Portarlington Golf Club – March 29, 2018

COURSE Superintendent Steve Burchett and his team are constantly working hard to maintain our golf course. We are extremely lucky at Portarlington to have such dedicated grounds staff. Despite the lack of rain, the course is in terrific condition but it takes continual attention. With only 2mm of rain in February and none until last weekend in March, our storages are sitting at approximately quarter full. The battle to stop the encroachment of kikuyu and couch into the greens is constantly being fought. Spraying to control the kikuyu in the roughs as well as spot spraying the green surrounds is currently high priority. We golfers appreciate all that our grounds team are doing to present our course in tiptop condition.

Tuesday March 20, Men’s Par
A good roll-up of 156 men were out in force, and Rob Stiglbauer flew home with a great score of 6 up to win Trophy of the Day and B Grade on a c/b from an unlucky Ray Linegar. Leigh Datson was our best A Grader with +5 by a shot from Sam Beeston, John Oldfield’s +5 won him C Grade ahead of Darren Orr’s +2, and Ian Flanders headed a host of D Graders with +2 on a c/b from Bill Leary. The NTPs were played by Matt Salter, Peter Solohub and Brian Bell, and James Harvey cracked it for the ProPin.

Wednesday March 21, Ladies Open Irish 4 ball
This year the money raised from the women’s charity day is going to the Portarlington Primary School, to be put towards the development of their new playground. The new school building is looking fantastic and it will be great to see our funds being put to good use. With the raffle, trading table and entry fees, we raised $1,340 towards this project. We had 21 teams (84 players) entered in the Irish 4Ball Stableford event. In very difficult windy conditions a team from Portarlington won the day with a score of 88 points – Joyce Vagg, Kath Wright, Di Snell and Jocie Mather. Second with 84 points was another Portarlington team consisting of Colleen Butler, Doreen Ivess, Christine Callan and Sandra Kearton. NTPs were won by Carol Trotter (Lonsdale) on the 5th and Sue Plummer on the 17th.

Saturday March 24, Men’s & Ladies’ Foursomes
Not your normal Saturday on the golf course, with thunder and lightning causing play to be suspended at around 9.20 am. However, the weather improved enough for 11 pairs to complete the event later in the day, with our top juniors Jack Martin and Max Edmanson heading the field with a nett score of 67, followed by Robbie White and Lee McMurrich with 71, and John W Bowman and Barry Benson next with 73. The only claim for an NTP was on the 17th, going to Barry Benson.

Coming Events
Saturday 31st March: Men’s and Ladies’ Foursomes Championship
Tuesday 3rd April: Men’s Stableford
Wednesday 4th April: Ladies’ Stroke – April Medal
Thursday 5th April: Men’s and Ladies’ Stableford