Saturday, March 2, 2024

Nelson Bay Tourists 2024 - Final Report

Nelson Bay Tour 


Gentlemen

 

Nelson Bay (The Covid) Tour

 

On Monday February 26th, 32 intrepid golfer set out for the first round at the  Toronto Golf Club. Peter Martin was the first casualty,  bad back. Toronto is a lovely course and it was reflected in the scores.

First Place, Rookie Dean (Chippa) McCarthy 39 points, followed by Dave (Sillo) Sillick 38 and Garry (Washington) Fitch 37 on a count back from Paul Haime. With good scores come bad scores and Greg (The Professor) Skilbeck 21 points last and Graeme Wright 23.

 

Tuesday we all started with great expectations at Nelson Bay Golf Club’s 19th hole. We played the “Brush Box “ Course 19-27 + 1-9. Tony Cosentino was victorious with a magnificent 43 points. Second, Monday’s winner Dean McCarthy 39 and Warren Guest in third. John Golby was second last and Tony (Clags the Younger) in last with 20 points.

 

Wednesday is the traditional rest day, but a group of supreme athletes always travel by ferry to Hawkes Nest for an additional game. The results do not count for the Tour event. Greg Skilbeck landed a fantastic nearest to the pin on the 10th and collected a cool $216.00. He shared his spoils with his grateful golfing partners.

 

Thursday, Leap Year Day, the misery started. Garry (The Judge) Buggy reported in first with Covid. Followed by the birthday boy. Greg Skilbeck on his official 17th birthday reported in, that his present was a heathy dose of Covid. By the time we got to Horizons, the venue for the day’s competition the field was decimated with a number (8) of non-starters or finishers due to Covid. The rest battled on bravely and in the end Nick (Banana Man) Lulham came out on top with 36 points. Second on a count back Paul Haime (35) with the consistent Dave Sillick in third. Peter (Jack) Davis had a day to forget (19) and second last Graeme Wright (see a pattern) 21

 

Friday, we started this tour with 32 and now were down to 19. The course, East Maitland.  A very nice course with fast greens and wide fairways. To state that the golf was ordinary is like promoting the Gazza Strip as holiday destination. The average score for the group was 27.9 with only 7 players having a 3 in front of their score. The Winner was Paul  Smith 37, Michael (The Doc) Crookes in second with 35 and Ian (Snake) Rutherford 34. Michael (Clags the Elder) Callaghan 20 in last and Wrighty second last.

 

The John Bullivant Trophy was won by Dave Sillick 140 points (35 average) for the 4 days, with Dean MacCarthy in second 139 and Paul Haime third. The Bolter Award (least successful, unluckiest golfer) went to Peter Davis. 

The Nelson Bay Trip is always a great event and it was a shame that it was spoiled by Covid. Since returning to Gosford more people have reported a positive Covid test. Someone must have brought with him; we will never know who.

 

I would like to thank Garry for organising this tour and all the players for their company.

 

Regards

 

Paul

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Paul Scholberg


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