Bob Briggs, Tarrangower Times

Participation in this year’s Hole-in-One had been eagerly awaited by many golfers as a major event within Maldon’s Easter Fair Program.

Many visitors to Maldon during the Easter period are regular competitors and great supporters of this very enjoyable activity at the Maldon Golf Club. This year’s weather conditions were challenging, with competitors and spectators subjected to the variability of the sun, the wind, the rain and the chilling conditions. Nevertheless, all braved these elements and enjoyed the event,

Maldon Golf Club members had volunteered many hours towards the preparation for this year’s Hole-in-One event and weren’t to be disappointed by great attendances over Saturday and Sunday from very enthusiastic golfers vying for the Maldon and District Community Bank $2,000 Bank Account for a golfer achieving a Hole-in-One.

In excess of 7,000 golf balls were hit to the green by golfers attempting this year’s challenge and their efforts resulted in varying degrees of elation and disappointment.

With no Hole-in-One being achieved during Saturday’s attempts, the stage was set for endless challenges to emerge on Sunday in pursuit of the $2,000.

For the final hours, the big question was whether a Hole-in-One would be achieved or whether the three nearest-the-pins would be the best achievements. Each of the eight tee boxes were in high demand as golfers sought to pursue the opportunity of scoring their ‘ace’.

However, at the close of hit-off at 4.30pm and despite all the best of intentions and efforts, no ‘ace’ had been achieved.

Despite no Hole-in-One, three excellent attempts were so-so close to the ‘ace’ required. Maldon and District Community Bank accounts were presented to three happy golfers:

• $900 Rob Birch – 9cm…WOW, less than 4 inches.
• $375 Oliver Messenger – 10cm
• $225 Steve Bishop – 12cm

Appreciation to all competitors over the two days for a very successful 2023 Easter Hole-in-One.

More festivities and golfing challenges extended into Saturday evening with a novel event for golfers to be closest-to-the-pin and take home a prize of an Esky and bar refreshments.

With a blazing fire-pit, roast beef rolls from the spit, and live music from Kevin and Jim, you could not ask for anything more enjoyable.

This was only topped by the event being held under lights.

YES, spotlights had been erected to highlight both the Green and pin and the tee-box area – a groundbreaking initiative that most certainly will be utilised in future events and activities.

Congratulations to Ash McKnight for success in the shoot-out and the Esky prize against competition from 10 golfers who had qualified for the shoot-out by being within two metres of the hole with previous shots.

Commiserations to Noel Olver, who, having qualified with a personal Hole-in-One, could not emulate this in the final.

This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 14 April 2023.