General News
25 October, 2022
Ladies take on returning Rocktober event
With local flood warnings current, creek levy banks built up in anticipation and the forecast for torrential rains and thunderstorms, organising a golf event on Friday.
With local flood warnings current, creek levy banks built up in anticipation and the forecast for torrential rains and thunderstorms, organising a golf event on Friday, October 21, was fraught with uncertainty.
This was the build-up to the annual Rocktober women’s golf event in Warracknabeal, which hasn’t happened in the past two years due to the pandemic. Organisers took a risk, and ‘whew’ it came off. But we only made it with minutes to spare.
The women’s Rocktober event is Warracknabeal Golf Club’s third and final women’s event for the golfing season. It draws players from around western Victoria and even some Metropolitan players.
Scheduled for late October, it’s also a great opportunity for players from the sand green courses to continue their golf after their home club has finished its winter season and is now closed.
Groundsman, Nigel Zanker, and his team of volunteers had the course in excellent condition for the event.
To set the scene, Rock n Roll music greeted the players, many of whom dressed in colourful gear with touches of the 50s. The club rooms were also decked out in the Rock n Roll theme, thanks to Carolyn Morcom’s magic touch. All this helped to create a fun atmosphere to start the day.
The 2022 event attracted 42 players from 17 golf clubs- Horsham, Donald, Hopetoun, Bacchus Marsh, Rainbow, Jeparit, Birchip, Sheep Hills, Minyip, Stawell, Dimboola, Brim, Drung, Heidelberg, Murtoa, Goroke and Warracknabeal.
This was a fantastic result as the wet weather forecast contributed to cancellations from several teams including those from Ballarat.
Thankfully players were able to hit off in the sunshine at 10am and conditions remained ideal throughout the day - for almost all players.
As the very threatening dark clouds gathered just after 2pm, most were inside the clubhouse enjoying afternoon tea and a drink while out on the course it was looking ominous for the last three teams.
There was barely time for them to put on their waterproofs when they were caught in the sudden downpour, and they finished the final holes wet to the core. Not the perfect end to the day, but all were dried off when safe inside.
The Bentley Group and Maree Heenan have been generous sponsors of Rocktober for many years, and players are always keen to compete for great prizes. We are most grateful for the support of these valued sponsors as sponsorship ensures events like this can continue.
Teams of three played a Texan Aggregate Stableford format. How is it played? All team members hit their drive, then the team picks the best position.
All players place their ball on this spot and then play their own ball until holed, scoring individual Stableford points. On the par three holes, each team member plays their own ball to score their Stableford points.
After completing each hole, the Stableford scores are added for a team score. The final result is the addition of all scores. One more twist is that each player must have three of their drives chosen by the team over the 18 holes.
Allistair Lawson, from the Bentley Group, congratulated the club on the event and then presented prizes to the winning team, local members - Vicki Hinkley (35), Marlene Pilmore (36) and Isobel Davison (40), scoring a total of 110 points.
Maree Heenan presented the remaining place-getters with their prizes. Close behind in second place was the Horsham team of Val Scott (32), Elaine Oakley (41) and Colleen Whiteman (36) - 109 points.
They scored second on a countback, also on 109, from the team of Warracknabeal player, Wendy Hewitt (35), Horsham player Marg Taylor (36) and Goroke member Marge Rich (38).
In fourth position with a score of 107 points was the team of Warracknabeal member, Debby Barling (36), Sheep Hills player Leonie Saunders (35) and Murtoa player Sandra Decker (36).
This team just nudged into the placings on a countback ahead of Heather Hogan (36 - Birchip), Venita Walder (39 - W’beal) and Annabelle Plowright (32 - Horsham).
There were also other players with noteworthy individual scores. Bev Appledore from Brim scored 40 stableford points and Karen Germano from Warracknabeal scored 38.
The following players won novelty events, also sponsored by Maree Heenan. Nearest to the Pin on the 5th – Heather Hogan, 7th - Sandra Decker, 13th - Deb McSparron, Straightest Drive- Wendy Hewitt, Longest Drive (Div 1) Marg Taylor, (Div 2) Venita Walder, Best Dressed Team- Marge Rich, Marg Taylor, Wendy Hewitt.
Happy raffle winners were pleased with their prizes sourced from Rustic Jungle, Warracknabeal. Players also enjoyed a sumptuous afternoon tea, the hallmark of all good country tournaments.
In a big event like this, dozens of people volunteer significant time and skills to ensure all goes smoothly and successfully. Everyone’s contribution is highly valued.
In presentation speeches Lady President, Carolyn Morcom, and Captain, Wendy Hewitt, thanked all Warracknabeal Club members who helped in any way - with preparing the course for the event, promoting the event, organising the raffle, catering, prizes, decorating the club room, setting out the draw, office duty on the day, helping allocate carts, staffing the bar and shop, photography, general administration and cleaning up.
Visiting players were also thanked for supporting the event, especially considering uncertain weather conditions. It was a great day and a terrific promotion for our club and a wonderful golf course.