Northern Football League

The inaugural Northern Football League Charity Golf Day took place last Friday, May 22nd at the Yarrambat Golf Course. With an early tee-off time and the temperature near zero when the first groups started, it was great to see such an array of league stakeholders take the course for the day.

Groups comprising of league clubs, sponsors, staff, board members, umpires, VFL affiliates and local councils took part in the day, and by the time they got feeling in their hands - usually around the fifth hole - an enjoyable day was had by all involved.

It's fair to say there was quite a spread of golfing ability on the course, with the majority of club golfers making a good fist of the sport, and going around in the mid-to-high 80s. On the other hand, the everyday hackers (myself included) ended up with more triple-figure scores than a Biggest Loser episode.

Winners on the day were as follows:

Overall Winners -

• Handicap - Daniel Grigoletti (Nett Result 70)
• Calloway - Peter Lachmund (Nett Result 73)

Team Winners - Macleod Football Club (73 Average)

• Daniel Grigoletti (70)
• Noel Delia (71)
• Ron Manning (73)
• Craig Green (78)

Nearest to the Pin -

• 5th - Peter Lachmund
• 8th - Jarrad Carey
• 12th - David Teague
• 16th - John Woolcock

NAGA Award (still not sure what it stands for, but we'll run with it) -

• Handicap - Tony Topp (86)
• Calloway - Howard Scott (81.5)  

Special mentions on the day must go to Tony Topp for living up to his name and putting five consecutive shots in the drink on the 18th to finish with a 14, all the players - and there were many - who didn't get past the red tees with a drive, and finally, since he won a nearest to pin prize and was a last-minute ring-in, Jarrad Carey who finished with a 120 off the stick - the kid had more 10s than Nadia Comaneci, but did prove his worth as a Par 3 specialist.

In all seriousness, the day was a great success for the EPIC Centre and the league would like to acknowledge the efforts of Ron Manning for making the day possible, the Yarrambat Golf Course for persisting with us, and Jean Lord and Julie Carroll from EPIC for the fantastic lunch that everyone enjoyed after their round.

The league hopes to continue with this next year, if not again later in 2009, so hopefully everyone who enjoyed the day, and many more, tee-off again.