The creeks, billabongs and rivers from Durras to Tilba have had a great flush and hopefully the fishing and surfing will benefit as well. It augurs well in my view half way through October. The Narooma golf course continues to challenge and improve and Thursdays Stableford results in all grades reflect fine conditions. In fact it reached 20 degrees and the winds were light from the ENE. The course was well drained and there were few damp spots except for the bunkers. They were a nuisance, to my game anyway. The greens were nice and about 80 per cent.

My playing partners all played some fine golf with Peter Jones showing his prowess with a fine short game and putting really well as usual. Anton Galloway kept us entertained with questions and a couple of answers but was kept on the straight and narrow by the precision and power of Chris Brown who although he wiped the last hole played better than his handicap of six. I did drag the chain in this group. A fun day was enjoyed by all.

Results overall are indicative of people playing well with A grade winners all on 40 points with Brett Thompson beating Brian Mills and the reliable Barry Pateman. Barry is also a hard working member of the match committee and volunteer working group at Narooma. Russell Naumann had 42 points to win B grade from Peter Crowe and Bob Piper. C grade winner was Peter Jones with a meritorious 42 points and David Twiss and James Gibson picking up the minor prizes.

On Saturday we had the Limon Gold Medal playoff, a stroke event. The day was a cracker although the wind picked up in the afternoon and course rating as well. The greens were really nice and up to about 85 per cent of their best. Occasionally in golf you get a group of five playing in the last group or two and so it was for my group. We got around in four and a quarter hours. No joke, four guys walking and one in a cart and we were finished and in the clubhouse in four and a quarter hours. John Melville, Les Campbell, Alan Butterworth, Blain Hayward and I could run a seminar on how to play smart quick golf, overcoming one of the games worst attributes, slow golf. Food for thought!

So who won? The gold medal winner was Chris Brown with a net 69. Chris was one of a select few to be eligible for same having won a monthly medal during the first 10 months of the year. The rest of the field were playing for a win in a normal stroke round, that is, count all shots, no gimmes and no picking up, otherwise disqualification. The A grade winner was Eddie Harvey with net 69 ahead of Chris Brown on a count back and Dominic Connaughton net 70. B grade saw Bob Piper win with a net 67 edging out Tony Ings and I, both net 68. In C grade Peter Bashford won with net 71 on a count back from Brian Murray and Paul Russell with a net 72.

As an aside let me mention a couple other results of note. When I looked at the results overall what hit me were two young golfers, Jordan Lang and Blain Hayward who play off plus 4 and plus 1 respectively whose gross scores on Saturday were 71 and 73. Excellent golf! Both are club champions in more ways than one. Blain hit a 6 iron at the 14th par 3 and won the golden hole. I hit a 1 iron and it was about 168 metres tee to flag. Ageing is great eh!

One last comment is in relation to our great restaurant Paul's on the Course. For the second year in a row they have won a four star Excellence Award from Trip Advisor. Well done to all staff involved. Yummy tucker indeed.

That is it for this week except for the Mixed Fousome’s Championships held on Sunday. The scratch winners were William and Dorelle Monteith with a gross score of 91. The net winners were Tony and Marlene Hunt with a score of 78.5. The rules of foursomes golf are unique and the subject of another column another weekend, enough to say today it is when you share a round with a friend, or at least the result.

Be good or at least be careful and I will catch you next time.

Regards, Bill Baker

Narooma golf players player report

Have you ever wondered why it’s hard to get a tradie in Narooma on a Thursday, well here’s why...

Narooma Golf Club has a unique group of players within its membership called the Skins Group.

Behind this group are some famous Narooma names and without mentioning all the names I can assure you that they are the most generous bunch of guys that you would meet anywhere.

We have men from all walks of life, from the wealthy businessmen to the common labourer, there is no discrimination as to who plays with this group.

