Sports

Maclean week of golf

ABOVE: Geoff Grayson from Maclean with Ian Vidler NSWVGA Vice President.
ABOVE: Geoff Grayson from Maclean with Ian Vidler NSWVGA Vice President.
  Maclean Vets welcomed 158 visiting veteran golfers for our annual Veteran’s Week of Golf in the week beginning the 13 July. This four day event is followed by a tournament in Ballina, Murwillumbah, Coolangatta Tweed and Yamba, making a circuit of the Northern Rivers. Our theme for this tournament is of course Tartan, with Maclean being the little Scottish town in Australia. We welcomed our visitors on registration day with a piper from the Maclean Pipe Band which was very well received. Many people dressed themselves and their buggies in tartan for the entire week but Friday was our official ‘Tartan Day’ with most people joining in and making a fun day of it. The weather was kind to us on the whole perhaps a little windy but some very good golf was played during the tournament. The comments from our visitors was what great condition the course was in but they found the greens hard to read. Join the club! Winner of the men’s 36 hole NSWVGA prize was our own Geoff Grayson with 71 points. Winner of the ladies 36 hole NSWVGA event was Janet Dodd from Beresford with 62 points. Winner of the men’s 36 hole scratch event was Trevor Kempton from Tamworth with nett 44 and winner of the ladies 36 hole scratch event was Lyn Bansgrove from Burleigh Heads with nett 32. Congratulations to all our winners, Maclean’s Geoff Grayson was one of the lowest handicap players to contest the event playing off 6 so it was a wonderful victory for him on home soil. Geoff was only one of six local players who entered the competition giving our tournament an eclectic feel. Margaret Teh from Redlands Bay in Queensland scored a hole in one on the 11th hole. There was much excitement from her playing group and our spotter Jeff Pails when the ball landed on the green and ran into the hole. For the third year in a row Darryl and Helen Graney from Maclean had sponsored $50 for a hole in one during the tournament, Helen heard the shouts from a nearby tee and knew the money had been won! On Friday we had our presentation lunch which was provided by our caterer Tara and her helpers. Compliments to her for a lovely meal which was enjoyed by all our cold and hungry golfers. Maclean Vets President Bob Harvey thanked all the volunteers who helped during the week and particularly the Week of Golf committee for their efforts to help make this another very successful tournament. ‘I would like to thank everyone for their help and efforts this week, without everyone pulling together it would not be possible to host such an event. In particular I would like to thank Tournament Director Bruce Walsh for all the work he has put into the running of the tournament and to making it the success it is.’ Bob said. Maclean township and the surrounding areas benefited greatly by the extra visitors in and around our town, it was wonderful to see the players supporting our sponsors during the winter period that is traditionally a quiet time of year, injecting much needed funds into our local businesses. We would like to thank our sponsors, your generous support has enabled us to raise funds for Maclean Golf Club which can be used for course improvement. Our sponsors for the week were and in no particular order: Maclean Hotel, Maclean Bowling Club, Maclean Services Club, Botero, Spar Maclean, Big River Sheds, Maclean Stays, Maclean Post Office, Big 4 Saltwater Park, Sunshine Sugar, Clarence Valley Fishermans Co-operative, Clarence Valley Council, Cec Fernance, Maclean Golf Club, Helen and Darryl Graney, Marlene and Graham Roberts, Bruce and Megan Walsh. We received terrific feedback from our visitors about how welcoming and friendly the Maclean tournament is and how they will be back next year, so with that it’s time to put our tam o’ shanters back in storage and take a break until next year. A great job all round! Megan Walsh