Mount Colah Football Club

2010 MCFC Golf Championship

After days of rain it was looking ominous for the players in this year’s 3rd annual Mount Colah Football Club Golf Championship, at “Royal” North Turramurra Golf Course.

19 players including 7 “newbie’s” took to the course under clearing skies after a foggy morning. Two time & defending Champion, Rob Cox was the last to arrive, looking worst for wear, not the best way to start a defence of the title. Vice President Barry Thompson started proceedings with the first shot of the day & like a Lion stalking its prey, snuck up on the hole, scoring an easy 14. It only got better for Barry though, as his early sandbagging was revealed with 3 straight pars on the back nine. 

John Barnes hit a scintillating shot into the 4th green, a Nearest The Pin hole, but it wasn’t good enough to hold on to the prize. Right from the outset, Rob Cox’s title defence was in tatters as he slumped to a triple bogey 7 on the first. Funnily he didn’t receive the sympathy he was seeking. It was the Barry Thompson show again on the 2nd Nearest the Pin hole, the 11th, as he sent a four iron screaming into the green to stop the ball only 3m from the hole….alas it wasn’t to last. As usual the Turramurra trees copped a hiding as many players found the wood with some wayward shots. The course was in remarkably good condition, despite the heavy rains over the previous days. In fact 4 holes on the back nine had been taken out of play but due to the warming conditions they were back in play by the time we got around to them. Just over 4 hours was the average time today, a fairly quick round.

This year the players headed back to PR-Media headquarters, (my place) instead of the Berry Park option, just in case the rains returned. It seemed to be a good move. Barry was chief BBQ officer & cooked up a storm for the extremely famished golfers. There was barley a skerrick of food left. Once again JB was ably assisted by Brock Barnes, combing through the score cards looking for a way to wi…I mean any addition errors.

As last year not all could make it back to the presentation & as was the case last year the winner was not on deck to claim his prize. Vincent Turner, with a nett 66 (a sensational 73 off the stick) won on a count back from a desperately unlucky John Barnes, nett 66, who just couldn’t buy a putt. Third place was again won by Peter Verduin, (3 in a row) with a nett 68 on a count back from Rob Cox who took home the Scratch award this year with a 77. New player Adam Todd took home “Best of the Rest” with his net 68, narrowly missing one of the top prizes.

Best 1st Nine went to Debbie Vanny on nett 26.5, a clear winner by nearly 6 shots & Best 2nd nine was taken out by Steve Gibbons on nett 33.5. Nearest the Pin on the 4th was won by Martin Olsen with what must have been a great shot. On the 11th Richard Cox blasted a ball inside Barry Thompson’s marker to claim the prize there. Incidentally, Richard, a 36 handicapper, shot a 39 off the stick (on the first nine), 8 over par & beating his son, Rob, for the first time ever over 9 holes. Congratulations Richard, I’m sure that story will be told at many family gatherings in the future. Long Drive on the 17th was cleaned up by Peter Verduin, knocking off a confident Barry Thompson, who just couldn’t take a trick today. Brock Barnes was awarded the N.A.G.A. (Not A Golfers Ar…Armpit) trophy with a score of 120. At least there is plenty of room for improvement. The Bradman went to another newcomer, Ken Wyper with a score of 125. Last, but certainly by no mean least, Christian Harant thanked for coming.

A special thank you to Club Coaching Coordinator, Steve Lumley, who donated some fantastic prizes for the day, which were very much appreciated by all the players, especially those that were lucky enough to take one home.

So that’s it, another Golf Day done & dusted. Thank you to all that participated & helped out today. It is a great fun day so if you were umming & ahhing, thinking you aren’t good enough, well you may surprise yourself…skill is not a pre-requisite…having a good time is.

Cheers
JB

2010 MCFC GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP OFFICAL RESULTS

2010 MCFC GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP OFFICAL DRAW

1) John Barnes, Barry Thompson, Gunars Berzins
2) Vincent Turner, Ken Wyper, Christian Harant, Peter Verduin
3) Steve Hanna, Graeme Murray, Martin Olsen, Kevin Jones
4) Rick Woodward, Debbie Vanny, Steve Gibbons, Adam Todd
5) Rob Cox, Richard Cox, Brock Barnes, Andrew Vanny

2010 MCFC GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP PRIZE LIST

1st Place:  Shield*, Hat, Trophy, 6 Golf Balls.
2nd Place:  Trophy, 3 Golf Balls. 
3rd Place:  Trophy, 3 Golf Balls.
Scratch: Trophy, 3 Golf Balls.
Best of the Rest:  Trophy.
Best 1st Nine:  Trophy, 3 Golf Ball.
Best 2nd Nine:  Trophy, 3 Golf Ball.
Nearest To Pins (2): Umbrella
Long Drive:  Umbrella
Bradman:  Trophy, 3 Golf Balls.
N.A.G.A.:  Trophy
T.F.C.:  Trophy
* Perpetual Trophy