Rochester Bowls Club
Now that we are officially saying goodbye to winter we welcome pring and the beginning of a brand new bowls season.
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Please take note that there are a few dates that need to be popped into the diary.
Season Opening
The opening of the 2025-26 bowls season will take place this coming Friday, September 5, beginning at 4pm.
A representative from both the men and women of the club will launch the season by each rolling a bowl.
Members are also invited to bring their bowls and have a roll afterwards.
Those attending the opening are requested to bring a plate of nibbles to be shared over a drink and a bit of socialising.
The winner of the footy tipping competition will also be announced on this afternoon, another reason to get on down to the club.
A massive thank you to the ladies who have run the competition, your efforts are very much appreciated.
Indoor Bowls
On Monday, August 25, Bert Smolenaars and Graham Prince came away with the prize – good job fellas.
This Monday, September 1, will be our last session of indoor bowls for the year.
Bowlers are invited to bring a plate of nibbles to share as we enjoy some extra socialising after our bowls.
Thanks to Judy Murray and Kathy Williams who have organised the bowls each week.
Besides the great bowling, there’s always a lot of laughter and good banter among the members.
Friday Bowls
Unfortunately, last week’s bowls was cancelled due to the inclement weather.
Winter Drawn Pairs will not go ahead next Friday, September 5 due to the Official Opening event being held at the club.
Coaching/Skills Session
Each Thursday morning from 10 am.
Marg Knight welcomes new bowlers and Leigh Milgate is there to assist all other bowlers with a solid training session.
An excellent opportunity to get in some pre-pennant practice.
Lucky Lotto
If you haven’t secured your number yet, get in before Saturday’s Tattlsotto draw.
Who knows, you could be $150 richer.
For the sum of $40, you get four chances at the Lucky Lotto number throughout the month of September.
Pop your money in a marked envelope in the foyer or let Brooke know the number you want.
Pennant
A hard copy of the draw for both weekend and mid-week pennant is available in the foyer to have a look at.
This is also available on the BCGBR website.
Weekend Pennant begins on Saturday October 4 and Midweek Pennant on Tuesday, October 7.
There’s a sheet in the foyer for interested bowlers to enter their name for a practice match against White Hills on September 21.
The 60 and Over Bowls comp is back.
The first game will be hosted by Lockington on Wednesday, September 10, starting at 11am.
Teams need to be entered to Neil Haines 0457 056 591 by Sunday September 7 at 6pm.
Here’s to a successful season of good bowls.
Rochester will be hosting the 60 and over competition on Wednesday, September 24.
We will require the help of some ladies to prepare the sandwiches for the men’s lunch on this particular day.
If you are able to assist, please contact Judy Murray.
Men’s Championship
Entry forms are in the foyer.
All men are encouraged to enter their name.
The more bowlers we have, the more enjoyable and successful the competition is.
You have until Sunday, October 19 to enter the competition with the entry fee being $5.
Tournament Shirts
Bowlers have another month to indicate their preference of shirts and mark down if they wish to purchase a shirt.
Bar Duty
Monday – Friday 5 – 6.30 pm
1 – 5 September: B. Coghill and B. Smolenaars.
8 – 12 September: G. Willis and J. Boyd.
15 – 19 September: K. Barker and D. Hocking.
Lockington Bowls Club
Once again after several days of brilliant sunshine and less windy weather, the elusive fine days disappeared and returned to the average normal of true winter conditions.
The Wednesday edition of the popular game of Scrounge was shirt-fronted by some rain and windy conditions that forced the small field to abandon play after a few ends.
On Saturday, the weather improved, albeit for a bit of a strong South-westerly breeze, but offered the bowlers excellent greens and hot food afterwards.
The game on the day was to be a fours event under pennant conditions, however, most bowlers preferred to skip.
Following earnest consultation, all players decided on a game of 2x4x2 Pairs which provided plenty of action-packed bowling.
On rink one the pairing of Ray Hanson and Poss Andrea survived a close battle against Owen ‘Smiley’ McPhee and Graeme Wood to run out winners 14-11.
Scores being 11-10 in favor of the Hanson - Andrea combination with two ends to play.
On the next-door rink, all bowlers were in tremendous form to keep the small crowd of spectators enthralled.
John Fisher and John Andrea were under early pressure applied by the opposition of Alan Sharp (Elmore) and our latest recruit Ashley Dobell.
After trailing 3-10 at the half-way mark, the local duo of Fisher and Andrea made up some ground to be only two shots behind on the penultimate end.
However, Sharp and Dobell were equal to the task and won the game 16-12.
The overall winners on the day proved to be the combination of Alan Sharp and Ashley Dobell with a +4 shot advantage compared to Ray Hanson and Pos Andrea plus three.
