Dalhousie District Golf Association’s three top awards for 2023-2024 all went the way of the Mount Macedon Golf Club and two of its illustrious members.
The awards were announced by DDGA president Mary Campbell at the district championships held at Broadford Golf Club on Sunday, August 11.
Mount Macedon representatives were thrilled to hear the club had been judged Club of the Year for its initiative, which substantially grew the club’s membership by encouraging participants in the Ladies Get Into Golf@MMGC program.
Club captain Mick Doyle accepted the award on behalf of the club.
The Mount Macedon format is being followed by several other lcubs around the state.
Awards presented align with Gold Australia Victoria’s industry awards – Volunteer of the Year and Club of the Year.
Nathan Fairley received the DDGA Volunteer of the Year award for his instigation and implementation of greens and course management programs at the club.
Mount Macedon’s Matt Willis was named the DDGA’s Long-Term Volunteer of the Year for his long-term voluntary leadership at the club.
Dalhousie leaders congratulated the major award recipients and all the volunteers who make such a difference to golf across the district.
CLOSE IN CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2024 DDGA championships held the same day at Broadford produced an enthralling finish, with play-offs necessary to determine the men’s and women’s titles. Capacity fields participated.
Andrea Boland (Kilmore) and Lyn Carracher (Avenel) tied with 95s off the stick, and Luke Rogan (Seymour) and Ed Carracher (Euroa) tied on 76 in the men’s ranks.
The Carracher mother and son made it a family double by both holing great birdie putts on the first play-off hole.
Woodend’s Michelle Jakovac, competing in her first district event, excelled by winning the women’s nett and the Mary Dockery Trophy.
Michelle is a relative newcomer to the sport, and has had her share of wins already at Woodend.
Broadford’s Chris Allen (B-grade) and Robert M. McDonald (C-grade) were the scratch winners in the lower grades.
Handicap winners were Patrick Doyle (Mount Macedon) Matthew Dowling and Robert M. McDonald.
NTPs went to Steve Gilbert (Lancefield), Ed Carracher, Dowling, McDonald, Matthew Mills Jakovac and Carolyn Garvey (Trentham).
The Dalhousie board expressed thanks to the Bendigo Bank’s Kilmore, Broadford and Wallan branches for sponsoring the championships.
Branch manager Leanne Paice participated in the presentations, commending Dalhousie and its member clubs on their efforts to promote the sport.
For the first time, Dalhousie held its championships on a Sunday, the aim being to give working women a chance to participate.
DDGA secretary Elaine Scanlon was very pleased with the level of support.
