114 Veterans played in the annual Spring Valley fixture. A grade was won by Kingswood player Paul Harkin off 12 handicap with 36 points. Evergreen Commonwelth veteran Graeme Robertson continued his good from winning B grade with 38 points from his 17 handicap. The day was sponsored by L T Promotional Wear represented by Steve Foulds.

Below left is Paul Harkin and right Graeme Robertson with Steve Foulds.

The fixture at Kingston Heath is so popular with members that the Melbourne committee were able to arrange two days golf on successive Tuesdays. Both events were well patronized despite Day one starting at 7.30 am in the middle of Winter. Fortunately the weather was kind on both days and the members enjoyed the course and the facilities and warm welcome at the Heath.

Winners on Day 1 were Bill Rhoden(Woodlands) A grade with 40 points and B grade was won by Jack Fleming Eastern from 18 with 37. Day 2 winner of A grade was Peter Brideson Gisborne with 40 points from 10 and B grade by Mike Leffler Heritage from 18 with 41 ponts.

Below: Peter Brideson, Mike Leffler, Jack Fleming and Bill Rhoden

Melbourne District conduct an annual event to honour the late Bill Edgar on his beloved Commonwealth Golf Course. The event is so popular that the Melbourne committee agred with Commonwealth to conduct two events on successive Mondays to cater for the players. 116 played on Day1 and 74 on Day2. Ron Albany from Gisborne won Day 1 with 41 points and Bill Chalk fron Kingswood won Day 2 with 42 points.

The first round of the Melbourne Championship was also played on the first day and Pat Mackay from Medway is leading the field with 79 gross. The course was in magnificent condition and the 190 players were made very welcome by the friendly staff at Commonwealth.

Below from left: Pat Mackay, Bill Chalk and Ron Albany.

The inaugural “Presidents Invitational” Hume District versus Melbourne District event was held at Growling Frog on the 24 May 1910. Due to imbalance of numbers it was decided the event would be single Stableford, and the result determined by the aggregate of the best 30 scores from each district.

Hume captain John Peart processed the scores and graciously conceded a Melbourne victory. However, the main victory on the day, given the after match atmosphere, was that the two districts involved enjoyed the day on a well designed course presented in fine condition. The weather was a little unkind later in the round, but that’s golf.

Results:
A Grade. Rob MacDonald Melb./Heritage, Hcp 10, 39 points
Runner up. Glenn James Melb,/Eastern, Hcp.12, 37 points.

B Grade. Loy McCarthy Melb./Eastern, Hcp.18, 39 points.
Runner up.Frank Ward Melb./Rosanna, Hcp.18, 38 points.

On behalf of Melbourne District appreciation is extended to President Graham Cooper of Hume District and his players for a most enjoyable day.

Below: Paul Campbell receives the perpetual trophy from Graham Cooper.

Melbourne District met for the annual event for the Woodlands Cup which was introduced by former Woodlands Golf Manager Sam Hartrig now with the PGA. Sam would be pleased to know 128 golfers competed and enjoyed the BBQ lunch provided by the Woodlands club.

The winner of the perpetual trophy this year was Peter Kutcher off 24 from Springvalley with 40 points.A grade was won by Derek Johnson Keysborough and Tony Swain won B grade.

Below, left - right: Peter Kutcher, Derek Johnson, Tony Swain

124 Veterans played at Kew on 17th May. A grade winner was Bob Tschudin (13) Box Hill with 40 points and David Teasdale (Riversdale) editor of the Melbourne Newsletter won B grade with 38 points from his “new” handicap of 17 on count back from Terry Smith (Kingswood)

Right: David Teasdale
Far right: Bob Tschudin

Lachlan McKinnon using a 7 iron made a hole in one on the 9th hole at Long Island on 15th March. Congratulations Lachlan.

Right: Lachlan with his trophy the lucky mounted ball.

Commonwealth veteran golfer Graeme Robertson (18) shot a magnificent 47 stableford points to win the Hacker sponsored Melbourne District fixture at Patterson River. 127 golfers received a copy of the latest edition of the Hacker Magazine and thoroughly enjoyed the day.

Right: Graeme with his trophy.

Mr Yoshio Oro from Trinity College Dublin is in Australia to study “older people participating in club based sports” He is conducting interviews in Australia, Japan and Ireland.

Melbourne Veterans co-operated in the study and Riversdale Members Len Symons, David Teasdale and Ian Hughes together with Malcolm Macpherson met with Yoshio at Riversdale Golf Club and were interviewed by Yoshio.

