Further to the story of John Wolswinkle’s score of +10 to win Wednesday’s par by 12 shots. It places him right up there with the very best.
I don’t have access to all the results over the years (neither does the Club) so apologies to those who miss out but these are noteworthy. Unfortunately, the first on my list is Doug Scott who in 1996 recorded 15 under par. I say unfortunately because Doug certainly doesn’t need his tyres pumped up anymore. More recently Matt Guy recorded a 58 which was 15 under par. I feel more charitable towards Matt because he once was a pupil in my class even though I doubt that he learned anything. He has the good grace to say now that if he was back in school it would be different. I am fairly certain that Chris Hunt, a former Treasure, and Roger Barnes, a Trafalgar visitor, both nudged 50 in Stableford.
However, none are even remotely close to the lowest. In the 1960’s Jack Kerr, a three times club champion conducted Saturday morning junior clinics where it was not unusual for up to 50 kids to participate. After the lessons would come a nine-hole stroke event. On this occasion Gary Bennett came in with a score of nett zero! Of course, he was helped by Jack’s very own handicap system which had him playing off a handicap of 70. The story did make the Melbourne papers. Some of you might remember the pink paper – The Sporting Globe.
Things happened at the other end of the scale too. John Arnold, a much beloved member, once achieved 18 wipes in a Par event. Was it better or worse that this? In 1955, in probably what was the club’s first round after being re-established after the war, 181was recorded. There were extenuating circumstances. There were only nine holes in a course constructed within the confines of the racetrack. That wasn’t the problem. It was the condition of the course. It had been built be in theon a semi-swamp, yabby holes were everywhere, the fairways were barely delineated, ti-tree stumps caught the unwary, thick bush was not far away and the greens were a mixture of sand and sump oil. Phil Edwards who played a reasonable game was probably pleased to come in the middle of the field with 116 while the winner managed 106.
Now back to John. The debate as to the best round can’t be resolved. Even though I haven’t even tried to pretend I have all the facts, I confidently declare John’s effort the best. He achieved this playing Par which can be very unforgiving and doesn’t always reward excellence. A win with a birdie can get the same reward as a par. Preferred lies were in play, there was light drizzle around and the atmosphere was heavy. And the winning margin was twelve.
I rest my case.
George Shand
Filed under: Golf, Membership Level, Guests