June 2024 www.insidegolf.com.au www.facebook.com/InsideGolfIndustry IG BUSINESS 30 Tom chips his way into a Yamaha cart FIFTY metres is not his favourite chipping distance, but Tom O’Rourke may have to rethink his mental approach after conquering the distance in a chipping contest to win a brand-new $15,000 Yamaha golf cart at the Handiskins national final at Palm Meadows GC on the Gold Coast. “I keep telling people 50 metres is a horrible distance for me and now I can’t tell them that anymore,” the 12-marker said excitedly after he was presented with the Yamaha golf cart. Using his trusty 54° wedge, the 12-marker from Kiama Golf Club south of Sydney watched as his second of two allowed approach shots finished 704cm from the cup and that proved hard to beat on a windy afternoon. “I was the first to chip and after my second chip I kept pacing around because I had the closest to the pin and had to watch every other player,” the father of three teenagers revealed. “My wife Anna kept telling me to stop pacing.” Tom edged out 29 other short-game specialists who reached the Yamaha chip off after winning nearest the pin shots at their home club. At Palm Meadows, each player was allowed two 50m chips. To get the ball rolling, the contestants were spurred on by entertaining emcee Jimmy White, who also revved up the large gallery much to everyone’s delight. The pressure was too much for some players as they hit their attempts long, wide and some even left it short. As they say – never up, never in. Tom told Inside Golf he was undecided what to do with the golf cart. “First, I want to show it off to his family, friends and fellow club golfers,” he said. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. It’s still sinking in that I have won a Yamaha golf cart.” “I have a trailer at home that can carry it, but I’ll decide when I have calmed down a bit. After that second chip, I still have goose bumps. “The Handiskins concept is amazing because you play for money and that gets the adrenaline going. “The emotion and the feeling you get is something you don’t often get as a club golfer because you are playing against yourself. It’s rare for us weekend club golfers to play for money and be able to qualify for the Handiskins final. “It allowed my wife Anna and I to come up to the Gold Coast for a week.” GOLF clubs and club golfers have been urged to throw their support behind tiny Eidsvold Golf Club in Queensland’s Burnett region following a devastating fire that destroyed its mower and golf buggy sheds and all its equipment. Club captain Matt Murray told Inside Golf the volunteer run nine-hole club lost its greens mower, two fairway mowers, a scarifier, five golf carts and 90 per cent of members’ golf clubs and bags. “Most of the members store their golf clubs in the buggy shed and only a few took their clubs home,” he said. It’s been alleged the fire was connected to back-burning in the area. The cost to replace the storage sheds, equipment etc has been estimated at more than $300,000. “We are only a small club that struggles to break even each year so if anyone can help to replace the sheds and mowers it would be appreciated,” Murray said. “Our community has been good getting behind us to help us out as best they can. Now we are hoping people who live on large properties can lend us their mowers so we can get back to mowing the fairways and greens. “If we can’t mow the greens and fairways we can’t play golf.” At press time, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay and Bargara golf clubs had been supportive donating golf clubs, etc. “Donations to the GoFundMe campaign can be made through the club’s Facebook page,” Murray said. DESTROYED: Nothing could be saved after fire razed Eidsvold Golf Club’s storage sheds. By David Newbery David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au Yamaha boss Wayne Trefoni (right) presents Tom O’Rourke with a $15,000 Yamaha golf cart. INSET: Tom and his wife Anna ready to take off in the cart. Campaign to raise funds for devastated Gisborne THREE weeks after a fire burned its clubhouse to the ground, Gisborne Golf Club north-west of Melbourne was bravely moving forward into the future. Remarkably, the club resumed golf just two days after the fire which took place in mid April. A fundraising campaign has begun through the Australian Sports Foundation to help rebuild the club, with insurance still not confirmed. Club general manager Brett Campbell said Gisborne was not about to wallow in self-pity. “We’ve got a temporary pro-shop and offices here now,” he said. “The course itself is in great condition and the driving range is open.” Gisborne’s resilience is incredible. Having started a big project to replace the irrigation system the day prior to the fire on 16 April, it has surged ahead with that, installing 21 kilometres of pipes and doubled the number of sprinkler heads to ensure that the course remains in good shape. Already enshrined as a community hub in the town - the local RSL operated out of the clubhouse, and numerous social events, sporting functions and school graduations were previously held in the club house -- the club intends continuing along that path once it has a new venue. Donations to the Gisborne appeal can be made by visiting the Australian Sports Foundation Gisborne Golf Club Fire Recovery Appeal. By Martin Blake The Gisborne clubhouse was destroyed by fire. Despite the recent fire, the Gisborne course remains in excellent shape and remains open for business. Dig deep for fireravaged Eidsvold GC GET FIT TODAY Turn to page 67 for a complete list of fitting days this month
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