By George Begg
LAST week I crossed Bass Strait to have games at Barnbougle Dunes and also at the Country Club in Launceston. At Barnbougle, I had the pleasure of the company of 11 members of the Kooringal Golf Club, including general manager Peter Linquist and club professional Marty Walsh, at dinner after our game and I thank everyone of them for a truly great night.
The one thing that we all agreed on was that Barnbougle Dunes deserves all the accolades that it gets from all over the world and it is worthy of being listed in the world’s top 50 golf courses. Michael Clayton and Tom Doak did a fabulous job with the design of the course and Clayton told me recently that the new course, which should be open for play mid-next year, will be better than the present layout. If that is the case, it will really be a great golf course.
The winner of the Kooringal competition shootout on the Tuesday was Keith Tenby who picked up a new pair of Footjoy golf shoes for his trouble.
After leaving Barnbougle Dunes I went back to Launceston to play the course at the Country Club which is a hidden gem and having attended the opening of it many years ago, I was extremely interested in the way that it has matured. This is definitely one course that should be on your Tasmanian itinerary.
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THE last changes to the course alterations at Kooringal Golf Club are under way with new greens being constructed on the par-three 13th and the par-four 15th. The changes were necessary on the 13th to move the landing area away from the senior’s village next door and also adjacent to the 14th tee. It will be interesting to see how it all comes out when everything is completed.
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NOW that golf has been included in the 2016 Olympics, which will be held in Rio De Janiero, I hope that I am wrong but I am not certain that it will be good for the game. I say that because as a traditionalist I believe that professionals should not be included in the teams to play for the gold, silver and bronze medals. I have always looked upon the Olympics as the peak of amateur sport and in recent years that seems to have gone by the wayside with professional tennis players and others included in national sporting teams. Only time will tell how it comes out but the Olympic trials will really be worth watching.
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SANCTUARY Lakes will conduct its club championships over four separate days (14, 21, 28 and 29 November) and most members are hoping that some of the fierce weather conditions that marred last year’s event do not eventuate. One round had to be played in some of the worst weather conditions experienced at the course and it is hoped that nothing like that occurs this year. The club is to be lauded for having all grades including the ladies played at the same time and early favourites will be Travis Sharpe, who playing off a one handicap shot a magnificent six under last Saturday, and Stacey Keating, who has had success in women’s golf this year.
The Sanctuary Lakes Club Champion this year will be the recipient of the Glasson-Smith Trophy which has been struck by the club to honour Graeme Glasson and Alan Smith the immediate past president and captain of the club.
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NOW that the 2009 President’s Cup is over, the attention will now turn to Melbourne and specifically the Royal Melbourne Golf Club for the playing of the 2011 event. Those of you who attended the President’s Cup in 1998 should remember just how good it was and will want to go again. The last time that it was played here Craig Parry was able to get a cricket bat signed by the two teams and this was sold at auction at his charity day for $17,500 to a Sydney investor. Nothing much has been heard of this item since then and as it is the only one of its kind in the world, I wonder if it will surface in time to get a price before the next event takes place?
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THERE was quite a gathering at the Medway Golf Club last Saturday night to help life-member and former club president Bob Blackmore celebrate his 70th birthday (actually Bob I thought you were older than that). Among the many in attendance were life-members Rick Williamson, Noel Porteous and David Duggan the immediate past captain of the Yarra Yarra Golf Club. The guest of honour took some good natured ribbing on the night but I think that the challenge of him shooting his age will be too hard for him to accept, that is unless it was for nine holes?
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IF you have any news or information about your club or individuals golfing exploits, I can be reached at 9749 2481 phone/fax, 0409 381 192 or by email beggolf@optusnet.com.au.
www.sanctuarylakes.com.au
