On course for golfing dream | Manawatu-Wanganui Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Manawatu-Wanganui

The complexities of golf never cease to amaze with regular attendees to the manicured hallowed fairways continually pulling out heart-stopping performances.

The last couple of weeks haven't been any different with some memorable results on the club result sheets (which I might add, are a bit slow in coming).

January 25 was one of those occasions. I heard wind of a young fellow from Belmont who had apparently embarked on something special and memorable. I heard it was Tony Polkinghorne and from that snippet of info automatically arrived at the assumption he had done something remarkable. Now those of you who know Tony would probably have assumed the same as me, that he had set up a water slide from the club rooms to the bottom car park and leapt on, wearing Speedo's, sunny's and that trade mark Polkinghorne smile and was trying to set a Guinness record for the fastest descent from 150 feet above sea level. The picture I had was of him looking back at his 50-strong adoring support crew and his wife staring at his birth certificate trying desperately to verify his age. But I was wrong. Tony did what most golfers only dream of, he had a hole in one on the 9th, not quite as exciting as wedgeeing yourself on a water slide, yet surprisingly more in keeping with someone of Tony's youthful disposition. I am unsure if this is Tony's first hole in one, but as I'm sure you will agree, whether it's your first or fifth, it's a great achievement. From memory, it's not that long ago that Jocelyn Symes also holed out for the magic number. Anyway, well done Tony, I'm sure your mates have dined out on this majestic piece of shot making and will do so for some time, I just hope that a water slide is not seen out at Belmont any time soon.

There are two other notable achievements on the local front. Ron Stoneman had the dream round last Thursday and comprehensively disposed of the field with a recent best stableford score of 47 points. Talking to Ron it would seem that 47 points was on the lower end of what potentially could have been even better. It is true that no matter how good you play, you can always have played better. However, I think I can hear the faint sound of snipping, could be the handicapper.

Dana Garrett has once again put in a good performance in Palmerston North last weekend by taking out the best net in the junior girls event. This is a great start to the year for Dana, keep up the good golf.

On a more national front, Grant Moorehead took out the recent Masterton/Ekatahuna Pro-Am series with rounds of 63 and 64 respectively.

Local professional Nick Gillespie who is back from overseas for a short time finished with rounds of 70 and 72 to continue with his recent good form.

Internationally there was a meltdown not dissimilar to that of a well known French man of recent times. Kyle Stanley who should have won the 'Farmer Insurance' Open last week playing with a three shot lead heading down the last hole, finished with a hemeroidal collapse by taking an 8 down the last hole (par 5) to then lose in a playoff. To think he could have actually shot a lower score by hitting his wedge 6 times down the last to win the event doesn't bear mentioning, OOPS!! Too late.

Tiger Woods has again played well to finish third in the 'Abu Dhabi HSBC' Golf Champs to start off were his form finished last year by competing 2011 with a win. Robert Rock played steady sound golf to take out the title while Rory McElroy again showed his class with four solid rounds to finish second.

Good golfing over the Waitangi weekend and don't forget to send in your clubs events etc to pcassidy@xtra.co.nz