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19 Tee Times
th
Issue No 12a
___March 2015
Tom advises that the Club will be open throughout the Easter Weekend
From The Boardroom
Following a meeting on 23rd of March the Board has issued a statement which is available
to members on both the men’s and women’s notice boards. The statement does not carry
particularly good news for those members who like our elderly reporter have short arms and
long pockets.
After being able to maintain membership fees at the same level since the 2012/2013
financial year the Board has been forced to take the decision to increase membership fees for
the 2015/2016 financial year. The basic membership fee for the majority of members has
been increased to $650 from $600 with the Licence Levy of $50 remaining in place for a total
of $700.
The board was forced to make this increase in order to ensure the Club can continue to
operate as a viable business able to meet all its obligations and to meet the future needs to
maintain the course.
A specific need was identified to make provision for refurbishment of the Clubhouse
which all will agree is looking rather tired and worn.
A full explanation of the Board’s thinking is in the statement on the noticeboards.
Now for some good news. We are all aware that Cyril Mitchell had intended to step down at
the end of last year, but with no suitable replacement available he offered to continue until
June. Cyril’s wait is over and the Commandant has approved the Board’s recommendation
that Ian Cutler take on the role of President as from 1 July. Ian is of course well known to
members, not only as an active player, but also from his time as Club Manager. Ian will be
understudying Cyril over the next few months before removing his training wheels in July.
DEFENCE BANK CHARITY DAY – THURSDAY 9th APRIL
Tom advises that he has a full field of 88 starters for this worthwhile event and
that no further entries can be accepted. Results will be reported in next month’s
issue.
The Goulburn Rose Festival commemorated to centenary of Gallipoli by inviting our very
own Terri Ross to officially open the Festival and present the prizes. Terri who was born and
raised in Goulburn served as a nursing officer with 8 th Field Ambulance in Vietnam. Terri
was one of the first four nursing officers to be deployed and joined the unit in 1967.
Sponsors’ Day
Our annual Sponsors Day was held in fine weather on Friday 6 th March. The
majority of Sponsors were represented in the field of 40 players. The Club was
pleased to welcome Geoff Casey from our new sponsors, The SME Gateway
Pty Ltd.
Rodney Laugher from Drummonds Golf and Mark Sproat from The
Brassey of Canberra kindly donated the major prizes for the competition,
while Kardinia Wines provided the delighyful refreshments to compliment the
great BBQ prepared by Tom.
While the Sponsor’s Golf Day represents a small token of our appreciation
for their support of the Club, the Board actively encourages all members to use
the services of our Sponsors whenever possible.
Among the sponsors who enjoyed the day were Chris and Lance Buckley from the Body
Shop seen here enjoying and after game drink with Club member John Burke.
Also enjoying the day were Reno Sinosic and Leny Kenyon also from the Body Shop with
Evelyn Rollings who was looking particularly fresh considering she had just carried our
elderly reporter for 18 holes.
RMCGC Vs FAIRBIRN GC
The first round of the recently re-established match was played at Fairburn on a very
pleasant Saturday 28th of March. The weather was a very welcome change from that which
greeted the RMCGC Team last year, although it did not appear to assist with the scores. As
with last year the round went to Fairbairn by a very narrow margin with Fairbairn averaging
32.65 to RMC 32.53. Our Captain Andy Sell is confident the team can overcome the
difference with home course advantage.
The best score for the day was an off the stick 69 (par 70) for 42 points by Club Vicecaptain Glen Hyde. Glen took out the Saturday A Grade competition. The C Grade
competition was won by our elderly reporter. Unfortunately these efforts in the overall
challenge were somewhat
hindered by a less than
spectacular score from our
Club President.
About to start there round
are Terry Lawler of RMC,
George Nemeth and Gavin
Marshall of Fairbairn and
John Gorman of RMC.
The return leg is to be
played at RMCGC on Sunday
19th April when the overall
winner will be decided. The competition, which was originated by Wing Commander Bob
Joske, is now to be renamed. With the agreement of both Clubs the trophy will be named the
David Neilen Trophy recognising the many years that David was a member of both Clubs
and has the unique distinction of having represented both clubs in this competition.
Who’s Who?
This month we learn a little more about
our Women’s President Cheryl Lane who
took over from Kaye Paterson at the
beginning of the year.
Cheryl was born in Townsville and lived
on Magnetic Island for some years and then
moved to the suburb of Heatley. In 1972
she joined the Navy and served until 1987
retiring as a Chief Petty Officer. Having
spent a number of posting in Canberra,
including her last she decided to settle here.
