In stunning winter weather, locals Ronnie Page and Kevin Hoppe (pictured) have shown that consistency coupled with perseverance have won out to take the Beachfront Holday Parks – North Haven Three Day Classic, this June Long Weekend. Kevin and Ron won the points on two of the three days, placing well on the third to clean up in the overall point score event. We hope they have twin beds in the cabins at Ian and Kate’s Park.

We sincerely thank our sponsors of the 3 day Classic being Ian & Kate Kinleyside of Beachfront Holiday Park, North Haven for the major prizes, Bendigo Bank – Harden Branch for the daily prize events and the Harden Country Club for all of the daily novelty prizes. The pointscore for the event was based around winners claiming 5 points, the next 5 pairings claiming 3 points and the field 2 points. This has usually proven for a tight encounter come late on day 3.

Day 1 – Ambrose

On the Saturday, day 1 of The event, the format was Ambrose. A strong field of 42 players knocked the little white pill around in a format designed to smoothe the rough edges off each partners game. The days winners with a fantastic 64.5 nett were local burglars and hoodlums Tam Kennedy and Peter Steinke. Runners Up a few shots back on 66.75 were the winners of the days 5 points in the overall event were Kevin Hoppe and Ron Page due to the winners not being able to field on all 3 days. Nearest the pins on day 1 were Ashley Hall (6.67m on the 5th), Craig Filmer (28cm on the 10th) and Darrell Cassidy 2.78m on the 18th).

Day 2 – Canadian Foursomes

The Sunday event for day 2 was the classic challenge of Foursomes with a Canadian bent. Foursomes is traditionally the ugliest form of the game where all flaws are magnified between partners and keeping them well hidden the biggest challenge. Proving their resilience was Kevin Hoppe and Ron Page who shot a very nice score of 65.5 nett. Runners Up on Day 2 were the Wales Gang, Brian and Garry who shot a 68 nett and claimed the bikkies on a countback. Nearest the pins for the days event were Kevin Hoppe (3.59m on the 5th), Ron Page (2.3m on the 10th) and Darrell Cassidy again owning the real estate at the 18th with another pick up at 2.52pm.

Day 3 – 4BBB Stableford

Heading into day 3, the mission seemed insurmountable with Hoppe & Page on a massive 10 points and the best of the rest on 5 or 6 points. Serious thought was given to nobbling the Page by inviting him to an anonymous all night rave in West Oz. Day 3 was the classic 4 ball best ball format with each partner playing their own ball recording their best stableford result. This brought the Culling Mines Bandits to the fore with husband and wife duo Tim and Barb Beveridge keeping the field in suspense til the last minute, bringing home a massive 50 points in the last group. This caught the days runner ups on the hop as Jarrod and Craig Filmer were beginning to rub their hands together with their 46 points. Nearest the pins went to Eric Kuhn (5.1m on the 5th), Kyle Murray (1.63m on the 16th), and Chris “the Bear” Hocking must have hit his driver into the stiffening easterly breeze on 18 to get one 2.3m from the pin. The overall champions were in the 2nd wave of combatants to claim 3 points and reach the unassailable total of 13 points out of a maximum 15 on offer.

Overall Results

The Overall Weekend result and the trip away went to Kevin Hoppe and Ron Page as stated earlier on 13 points. Runners Up for the weekend were the dynamic Beveridge duo on 9 points and then 5 pairs were 1 shot back on 8 nipping at the leaders heels. Big thanks to our sponsors, the Committee who drove the event in Geoff, Kevin and Ron, and a special shout out to Karen for the hospitality in the Club and Roy and the volunteers for the great state of the course. Late Monday evening a couple of visitors from the Cherry town nearby went away stunned at the great event and the great course.

Midweek Competition

The carnage continues and the winners handicap gets slashed again as 27 people lined up midweek for the 12 hole stableford shootout format. Winner this week with a whopping 33 stableford points for only 12 holes was master wrecker Ron Oakman. The handicapper has provided a callback on your model and dispensed with 9 of your excess handicap that you will no longer need or use. Well done Ronnie 12.5 handicap is still too high for you over 12 holes it has been heard to be said. Other scores of note causing the handicapper to stir but not act were returned by Marj Manwaring 29 points, Billy Kildea on 27 points, Tam Kennedy on 26 points and Graham Taylor on 25 points. For those looking to play, drop in and chat to Karen at the bar and see about making this very popular comp a part of your weekly routine.

This Weekend brings about the GO Kruger Memorial Harden Tournament. With a feast of prizes and the course in this very special condition, get every golfer you know down on the time sheet at the Bar. Saturday sees the Medley 4 ball best ball format played to scratch and stableford. Sunday sees the Men’s Annual Open Tournament competed over several grades in the scratch and stableford formats with lots of daily novelty prizes as well. Again, time sheets are at the bar and the number if needed is 6386 2483.

Thinking of Having a Hit?

Do not let a chance go by boys and girls !! Dust off your sticks, come to the club and borrow some old ones, do whatever you need to. The course is a treat, there are no annoying crowd issues at city and big metropolitan clubs and the weather has been ideal. Come along, crush the little white thing, relieve the stress and enjoy all that Harden Country Club has to offer. PS: There is really cold brown lemonade at the 19th hole too. You will not regret it!!

Alby