The twenty five bright green shirts of the Marysville Golfers filled the Clubhouse.  The contrasting bright red team came from the Alexandra Golf Club.

Photos were arranged at the flag pole and great laughter rang out when it was suggested that by having 

Peter Thomson, Australia's most decorated Golfer in the photo the teams score would be improved for the day.

 

TV crews from Channel 7 News and SBS World News arrived to record the event.

 

Paul Ferrari, the Captain of Sandhurst Golf Club rang the Captain's Bell for one minute's silence.

 

Heads bowed as 200 people stood and remembered as the Australian flag flew at half mast. 

 

The ringing of the Captain's Bell again saw Dr Nick Jans, President of Marysville Community Golf & Bowls Club hoist the flag to start.

 

Golfers headed for the carts and set off for the 1st tee and within minutes the drivers were out and shots were being played all over the Champions Course.

It was nearly 5.45pm and growing dark as golfers started to arrive back at the Clubhouse for pre-dinner drinks, with many a joke about night golfing on the last hole. 6.30pm and all were finally in to dinner.

Chairman of Sandhurst Club Ken Roche welcomed guests and revealed his family had been involved in the history of Marysville by winning the tender for building the Buxton to Marysville Road for twelve hundred pounds and making six hundred pounds profit.

James Brayshaw told of his trip to Whittlesea and Kinglake after the fires and donated four seats to The Footy Show to the elegantly dressed lady who bought his fashion sunglasses at the Auction.

Peter Thomson answered questions from the floor and left people with the thought - golf clubs are not about greens, fairways or clubhouses but about people.

The room fell silent when Rod Liesfield, who lost his two sons in the Black Saturday fires, spoke of Matthew and James, two promising juniors and the experiences they had had at the Club, thanking those involved in assisting them at the Club and congratulating people on the day.

Chairman Ken Roche was surprised during the auction when his bid automatically jumped 100% and was accepted with the speed of light for a Tiger Woods framed photo which he has donated to the Marysville Community Golf & Bowls Club.

The auction over and Paul Daley from Full Swing Golf Publishing was called on to be recognised for his donation of 150 beautiful books on golf architecture. 

The following Sponsors were thanked for their contribution to the day: Australian Unity; City of Greater Dandenong; Comm Hotel; Fosters; Frankston City Council; Grocon; Lanier; Links Living Limited; Fredricks Fabrication;  PGA Links Management; RD Australia; Sanctuary Lakes Club; Scarlett Contracting; Sydney Swans; Ted Boltong Safety; Thomson Perrett; Transfield Services; Verve Projects and Winslow.

The Sandhurst Club Staff were thanked and it was time to head home. 

It was the day the Spirit of Marysville was sewn in the Fairways of Sandhurst. 

Ron Smith
 
 

 

 

 Marysville Community Golf & Bowls Club members having refreshments
before the Marysville Sandhurst Challenge. 
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marysville Golf Club golfers heading for the 1st tee. 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Peter Thomson (left) and Stephen Head, Managing Director, Links Living Limited
at the Marysville Sandhurst Challenge.Dinner.