The sunny warm weekend of August 1 and 2, saw the arrival of Club President John Tiplady, together with two of the Club’s Committee Members, Steve Vardy and Ross McCloud.

The Townsville project was to help Townsville Golf Club to have a big weekend of golfing action, and to assist the North Queensland Junior Golfers in the pursuit of excellence in their skills.

Major Sponsor for the Events, was Marty Smith of The Sun Hotel, who also laid on a magnificent special dinner for everyone who attended, with large groups from Rowes Bay, and several other notable Golf Clubs in the Region. Bridgestone Golf also made a significant contribution to the weekend’s proceedings.

The Hole-In-One Club flew its Patron, the great Golf Coach Professional, Charlie Earp to Townsville for this important weekend.

Charlie had also arranged for former Queensland Golf Union CEO, Tony Rollins, and Greg Norman Foundation Executive PGA Professional, Angelo Bruniera, to assist in the Coaching Clinics for the more than 60 keen Juniors who arrived with their families from many miles around.

It goes without saying that everyone was in awe of the wonderful Coaching skills and advice which were conveyed to them by these VIP Visitors.

The programme of activities for this remarkable weekend, were organised by HIO Club Townsville Coordinator, Nola Oultram, and Townsville Golf Club Teaching Professional, Narelle Bundy Anderson.

ABC Radio broadcast interviews with Charlie Earp and Nola, and WIN TV and Ch.7 extensively filmed and broadcast News of this huge event.

After the Saturday Coaching Clinics, the Juniors had to compete in a 9Hole Shootout on the Sunday morning, the winner, Alex Keugler (9 hcp), to be flown down to play at the Australian PGA.

During Trophy Presentations, John Tiplady, presented a cheque from the Hole-In-One Club to Narelle Anderson, the Junior Golfers Organiser, to assist in the costs of getting young Alex down to the PGA at Coolum in December.

After the Juniors’ Event, 76 golfers with 15 HIOC Members among them, played in the Hole-In-One Club Competition of the day, with scores in the forties having the winning margins late in the day.

As if the weekend couldn’t get better, Shaun Moffs scored an Ace on the 167m, 8^th Hole, with an 8 Iron during the 18 Hole Competition!! This is his second Hole In One. Bravo.

John Tiplady met the Hole-In-One Club of Qld’s newest, and certainly youngest, Member, Justin Morley, aged 13.

He plays off a 21 Handicap, and is so keen on Golf, he practically lives and sleeps at the Course!

He scored his Ace whilst competing at the Junior Open Championship at Ingham on the 155m 10^th Hole, using a 4 Iron.

From what we all witnessed at Townsville, the standard of Junior Golf Players up North, has huge potential, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see many of their names on Leader Boards everywhere some day soon!!

Such was the success of the Townsville initiative, that we are set to do it again in 2010, which will be the Hole-In-One Club’s 70 th Birthday Year.

Two HIO Competitions left this year are Caboolture August 23^rd , and Gailes on November 8^th .

Related Media: ABC Radio North Qld interview – Nola Oultram – August 2009