Sport
31 July, 2023
Victoria’s best sand scrape golfers set to converge on Talbot Golf Club this month for state titles
Golfers in the goldfields are set to have an exciting opportunity to compete at a state level in August, with the Trimax Victorian Sand Greens Cham-pionships coming to Talbot Golf Club. The competition has been operating since 1972 in the men’s...
Golfers in the goldfields are set to have an exciting opportunity to compete at a state level in August, with the Trimax Victorian Sand Greens Cham-pionships coming to Talbot Golf Club.
The competition has been operating since 1972 in the men’s division, and 1975 for women, and is run exclusively on sand scrape courses that have greens made from oiled sand, creating the spectacle of players raking and smoothing their putting lines before making their shot.
Talbot and Avoca are two prominent courses in the area that operate sand scrape courses.
Avoca golfer Kristie Kennedy was the winner of the women’s competition last year at Hamilton’s Loch Sport Golf Club.
Talbot Golf Club men’s captain Dean Ford couldn’t hide his excitement about the club holding the competition.
“It’s a great honour to host any state championship, and for the Talbot Golf Club, it’s a great influx of visitors that will come along and enjoy our course, and hopefully, with a bit of luck, decide to come back and play it again, as well as visit the surrounding areas,” he said.
The opportunity to bring the town of Talbot alive to visitors from around the state excites Ford the most, and he hopes that extends to the pub and accommodation around the area.
“Hopefully they bring a bit of money into Talbot, by having a meal at the pub and securing accommodation here, and it benefits the community as a whole,” he said.
Ford explained the dynamics of the competition, with Golf Victoria doing a large amount of the operations work, and Talbot Golf Club set to maintain the course to a high standard throughout the weekend.
“The competition is operated by Golf Victoria, and they oversee the whole competition. Us as a club, we’ll be maintaining the course to a standard, and we’re hoping to get it as good as we can get it, as well as provide food and beverages for the players to come along and enjoy their time that they spend here,” he said.
“Any time you get to host a championship of any description, and you’re selected to do so, it’s of great prestige to the club. We appreciate Golf Victoria coming along and allowing us to host this championship. Avoca did it a few years ago, and it was a great boon for them, and hopefully it’s the same for us this time.”
Ford said he was hoping for a strong contingent converging on the golf club for both the men’s and women’s competition, while revealing that initial sign-up numbers were strong.
“At the moment, we have about 90 players signed up, and then there is another month to go before the field is full,” he said.
“We can top out at 200 people for the tournament, and I’d be rapt if 200 people came to play at Talbot Golf Club. But realistically, I think 150 to 160 people would be a good result for the club though.”
Golfers will have a practice day with a four ball better ball competition on Friday, August 25, before competition starts on the weekend of August 26 and 27.
A 36-hole stroke competition will be held, with a stableford option to also be provided.
Golfers will be required to have a handicap of at least 45 for women and 36 for men.
A $20 entry fee will be required for the four ball better ball competition on Friday, while golfers wishing to participate in the weekend competition will need to pay the entry fee of $80, or $45 for juniors.
Golfers can enter the competition by visiting https://www.golf.org.au/events#/competition/3502866/
