Captain’s Corner

Steve Buckley & Judy Kruger

Hi everyone and welcome to the March - April edition of Captain’s Corner. It is hard to believe we are already into the second month of Autumn. There are many great things that will be happening in the months ahead, but I thought I would start with the big one.

Woo Hoo the Bunker Program is about to start. Yes, after waiting for what seems an eternity, every bunker on the Lake course will undergo work. All this work will be done in line with the Bunker Renovation Plan produced by course Architect Richard Chamberlain.

There have been bunkers that have been identified as being of no benefit to a hole. These bunkers will be removed.

With the ball flying much further in distance, many bunkers are now in the wrong position and will be re-positioned. We will be keeping the overall area that our bunkers occupy but where there used to be one large bunker it may be replaced with two smaller bunkers.

Holes will be shorted in some cases to allow our staff to work safely on fairway bunkers. When greenside bunkers are to be worked on, our 46th hole will come into play.

Keep an eye out on the Miclub Members Home Page or facebook for regular reports.

Couch Removal from Greens

One of the killers of Bent Greens is the infestation of Couch Grass. The couch got into our greens a long time ago due to some poor practices. Chris Burgess changed the way repairs were done to the greens when he arrived at our club, but unfortunately the couch had by that time taken hold.

Up until now there has never been a chemical that will remove Couch from Bent Greens. We are currently trialing a new chemical from the United States. It is expensive but if it does the job, we will reap the benefit for years to come.

As you go around our course you may see some yellowing on the greens, hopefully that is the Couch dying.

If this is successful, all the couch in the greens will be sprayed. In areas where the couch coverage is large our staff will cut it out and returf.

Yarrawonga Junior Open

On Sunday, April 7th, YMGCR held the Yarrawonga Junior Open. Kids came from far and wide to participate. Congratulations to Golf NSW Murray Region for the effort they are putting into getting young people into our great game.

Yarrawonga’s Miller Sanderson kept his progression towards single figures going with a very solid Nett 71 and, in doing so, won the 15 – 17 years Nett event. Well done, Miller. Keep working hard, and it won’t be long before we see your name in the scratch winners.

What was extra pleasing about the day was the number of young children playing in the event on the Executive Course. There must have been close to 60 (sorry, I don’t have the exact numbers). Young boys and girls, glove on hand, with mum or dad on the bag. I congratulate Cade Webb and his team on the work they are doing at Golf NSW Murray region.

Results from the event are as follows.

Overall Scratch Winner: Oliver Nelson, Corowa G.C, 69 (-3)

Overall Scratch Runner-up: Archer Golding, Rich River GC, 78 (+6)

15–17 Years Nett Winner: Miller Sanderson, YMGCR, 71 (-1)

15–17 Years Nett Runner-up: Charlie O’Toole, Rich River GC, 73 (+1)

14 Years & Under Nett Winner: Joel Gatford, Thurgoona GC 74 c/b (+2)

14 Years & Under Nett Runner-up: Blake Royal, Thurgoona GC 74 (+2)

Nearest the Pin: Beau Davis, Corowa GC

Long Drive: Oliver Nelson, Corowa GC

Juniors on the Move (JOM)

On Sunday 7th April, the 2nd JOM event in the Murray District Golf Association for 2024 was played at Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort. The course was in stunning condition.

Players travelled from Howlong Golf Resort, Thurgoona Country Club Resort, Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort, Wagga City Golf Club, The Rock Golf Club, Narrandera Golf Club & Function Centre, Deniliquin Golf Club, Rich River Golf Club, Rutherglen Golf Club, Wangaratta Golf Club, Black Bull Golf Course, Wodonga Golf Club and Jubilee Golf Club.

In total, 38 players participated in the event, the largest number of participants in the region. This included 5 new players playing their first-ever JOM event.

What made the day really special was that there were nine girls in the field which allowed for a separate girls’ event

Well done, Cade Webb (Golf NSW Murray Region), for the way you and your team are encouraging young people into our great sport.

Driving Range

We recently opened our new Undercover Driving Range Bays, which are a fantastic addition to our great facilities. It will not be long before we build the cover for the ball dispensing machine. We also have new bench seats to be installed.

I hope that this will become an enjoyable place for everyone. In the future, I would love to see long drive competitions, nearest-the-pin competitions with music, and a mobile bar—a place where our members and guests can take golf to another level of enjoyment.

Holes in One: March

March was a little light on for holes in one, but April has started off with Pat Ryan knocking in a smooth 8 iron on the 17th of the Murray.

Others who have achieved the ultimate in golf shots were. Brendan Hennessy, and Nola Crothers who scored hers at Barham Golf Club.