Below left: Mr Yoshio Oro. Below right: Malcolm, David, Len, Yoshio and Ian enjoy lunch afterwards.

Melbourne District conducted their Championship and Handicap Bowl on their final event for 2009 at Kew. 127 keen veteran golfers participated and they voted it a most successful day and season.

Many trophies were presented and the major recipients are listed below.

Southern members dominated the teams event on their home course winning the day with a great 128 points.Julian Land (14) Bruce Graham (21) Dale Burrows (18) from Southern were joined by Bruce Farmer Kew (19).

Tom Stotten holed his 5 iron on the 6th for a grear ace.

Below left: Tom Stotten.
Below right: (from left) Julian Land, Bruce Graham, Bruce Farmer and Dale Burrows.

Melbourne District conducted their annual event at Keysborough and 40 stableford points got home Graham Monkhouse (10) Box Hill in A grade and Geoffrey Boully (20) from Riversdale.

Right: Geoffrey Boully (left) and Graham Monkhouse (right) at Keysborough.

Murray Staddon from Riversdale after 45 years playing golf at last had his first hole in one  on the Kingston Heath temporary 19th hole.  Playing in the Veterans traditional day at the Heath, this is a fine hole of 146 metres and with a great 8 iron Murray achieved what all golfers hope for. Well done.

Melbourne traditionally mount the ball and in addition Murray will receive a sleeve of balls and a twelve months subscription to the Hacker Magazine courtesy of Garry Kennedy.

Melbourne District conducted their annual fixture at Kingston Heath with an AM field of 64 and PM field of 96. The 160 veterans thoroughly enjoyed the magnificent course and club house facilities.

The morning winners were Paul Campbell Settlers Run off 14 with 36 points and B grade by Peter Bottrall 18 from SpringValley with 35 points.

The afternoon winners were A grade Tom Stotten 12 from Gisborne and B grade by Gary Richards 21 from Gisborne with 39 points.

Below Peter Bottrall, Paul Campbell Tom Stotton and right Gary Richards

The late Bill Edgar (right) former Commonwealth Victorian and Australian champion was one of the founders of Veteran Golf in Victoria. The current veterans play for a memorial trophy in his honour each year and the event has become so popular that there a two trophies played for in successive weeks at The Commonwealth Golf Club.

The first event was played on June 29 and was won by Ken Pearson (18) from Eastern Golf Club with the magnificent score of 42 stableford points.

A grade was won by George Hamilton from Sanctuary Lakes (9) with 40 points and local player Graeme Robertson with 39 won B grade off his 17 handicap. 121 players enjoyed a well manicured course in cold but good weather.

Below from left George Hamilton Graeme Robrtson and Ken Pearson

Dennis Treacy below from  Heritage won the Day 2 Bill Edgar trophy with 40 stableford points.

This completed two great days at Commonwealth.

In 2002 entrepreneurial Woodland golf manager Sam Hartrigg now with the PGA challenged the Secretary of Melbourne Malcolm Macpherson to increase the number of Veterans attending the Woodlands fixture to guarantee an attendance of over 100 players  to ensure the event was a viable proposition.

For his club to provide incentive for veterans to participate Woodland Golf Club generously created a perpetual trophy named the Woodland Cup with the winners name engraved each year. Now in its 5th year the number of players have exceeded expectations every year and the event has become one of the most popular event s in the Melbourne calendar.

The 2009 event saw some great golf with Graeme Monkhouse from Box Hill shooting a great stableford score of 41 points off his 7 Handicap to win the cup. Another 7 marker Jim Cordery from Southern had an amazing 4 birdies in his first 5 holes to win A grade with 40 points and the evergreen Veteran Ewart Robbins from Rossdale off 21 won B grade with 37 points.

The usual BBQ lunch was very well received and appreciated by the players. Well done Sam.

Below left Jim Cordery right Ewart Robbins and bottom Graeme Monkhouse with Perpetual trophy

97 keen Melbourne District Veteran golfers played for the Hacker Cup at Rosanna Golf Club on April 20th. The annual day sponsored by Hacker is very popular with the Veterans and they are keen to support Garry Kennedy Editor and Publisher of the Magazine which donates space to Veteran news each issue free of charge.

With an outstanding score of 46 Stableford points Rob MacDonald (13) from Heritage won the Hacker Tanckard. David Teasdale from Riverside  with 39 points from his 13 handicap won the A grade trophy and Russell Howard from The National (20) won B grade with 40 points.

The course was very well presented and the players enjoyed the day which was favoured by magnificent weather. 

Below David Teasdale Rob MacDonald and Russell Howard