Although Cheryl had played golf
socially it wasn’t until she joined RMCGC
in 2011 that she began to play regularly and
then began to play competitively about 3
years ago. She is currently playing off 30.8 and working to lower her handicap.
She claims the 7th is her favourite hole, but only because she scored a hole-in-one on that
hole. Her least favourite is the 4th which “is a long way up that hill”.
Before becoming Women’s President Cheryl had previously served on the general
committee as Women’s Vice-President and last year as the Club’s Vice-President.
She likes playing at RMCGC because of the good company of the women members and
the pleasant surrounds and style of the course.
As Women’s President Cheryl has set herself a couple of aims for this year. The first is to
push for more women members and the second is to see the Clubhouse improved. She is also
a member of the House Committee and that committee is working on plans for these
improvements, but the key to committing money to the project is the outcome of the
Licencing Agreement.
Although not raised during her interview Cheryl has been a strong supporter of the
women’s 9 hole competition and in establishing a pennants style competition for 9 hole
players within the Monaro area.
Call For Volunteers
Our tireless Grounds Director is calling for volunteers to undertake some Club
improvement tasks.
David
Schramm’s
plan is to form teams to
undertake tasks within
the limits of their
capacity. The idea is
that these small teams
can work independently
at a time that suits them.
Ideally the work would
be carried out during the
week,
but
not
necessarily.
David is planning a
volunteer
centre
operating out of his
workshop
with
the
teams having access to
the workshop so that his
David seen here erecting a new sandbox built by Mike Sainsbury
presence is not required.
David has placed notices in prominent positions within the Clubhouse with one on the
main noticeboard with a space for names or members can contact David by phone or e-mail.
Tom can provide the contact details.
While those with construction skills would be most welcome, many of the projected tasks
will not require much in the way of skills and all volunteers will be welcomed. David sees
some basic tasks being undertaken such as the pruning of suckers at the base of trees, keeping
the BBQ area neat and tidy and washing the club’s carts. (Strewth! Even our elderly reporter
could manage those.)
It should be remembered that the course and its facilities were established by volunteers as
described by Bruce Ford in the Club’s history. Competitions were played on Wednesday
afternoons and Sundays after church and Saturday was working bee day with members
bringing their own tools. While things have changed over the years the need for some selfhelp is apparent when one looks around the course and Clubhouse with a more critical eye.
Women’s Report from Kay Brett
Coca-Cola Cup – Fairbairn vs RMCGC – 2015
Round 1 was played at RMC on Tuesday 17 March, generously sponsored by
Betty Lawrence. Each team consists of 8 players and the best 5 Nett results are
used to provide the team aggregate. After two rounds the team with the lowest
Nett aggregate wins the Coca-Cola Cup.
RMC held a good lead after the first round – 374 to Fairbairn’s 411.
The second round was played at Fairbairn on Monday 23 March. Fairbairn
utilised their home ground advantage and put in some outstanding rounds of
golf. Joy Rickert of Fairbairn returned a nett 67, Mary Hodda (RMC) a nett 68
and Joy Charnock (Fbn) a nett 69. Fairbairn had the best of the day, returning a
nett aggregate of 350 – whilst RMC
finished with a nett aggregate of 359.
Thanks to their first round lead
RMC retained the Cup by 28 strokes.
Total aggregates for each team were:
RMC 733, Fairbairn 761.
Team members for RMC included:
Mary Hodda, Marian Wedlock,
Chris Verco, Karen Jameson, June
Holbrook, Lorraine Eckerman, Chris
Gorman, ‘M’ Thomas, Denise Bott,
Sue Manning and Kay Brett.
RMC retained the Cup for the
tenth year in succession. Overall,
since the trophy was first presented
in 1969, RMC has won on 24
occasions with Fairbairn 22.
Pictured – Kay Brett receives the Coca-Cola Cup from Joy Rickert.
Bronze Shield Pennants
RMC have competed in four rounds of the Bronze Shield Pennants to date.
Our team has performed admirably this year, with wins in all four rounds.
Results of the rounds are:
vs Yass at Yowani – 4 ½ and ½
vs Moss Vale at Murrumbidgee – 3 and 2
vs Yowani at Moss Vale – 3 and 2
vs Murrumbidgee at Goulburn – 3 ½ and 1 ½
Thanks to all who have played and caddied during these round, these results put
RMC on top of Pool A. There are two rounds remaining – 10 and 17 April,
prior to the semi-finals commencing on 24 April. Good luck to our team for the
remaining matches.
