Under glorious skies, but a stiff breeze, members of the RAN Officers Golf (RANOGS) team wrested the Officers' Interservice Golf Trophy from Air Force and Army by a convincing 23-point margin recently.

The current operational climate saw numbers down slightly, however a total of 39 players lined up at one of Sydney's more daunting courses at the New South Wales Golf Club.

The Navy team, led by CAPT Wayne Haynes, demonstrated greater aptitude in the stableford format to win with 270 points to Air Force on 247 and Army 240.

Three Navy players also top scored with a fine 31 points each, with LCDR Tony Stringer surviving a countback to beat LCDR Ian Weekly and LEUT Mick Kirby.

Defence consulting specialists, IK Consulting gratefully supported the event, with director Ian Jordan commenting at the presentation that recent world events had prompted the company to ensure Defence "is aware that there are large sections of the community grateful of the ADF efforts".

As a former RAN officer, Ian played for the RANOGS team and was more than happy to see Navy victorious.

The trophy is the core of a 'Seagull V' seaplane propeller - an aircraft designed specifically for use on RAN cruisers.

The first Seagull, known as the 'Walrus' in British service, first flew in June 1933 from the cruisers HMAS Watson and HMAS Australia.

This remnant of the past now rests at HMAS Watson where it will remain until the title defence on October 2002.

By LEUT Brian Schlegel