Report courtesy of Greg Howe
RAGC was delighted to participate in the 50th iteration of our biannual interclub event with Barwon Heads Golf Club, one of our favoured reciprocal clubs, and a place where a large number of our members have spent many happy days.
This weekend held some special poignancy, as one of their members, the ebullient Tony Ward, who played in almost all of these events over the last 25 years or so, suddenly passed away a few days after we hosted their team last July (a deferred event due to COVID-19), when Tony was as usual in top form (mainly off the golf course). On Saturday, all players paid a fitting tribute to Tony as we passed his house on the 7th fairway, doffing our caps to his wife Alison on her balcony.
We were blessed with glorious autumn weather on both days – clear skies and virtually no wind, with the links in fabulous order after some recent rain. It was joy to play there, though our golf was almost universally poor on Friday resulting in a comprehensive 6.5 to 1.5 margin to the home team, with only Matt Binns and Mark Miller recording a win (and they both won their matches on Saturday, with Mark Gregerson and Bruce Carter respectively). However, the Seaton contingent rallied remarkably on Saturday afternoon, winning 4 of the first 5 matches, with some quiet whispers of “The Miracle of Medina” being heard through the halls of that wonderful clubhouse. Alas, a couple of very close putts on 18 stayed out of the hole, the matches finished 5.5 – 2.5 our way, and so the home team scraped home 9-7.
As usual, the hospitality extended by our hosts was exemplary, and further underscores the warm and affectionate relationship which we enjoy with them. Their President, Andrew de Crespigny, was delighted to receive from our club, a superb, framed photograph by Peter Maddern of their course, taken a few years ago by Peter, as a gesture of our continuing relationship.
The RAGC team comprised: Tim Jordan (Captain), Craig Ball (Vice Captain), Matt Binns, Adam Kimber, Peter Maddern, Mark Gregerson, Bruce Carter, Mark Miller, Greg Howe, Peter Ormandy, Phil Arnfield, Egils Olekalns, Stephen Lane, Darryl Watson, Tony Newman and Lynn Stewart.
Thank you to Barwon Heads Golf Club for supplying photos from the event.
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