Maurice ‘Herb’ Manwaring pictured with the Dempster Cup at his home.
The NSW Veteran Golfers Association Week of Golf took place on November 7th, 8th and 9th with 73 en- tries with 3 clubs being rep- resented with Maurice ‘Herb’ Manwaring winning his fourth Dempster Cup.
The Week of Golf program is organised so travelling golfers can attend multiple events with, as much as possible, minimal travel in between. Many vets follow a regular circuit which sees them playing tournaments for much of the year.
In the past couple of years many veteran golf events have been disrupted due to covid, extensive flooding and other issues. Now that the Week of Golf is back, Herb has already been back at it, happy to see the event back on.
“It’s a group that’s retired and they go around in their caravans and they visit all the veteran places. They come from Griffith to here and they go from here to Canberra,” he said.
“We had 80 odd players this year, next year we’d probably get 120 or 140, we wouldn’t know. They all camp at the Caravan Park at the Showgrounds. It’s good money for the Show ground and the town. It’s a
terrific group of people who come into town.”
“All the people who stay down at the Showground believe it’s the best set up they have ever stayed in which is good. They get good revenue every year when they come.”
Herb said some had al- ready booked for next year. He wants to acknowledge Don and Jane Mailing for the hard work they’ve put into the Vet’s Tournament.
The Dempster Cup has been challenged for 93 years now since 1930 and is a much sought after cup.
one qualifies for but the 16 top golfers at the club on that day play on. You have to play pretty well.
“If you play average, if you can play around the handi- caps, you have got a fair chance at winning.
“All the old good golfers, they’re all on [the Cup] somewhere. I’ve won it four times since I was 82 when I first won it.”
Herb has won it in 2015, 2018, 2019 and now, 2023. This means he has equalled the record for the most Dempster Cup wins. It’s something he practices for quite a bit, even saying he plays three times a week.
“Wednesday, Friday and then I play on the Satur- day.”
“I’ve been lucky, I play pretty well.”
Look out for Herb come next year’s Dempster Cup, you can expect he will be chasing his 5th win.
Jack Murray
Golf Continued
Harden Country Club has just hosted its N.S.W.V.G.A trial week of golf held on the 7th, 8th and 9th No- vember The club would like to thank their major spon-
sors – Graymont Pty, Ga- long and D.A Busters De- velopment Applications for their generous support of the first event. Without sponsors these events wouldn’t be possible. Harden certainly benefited from having so many visi- tors in the town for the week; and thanks must go to all who participated.
Some results: DA Busters 4BBBB on Tues- day
1st Anthony Stone (Sus- sex Inlet) and Henry Kubacki (Tully Park).
2nd John and Glenda McCan (Nelson Bay).
3rd Raymond Clegg(In- verell) and John Mason (Howlong).
4th Noel Hayward, David Earnshaw both (Coota- mundra).
5th Bill Crothers (Sussex Inlet) and Betty Fencing (Weethalle).
Wednesday Individual s/f sponsored by Graymont PTY- Galong
Mens Div 1 Graeme Brier- ley- Tocumwal
Div 2 Lyall Twyford -Coota- mundra
Ladies Div 1 Julie Berrick Kew.
Div 2 Jacki Wheeler- Kiama.
Thursday Individual s/f sponsorred by Graymont Pty- Galong
Mens Div 1 John Mason- Howlong.
Div 2 Graham Ball – Cressent Head.
Ladies Div 1 Sandra Eng- land- Nowra.
Div 2 Bev Branson- Russel Vale.
The 36 Hole also spon- sored by Graymont Pty- Galong
Men all the field winner was Hardens 89 year old legend Maurice (Herbie) Manwaring and the 36 hole ladies all the field winner was Sue Gilchrist from Crescent head. Congratu- lations to All.
On Tuesday evening we held a meet and greet Bbq which was a great success with the interaction be- tween visitors and local members being a feature. Our guests were very im- pressed with the presenta- tion of our golf course and greens due to the expert- ise, hard work and commit- ment of our course Superintendent Chad Gilmore and his trainee Brodie.
The excitement is already growing for the opening of our new motel and Club house in the new year. We are hoping next years week of golf from Monday 4th-8th November 2024 will be equally successful if not bigger and better.
Don Maling
Tournament Director