On Tuesday 7 July we had the first round of play for the Billabong 4BBB match play, when Barbara Drabsch and I went up against the mother-daughter team of Enid Baker and Julie Hurkett. Barb and I thought we might be able to make a game of it but knew that, with the big drives of Julie and the accuracy of Enid around the greens, we would really have to be at our best.

We can only say that we tried our best but on the day the mother-daughter team were too good, winning 6 and 5. Great game ladies, congratulations and all the best for your following rounds.

The event on Wednesday 8 July was a stableford sponsored by Margaret Bentick and Deborah Dingwall. Division 1 winner was Fran Smith with a very good score of 41. Runner-up was Ev Uphill with a 40. Division 2 winner was Fae Grogan with another great score of 40. Runner-up was Doreen Barnes with a 39. Congratulations to all. There were some very hot scores, and some may lose a stroke off their handicaps.

Nearest the pin on the 9th was Kerry Stirling and on the 18th Fran Smith. Ball sweep went to 38 on a countback —
Fran Smith, Fae Grogan, Ev Uphill, Doreen Barnes and Helen Duff. We also played the Western Districts Spoon
Qualifying Round. Division 1 winners were Fran Smith (41), Heather Davidson (36). Division 2 winners were Ev Uphill (40), Fae Grogan (40). Division 3 winners were Helen Duff (38), Julie Woods (38). Saturday’s results can be seen in the men’s notes as this was a four-ball aggregate stableford medley.

I would like to say thank you to Shirley Redfern, who was playing her first 18 holes in a long time. She played with me in this event, and we enjoyed the golf and our playing partners, but I must alert everyone it pays to read the whiteboard for changes of rules, as it is not very good if you happen to hit the ball better than you think you might and it lands near the very bright yellow cart. Is it Scotty? You might find that the ants have built a rather large nest on your ball.

Just a reminder to all still playing their matches for the Dot Cody match play that your fourth-round games are to be played by 26 July. Also, we have started the Billabong four-ball match play and your first round should be completed by 2 August.

Next Saturday is the 27-hole Ladies Foursomes Championships, sponsored by Forbes Auto Wreckers. Ladies, make sure you read the whiteboard on the pro-shop wall, as some rules have changed. I think this news will please most — there will be preferred lies through the greens. I thought I might remind some of you about some rules that often get forgotten, One that bobbed up on Wednesday is that if you play off the wrong tee marker, there is a two-stroke penalty and you must play your ball from the correct tee, not play three from where the ball lands. I hope that discussing these rules helps and I will try to introduce at least one rule each week.

Until next week, good golfing.
By Kerry Stirling

Winners of the Forbes Golf Club’s annual ladies’ 4BBB Handicap Championships, sponsored by Carolyn Duncan, have been decided after a play-off, with Kerry Stirling and Barbara Drabsch up against Janet Smith and Debbie Dingwall. It was a very close match that wasn’t really decided until the last hole when Kerry holed a huge putt for a birdie, which gave her and Barbara a one-stroke win, 68 to 69 nett.” “We were very even the whole way,” said
Kerry.

“There was never more than a shot or two in it, and Janet and Debbie were ahead by a single shot at the turn. “I guess we were lucky that both of them hit into the water on the 15th, but even so it did come down to the putts on the 18th. I hit a good one and luckily it fell in the cup.” Kerry and Barbara had earlier won the club’s 4BBB Scratch Championships.

On Wednesday July 1, the ladies held the fifth round of the GNSW Monthly Medal and putting competition, an 18-hole stroke event sponsored by Bernardis IGA. Division 1 winner was Fran Smith (74 nett), with runner-up Colleen Venables (76 nett). Division 2 winner was Marie Reid (72 nett) on a countback from runner-up Fae Grogan (also 72 nett). Nearest the pins were: 9th Enid Baker; 18th Bev Gerdes. Monthly Medal winners: Division 1, F Smith;
Division 2, M Reid; Division 3, T Armitage on countback.

On Saturday July 4, the competition was a 4BBB par event sponsored by J Hubbard and L Godden. The sisters combination of Bess Shields and E Coombs were the winners with +9. Next best were Janet Smith and Margaret
Bentick with +8. Nearest the pins were: 9th J Fletcher; 18th E Hush.

Forbes Golf Club Ladies last Saturday held their annual 4BBB Stroke and Handicap Championships, sponsored by Carolyn Duncan. With 25 ladies competing, scratch winners were Kerry Stirling and Barbara Drabsch with 86 strokes. Runners-up on countback were Debbie Tilley and Jenny Fletcher with 90 strokes.

There has to be a play-off — Janet Smith and Debbie Dingwell against Kerry Stirling and Barbara Drabsch — to get handicap results as both couples had 66 net. Nearest to ninth pin was Verna Lane, and on the 18th Bev Gerdes. Ball sweep winners were Barbara, Kerry, Janet, Debbie, Jenny and Debbie Tilley, 68 on countback.

On Wednesday June 24, 25 players competed in an 18-hole stroke event sponsored by Robb’s Jewellers. Fran Smith won Division 1 with 72, while runner up was Jill Cripps with 74. H Duff won Division 2 with 66, while runner up was Sally Crosby. Nearest the pin on the 9th was T Armitage, who was also nearest the pin on the 18th. The ball sweep went to H Duff, S Crosby, Teresa Armitage, A Kingston and Fran Smith (72). On Wednesday 17 June, 18 players
competed for the G Ridley, A Reade & A Kingston Trophy, an 18-hole stableford in two divisions. Division 1 went to B Drabsch (32 on countback) while Division 2 went to S Perry (36). Nearest the pin on the 9th was T Armitage, and on the 18th E Baker. The ball sweep went to S Perry, E Baker and A Kingston (countback on 32).