Let me get the bad news story out of the way first so I can focus on the predominantly good news coming out of our great club and course. As scheduled we had engineers from the Eurobodalla Shire Council on site early in the week to assess the condition of the three decade old bridge at the eighth hole. We were hoping to get the all clear for remediation work; however, the verdict was that the bridge is to be demolished and that no vehicular traffic can use it. Bugger! The bridge remains open to foot traffic only.

Geoff Lanham, president of Narooma Golf Club, has written an explanatory letter which is on our website and also on notice boards in the club.  As outlined cart golfers need to walk across the old bridge and change from one cart to another as required. The club has obtained additional carts to facilitate the logistics of this exercise. This ensures all golfers can play 18 holes. Tenders have been sought for the construction of a new bridge and a site meeting with those tendering is set down for Wednesday morning. So we are progressing with a plan to demolish the old and build a new bridge as soon as practically and professionally possible.

The multiple stage process of rebuilding with associated funding options will be canvassed across all levels of government, business and the membership generally. We will all have to be patient and like any project sit through the planning, implementation and evaluation of these major works.

Further good news is reflected in the results this week and again I will limit my comments to the Thursday and Saturday competitions. Thursday was a gorgeous day with little or no wind, 21 degrees at 10am and warming up to around 24 in the afternoon. Showers were anticipated but did not eventuate. A grade was Chris Brown's once again with 41 points just beating Rod Shepherd and Robert Sayers on 40 points. Frank Jakubowski won B grade with 43 points well clear of Tony Rudd and Noel Davis on a creditable 39 points. If Frank is reading this column and if he grew up in Queanbeyan and went to St. Gregory's primary school, then I know him but haven't laid eyes on him since last century. Now to C grade where Perry Pericleous had a mere 44 Stableford points and won from Keith Seyer and Noel Fisher with 40 and 39 points respectively.

Saturday was time for the Men's Foursomes Championships and once again the weather was mostly sunny until mid-afternoon when a light easterly breeze fanned those on the course and in the rough, which was where I put my partner, Les Campbell too many times to mention. I ought also mention that according the royal & ancient rules of golf foursomes are "a competition in which two competitors play as partners and play one ball". This infers you play alternate shots and so it is tee to green. One player hits off the odd number tees and the other off the even numbered tees.

So what happened? The 2014 Men's Foursomes Champions are A Thompson and P Davey with a net 67. Congratulations gentlemen and I am sorry I don't know your first names; however, you defeated the competitive duo of John Melville and Justin Bennett on a count back. John said he put one in the water at 10 and so I had to say something about it. The gross winners were Scott Ker and Jordan Lang with a 77. I overheard Jordan say he wants to hit off the even tees next year. He hits the ball so far he had to lay up on too many holes apparently. Oh the joys of being a top golfer. Well done to all the winners and runners up.

So after a week of news and developments good and bad it is time to get ready for the next board meeting and study the form for the Melbourne Cup. Please remember the club has a big day of dining and fun at the club on Melbourne Cup day. The weekend following the running of the Cup we have the prestigious Narooma Open which is two rounds of stroke on November 8 and 9. I haven't played the open for many years but I am planning to put my money up and play this year.

By the way if you didn't know you ought that the BB writing the occasional profile in the Narooma News is Bobby Bennett, not I. So all questions about same to Bob please.

Must be nearly beer o'clock, cheers and good health.

Regards, Bill Baker

Players Profile – Ron Constable

Every now and then a name appears in front of you, a name that has a certain meaning, this week’s Players Player is that certain person, life member Ron Constable.

Ron lived all of his life in Narooma, he was and still is in my opinion , the man that Narooma was built around, the man with a big heart who married everyone’s sweet heart, the beautiful Miss Joan Britton, our lovely kindergarten teacher of the early 50’s, the woman who had a direct bearing of almost every pupil that was ever taught in Narooma. This loving couple still have today, the same effect on our lives, as they had on our upbringing throughout the years. They have been married for 63 years, have a couple of kids; Phil who owns Narooma Mitre 10 and race calling legend Chris, both great guys.

