Portarlington Golf Club – April 12, 2018

THE R&A and the USGA have unveiled the new Rules of Golf, to be implemented on January 1, 2019. Golfers can now access the official 2019 Rules of Golf by visiting RandA.org or usga.org/rules.

The process to modernise the rules was initiated to ensure that the rules are easier to understand and apply for all golfers, and to make the game more attractive and accessible for newcomers. The changes that we will notice most are:

Dropping procedure: When taking relief (from an abnormal course condition or penalty area, for example), golfers will now drop from knee height.

Balls Lost or Out of Bounds: Alternative to Stroke and Distance: A new Local Rule will now become available allowing golfers the option to drop the ball in the vicinity of where the ball is lost or out of bounds (including the nearest fairway area), under a two-stroke penalty.

Tuesday April 3, Men’s Stableford Multiplier
A field of 144 men entered the lottery of this event, where each member of the pair multiply their stableford points together to an aggregate at the end of the round. Rob Atkinson and Kevin Wilson got their act together best, scoring 86 points to win on a countback from Ken Latta and John Cormack. Other voucher winners were Rob McIntosh and Graeme Wren with 85, and Max Gregory and Rob Parry with 84. NTPs went to Paul Brewin, Stephen Steele and David McCutcheon, and Josh Kent collected the ProPin.

Wednesday April 4, Doris Chambers Ladies’ Stableford Foursomes
A good field of 68 ladies participated in this event, and an amazing five pairs scored 37 points, the placings being decided on countbacks. Jeanette Johnson and Sandra Paddle had the best 2nd nine to take out the top placing from Helen Boyle and Kath Wright, next pair being Cathy Strachan and Pat Worsley. Winners of the Doris Chambers award were Jill Barker and Marilyn Mooney.

Saturday April 7, Men’s and Ladies’ Stableford
A perfect autumn day saw a huge field of 184 men and 35 ladies taking advantage of the perfect conditions. Our top man of the day was Cliff McCorkell with 41 points, also claiming B Grade by a point from Gary Hayward. Best in A Grade was Robbie White with 40, a point clear of Craig Finnemore, Mark Daisley topped C Grade with 40 from Ron McLaughlin’s 38, and Chris Dodds was best of the D Graders with 38 from Steve Cogger’s 37. Highlight of the day was a magnificent hole-in-one on the 17th by Bob Gibbs, with Peter Bauer and Yani Lathouris claiming the other NTPs and Ray Hazell the ProPin. The ladies event was won by Jean Pardy with 40 on a countback to Fran Stone. The NTPs were won by Jenny Pearson and Karen Thomas, and Jenny Edmanson won the ProPin.

Coming Events
Saturday April 14: Men’s and Ladies’ Par
Tuesday April 17: Men’s Stableford
Wednesday April 18: Ladies’ Stableford – Tee Off for cancer
Thursday April 5: Men’s and Ladies’ Stableford