Making merry in the month of May...well Ian Rudd certainly was in last week's Kempsey Veterans Golf Club Medal Stroke competition that attracted 40 starters.
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In fact it will be that first Tuesday of May 2019 that will be long remembered by this youngish elder, who is over the 55 age limit, is actually the reigning Club Champion.
Why, you might say, but is not a hole-in-one, best 54-51 gross and nett scores, nearest the pins at the third and eighth holes as well as using his putter just 19 times over the 14 holes contested for the rider event, enough proof?
But Ian had to forego the coveted medallion as he had already qualified to be a Gold Medal contender in the big day come December.
His ace came at the rather difficult par 3 eighth hole at which he decided on an 8-iron for length and placement. Yes, he landed on the front of the green and sort of hopefully watched the ball roll towards the flagstick.
"I was confident it was into the hole and they [his brother Ced and two group partners] reckoned I was mad. They joked at me walking up to the hole but I had the last laugh, didn't I," he said.
Ironically, Ced (Rudd), along with Bruce Morris (54) and Jack Tolman (53), were adorned with the A, B and C-grade medals, the latter two being next best, too, to Bob Garner (52) and Dennis O'Brien (52).
Like Rudd, both Garner and O'Brien had qualified with wins earlier in the year and had to be content with that $20 money voucher for their troubles. Good things do come to those who wait, eh!
Nine figured in the ball competition, both Chris Hudson and Ron Ingall on 54 nett, with Wayne Hutley and Graheme Martin on 55. It was a stroke back to Hilary Dew, Allan Heather, Mark Townsend, Greg Mayhew and Graham Hall.
Again like Rudd, Hall had just 19 strokes in winning the B-grade putting, whilst O'Brien's 22 count was best of the lesserlights.
Back from a holiday in and on the islands - in the Pacific one thinks - Morris was quickly back on line with a tee shot to within a metre of the flagstick at the third hole. He was rewarded with a six-pack of new Bridgestones was Bruce.
Chip-ins were produced by Dew, O'Brien, Rudd (Ian) and Townsend.
In his usual address President Alan (Macdonald) welcomed Wauchope visitor Grahem Haggerty and noted, too, that Neil Dodds, Milton Riggs and Jim Meldrum were back with us after a lengthy break.
No, Jim was certainly not on a world tour as was rumoured by many, for the man himself told of that evil disease he has been struck with. "I'm OK now," Jim said prior to playing his return to duty in the awards presentation.
Fun and frivolity...oh yeah!
Captain Robert (Dykes) displayed all the aplomb required for the awards wind-up and did please most in advising that today's event was to be a 14-hole single stableford.
Words from our secretary and team member Chris Hudson regarding the performance at Kew in the Bill Medley Memorial Shield round was anything but good.
He went through the scorers and wound his report up by stating that we have held down our second-last position. Left all that until last hoping that it won't go to Press; only joking Chris!
