There was a strong feeling in the air - a real keenness actually - well before the tee-off for last Tuesday's Kempsey Veterans Golf Club individual stableford competition.
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A 43-strong field gathered and rather quickly sorted themselves out at the first and tenth tees well before the scheduled 9.30am start.
That feeling was there and there was no mistaking the eagerness of such veteran golfers. The eventual scores at the completion of the 14 holes proved the point, for one had to be better than par or have reached 30 points at least to figure in the finish.
Countbacks were required to sort matters out in both A and B-grade and it took the officials some time before declaring Steve Bates and Ron Ingall the respective winners.
They both had had 32-point rounds, Steve ousting Les Booth, Ced Rudd and Peter Hatton, whilst Ron accounted for just the one, Mark Townsend, who did enjoy a birdie for five points at the sixth hole. Joining them in the ball game were Allan Heather and Graheme Martin (31) and Graeme Dyet, Steve Cameron and Mal Peters (30).
For the Beranghi Boy - Ron or is it Ronald - his win stems from plenty of practice and there is no arguing the claim that this rising 70-y-o, who came down from Darwin early this century, is the Club's best and fairest player.
Greg Mayhew produced an improvised spectacle or performance as his 33-point round proved. There was no need for a countback as this brand new octogenarian won by three points.
Nearest the pin at the third hole were Martin (A), Dan Cater (B) and Cameron (C) and at the eighth it was Paul McNamara (A) and Doug Magennis (C) featuring.
Chip-ins were performed by Hatton, Cater, Townsend, Cameron and Heather.
Acting emcee, Robert Johnston, was once again to the point on many, many occasions and said, with tongue in cheek, that our actual president, Alan Macdonald, would be back soon.
Johnno also pleaded for more players to make up a strong team for this year's Bill Medley Memorial Shield competition. “Just see Terry [Hyland] will you please,” he quipped.
On the first Tuesday of the month a 14-hole stroke for the February Monthly Medal and we again thank the Kempsey Heights Bowling Club for sponsoring this feature event.
Visitors are welcome to take part and a phone call to our starter, Brody (Clarke), on 65626291 would be beneficial. Tee-off is 9.30am.