The Skins group has a boss like all other groups, in our case it is Tony Cobcroft, one of the most respected people in Narooma.  Cobby as he is known to all, was for many years the owner of Cobcroft’s Pharmacy, the family that behind the scenes so generously looked after all of the towns battlers’ pharmaceutical needs. Now a retired man Tony and his wife Sue love the life of being grandparents.

We have had several bank managers, Jim Grant being one of them. Jim has been known to support anything that happens in Narooma, a member of the Board of Directors on a couple of occasions, an organiser of the biggest Country Race meeting in NSW along with the late Bobby James  Granty is a great organiser in the absence of Cobby.

The Skins Group each week take up a collection after golf.  The money is donated to many charities in Narooma. Some of these include, the primary and high schools, the CWA, the Narooma Junior Golf Foundation and many other Junior Sports in Narooma, the support of many representative sportspeople in Narooma and people in need who are doing it a bit tough, we try to support as many of these organisations possible.

We play each week on Thursday afternoon, there are rewards for the better golfers, and for the also rans there is the dreaded handbag, we have specialists in both of these categories. 

We have doctors, dentists, carpet layers, electricians, bricklayers, brickies labourers, plumbers, publicans, butchers, bakers, club managers, carpenters, panel beaters, motel proprietors, retailers, restaurant owners, developers, business managers, ex-coppers and school teachers, retirees and then there is Stretch Mumme and Johnny Mathews... none of who can play golf but are a respected mob of blokes.

So if you think that you fit the bill of becoming a skins player, for example if you are wealthy, if you are terrible golfer ,if you can sledge or if you can take a joke and don’t mind wearing the dreaded hand bag, and are a passionate Narooma Golf Club member. Give us a call to get into the weekly draw.

Cheers for now BB.

Narooma men’s golf

Thursday, October 16 - Men’s Stableford

A Grade: Winner, Brett Thompson 40 points c/b. Runner-up, Brian Mills 40 points c/b. Third, Barry Pateman 40 points.

B Grade: Winner, Russell Naumann 42 points. Runner-up, Peter Crowe 41 points. Third, Bob Piper 39 points.

C Grade: Winner, Peter Jones 42 points. Runner-up, David Twiss 39 points c/b. Third, James Gibson 39 points.

Nearest to pin: 3rd Phil Haynes, 9th Mark Brenton, 14th Daniel Rehmie, 17th Peter James.

Golf balls down to all on 36 points.

Friday, October 17 - 9 Hole Par

Winner, Jill Johnston plus 3. Runner-up, Heather McMillan minus 2. Third, Marg Spong minus 3 c/b.

Nearest to pin: 3rd Nil, 17th nil.

DPP 17th Marg Spong.

Golf balls down to lucky Heather McMillan on minus 2.

Saturday, October 18 - Limon Gold Medal Playoff Stroke

A Grade: Winner, Eddie Harvey 69 net c/b. Runner-up, Chris Brown 69 net. Third, Dominic Connaughton 70 net.

B Grade: Winner, Bob Piper 67 net. Runner-up, Tony Ings 68 net c/b. Third, Bill Baker 68 net.

C Grade: Winner, Peter Bashford 71 net c/b. Runner-up, Brian Murray 71 net. Third, Paul Russell 72 net.

Ladies Grade: Winner, Maureen Hayward 74 net. Runner-up, Marie Torkington 75 net.

Nearest to pin: 3rd Robert Sayers, 9th Rod Shepherd, 14th Brian Murray, 17th Tony Ings.

Golf balls down to all on 75 net.

Limon Gold Medal Winner, Chris Brown 69 net.

Sunday, October 19 - Mixed Foursomes Championship Stroke

Winners Scratch, William and Dorelle Monteith 91 gross.

Winners net, Tony and Marlene Hunt 78.5 net c/b.

Narooma ladies golf

DUE to extremely heavy rain the course was closed on Wednesday, however our course made a remarkable recovery and was open and playing well on Thursday.

Monday: October 13 Stableford

Winner: Division 1 - D Williamson 38 points.

Balls to 35.