Sport
7 October, 2022
Allora Golf Club celebrates 25 years
Earlier this month the Allora Sports Club hosted a large group of golfers and dignitaries to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the golf course.
Whilst the adverse weather certainly had an effect on the number of golfers who hit off, the 28 players who did play enjoyed their round and commented on the fine condition of the course.
Winners on the day were Neil Chandler and John Barrett with 79 points from Benny Duff and Nick Morris on 76 points with Troy Hughes and Willy Duff in third place on 69.
Following the golf, the players and invited guests were treated to a sumptuous BBQ lunch followed by a selection of mini desserts.
After lunch, Sports Club Patron Greg Patterson welcomed everyone and congratulated the golf club on not only achieving the 25 year milestone, but also on how well the course has been developed and the incredible growth of the game of golf in Allora.
Greg then presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Brian and Gai Nicholls for their tireless efforts in helping establish the golf course all those years ago.
Brian has a strong association with golf in Allora as his father Bert was a foundation member of the Sunshine Golf Club at Hendon and Brian and Gai actually own the land on which the golf course was once located.
Greg also presented Bob Denny with a certificate in recognition of the support Bob provided the golf club in the construction of the course and also in the years that followed.
Greg then presented certificates to the Foundation Members of the club being Burstows Funerals, Jenco Seeds, Peter Stewart and the Allora Advertiser.
There are a number of businesses in Allora who are incredibly generous with the provision of goods and services to the golf club and Greg presented certificates in recognition of this generosity to Brendan and Wendy Cook from Dalrymple Landscape Haulage, Steve Bolzan from Bolzan Sands and Michael Maher from M F Maher Sand and Gravel.
Sports Club President Kev Harrison took over from Patto and presented certificates to a number of volunteers who have worked both on the course and inside the club for many years.
The first of the recipients were Ray O’Leary and Doreen Duffy who work tirelessly on maintaining the golf greens and also helping out anywhere else around the club that needs it.
Ken Wilson also received an award as did Rod Simpson, with both of these gentlemen spending many hours on the course mowing, watering, whipper snipping and general maintenance.
The final two awards presented by Kev were to former Club Captains Anthony Bowe and Aaron Simpson.
Both Anthony and Aaron held the captain position for six years and they continue to support the golf club both financially and by also generously providing resources to repair, maintain and improve the course.
Jim Anderson assumed the presenter’s mantle for the final awards, those of life memberships.
Jim firstly congratulated the club on winning the All-Clif Shield against Clifton on Saturday and also on how the golf course and golf infrastructure has improved out of sight in the past five years.
The honour of Life Membership of the Allora Sports Club was bestowed on Lindsay May, Max Bielefeld, Don Crawford and Mark Henley. Lindsay, Max and Don have been integral to the success of the golf club for many years, with Lindsay serving sixteen years as Golf Club President and all three working tirelessly on the golf course in what over many years were drought conditions.
Mark’s involvement in the establishment of the golf course has been well documented and his son Steve collected the award on his father’s behalf.
Steve actually mentioned that Mark and his Apex Club colleagues were on their way back from painting Mick Shannon’s hut when they dropped into the Bowls Club for a beer and it was then that Mark mentioned how the land over the creek would make a good golf course.
Steve also mentioned that Mark will be in town over the next month and hopes to have a look at the course when he is in town.
In accepting the life membership award on behalf of Mark, Steve spoke of the pride in what his father had achieved and also how the golf course is an absolute credit to the town and looks tremendous as you drive along the highway.
The day closed with good fellowship, good cheer and congratulations to all for a job well done.
Thanks to Ted and Mim Rogers for the amazing feature on the Allora Golf Club’s 25th anniversary in last week’s Advertiser.
Thanks also to all the local businesses and community organisations that sent messages of support. We really appreciate it.
- John Ellwood
