Forbes golfers continue to enjoy both the sunny conditions and the course condition, with 88 players contesting the Men’s com- petition on Saturday, 25th April, sponsored by LINX.

Division One had Ethan Gaffney rocet ahead with a nett 59, due more to his powerful tee to green play. Runner-up was Martin Cahill with 64 nett, on count back from Doug Churchill. Division Two was won by John Ridley with 63 nett, and on count back from Bede Tooth.

The ball sweep went to 70 nett on count back, again, with 26 players collecting balls. Check in the Pro Shop to see if you were successful.

Good to see Merv Lowing, a recently joined member from Orbost, have a good round. Good to see Alf Watts getting some practice in too. Current arrangements make it difficult for our ‘plus’ golfers to rise to the top, but good scores were returned by John Betland, gross 65 and Ben Gear, gross 67.

The Sunday Stableford Medley was quiet, with Warwick Wright of Parkes winning on 40 points.

On Tuesday, a field of 13 players zipped around the course. The results saw winners Geoff Drane and Barry Parker scoring 31 points. John Whatmore managed to anchor all the other scores.

The Thursday Vets had another roll-up day, in which 13 players participated. Of the scores reported the best was Tom Edols with 26 points. Next week the Vets will run a $3 competition, with ‘Winner-takes- all.’

The first week of the Winter 9-Hole Individual Nett competition saw a brace of low scores from the 39 players. The Voucher winners were, D McGroder with 30.5 nett and A M Gaffney with 30 nett.

Changes have had to be made to the Men’s and Ladies Competition Programmes, so check at the Pro Shop to see what is on.

By Short Putt

Golfers in and around Forbes are lucky to be able to participate in their favourite exercise and were lucky over the last week to enjoy some sunny autumn weather.

In the Men’s competition on Saturday 18 April, an Individual Stroke sponsored by Forbes TV and Video Repairs, 78 players filled the allotted tee time and produced high scores.

Division One saw Anthony Alley the winner with nett 60, but on count back from Max Haley. Both scored well however, Max was disturbed by a ‘7’ on the 16th. Division Two also needed a count back. This time it was Robert Scott with 66 nett ahead of Lachlan Alley.

A warm welcome to Lee Grierson, staying here while University is closed, and to Merv Lowing, from Orbost, who is stuck here because of travel restrictions. Both players enjoyed the course, although Merv did not have the best of rounds.

The Tuesday golf saw a good field, with Ted Morgan declared winner on count back from Brian Clark, where both finished on 31 points for their 12 holes. Brian was looking good to be the first in the history of this competition to be a back-to-back winner, but alas it was not so. Geoff Drane was third with 30 points.

The golf course was very wet due to the welcome rains but that did not stop John Betland from posting another faultless round to win the A grade Monthly Medal stroke event last Saturday, sponsored by Terry Bros Carpets. Power and touch resulted in 66 nett to win from Jacob Bernardi on a countback.

Tony Wallace hasn’t been seen on the course much lately but he ‘fleeced’ his mates scoring the round of the day, 64 nett in B grade. Doug Churchill runner-up with 67 nett. In C grade, Bede Tooth with 66 nett was winner from Jack Dobell 67 nett.

Due to Coronavirus regulations there were no nearest the pins, while ball sweep winners included, 66 nett Ethan Gaffney, 68 nett Lee Grierson, who is home from study in Wollongong, Jeff Haley, Stuart French, Brett Thomas, Phil Maher, 69 nett Ben Robinson, Todd Callaghan, Peter Dawson, Shane Sallaway, Charlie Dwyer, Ross Williams, Max Haley, 70 on a c/b Brian Everest.

Sunday was the final of the Summer Sixes competition. Grand final winners were Forbes Automotive Services consisting of Jack Dobell, Kyle Biles, Kallum Tyne, Jon Cutler, Nick Ryan and Brad McMillan with a score 94.5 from EHAG 98.5, Pro Shop Dream Team 100 and Flip Floppers 104.

Despite distance and health regulations concerning COVID-19 there is still plenty to keep all regular golfers on course including a hit from 9.30am with regular Tuesday social players. The same for veteran social players on Thursday with tee off around 10am and then the weekend competitions.

One very important message to all, listen to what is being said when paying green fees at the window of the Pro Shop. These instructions are vital to golf being played in the coming weeks and months.

Last weekend Forbes golf course was the place to be with 75 in the men’s competition, plus a ladies division, while dozens more social players enjoyed the course.

“George get it to the hole,” was the word for most of the round on Saturday as golfers experienced something new in playing flag free and cups raised due to safety health regulations brought on by the current Coronavirus situation.

There was a great sense of humour enjoyed by competitors on the day, after the ball toss prior to the first hole for the in-group match play, George Falvey, with a handicap of 13, drew none other than John Betland, who has a handicap of plus 4. Enough said.

With greens on the ‘slow’ side due to recent renovations, John Betland enjoyed his time to score nine birdies. Despite a strong game from the tee George took a while to get the message, ‘don’t be short’, as he continually frustrated his talented partner. One who did not have to worry about the putter was Ronnie Morris who scored a hole-in-one after ‘tipping’ the cup on the par three ninth.

Division 1 winner Max Haley was able to score six over par for 45 points while runner-up, Jacob Bernardi, a ‘newer’ player who highlighted brute strength from the tree only a couple over par for 43 points.

