Wow, what a day! The annual Veterans Captains Vs Presidents challenge was played in wonderful weather conditions, with a brief shower thrown in for an extra challenge, on a course that just keeps on getting better. Visitors marvelled at how well our course presents and the work on the fairways and greens is indeed a tribute to greenkeeper Doug Turner and his volunteers.
The Captains team led by Jim Lowe, trounced the Presidents team led by Geoffrey Prentice by a big margin of 58 points – 988 points to 930 points.
The event was a single Stableford competition with a 4BBB Mystery Card draw which created a lot of fun and laughter in the clubhouse and no one went home before the last trophy was presented.
The day was sponsored by the Iluka Veterans with a massive table of trophies; many thanks to all the Iluka Vets on making the day such a significant event.
The 9.30am shotgun start was preceded by morning tea. The game got away on time with two groups on most tees and we enjoyed a good free flowing event with no hold ups and everyone getting through on time and back in the clubhouse for a lunch BBQ.
The Iluka Golf Club layout lends itself to the shotgun format because there are not too many difficult hazards causing lost ball problems and hold ups.
The overall men’s winner today was John Lloyd with 41 points, John went home with a deep frier tucked under his arm and expressed what a great day he had. Other major prize winners (all collecting a kitchen appliance of their choice) were Gordon Farrell, Jim Wride, Roger Elliot all with 40 points, Michael Fenton 39 points and Jeoffery Turner with 38 points.
Overall women’s winner was Debbie Ashcroft with 38 points followed by Sandi Mayoh with 35 points and Pam Ravet with 34 points. The 4BBB Mystery Draw of Cards proved to be a very humorous event as the cards came out and presented some interesting match ups with eventual winners being Sam McDonald and Don Brittliffe followed by 1st r/up combination of Brad Broad and Roy Ellery and 2nd r/up was Paul Mitchell and Stewart Hase.
The NTP’s had to be slightly adjusted due to the local rule for the day that no one can win twice: 1 / 10 Mark McPherson, 6 / 15 Mark Adey and 8 / 17 went to Bill Thompson. The Roy Ellery 3rd shot on 3 / 12 went to Michael Fenton.
The ball rundown went to an unprecedented 25 players with 36 points or better.
The Barry Robbie Mars Bar and Porcelain Cup went Yvonne Dunne who probably put together the most honest round for the day and saw parts of the course she has not previously explored.
The raffle winners were Geoffrey Prentice and Adrian Smith.
So, all in all not many players missed out on taking a trophy home having played good golf or got lucky in the Mystery Card draw. I went home empty handed but content with the thought that everyone had a top day out.
Bob Wissink