Pictured above are players and caddies who competed at Goulburn.
March Monthly Medal Winners:
Tuesday:
Saturday:
Jennifer McKay (40)
Chris Gorman (25)
72 (ocb)
72
9 Hole Guest Day – Thursday 16 April
A women’s 9 Hole Guest Day will be held on Thursday 16 April. This is an
event aimed at encouraging players to invite along someone who might not yet
be a member of a club or is looking to return to golf. The event will be a
Canadian Foursome. A nomination sheet is posted in the Women’s Locker
Room.
Mixed Canadian Foursomes – Saturday 9 May at 10.30am
Our annual Mixed Canadian Foursomes will be held on Saturday 9 May.
The event will once again be sponsored by Gough-Watson Business
Services. A timesheet will be placed on the central whiteboard for
nominations. Cost will be $15 per person (which includes competition
entry and eats after the round). Payment can be made ahead of the day, by
paying over the bar (remember to keep your receipt) or on the day.
Last year we had an excellent field of 42. It would be wonderful if we could
again attract a field of at least the same number or more.
\
Skip’s Tips
Pennants
Welcome back Skip.
Skip suggests that if you are booked to
play but unable to attend, ring the Club
and let them know so that the starter can
adjust the starting sheet to help play move
along. We all know what a pain it is as a
twosome following a foursome.
Also to assist the starter, try to arrive
some twenty minutes before your start
time. It gives you time to warm up and
allows the starter to make any adjustments
to the field that may affect you. (This last
rule does not apply to John Malouf, as his
early arrival may cause alarm and
confusion, possibly heralding the End of
Days.)
The B grade team unfortunately lost
their semi-final against Tully Park 4-3
with two matches going to the 18th.
Monthly Medals (Men)
The March monthly medals results
were:
Sunday Medal
Div 1
Winner - Vince Thompson with nett 64
R/U - John Williams with nett 68
Div 2
Winner - Shakey Griffiths with nett 69
R/U – Peter Baker with nett 70
Div 3
Winner – Barry Schwarzer with nett 65
R/U – Terry Lawler with nett 66
Wednesday Medal
A morning storm somewhat hampered the
early starters with a number not
completing their rounds due to lightning..
Div 1
Winner – Cyril Mitchell with nett 67 ocb
R/U – Chester Cheater with nett 67
Div 2
Winner – Barry Schwarzer with nett 67
R/U – Charles Mailer with nett 68
Div 3
Winner – Peter Bath with nett 64 ocb
R/U – Jason Brown with nett 64
From the Clubhouse
Tom advises that there has been a
steady increase in membership with some
coming from Capital.
The Friday Wine Run concluded on
th
27 . This event has proved to be a raging
success with numbers this year starting in
the 30s in January and then climbing to a
regular 50 through February and March.
Once the word got out the event of 9 holes
and a BBQ was attracting members from
other clubs. Tom reports Friday bar
takings doubled for the period.
Much of the credit for the success of the
Wine Run must go to Peter Bath who was
the regular starter and Tom who took on
the role of cook.
On Course
David Schramm reports that Chris and
his team finally seemed to have discovered
the leekage problem and are hopeful that
they can now stop digging like a team of
gophers.
Members are thanked for their patience
while the digging went on and on and on.
Crows are doing their best to restock
their ball store at the moment. This
strange behaviour has brought out some
even stranger behaviour from members
with some shouting, some charging along
the fairways screaming loudly and some
abusing the crows, although there is no
evidence to suggest crows understand
English, not even the more basic Olde
Englishe used by some members. But
perhaps the strangest behaviour of all is
from David Wilson who charges along the
fairway flapping his arms. He believes
this scares the crows off as they think he is
an eagle.
Our President had the pleasure of
watching David in action and was so
impressed with the results that he
wondered whether the Club could afford to
employ David on a full time basis.
Of course those of us who know David
believe that although he thinks he’s
playing the part of an eagle he actually
more closely resembles the Bearded
Vulture of North Africa and India.
On Course
During a recent Wednesday round our
esteemed president drove off the 2nd and
watched as his ball as it thudded into the
trees that separate the 2nd from the 11th.
One of his playing partners suggested that
the President’s enduring legacy could be
the removal of the trees and their
replacement by a row of pencil pines. The
concept was obviously being given
consideration as Cyril dug his ball out
from the tree roots.
Tom Smith reports that he recently
played a round with Gary Robinson and
nothing odd happened.