Results of All-Age Weekend Away
1-3 November 2024
Our twenty-eighth annual golf trip away got underway on Friday in overcast conditions at Jamberoo Golf Club. The course was in good condition and fortunately the rain stayed away.
A group of twenty-three players teed off from 10:00am and were refreshed by cold beer for the round. Three other buffers attended but could not play due to either injury, surgery, or illness: ‘Bomber’ (Steve Brown), ‘Livewire’ (Phil Paul), and ‘Mower’ (Steve Manning). With a top temperature of only 19 degrees, the last group of players finished the course around 2:00pm before heading back to the Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club Cabins. The ‘nearest the pin’ on the front nine was won by ‘Willy’ (Matt Willis), while the back nine was won by ‘Mini Matt’ (Matt Beauchamp). The ‘longest drives’ were won by ‘Phanto’ (Glenn Walker) and ‘Lefty' (Nathan Iogha).
Friday evening, we enjoyed a rather chilly BBQ at the Warilla Cabins. On Saturday, most attendees opted for an afternoon in the Club TAB or imbibing red wine, cured meats, and cheese next to the cabins. This was followed by an evening BBQ. Once again, a big thank you to ‘Snags’ (Joe Papandrea) for organising the food for the trip.
On Sunday we had twenty-two players plus three face the starter’s pistol for our inaugural Stephen ‘Babo’ Babic Memorial Cup competition (four ball - best ball – best drive with no second shot – and 2023 winners handicap) which was held at Port Kembla Golf Club with a very early 7:12am tee off. The weather was overcast around 24 degrees with some breezy holes but generally quite warm. The course, as usual, played long and was quite difficult to navigate.
There were six teams competing on the day. The ‘nearest the pin’ winners were ‘Mini Matt’ (Matt Beauchamp) and ‘Lefty' (Nathan Iogha), while the ‘longest drives’ were cleaned-up by ‘Let’s-Have-A-Shot’ (Glenn Saunders).
The competition itself was a blanket finish with the winning team just 3 shots in front of the last placed team of ‘Phanto’ (Glenn Walker), ‘Little Phanto’ (Nathan Walker), ‘Dixie’ (Craig Dixon), and ‘Corporal’ (Lance Walker) who carded a 77 along with ‘WC’ (Brian Saunders), ‘Let’s-Have-A-Shot’ (Glenn Saunders), ‘Willy’ (Matt Willis) and ‘Livewire’ (Phil Paul) who were subject to a 5-stroke penalty ‘loading’ for having won the previous year.
The second spot team across the line carding a 75 was ‘Stroke’ (Gary Coleman), ‘Chubbs’ (Tim Coleman), ‘Picasso’ (Pablo Puyo), and ‘Brain’ (Brian Henry) ably assisted by ‘Bomber’ (Steve Brown) – the team shot three birdies.
Three teams crossed the line in first spot carding 74 each: 1. ‘Striker’ (Steve Beauchamp), ‘Mini Matt’ (Matt Beauchamp), ‘Quiz King’ (Ray Borg), and ‘Little Quiz King’ (Chris Borg); 2. ‘Beer Barron’ (John Binnie), ‘Bone Crusher’ (Michael Binnie), ‘Mower’ (Steve Manning), and ‘Little Mower’ (Josh Manning); 3. After an official countback, the winning team was determined to be ‘Sticks’ (Sam Iogha), ‘Shauno’ (Shaun Iogha), ‘Lefty’ (Nathan Iogha), and ‘Snags’ (Joe Papandrea) who were ptresented with the inaugural Stephen ‘Babo’ Babic Memorial Cup and each team member presented with a commemorative plaque to mark the event. Well done, and congratulations men, but please remember you are now ineligible to win the 2025 competition!
We hope that you all had a very enjoyable three days and look forward to seeing you all again in mid-November 2025 for our 29th annual golfing trip.
The Organising Committee