Veterans Golf: Crowne Plaza

By Graham Turvey

A road trip on a very foggy morning was the greeting for the forty six Upper Hunter Veteran men and women golfers from throughout the Valley and beyond including Quirindi, Murrurundi, Scone Aberdeen, Muswellbrook, Denman and Central Coast, all assembled for a 9am start to “our” 6th Annual  Captain’s event, a Mixed Individual Stableford held at The Hunter Valley Golf and Country Club (Crowne Plaza) on Thursday, April 28, organised by Captain Max Holz and wife Nellie.

The golf course at the Crowne Plaza Cessnock. Photo sourced from the Crowne Plaza.

Many thanks for Crowne Plaza for the use of their course for this event.

All competitors enjoyed the fabulous golf course with water hazards aplenty and a large assortment of sand bunkers, combining to make it a very challenging layout. An extensive array of prizes was on offer – generously donated by many supporters and sponsors from throughout the Hunter Valley, including Australian Construction Group (ACG), Crowne Plaza, Cessnock Toyota, Marcus Ryter – Branxton Golf Club, Tonic Hotel, Pokolbin (Major prize for the raffle – Two Nights accommodation), Two Rivers Winery – Denman, James Estate Wines – Baerami, Hunterbelle Cheese – Muswellbrook, Pukara Estate – Denman, Precious Pieces – Denman, Hunter Valley Liqueures – Denman.

Ladies Results:
Cath Goodsell with a splendid 43 points winning a $100 Drummond Golf gift voucher kindly donated by Australian Construction Group (ACG), 2nd Nellie Holz 32 points – received a voucher for two rounds golf incl.cart compliments of Crowne Plaza, 3rd Pam Minch 30 points  – Pukara products & wine, 4th Marion Flanagan 29pts c/b- Ball Retriever & wine, 5th June Wilson 29pts – Precious Pieces voucher.

Ladies Bradman prize – Lorna Aird.

Men Results:

Best Man was Bob Minch 37 points – $100 Gift Voucher Drummond Golf kindly donated by ACG, 2nd Elie Raad 36c/b – Crowne Plaza Golf voucher, 3rd Graham Guest 36 pts – Branxton Golf voucher & wine, 4th Bob Thorley 34c/b Branxton golf voucher & wine, 5th Greg Newman 33pts – Ball retriever & wine, 6th Phil Ledgerwood 32c/b – Pukara products, 7th Reg Davidson – Precious Pieces voucher, 8th Graham Boles – Hunter Valley Liqueur voucher.

NTP’s prizes for each of the five Par 3 Holes for Ladies and Gents. Card Draw for prizes for most non winners.

Climax at the end of the day was drawing the Raffle 1st Prize – Ken Cronin Qdi – two nights accommodation at Tonic Hotel – Pokolbin.

2nd Prize Amarle Raad – Cessnock Toyota products and 3rd Margaret Bray – Cessnock Toyota products.

On behalf of the Upper Hunter Veteran Golfers Association – many thanks to all sponsors, supporters and golfers.