Golf - Sunday 3rd May 2009

What a wonderful day we had for today's important Central Coast 2009 Mixed Foursomes Championship - blue skies and sunshine on cue. I did look up the forecast prior to play to find that we should be expecting 50% chance on rain and thunderstorms so I arrived complete with wet gear expecting a rather unpleasant day out on the course.

To the contrary we had a most pleasant day with great company and also brought home the winners of our division - so how good can it get. Our playing partners today were Lyn & Clyde Cruickshanks (the eventual winners with a net score of 69 1/2 (gross 85) and John & Bev Moore from Everglades who were delightful company.

We had approximately 100 starters and the 27 Hole competitors having a sudden death playoff at the 1st hole to add to the excitement of the finish.

RESULTS

27 HOLE SCRATCH WINNERS: Dave Willett and Yvonne Boardman - 118 points

27 HOLE SCRATCH RUNNERS UP: Simon Trickett and Rebecca Goldsmith - 118 points

18 HOLE SCRATCH WINNERS: Clyde and Lyn Cruickshanks (Gosford) - 85 points

18 HOLE SCRATCH RUNNERS UP: Glen Gardner and Bev Masters - 87 points

18 HOLE NETT WINNERS: Ross Drakeford and Christine Drakeford - 72 1/2 on a countback

18 HOLE NETT RUNNERS UP: June Bowen and Fred Middleton - 72 1/2 points

BALLS WENT TO (18 Holes) : 76 1/2 points

We have had a very busy time in the gardens at the club this week with further improvements made to the new garden at the Practice Nets and the planting of an avenue of Tibouchina Trees

to compliment the 2nd fairway alongside the school farm. As some of you may recall we had some drama on several occasions with the school farm animals eating the oleanders that formed an avenue along the fence. These oleanders were poisonous plants to the animals so there was a need to replace them with something safer, attractive and non poisonous. The school financed the replacement of these trees which should look fantastic in years to come with a blaze of purple colour from the trees as they mature. Another garden highlight this week is the evidence of new flower shoots on the orchid plants at the 14th and 18th. As these orchids were broken up and replanted only just last year it is a bonus that they are going to produce new flowers so quickly.

Many thanks to our adopt-a-garden Yvonne Wilson, Bev Way and Enone Sammons who are looking after the orchids for us and keeping them happy enough to reproduce so quickly.

As some aside highlights - Peter & I attended the Narara/Wyoming Cricket Club Presentation last night. We were not surprised to find Members of our Golf Club in attendance.

Peter & I annually present a trophy for the "Colt of the Year" award (Best Player of the year aged under 21 at the start of the season) in memory of our late son Greg. We were delighted that the winner this year was Peter Gallichan.

Another winner on the night was Richie Gallichan who received a batting trophy from Arthur Morris (one of Australia's cricketing greats - Arthur played alongside Don Bradman as part of the invincibles team.)

Other golfers in attendance were Peter Davidson and Greg Smith who presented trophies in their capacity as Life members of the Club. Arthur Morris gave us some interesting insights into his days of preparation (as it was in those days) needing to take five/six weeks on a ship to reach England to play cricket as the Ïnvincibles". It was good to catch up with all the life members a lot of whom have continued their sporting interests to golf while still maintaining their contact with the cricket club.