Ron’s schooling was in Narooma at the famous public school, where he attended until taken out of school at the age of 13, the reason (because the men that worked at the shop that he was casually employed at were all called off to war), he joined Narooma Golf Club in 1941 at the age of 14 years old (there were no juniors in the early years so everyone was a member) he was joined by his boss George Thompson, who didn’t want him to play rugby league in case he was hurt.

This was the year that Ron took up golf, his first set of clubs were provided by many of the foundation members. A wood here and an iron there, this was to be the membership beginning of one of our most loved and respected members, the man who at the age of 17 became a committeeman, he also took the role of caretaker greenkeeper when Ben Bryant left the job, until the vlub employed the new greenkeeper Harold Burke, club treasurer for five years, president for two years, the winner of the first gold medal, now called the John Limon Medal, winner of “B” Grade Club Championship, plus winner of many other events on the golf calendar.  A member of the board of directors during the club’s golden era, Ron’s contribution to the club in those years is responsible for the club that we all love to call our home club and some even love to call it their home.

Ron was a partner in business with the late Steve Tancred, (Tancred and Constable Butchers) the company that gave many of the young boys in Narooma a start in their working careers, including myself, he did  continue to play football and was a member of the famous fifties Rugby League Football team.  He married Joan when he was 23 years old and gave league away, he was also a very active member of anything else that was happening in Narooma.

During his early years Ron was the man behind the scenes at the local School of Arts Theatre (now the Cinema) his training in this field was from two golf club foundation members, George Slade and Athur Annis, after they retired his position as trainee led to him become the theatre movie director.

Ron Constable, one the towns finest citizens is our longest serving Narooma Golf Club member and life member. I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the staff and members of Narooma Golf Club to thank you for your contribution and dedication into this club over your lifetime.

Cheers Benno

Tuesday, October 21 - 12 Hole Stableford

Winner, Nigel Roberts 26 points. Runner-up, Ian Vincent 25 points c/b. Third, Peter Jones 25 points c/b.

Nearest to pin: 9th John Hasler, 14th John Hasler, 17th Nicholas Pryor.

Golf balls down to lucky Ken Adams on 21 points.

Thursday, October 23 - Men’s Stableford

A Grade: Winner, Chris Brown 41 points. Runner-up, Rod Shepherd 40 points c/b. Third, Robert Sayers 40 points.

B Grade: Winner, Frank Jakubowski 43 points. Runner-up, Tony Rudd 39 points c/b. Third, Noel Davis 39 points.

C Grade: Winner, Perry Pericleous 44 points. Runner-up, Keith Seyer 40 points. Third, Noel Fisher 39 points.

Nearest to pin: 3rd Eddie Harvey, 9th Scott Kennedy, 14th Gordon Roberts, 17th Geoff Lanham.

Golf balls down to all on 36 points.

Friday, October 24 - 9 Hole Stableford

Winner, M Pell 19 points. Runner-up, W McMillan 17 points. Third, D Mullins 16 points.

Nearest to pin: 3rd W McMillan, 17th D Mullins.

DPP 17th M Gerrard.

Golf balls down to lucky D Mullins on 16 points.

Saturday, October 25 - Men’s Foursomes Championship

Winners, A Thompson and P Davey 67 net c/b. Runners-up, J Melville and J Bennett 67 net. Third, R Kleeman and H Mackie 68 net.

Foursomes Champions 2014, S Ker and J Lang 77 gross. Runners-up, M Turner and M Turner 78 gross.

Ladies Grade: Winners, K Roberts and M Hayward 76 net.

Golf balls down to all on 76 net.

Monday, October 20 Stableford

Winner: M Casswell 38 points. Runner up Jenny McIntyre 33.

Wednesday, October 22 - Stroke Gold Medal play-off

Gold Medal Winner M Pell 69. Winner Division 1 J Healy 74 ocb. Runner up K Lawrence 74.

Winner Division 2 M Pell 69. Runner up M Young 75.

NTP: Division 1 - 3rd hole S Donohoe. Division 2 - 9th hole L Gibbons.

Balls to 78.