Captains 2024 Annual Report
Here is a summary of last year’s major events. Congratulations to all participants and winners.
March 4th – Ballina Vets Open:
Highlight: Greg Cross scored a ‘Hole in One’ and won $500, courtesy of Ballina Golf Club.
April/May Vets 4BBB Matchplay Championships:
July Vets Individual Matchplay Championships:
Week of Golf 22 to 26 July 2024
We welcomed 132 visitors from NSW, Vic, and Qld. Over the 4 days, 622 rounds of golf were played (140 by locals, 482 by visitors), a 6% increase from last year and 24% higher than 2022. Local participation increased by 30%, with numbers rising from 107 to 140 rounds, a 70% increase compared to 2022. Although local numbers are growing, some slots were still available on all days.
A total of $2220.00 in prize money was distributed, with locals winning $620.00.
Special thanks to our Major Sponsors:
August Vets Foursomes championships:
Winners Steve Horne & Roger Pallant Runners Up Allan Wilson & David Neven
September Vet’s Individual Champs:
NRVGA Open Days:
Throughout the year, open day events were conducted at various locations, including Iluka, Casino, Ocean Shores, Kyogle, Coraki, Lismore, Coolangatta-Tweed, Grafton, Woodburn-Evans Head, Mullumbimby, and Maclean. Individual Championships were held at Casino, and 4BBB Championships took place at Maclean. The Masters Championships were hosted by Woodburn-Evans Head. Unfortunately, five other open days were cancelled due to consistent rain prior to the events; however, both Mullumbimby and Maclean managed to reschedule. Excluding our own open day, Peter Wilson was the only player to secure an outright win at another course, specifically at Maclean.
The NRVGA introduced a new event this year, the Challenge Shield, with prize money of $1,000. The top five scores from each club contributed to the Shield event, with own course events being excluded from the scoring. At the halfway mark, Ballina was in 10th place. With an increase in player participation during the last three events of the year, we managed to climb to 4th place, winning $75. The final placings are as follows:
*MEMBERS, PLEASE NOTE THAT PLAYING IN AN OPEN DAY THAT FALLS ON ONE OF OUR EVENT DAYS YOU STILL RECEIVE A CREDIT AS THOUGH YOU WERE PARTICIPATING IN OUR EVENT.
With only 3 members playing at Casino, we were unlucky not to have come third losing by only 17 points. A draw was made from those players that taken part in 3 open day events (thus qualifying for championship events as determined by the Vets Committee with each of the following players receiving $25.00 into their personal bank account. Congratulations and thank you to all open day participants last year.
I am happy to report that both our Major events this year went off without a hitch and contributed to the Vet’s Bank account. This after allowed your committee to distribute an amount of $5370.00 back to Vets. Dependent on the number of games played 152 Vets received either $30 or a $40 Gift Card.
The National Aged Golfers Association award continues to be fought for with an amount of $7.50 being a drink added to the member’s card. From the last AGM to the end of 2024 the Vet with the most NAGA awards is as follows:
General Stats:
For those interested the following is a Statistical breakdown of the Year
The Club finished the year with 308 Financial Veterans a close win ahead of Coolangatta Tweed Heads with 304
Total Rounds Played on Veterans Monday (Disregarding Open Day and Week of Golf)
Total Rounds/Events: 44
Veteran Players: 4132 (87%)
Non-Veterans: 600 (13%)
Total Rounds Played: 4732
Average Players per Round: 108
The top participants in the Lucky Card Draw were:
The following players each received 3 vouchers: Greg Anderson, Peter Blanchard, Wayne Bryce, Martin Dufficy, Bob Galloway, Michael Howard, Neville Keevers, Rob Orchard, Bruce Rollo, Trevor Schmidt, John Swan, and David Walker.
NEAREST TO PIN AWARDS
There were 175 NTPs awarded this year, with Vet Members winning 140 (80%) and non-golfers winning 35 (20%).
Top performers:
It is noted that captain Greg Cross & Arthur Zaferis both scored only one nearest to the pin on a vet’s day during the year and on both occasions, they were both HOLE in one’s.
Pro Shop Dollars Awarded
The top five luckiest vet members for 2024 are:
Congrats to Mal Hamilton, the ‘Most outstanding Vet Player of the Year’:
I apologise that I have not completed a point score report on each and everyone’s scoring position during the year. Maybe next year?
Keep your Head Down and hit them straight.