An enjoyable day on the green.
The club will hold the official opening day on Sunday, September 14 in conjunction with the scheduled Memorial 2-bowl Mixed Triples commencing at 12.30pm.
Contact Cindy Felmingham or Ray Hanson for entries.
A change of date has been placed for the Sixty and Over competition Opening Day to now be played at Lockington on Wednesday, September 10 - a week later.
Contact Neil Haines for entries.
Rochester Golf Club
Wayne Williams is wondering when his bad luck will finish, as once again he ran 2nd in last Wednesday's Stableford event on the front nine.
Alex MacQuibban played good golf to win with a great score of 26 points, Williams, and Chris Eeles both had 23 points, while Laurie Radley was closest to the 3rd hole.
Due to the windy weather last Friday, the Ladies played a 9-hole Stableford event.
Karen Taylor had a handy 20 points to win from Lauren Coghill on 19 points.
After the rough weather on Friday, a quick clean-up was required before the Saturday's men's par event, where many flags, rubbish bins and branches were scattered around the course.
New member Peter Mulcahy handled the conditions better to win with +3, from the unlucky David Gebbie (+2).
Young Zac McInnes was the only other player to finish better than par on (+1).
Brent Sweeney and Murrray Schier were next best square to Par.
Nearest-the-pin winners were (5th) Will Coghill, (8th) Troy McInnes, (16th) David Harris, (9th) Andy Purdy and (18th) Shane Bywaters.
Volunteers are the backbone of many country sports clubs.
Once again, this was shown on Sunday and Monday, as over a dozen of our members rallied to clean up after Friday's wild storm, during which five fully grown trees and numerous large branches fell.
The Rochester Golf Club sends its condolences to the Rasmussen family and the members of the Elmore Golf Club on the very sad news of the sudden passing of Bruce Rasmussen.
Bruce was a regular visitor and much-loved character in and around local golf courses; he will be missed by many.
Lockington Golf Club
August 30 – Par Plus
There was a good turnout of players, despite the inclement weather.
Brad Wakefield blitzed the field with a brilliant score of +6 to win the Player of the Day voucher, as well as Division 2 honours.
Division 1 was competitive, with Neil Maddison’s fine round of +1 the best, ahead of Ash Portwine (square) and Stuart Newton (-1).
Nearest the pins: 3rd – Tom Scurrah; 2nd shot 9th – Kevin Humbert (A), Stuart Newton (B), Brad Wakefield (C); 2nd shot 18th for the 6-pack smack – Ash Portwine (for the 3rd time in the month of August).
Spike’s Longest Drive on the 10th, – Ash Portwine (A), Stuart Newton (B), Brad Wakefield (C).
Tom Scurrah won the 12 balls in the O’Connors Case Eagles Nest on the 3rd, with his very first shot of the day, and he sunk the birdie putt for a spectacular start to his round – but it was all downhill from then…
Upcoming events
Friday, September 5 – Stableford – Mary Robins Perpetual Trophy. Duty: Phyll Macfarlane, Helen Hayes.
Saturday, September 6 – Stroke – Gartside Cup Final – Monthly Medal. Duty: Ian Maddison, Trav Mancer.
Gartside Cup Finalists: 1st Round – Stuart Newton, Kevin Humbert, JD Wright; standby – Don Muhleisen.
2nd Round – Simon Portwine, Darren Carnie, Gary Milligan; s/b – Trav Mancer.
3rd Round – Grant Humbert, Neil Maddison, Tom Scurrah; s/b – Ash Portwine.
4th Round – Terry Thomas, Mark Lyons, Jeff Carnie; s/b – Brad Wakefield.
5th Round – Steve Holt, Tony Brooke, Ron Dixon; s/b – Jason Wakefield.
Thursday, September 11 – Joy Bickford Rose Bowl Teams Event – enquiries and entries to Pauline Humbert 0409 038 554.
Friday, September 18 – 3 person Ambrose – any combination – enquiries to Darren Carnie 0428 862 292.
Bamawm Golf Club
There was a good field of golfers enjoying a 2-person Ambrose on Sunday at Bamawm.
It was nice to see some young new faces on the course.
Scratch winners were Gary Milligan and David Winchcomb with 67.
Nett winners were Stuart and Fiona Newton with 78-13.5-64.5.
NTP 2nd shot 4/13- Steve Holt.
NTP 8/17- Jeff Carnie.
Longest Drive- Gary Milligan (0-15), Hayden King (16+).
Next week will be a stableford round, hit off from 12pm.
Reminder our annual TJ men’s 4BBB will be held on Friday, September 12.