One such tale deserves a special mention simply because a “bullseye” is not a usual topic of conversation on the golf course! All that changed last Saturday when ladies foursome Kay Nash, Anna Barnier, Tania Alcorn and Stacey Etheridge teed off on the 18th hole.

The fun began when Barnier’s drive, although long, found its way to the boundary fence, presenting a fairly challenging shot to clear the tree line. 

According to ladies captain Kay Nash, an impeccable source, Barnier’s second shot would have been a screamer if not for the branch it clipped, turning it immediately towards the road, bouncing on the bitumen over the fence and into the adjacent paddock. 

An unfortunate loss but one many an Armidale golfer could relate to. That would have been the end of it except for the bull, grazing happily in that same paddock which was struck by said ball right between the eyes. 

Fortunately for the livestock owner (and Barnier), the bull remained upright and showed no immediate or visible signs of any long term injuries. Captain Nash reported she hadn’t laughed so hard in a long time. Well done Anna. 

Another May day competition worthy of special mention, mainly due to its high entertainment value, is Carr’s Newsagency Top Gun Challenge. It all begins with 19 players teeing off together on the 1st, a rather daunting task if one isn’t used to an audience. 

As can be expected some players rose to the challenge, sending their tee shots down to that elusive sweet spot on the left hand side of the fairway, while others, some highly qualified, found the trees and one particularly skilled A grader, who shall remain nameless, found himself just short of the 7th green. 

A lot of laughs later and much good-humoured rivalry, the last players standing on the 18th tee were Trevor Carson and Vanessa Ward, who was hot from her win at the NEDGA district tournament. 

With Ward’s drive going a little wayward, Carson seized the day, set himself up with a magnificent second drive, a tidy chip and a short putt to take away the Top Gun trophy. 

Other special mentions for the merry month of May are the two-day Men’s Veterans’ Championship winners. Gross champion in Men’s A Grade was Greg Fisher, B Grade Dick Hodgson and C Grade Russell Evans. Nett winner in A Grade was Phil Green, B Grade Fred Marshall and C grade Graham Wyles. Graham also took out Super Vet (nett score) with an impressive 139 strokes. 

In the Ladies mid-week Vets championships, Ladies Gross winner was Amanda Carr and Nett winner was Chris Russell. 

As mentioned earlier, Vanessa Ward won NEDGA district tournament in Inverell along with the Open Northern Cup and according to Club Captain, Kay Nash “lots of other stuff” - obviously too numerous to mention or remember! Let’s just say, well done Ness.