THURSDAY the 5th of March was another stifling morning, with only 39 ladies playing in the Lady Vets 9 hole event. There were some fantastic scores carded, with Deb Matheson (a brilliant 44 off the stick) and Liz Ross both finishing with nett 35, Liz Edmonds 34, Carol Wiggins 35 and a delighted Gene Prigg 36 close behind. Gene played a great game, her best in years she thought – well done! Chip ins came from Saw Lim Ling on the 6th hole, and Robyn Keegan on the 17th from 5 metres out. But it was the consistent Di Smith, who’s been hovering close to the top of the leaderboard for weeks, who romped in with the day’s impressive win. Well played, ladies!

Results: Thursday 5/3/2026

Lady Vets 9 Hole Event

1st Di Smith -12; 2nd Viv Ballinger -6; 3rd Lorraine Bragg -4; 4th Ann Browning -2

NTP Hole 3: Division 1 Jo Scott; Division 2 Liz Edmonds

NTP 16th Hole: Division 1 Deb Matheson; Division 2 Marg Bonney; Division 3 Viv Ballinger

There were only 28 takers for the first Monthly Medal Saturday Competition for the year, but the battle for B Grade was enthralling. Despite scoring a 10 on one hole where she had some bunker trouble, Carol Maher came home with a great gross score of 71, winning on a count back from Roma Bernardin also on 71. Liz Edmonds came in a further shot behind on 72 to complete the B Grade sweep of the leaderboard. Well played, ladies!

Results: 7/3/2026

Ladies 18 Hole Stroke March Monthly Medal

A Grade Winners: 1st Kathy Griffiths 72; 2nd Deb Matheson 75; 3rd Sari McDonald 79

B Grade Winners: 1st Carol Maher 71 C/B; 2nd Roma Bernardin 71; 3rd Liz Edmonds 72

Place Getters (74-75): Robyn Richardson, Ann Syme, Sue Brownrigg, Judi Salmon

NTP Hole 5: A Grade Kathy Griffiths; B Grade Roma Bernardin

NTP Hole 10: A Grade Angela Clipperton

A Grade Gross Winner: Deb Matheson 93 C/B

B Grade Gross Winner: Sue Kovacs 102

After some welcome rain early in the week, last Thursday was again quite warm and humid for the 48 lady vets who played in the 9 hole event. The freshly cored and sandy greens made for some interesting putts, with lots of stories afterwards about the near misses. Sally MacDougal had no trouble though, finishing with a wonderful score of nett 29 after 51 shots off the stick. She also claimed NTP on the 16th in C Grade, and chipped in from 6 metres out on the 17th. Our overall winner today though, has been in great form in recent weeks playing very consistent golf, so well done Viv Ballinger.

Results: Thursday 12/3/2026

Lady Vets 9 Hole Event

1st Viv Ballinger -6’ 2nd Chris Simmons -2; 3rd Karen Serhan -1 C/B; 4th Pam Keegan -1; 5th Rosarie Mullins 2

NTP Hole 3: Division 1 Sue Kovacs; Division 2 Dawn Gough

NTP Hole 16: Division 1 Judy Benson; Division 3 Sally MacDougal

Congratulations too, to the Queen of Putt for Dough, Janet Moore who took the prize this week!

The club farewelled one of our golf Pros this month, with Glen Haynes taking up a new position at Forster/Tuncurry Golf Club. Glen has been instrumental in helping to grow the ladies’ game at Hawks Nest, conducting introductory groups of Get Into Golf for new and returning players. This was followed with coaching clinics, drills and private lessons, as well as his coaching videos, all of which prepared and encouraged ladies to participate in the many competitions run at Hawks Nest. Many of our experienced golfers have also sought Glen’s expertise, to refine and develop their game for elite competition such as pennants.

Glen has also been building up our club junior numbers, and is proud to have coached the junior girls through the Australian Golf Scholarship Program. He is now looking forward to the challenge of working with golfers in a larger community again, having previously worked in the greater western Sydney area. Hawks Nest’s lady golfers would like to wish Glen well as he moves on to the next stage of his professional career. Good luck, Glen!

By Dianne BOWES