The end-of-year event at Woodlands GC attracted the biggest turn-out of Hickory Heroes players for the year.
Twenty-three players, many in period clothing, teed up on a beautiful afternoon at the sandbelt gem of a course in Mordialloc on December 11th. We played 12 holes – the same number of holes at Prestwick GC in the founding years from 1860 of the Open Championship on Scotland’s Ayrshire coast.
Handicaps were adjusted with the hickory bonus strokes using the BGCS formula, and scores varied, as usual!
Winner of the day was Cheryle Nye with 25 Stableford points for 12 holes. Her prize was a pack of three books in the ‘Caddie’ series of novels by US author John Coyne. These were donated by GSA member Ian Weir.
Runner-up was Paul Burgess on 22 points, ahead of Andrew Thomson on a countback.
Nearest-the-pin on Hole 11 was won by Ian Monks.
Paul, a 60-year Woodlands member recently elevated to Life Membership, arranged the grounds staff to cut 18 holes in the practice green, laid out to reflect the original routing from about 1926 of the Woodlands course.
Players were issued replica golf cards from the mid-1920s and challenged themselves in a putting comp. Much fun was had on the tricky contours. The winner was Dean Mottram with 33 putts over ’18 holes’, and his prize was a hickory-shafted putter from the 1920s stamped Spalding Thistle. Next best was Mango Maguire with 34 putts.
Most players were able to stay on for a delightful BBQ buffet dinner in the Members’ bar overlooking the first fairway, and much chat ensued about shots good and bad.
The Golf Society thanks Woodlands Golf Club for the typically warm hospitality, and Paul Burgess for hosting our happy group.
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