Harden Golf Club News

Wales Again! Hamming it Up Every December just before Xmas, the Club puts on a Stableford Ham Run-Out. So it was again this year, and the hams ran out thick and fast with a very good size field all looking to get a ham just preceding their final meat shop before the Fat Man arrives.

The sticks had to do the talking to get in the frame however, with the last ham going to 2 under the handicap of that competitor. Brian Wales and Ian Bruce led the way to claim the lead hams, both in fine form of late and both scoring very tidy 40 point stableford rounds or 4 better than their handicap on the day. As 8 hams were on offer, no winner was declared, but these two boys led the way.

Hams also were awarded to Dan McGrath (39), Ron Kerr (39), Kevin Hoppe (39), John Brownhill (38), Ron Page (38) and Mark Parker (38). The Club is thanked for their serious support of the golfers, stepping into the breach when the normal ham day sponsors were unable to be contacted. The Bendigo Bank Hole in One Prize did not go off again this week, however the nearest the pin keeps getting closer. Tam Kennedy took the award this week with a fine shot into 2.2m, on the border of 3 putt country?

Kildea & Wright Claim Xmas Midweek Event Likewise to the Saturday golfers, the Midweekers have their own set of traditions just before Ho Ho time. It is a Par 3, 4 Ball Nett Aggregate with the lower aggregate claiming the bikkies and this was played last Friday. This year, the crowned End of Year Burglars were Bill Kildea & Jim Wright, who combined to produce a Nett aggregate of 110 shots to win the event and narrowly defeat Marj Manwaring and Peter Steinke who were a mere missed putt (1 shot) back. It does not get any closer than that. Third prize on the day went to Marg & Grahame Taylor who put an impressive 114 scorecard together.

Heycox Sneaks Midweek Singles On Wednesday preceding the Xmas 4 Ball, just enough players turned up to call the single 12 hole event a competition. Winner on the day and damaging his handicap for the Friday event was Greg Heycox who put together a round of 27 stableford points on the 12 hole, par 24 layout. In beating his handicap by 3, these were deducted and Greg is now settled in at a handicap of 26.

Marj Manwaring was in the box seat for second at 1 out and 1 back on 26 stableford points. Ian Bruce collected third still playing below his handicap and returning 25 points.

Garth Webb Takes Spencer Bulbeck Trophy for 2018 The Spencer Bulbeck perpetual trophy was developed after the Club’s mate left for the golf course in the sky a few years back and is competed for over 5 nominal rounds, with 4 out of the 5 stableford scores going toward an aggregate for competitors in the midweek comp during the year. The results came out this close; 1st Garth Webb 96 strokes 2nd Bob Martin 94 strokes 3rd David James 93 strokes Well done Garth!

Coming Up This Saturday, the Summer Stableford Series continues from lunch on Saturday, thanks to the Country Club for a trophy.

Midweek continues this week but in the week of Monday 24th December to Friday 28th December, there will be a much-earned rest. Other weeks, play as usual.

– Cheers Alby

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