Australias Oldest Golf Course stages Nations Newest ProGolf Event

The great game of Golf returned to its Australian roots with the ever sanctioned ‘Money Match’ at Ratho Farm Golf Links, Australia’s Oldest Golf Course, as Hanson Concrete & Irrigation Tasmania hosted the Highlands ProAm.

“Before teeoff we were treated to breakfast at the Australasian Golf Museum in nearby Bothwell village, where one of Australia’s greatest ever Amateur golfers, Peter Toogood showed us around” said Christian Rainey “After competing in a few National Hickory Championships here, i was looking forward to seeing how the course would play with our modern machinery.

“To see a former Australian Open champion like Rodger Davis come to play and really enjoy the golf course was terrific” enthused Elliot Booth, who organised over a dozen of the PGA’s Legends of Golf, to come and play in the event “I’ve been playing here since the 1950s, and the golf course here really has a sense of magic. Its timeless location around old farm buildings, with grazing sheep and the odd fenced green, really made it the most memorable day for all the pros.  Some of the fellas made it to the nearby Nant Whisky distillery during the day, and visited the traditional clubmaker, Ross Baker and his terrific new ProShop in the village- i’m sure that next year we’ll be able to get together an even more impressive few days up here in the cradle of Australian golf”

Tournament Director Nick Thornton from the PGA wasn’t sure what to expect, but came away impressed “The team at Ratho Farm Golf Links prepared the course magnificently and ran a wonderful event in their first professional Pro Am at the course. They did well to get 2 full fields and 112 golfers around the course, and everyone commented on the challenge and the charm of Ratho Farm”  And the day couldn’t have had a more exciting climax than the playoff between younguns Michael Hansen from Queensland and Tasmanian Scott Priest, hot off the heels of his successful weekened at the SurfCoast Classic.

Gina Bowden from Station Co Event Managers said that the Corporate Teams were abuzz “To get some of Tasmania’s largest companys involved, and see a close win by Justin Hetrel’s Bellala team in the Corporate Cup over Bennetts Construction, Roberts Ltd and The NZ Whisky Company was terrific.  The individual honours went to Rick Hall in a close 2hole playoff, which was well deserved considering he’d travelled down from Queensland to play”

“We are really happy to bring such a national event with players from around Australia and New Zealand to a community where we do lots of business” Glenn Phillips from IrrigationTasmania noted “There is an ambitious vision to provide an experience here at Ratho Farm that will leave visitors learning not only about the history of golf, but about the history of Australia and its people. It should be a golfing pilgrimage, every worthwhile as seeing St.Andrews in Scotland”

Course restorer Greg Ramsay, best known for his role in developing Barnbougle Dunes, but now focussing on distillery developments and the golf heritage upon his family property, was happy with the day’s proceedings “We’ll have all 18holes ready for play next year’s event, and hopefully some accommodation too in our colonial cottages- and what an exciting playoff for the James Herd Jacket.  This James Herd was from a famous Scottish golfing family, who came out to teach the members here in 1903 and 1904, so as the first known golf pro to visit Bothwell- we thought it would be only fitting to name the trophy after him! Mat Goggin and the Australasian Golf Museum sponsored over a dozen Juniors to come and play in the day which added a nice touch of wise heads, young guns, and the excitement of early golf addicts!  I reckon the Reid family who laid out this course woud’ve been over the moon to see 2 young lady pros as well, with Erin Bumford and Laurie Chew both shooting good scores.”

Nick Thornton continued “The event was held over 15 holes with Scott Priest (Tas) and Michael Hansen (Qld) leading after the morning round on 5 under par 51.

With the afternoon groups out on the course the weather conditions dramatically with dark clouds, wind and some rain coming across the course. With the players battling the conditions level par was the best score in the afternoon.”

With the prize purse split between Priest and Hansen, and the whole clubhouse and spectators looking on, Hansen prevailed at the 1^st extra hole

“Being from country Queensland, and playing some pretty rough’n’ready layouts up there, some of the more quirky aspects of the golf course around here were no real surprise to me.  The course played great and it was a fun way to win in the playoff on the 9^th green in front of the shearing shed”

For Hansen this was his first Pro Am victory.