A couple of other interesting results on Thursday included president Geoff Lanham's two nearest the pins on the 9th and 17th and an eagle by Andrew Thompson at the 8th hole.

On Saturday we had a different weather pattern with high cloud, a light shower and drizzle early followed by a light onshore breeze. This was just what the doctor ordered as we had 173 starters playing. That is a big field and it did tax our logistical arrangements with carts, however, aside from a slight delay all was done in reasonable time. Some of the field were from Jindabyne and Maroubra and enjoy a legendary day a Narooma once a year. The A grade winner was Steve Marsden with 42 points and I am sure that brought a smile to his face. That is one over par for Steve as he plays off a handicap of 7 and he was clear of Christopher Ross and Greg Robson both on 38 points. My good friend and playing partner Les Campbell won B grade with 39 points just ahead of Peter Goik on 38 and Frank Jakubowski on 37 points. Regular readers of my column will be pleased to hear me confirm that Frank is my young primary school associate from Queanbeyan who I alluded to a couple of weeks ago. He approached me on the first tee and introduced himself to me a week or so back. He is not as blond on top as he was in his youth. Ageing, isn't it great?

C grade was a close contest with Greg Ryan winning on a count back from Frank Clarke and Jim Dickson third with 37 points.

There was more golf on Sunday at Moruya with the final round of the mixed four ball for the prestigious Namorgui Cup. The field from Moruya, Narooma and Bermagui enjoyed a shot gun start at 1030 and all was fine after an early morning shower or two. That made for attacking golf and local knowledge from the Moruya men and women saw them narrowly win by three shots from the Narooma team and Bermagui another shot behind. I had never played this format before and thoroughly enjoyed same and especially with my partner Dorelle Monteith showing consistent form off the tee. In summary the top seven scores from each club was tallied and averaged over three rounds. I hope I get an invite in 2015 as I know I can play better than I did on Sunday. The Moruya course, which has always enjoyed grey water, was in fine shape as was their young General Manager, Ken Brown. Ken, a Narooma member, was no doubt chuffed to win the cup against his "old" club.

Before the presentations on Sunday I had the pleasure to interview Sylvia Donohue in relation to her performances in Canberra last week in the 2014 ACT Seniors Championships. The event was held over three rounds at Gungahlin Lakes, Gold Creek and Federal Golf Clubs. Sylvia had a par 73 on day one and led by 6 strokes. Day 2 saw her slip back and lead by one after a round of 88 at Gold Creek. The final round at Federal, one of my favourite courses in Australia, saw her back in top form and she carded another par 73 and won the tournament by 9 shots. How good is this girl? She is one classy golfer and a charming modest person to go with it. She is already a legend in women's golf in Australia and is up there with the best including professionals like Jan Stephenson and Diana Thomas in my humble opinion.

Before I sign off I ought to mention that I overlooked a fact in my column last week that we had a player in the Narooma Open last weekend from Townsville. That is a long drive. Oh the attractions of Narooma just continue to attract people. Thanks to my fellow board member Phil Haynes for pointing that out to me.

Finally, let me mention briefly that the staff in the office at Narooma have recently loaned me a copy of a small publication on the first 50 years of golf at Narooma, that is 1930-1980. I will endeavour to share some of the detail and lots of anecdotal comments over the summer months. There are some classics and one I will finish with today is to do with a young Neil Towers who played and won one of the first men's competitions held on the new 18 hole course back in 1978/79. Neil, who is about my vintage and also a retired senior teacher, stills plays top golf off a handicap of 6.

Enjoy your times this week and I will catch you from Gungahlin next week as I do a bit of grand parenting in the hay fever capital of Australia.

Cheers and good health. Bill Baker

This week’s Narooma golf club profile is of long standing employee Mr Richard (Dick) Goodridge

Dick was born, bred and schooled at Bermagui on the Far South Coast. Served his apprenticeship as a greenkeeper at the Bermagui Country Club, where he looked after two bowling greens, three top class clay tennis courts and was instrumental in assisting in the construction of Bermagui’ grass greens.

A position became available at Narooma Golf Club for a greenkeeper, which Dick successfully applied for and worked under the guidance of course superintendent John Spencer, to construct the back nine holes.