What’s coming up

• Some of the cart paths on the Murray Course will be repaired to remove water in low-lying areas.
  
• Greens will be repaired from bird damage and heat stress.
  
• Drainage across the 1st of the Executive Course.
  
• The huge one is the commencement of our Bunker Program
  

Well, that’s it from me for another Captain’s Corner. Keep an eye out on our facebook page for regular updates and scores.

All communication and scores are also on our MiClub members home page.

If anyone has any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask me.

Have a great month everyone and good golfing.

- Stephen Buckley, Captain

CHICKS WITH STICKS

By YMGCR Vice Captain, Judy Kruger

Trip to Barham

Recently, Rochelle Droop organized a trip to Barham, where 20 Chicks enjoyed 2 days of golf, wining and dining. Some good golf scores followed with Carol McDonald emerging as the overall 2 day winner from Dot Brodie. Liz O’Dwyer and Louise Cross were the daily winners.

The highlight for Nola Crothers was her first ever Hole in 1. (She birdied the same hole the next day!)

April Medals

A wonderful score of Nett 66 earned Di Mahlstedt the A/B Medal on the Lake Course, while Raelene Davis struck gold 2 months in a row to take the C/D Medal on the Murray with Nett 73. The Saturday Medal for the month went to a consistent Jo McCarthy, making the most of school holidays, with 36 pts. Well done to all 3 Chicks.

Friday Pennant

What an exciting finish to the home and away matches! All Divisions acquitted themselves extremely well this year. Divs 1 and 2 travelled to Corowa to contest the 2024 Pennant Finals. Div. 2 played Mansfield and were narrowly defeated 3/2, after putting up a great fight.

The Div. 1 chicks were tenacious against Com/Albury. What a contest! All matches see-sawed through the day, and the spectators were treated to a nail-biting finish. Finally, victory went to YMGCR, 4/1.

Hearty congratulations to the team of Donna Hancock, Aileen Buckley (Capt.) Julie Kirchen, Lou Cross and Erin York. Special thanks to their caddies and a large contingent of Yarra Members who travelled to Corowa to support the 2 teams.

Sunday Pennant is ongoing, both Yarrawonga Teams fighting for a place in the finals.

Bowls

There have been some individual successes in the Shepparton Bowl; Nola Crothers won A Grade and was R/Up in the Vets, Barb Hopkins was R/Up in C Grade, Lou Cross NTP and Judy Langford in the small teams winners.

One team represented YMGCR at the Corowa Bowl – Helen Johansen was NTP and won the long drive in C Grade.

Silver Division

Two clever Chicks have reached Silver Division for the first time, meaning they have reduced their daily handicap to 18 on both courses. Congratulations to Kay Rourke and Jo McCarthy who receive a silver coaster as a memento.

Octogenarian status

Our OBE group is increasing, the latest to join is Gwen Harrington (she also celebrated 60 years of wedded bliss to Bill recently). Gwen was a celebrated Junior Tennis player, winning state tournaments and sharing the limelight with Margaret Smith (Court). She continued a successful tennis career after moving to Shepparton many years later. She only took up golf at the age of 60, attaining an impressively low GA Handicap of 12. Congratulations, Gwen, welcome to the 80s group!

Wilkinson Final

A great match, played in true golfing spirit between Vivian Spilva/Noelle Stone and Di Mahlstedt/Sonya Symes resulted in Di and Sonya winning the coveted Wilkinson Trophy for 2024. A delighted Di thanked the other pairs for the matches played, and also thanked Sonya for partnering her in the event.

Breast Cancer Day

Resplendent in pink, 93 Chicks gave generously and played in a 4BBB event on Wilkinson Final Day, followed by a social luncheon. $1414 was raised from raffles, donations and on course novelty collections. Our sponsor, Aaron Brain of BMW, Shepparton, kindly donates the winners’ prizes and also contributes to the Ladies’ lunches and golf, so when Treasurer Linda does a final tally, a substantial amount will be forwarded to the Breast Cancer appeal. YMGCR thanks Aaron Brain for his continued sponsorship.

Glenys Durrant and Irene Thompson with an excellent 4Ball score of 46pts were this year’s winners.

A Grade winners were Nola Crothers and Carol McDonald 45pts., B Grade went to the very well dressed Lisa Weir and Jenny Luke 44pts. Nearest the Line prize winner was Helen Powell. Her drive was right on the line, good shot, H.

Upcoming Events

Benalla Bowl, Maie O’Shea, May 2nd

Myrtleford Bowl, May 9th

Foursomes Champs., May 11th

May Tournament, May 13th – 17th.

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