B Grade (23), Cameron McMillan played steady golf to finish with a nett 70. His score on the 11th was a little untidy, but for the other 17 holes he was always around his handicap.

Runner-up was William Gordon (71 nett) who also was tidy, matching Cameron hole by hole except on the 4th and 13th, where he was a little astray. These two Junior players are really demonstrating the high calibre and depth of our Junior members. The C Grade (16) Monthly Medal very clearly showed that you do not need to be long to be a winner.

Frank Hanns took the honours with a carefully constructed nett 70, finishing one shot better than Runner-up Craig Myers. They played at opposite ends of the day, indicating that the conditions were very fair throughout. Craig found it better to score well by playing the fairway beside where he should have been. He met many players that way, but did not see much of his playing group.

The ball sweep went to 72 on count back and was shared by those above plus: 70 – D Bayley, 71 – S Grallelis, Andrew Drane, N McMillan, R Nixon, B Shine, 72 – A Rees, A McDonald, I Bown. Well done guys. Nearest the pins were: 9th – Anthony Gordon; 18th – Ron Morris. Anthony got his ‘2’ but Ronnie missed out. There were five 2’s scored all day, with the 9th hole being most prolific.

Jack Clarke needed his ‘2’ to try to stem the flow of lost holes for the “Keno Stakes”. He hoped his ‘2’ would pressure his opponent to miss his, but Stevie G held his nerve to get his and keep the foot hard down on the Keno stakes. There was some consistent play by many players. One consistency stands out markedly – 5’s on every hole on the back-9. Brian Everest achieved this feat, thankful that he had a good front-9 to make his card look respectable. The worst of it was 3-putt on the last hole to complete the set. Sunday’s play was an 18-hole Stableford
Medley. It was a small but lively field, with many players ‘absent on Grand Final duties’. However it was a good mix of men, ladies and visitors.

The winner was Jill Cripps with 39 points, just ahead of Rob Lea on 38 points. Unfortunately the scores took a dive from there, despite the good playing conditions. The ball sweep went to 33 and included Jill, Rob, and Mitchell Andrews (33) on count back. No 2’s were recorded, so the NTP’s are pretty lonely – 9Th: J Cripps; 18th: F Smith. This was a good day for the Ladies.

On Monday 5 October, which was a public holiday, there was also a Stableford Medley. There were 21 players who obviously wanted some fresh air after the Grand Final television watching blitz. The Duncan family must have been really happy with the AFL result, because they all were in good spirits, although Essendon did not play.

The winner was Biana Duncan, with 47 points, and ahead of Niel Duncan on 45 points. Briana was quite tidy on the front-9 but scored better on the back-9 despite having a ‘wipe’ on one hole. Scoring ‘4 pointers’ on the 10th, 14th and
16th holes really did the job and it was good golf all around.

The NTPs went to – 9th: N Duncan, 18th: E Hush. Niel got his ‘2’ but sadly Eileen missed out. Other 2’s, were scored on the 9th by J Cripps and the 1st by N Duncan, who luckily avoided the ‘A par on the 1st hole leads to a bad round’ rule. On Thursday 1 October, the Vets played a 12-hole event at Forbes in delightful conditions. Encouraging numbers of 32 players participated, with 19 from Forbes, and 13 from Parkes.

The winner was Milton Cartwright (F), with 27 points, a little lower than the conditions may have seemed likely. Runner-up on 26, by count back, was Dave Williams (F). The Bradman Award went to Allen Affleck (P) who just did not seem to get any rhythm going. He did manage more than one point per hole, just. The NTP’s went to – 9th A Grade: P Bishop, B Grade: T Edols; 18th A Grade: B Toole, B Grade L Byrne.

The Mick Miller Shield emphasised that when Forbes turn it on, they really turn it on. The field was fairly even, but it was an emphatic result for Forbes, with 151 points to Parkes 133. That was a real treat for the Forbes boys who have faltered over recent weeks. There are some very important AGM’s coming up. The Mens Committee AGM is scheduled for Thursday 15 October, at the Forbes Sportman’s Hotel. The following week, the FGA AGM is to be held on 21 October, also at the Sportsman’s Hotel.