IT seemed appropriate that the smallest club received the biggest cheer when 18 prestigious honours were handed out at last month’s NSW Golf Industry Awards.
Many of those present had not even heard of The Rock Golf Club, a picturesque 18 hole sand green course nestled at the foot of Rock Hill, about 25km south of Wagga Wagga in the Riverina.
But it was a case of ‘The Mouse that Roared’ as cheers rang out when The Rock was named the Jack Newton Junior Golf (JNJG) Junior Club of the Year.
And on hand to present the award was former Knights and Storm first grade rugby league star Clint Newton, the son of the late golfing legend Jack Newton, who was among those to praise The Rock Golf Club for its extensive junior development programs.
The Rock has just 55 members and four years ago decided to get serious about launching its own junior program.
The team from The Rock Golf Club in Wagga, with Clint Newton (first left) representing the Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation.
“It took a lot of hard work, but it’s been rewarding,” said The Rock president Craig Burkenshaw.
“We put on a day and thought we might attract six or eight kids there on the first day. That first day we had 39 kids turn up.
“This was our fourth year and we have been averaging about 35 kids every week. Not bad for a town that has a population of just over 1000, so it’s a pretty big thing for us.
“The Rock can only work with our blue shirts, which we call our volunteers, and we are so lucky to have guys that put their hands up to help. And not just the parents of the kids, although they are unbelievable too.
“Leeton had a juniors on the move day the other day and they had eight kids turn up and they were all from The Rock.
“So we are proud of their efforts and without the juniors and the volunteers, you have nothing.”
Greg Hohnen from the Killara Golf Club, a worthy and popular winner of the Servies to Golf award.
At an event held at Crown Barangaroo, there were many other worthy recipients on a night that saw several industry partners combine.
Golf NSW and Jack Newton Junior Golf, alongside industry partners Golf Management Australia (GMA), The PGA of Australia (NSW) and the NSW Golf Course Superintendents Association (NSWGCSA) were all on hand to celebrate an incredible year of outstanding achievements across the state.
Awards were presented spanning playing performance, volunteer service, coaching and club management.
Among the honourees were Ella Scaysbrook and Declan O’Donovan, who were named the 2024 Golf NSW Male and Female Players of the Year.
Massey Park and Mollymook took home top honours as the Metropolitan and Country Clubs of the Year for their exceptional impact on the sport in their respective communities.
Volunteer of the Year was Bruce McMullen from Uralla Golf Club, a cornerstone of that club for almost 30 years. His passion for growing the club, mainly through youth engagement, led him to launch junior coaching clinics in 2003, a program that has continued to thrive.
The Service to Golf in NSW Award went to Killara’s long-serving professional Greg Hohnen.
NSW Golf Industry award winners
• Club of the Year – Massey Park Golf Club;
• Club of the Year – Country: Mollymook Golf Club;
• Volunteer of the Year: Bruce McMullen – Uralla Golf Club;
• Services to Golf in NSW: Greg Hohnen – Killara Golf Club;
• Player of the Year – Amateur – Male: Declan O’Donovan (Avondale GC;)
• Player of the Year – Amateur – Female: Ella Scaysbrook (The Australian GC).
PGA NSW Awards:
• Tournament of the Year: PSC Insurance Brokers Wagga Wagga Pro-Am;
• Coach of the Year – Game Development: Andrew Walkley;
• Coach of the Year – High Performance: Ben Paterson;
• Management Professional of the Year: Robert Blain;
• Club Professional of the Year: Rodney Booth.
GMA NSW:
• Future Leaders Scholarship: Matthew Lamerton – Cumberland Golf Club;
• Women’s Management Scholarship: Victoria Trilikis – New South Wales Golf Club.
NSWGCSA:
• Outstanding Achievement Award Sponsored by Living Turf: Craig Bevan – Palm Beach Golf Club;
• Environment Award Sponsored by Environmental Golf Solutions Australia: Robert Biddle – Avondale Golf Club;
• Assistant Superintendent of the Year Sponsored by Waterwise Consulting: Chris Fiadino – Pymble Golf Club;
• Superintendent of the Year Sponsored by Australian Turf Projects: David Sommerville – Bankstown Golf Club.
JNJG:
• Junior Club of the Year: The Rock Golf Club.