Jack Dobell took all honours winning Division 2 with 46 points, eight over par 80, while Ronnie Morris was runner-up on 42 points.

Unfortunately, all future events have had to be cancelled. Golf in Forbes, like all other sports, is now finished for the foreseeable future amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Andrew McDonald, President of the Forbes Golfers Association, stated that from Monday, 30th March, Forbes Golf Club will be closed following the advice from Golf Australia.

By Short Putts Mate

 

Golf appears to one of the few sports able to be played during social distancing. There are tough times for all and at the time of print, information and advice may change.

Last Saturday 59 played everyone’s favourite, a par event sponsored by Brian Everest, naturally from Everest Auto’s. Ian Bown who has taken over presentations, had great delight in telling all he won the A grade with plus three from George Falvey. However, Ian was lucky to be only one plus from Ian who let a plus 5/6 score go playing the first 14 holes as good as anyone.

In B grade Matthew Duff stole the show winning with plus six scoring an even card with plus three, both nines. Pluses on the 8th, 9th and 10th were a triple highlight.

Ross Williams is rated one the best handicap players in the club and demonstrated how to finish next the beat on plus four, plus one on the front nine then plus three on the run home.

Benny Robinson was the best of seven players on Sunday in the medley scoring 39 points winning on a count-back while Ethan Gaffney took both nearest the pins.

This Saturday, 28 March will be the Sanderson Memorial Golf Day. Over the years this has been one of the major events with fields of around 200 players quite common. The event was scheduled to be four ball Ambrose but with uncertainty as to the number of locals having a hit along with visitors, who are usually strong in support, the competition has been rescheduled to individual stableford.

Players are asked to please consider restrictions and rules regarding the Coronavirus and veteran players are advised that competition in the Forbes/Parkes weekly Thursday 12-hole competition is suspended until further notice.

The Forbes Golf Club Division 3 Pennants team won the Final, played at Duntryleague on Sunday. A close 3-2 result was earned all the way, with on-course Captain Bob Borger clinching the deal.

Greg Webb lost his form to lose 5-4 while Brett Thomas fared no better finishing with an 8-7 loss. Ian Brown was solid all day to win 5-4, and Brodie Hodges came back from 3-down early to win 3-2 and avenge his defeat by the same player in the Pool games.

Bob Borger held the tension to the very end, with his match going to the 18th where his steady chip and good lag putt was too much for his opponent. In the other Divisions, Mudgee defeated Bathurst 4-1 to win Division 1, while Division 2 was won by Parkes over Mudgee 3-2 and Cowra defeated Wentworth by 3.5 – 1.5.

In the Men’s competition on Saturday, a 4BBB sponsored by C&D Floorcoverings, 48 players managed better cores than last week. Bede Tooth and David Bernardi were the winners with 40 points, on count back from Bruce Chandler and Niel Duncan also on 40 points. Unluckily, Barry Shine and Geoff Betland missed out entirely despite their 40 points.

The ball sweep went to 38 points on count back: 40 – B Shine/G Betland; 39 – J Zannes/ D Rhodes, N McMillan/ B Carpenter, R Taylor/ R Besgrove; 38 – E Gaffney/ B Robinson, and A Alley/ L Alley. The NTP’s went to 9th – J Haley; 18th – R Smith. The visitors included Stuart Hayes from Murrumbidgee and Allan Gear from Monash Golf Club.

The Sunday Stableford Medley also showed improved scores. The winner was Michael Hanlon of Condobolin with 41 points, who stopped in for a game on his way home. Runner-up was John Boyle with 33 points, but only on count back.

The Men’s Medal competition on Saturday, sponsored by Michael Robinson & Co, was played by 57 players who all found it quite tough. A-Grade winner was Todd Callaghan with a 73 nett. Runner-up was Peter Dawson with 74, getting there on count back. The B-Grade went to Neil Duncan with a very good nett 72 and runner-up was Barry Parker with 74.

The C-Grade saw many high scores, with the best being Ben Robinson on 73 nett. Runner-up was Ron Morris with a 76, who piped Geoff Betland on count back.

At the Sunday Stableford Medley John Boyle managed a win with 35 points, with runner-up Ethel Coombs on 30 points. There was no ball sweep, while both the NTP’s went to J Boyle.

At the CWDGA Pennants played at Wentworth on Sunday, the Division 1 team needed a win to stay on top, but unfortunately a narrow loss (3-2) to Mudgee in a very tight match has ended their season. The Division 3 team once again scored a 5-0 win, this time over Mudgee. Despite the score it was very tight. Peter Barnes won emphatically (8-7 win), with tight wins to Bob Borger (1-up), Doug Churchill (1-up win) and Brodie Hodges (1-up). Ian Bown was focused in his 2-1 win.

The Division 3 team will head into the Final against Cowra, to be played at Duntryleague on Sunday, 15th March. The Divi- sion 1, Bathurst vs Mudgee, will determine the winner. The Division 2 Final is between Mudgee and Parkes, while the Division 4 Final is between Cowra and Wentworth.

On Saturday, 14th March we have a 4BBB Stableford, sponsored by C&D Floorings. Sunday, 8th March has the Stableford Medley, with the Pennants for Division 3 being played at Duntryleague.

By Short Putt