The Cobar Bowling & Golf Club celebrated 50 years of business in the current clubhouse with a commemorative dinner on Saturday night at the club.
Club president Jim Goonrey welcomed current and past members, board members and past club managers and in particular paid tribute to all the club’s Life Members for their years of dedication to the club.
Among those in attendance were former managers Allan Coote (who is also a Life Member), John Martin, Jim Blacker and Neil Urquhart, who served as secretary/manager for over 20 years.
Mr Goonrey also made a special mention of the many years of service given to the club by former president Max Humphries, who served as president for 28 years of his 33 year term on the board.
Mr Goonrey commented that between Mr Humphries and Mr Urquhart, the pair had helped to make the club the success it is today.
Among those who attended Saturday’s commemorative celebrations was Peter Matters, a past club treasurer who was also responsible for the design and installation of the irrigation system on the golf course.
“Our club, where is stands today, was opened in 1967 by then-president Arthur Turner,” Mr Goonrey said.
“Over the past 50 years the club has had four extensions, the biggest of all of these was $3.5million done in 2009.”
This extension gave the club three new function rooms, an additional bar, catering facilities, additional amenities, new covered verandahs and two outdoor barbecue areas.
“At the moment the club is installing split system air conditioners and sealing water leaks on the roof which is costing $250,000,” Mr Goonrey reported.
“We have a five year plan which consists of a major bar renovation, outdoor alfresco decking, a children’s playground and a new irrigation system for the bowling greens.”
cutting the club’s 50 years commemorative cake on Saturday night. Max served as club president for 28 of his 33 years on the board of directors from 1977 to 2005.
Mr Goonrey recounted a number of significant sporting achievements that have been recorded by Cobar Bowling & Golf Club’s members.
Lady golfers Nita Budd, Lex Burgess, Dot Chalker, Ann Middleton, Anne Overall and Suzanne Ryan all played in NSW Morning Herald finals. Ryan was also a NSW Combined High Schools champion, a NSW Mixed Foursome Champion and was a Junior Champion for two years. Cobar lady golfers have won many Rose Bowl championships and last week Chrissy Gilligan was the Western Districts Champion and Western Districts Sandgreens Champion.
Men golfers over the years have won many Opens across NSW and include Darrel Fishpool, Larry Fox, Jeff Smith and Andrew Bartlett. Craig Dillon, Greg Read, Jacob Ryan, Matt Egan and Phil Gilligan have all won NSW Sandgreen titles.
The club was represented by talented bowlers such as Ron Middleton, Jim Bruce, Pat Francisco, Dick Houghton, Tom Fox, Brian Heap and Justin Bartlett (who won junior Western Plains, NSW and Australian titles) and over the past 50 years the club has had at lease one side in Zone 4 Pennants NSW playoffs 30 times.
Since the Cobar Yabbies Senior Men’s Swimming Club affiliated with the club in the 1970s, the club has won many Western District and national titles.
“Our cricketers have won their fair share of premierships also,” Mr Goonrey said.
