Club Championships

He has been a great stalwart of the Club and has helped to raise the standard of golf. His Pennant wins both as captain and player are too numerous to record, however, we have made a list of his career highlights and these arc printed below. At 54 years of age, on the 10th March 1984, he created a new course record at the Penrith Golf Club, with a round of 68. He is now in his thirtieth year as a Pennant Player and journeys down from Forster each weekend to play. Bill, may we thank you for the pleasure you have given us and wish you continued success in the years to come.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

AUSTRALIAN LEFT HANDED CHAMPION PENNANT HILLS CHAMPION PENRITH CLUB CHAMPION ASHLAR CLUB CHAMPION WESTERN DISTRICTS CHAMPION MANNING RIVER CHAMPION LEONA Y CLUB CHAMPION BLUE MOUNTAINS OPEN (COURSE RECORD 63) CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS (lST LEFT HANDER) CONCORD CUP SEMI FINALIST AUSTRALIAN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS STATE TEAM WINNERS OVER SOUTH AUSTRALIA STATE TEAM AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATIVE WORLD SOUTHPAWS CUP SOUTH PAWS CUP 5 TIMES . QUALIFIER BRITISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP TWICE MEMBER OF AUSTRALIAN TEAM TO WIN WORLD SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FROM 1955-1965 1959 1960 1963 1950-1968

1950-1960 1950-1960 1955-1968

Other members who brought distinction to our Club were:

Phil Wood Bill Tobin Bruce Boyle Eric Couper Gerard Power International and State Representative State Champion and Representative State Representative 6TIMES 3 TIMES 6 TIMES 1955 4 TIMES 4 TIMES ?TIMES 1960 1960 1962 1962 1962 1963 1966 1960-1970 1978-1984

1988

State Champion, Australian Champion State Medal Champion, State and Australian Representative

HOLE IN ONE REGISTER

To complete the first official Register of Holes in One, required the gathering of names of members who had performed this feat in a recognised Pennant Hills Golf Club event. After examining the Hole in One Decanter and Silver Tray, the names engraved thereon were listed and then entered into the Register in alphabetical order. This list was then displayed in the Clubhouse. It was disclosed that there were fourteen additional names, of members who had holed in one in Club events, which did not appear either on the Decanter or Tray. These names, after verification by members, were included in the Register and engraved on the Silver Tray. At this point in time, 20 November 1988, their have been 249 holes in one. The hole analysis shows the following figures. No.4. 53 No.6. 22 No. 9. 88 No.14. 59 No. 18. 27 The Hole in One, which eludes the vast majority of golfers, is considered to be a fluke. However the player who performs this feat often has other ideas and will go to great lengths to describe the perfect shot. The members will listen, with glass in hand from the free traditional bottle of scotch, and offer their congratulations. This is all the member will receive, other than a Hole-in-One tie, for there is no reward for the feat, other than the inner feeling of excitement, at having finally, or in some cases several times, performed the delightful fluke. Holes-in-One come in all shapes and sizes and during the compilation of this Register your historian listened to many a golfing extravagance. However, of the many stories, some bear repeating. In 1959, Bill Hill holed in one on the 14th. The tee shot actually landed in the cup on the fly and wedged itself between the flagstick and cup. The ball was stuck fast. The flagstick was at first gently wobbled, not wishing to cause hole damage, without success. It was then decided to pull the flagstick with an upwards motion, success, the flagstick was removed complete with cup and ball. The cup was gently replaced. In 1976 Oscar Patterson holed the 4th, his first Ace.Jim Fletcher, after watching Oscar's shot, remarked, "It looks easy" and promptly repeated the dose. A rare event indeed, two holes in one from two shots. In 1972, Reg Austin was enjoying the sun on the balcony when he saw a ball roll into the 18th hole. "Hole in One" cried Reg. "Who was it" asked a nearby member. "Tom Pearch" Reg replied. It was not Tom Pearch, it was Les Lammey, a member of similar build. However, not to be outdone and within a few minutes, Tom Pearch holed the 9th to record his fourth hole in one. One year later in 1973, Ian Ferguson, who had just finished his apprenticeship with Ian Alexander, was playing a Pro-Am when he holed the 18th to win a prizeof$1000. In the afternoon round, Les O'Keefe, professional from the Ashlar Club, holed the 6th to win the $3000 new car donated by member, Jim Sutherland. In the past 41 years there had only been 7 aces at the 6th and 11 at the 18th. Both holes had never been holed in one on the same day. Jim just smiled. On the 28th November 1987, Bruce Chenery and Alan Dudley both holed the 9th. Both winning the nearest the pin, were rewarded with a dozen balls each. The traditional split among the playing partners was observed. A Hole-in-One to remember. In May 1986, Reg Wilkins, who was recovering from heart surgery, holed the 6th for his first Ace. He had been warned by his Doctor not to have too much excitement for the next six months during his recovery. At 73 years of age and five months later he dispelled the advice. After forty years of trying he had at last achieved the delightful fluke of a hole in one. Jack Clarke, Harry Tiffin, and the late Tom Pearch have each holed in one four times, whilst Paul Henricks, John Jones, Merv Martin, Val O'Dell and Vern Thomas have each recorded three a piece. In honour of the late Tom Pearch, in 1987 the Hole in One Salver was named after him.