John left Narooma Golf Club on the completion of the new nine and Dick was appointed as course superintendent, this position he held for six years. John had taken over at Huntingdale as superintendent and had offered Dick the position of 2IC at Huntingdale, the job he accepted.  During this period of time he was involved in the preparation of the Huntingdale Course for no less than five Australian Masters Tournaments, and supervised 15 staff members.

After five years down south of the border, Dick was contacted by Narooma Golf Club offering him the position, as the top man which he accepted, and has been the incumbent for the past 25 years.  He was a passionate and successful golfer and the following list of events speak for themselves.

Scratch winner of Narooma Open twice; winner of the Narooma Seahorse Classic once; has won every Open from Catalina to Eden; three holes in one; captain of the Narooma Golf Club pennant team winning two pennant flags; in 1991 was the winner of the FSCDGA District Championships at Tura Beach Country Club as well as being chosen in the FSCDGA representative team in a number of inter-district tournaments.

Dick has not played competition Golf for the past seven years, however says he looking forward to making a return to the game in his retirement. He also enjoys playing lawn bowls and is a keen and successful fisherman, who I am sure will terrorise the local lakes and estuaries.

Richard would like to congratulate Brendan Warby on the appointment of his position and wish him well, he would also like to take this opportunity to thank Dominic Connaughton and all board members past and present for their support over the past 35 years. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Richard Goodridge on behalf of all members of Narooma Golf Club for a job well done for such a long period of time.

Thanks Dick, may you hit them longer and straighter than ever before, may you roll them up the rink better, may all the fish that you catch be bigger and more plentiful, and may your holidays be bathed in sunshine wherever you choose to travel in your retirement. 

Cheers Benno

Narooma men’s golf

Tuesday, November 11 - 12 Hole Par

Winner, Phil McDonald plus 3. Runner-up, Bob Steel plus 1 c/b. Third, Peter Jones plus 1.

Nearest to pin: 9th Jim Jones, 14th John Casswell, 17th Bill Swan.

Golf balls down to lucky John Kemp on minus 1.

Thursday, November 13 - Men’s 4BBB Stableford

Winners, Mike Shevlin and Dennis Fry 54 points. Runners-up, Ron Gordon and Peter Shakeshaft 50 points. Third, Bob Steel and Bob Knipler 49 points.

Nearest to pin: 3rd Garry Bennett, 9th Geoff Lanham, 14th Noel Davis, 17th Geoff Lanham.

Eagles Nest, Andrew Thompson 8th Hole 2 balls.

Golf balls down to all on 44 points.

Friday, November 14 - 9 Hole Stableford

Winner, Ian Vincent 18 points. Runner-up, Rose Sztama 17 points c/b. Third, P Boyle 17 points c/b.

Nearest to pin: 3rd Kevin Budd, 17th Ian Vincent.

DPP 17th Rose Sztama.

Golf balls down to lucky P Boyle on 17 points.

Saturday, November 15 - Men’s Stableford

A Grade: Winner, Steve Marsden 42 points. Runner-up, Christopher Ross 38 points c/b. Third, Greg Robson 38 points.

B Grade: Winner, Les Campbell 39 points. Runner-up, Peter Goik 38 points. Third, Frank Jakubowski 37 points.

C Grade: Winner, Greg Ryan 38 points c/b. Runner-up, Frank Clarke 38 points. Third, Jim Dickson 37 points.

Nearest to pin: 3rd Jan Shevlin, 9th Terry O’Callaghan, 14th Christopher Ross, 17th Robert Sayers.

Golf balls down to all on 34 points.

Narooma ladies golf

Monday 10 November - Stableford

Division 1 winner J. Shevlin 38 points. Division 2 winner J. McIntyre 42.

NTP: Division 1 9th hole J. McIntyre. Division 2 3rd hole C. Fader.

Balls down to 35ocb.

Wednesday, November 12 - 4BBB Stableford

Division 1: Winners D Kastowsky and J Boxsell 48, runners-up P Shepherd and M Clarke 47 ocb.

NTP: Division 1 9th hole J. Shevlin. Division 2 3rd hole M. Clarke

Balls down to 47ocb.