The weather was, as usual, fine and the course and surrounding gardens were in very good condition. The Golf Club had works under way around various fairways of the course installing a new watering system. This did not cause too many problems unless a ball ran off into a trench or in amongst small heaps of clay alongside the fairways. However provided one kept the ball on the fairway it was no problem.
Happy Hour commenced as usual in the afternoon after each days play. The gathering brings everyone together in a relaxed environment to chat about the days events and life in general prior to heading off to dinner in the golf club bistro. The bistro supplied delicious chinese fare on two evenings and traditional meals the other. Dinner was followed for some by a little dabble on the 'pokies' in the gaming room.
The second day tee off was early at 8AM whilst dew still lay on the ground and John Randall, our fearless activity coordinator, arranged the teams, mixing up the players from the previous day. Meanwhile the non-playing ladies headed off for an exciting `shopping spree` in Corowa and surrounding district. There are always bargains to be had and they will be promptly snapped up!
The golf was terrific and the course presented a very different challenge to our one at Waverley on Wednesdays, where most are used to its layout. The holes at Howlong are much longer and the doglegs, left and right, more severe.
After the round on Tuesday we were treated to a delicious barbecue lunch of sausages and onions on bread prepared by Barbara and Margaret. This was washed down with orange juice as well as any available alcoholic beverage. After lunch we were free to relax or tour the surrounding area.
Our final day commenced at 11.30AM with an 18 hole `Ambrose` round with the teams matched up as evenly as John could manage. As well as the team event we had `Nearest to the Pin` and `The Longest Drive` competitions for everyone to attempt.
At `Happy Hour` the award ceremony took place. Winner of the ladies `Longest Drive` and `Nearest the Pin` went to Pat
Adams. Peter Hogan won the men's `Longest Drive` and John Hinton `Nearest the Pin`. The winning Ambrose Team with a par
score round was John Hinton, Peter Dolinsky, Lorna Bridgland and Bill Cooney. Congratulations to all the winners.
John Hinton presented a bottle of wine to John on behalf of all those attending and thanked him for his work in making
this outing another great success. Thanks to all for another grand golfing trip away and we look forward to a new golfing adventure together next year.