Almost 30 brave souls played 72 holes – and a handful more various parts thereof – as Portarlington Golf Club hosted the Longest Day In Golf on Monday.
Money is still being donated, but at last count the club’s participants had raised a breathtaking $16,981 to fund the Cancer Council’s research and services.
Visitors included Peter Handscomb and Chris Rogers of Victorian and Australian cricket fame, but there was one surprise late entry from far closer to home, with the club’s head pro Matt Milne putting his hamstrings to the ultimate test.
But as always, the stars of the show were Longest Day stalwart Trung Truong and his tribe of players and supporters, which this year included Nina Ibbotson, who bravely soldiered around for 54 holes as the only woman in the group.
Remarkably, new members Romney Nelson and his son Ashton hadn’t had enough by the time they reached 72 and, with plenty of daylight still available, they went on to play an even 100 holes!!!!
The day was made possible by some amazing support from the club’s partners and volunteers. Bellarine Country Butcher, Portarlington Bakehouse and Coca-Cola provided sustenance for all players, while our great partners at Kieser Ocean Grove sent along Reece and Jordan and their massage table to ease any aches and pains during the marathon.
Trung Truong’s fanatical supporters gather together on their 72nd hole for their ceremonial final putt.
Club captain – and volunteer co-ordinator – Jenny Edmanson had her amazing team of husband Rick, Ian and Joy Francis, Darryl Kennedy and Fiona Newman on the 14th tee cooking and serving a barbecue and cold drinks all day – a massive effort from all!
“There was actually a great sense of team among everyone involved all day,” Jenny said.
“It was great to see all the players dig so deep to pull that all off, but the feeling that the club was doing something so worthwhile and as a team was very cool, too.”
A huge thanks, also, to Steve Burchett and his entire groundstaff for not only helping set up the barbecue zone, but also for working around the intrepid players to do their normal course maintenance without once slowing anyone down.
And of course to the kitchen and waiting staff who provided the club’s famous pizzas to all players when they eventually returned to the clubhouse.
If you’d like to make a donation, they’re still being accepted at https://www.longestday.org.au/st/10379/47099 until late January.
The Kieser crew of Reece Noble and Jordan Lane combine to keep Trung Truong in working order.
Famous cricketers Peter Handscomb, Graham Manou and Chris Rogers join with media figure Adam White for their challenge.
