The
2006 RAN Officers Golf Society (RANOGS) calendar concluded with
the Watson Golf Trophy at Monash Country Club on December 6.
Established 70 years ago in 1936, RANOGS continues the fine
naval tradition of golfing and is all set again for a very successful
2007.
The Australian, The Lakes and NSW Golf Clubs are just three
of the many prestigious venues where RANOGS compete for some
of the oldest sporting trophies in Australia.
The Royal Sydney GC at Rose Bay is home to the premier event
on the calendar, and it was here that the Club Champion for
2006 was declared with LEUT Mick Kirby, RANR winning the coveted
“Guest Cooper” Trophy posting a score off 79 scratch.
The course was in excellent condition after extensive improvements
were made in readiness for the Australian Open.
Surgeon LEUT Treloar (later RADM) won the first Guest/Cooper
Trophy in 1957, which was initially played at Manly.
The event was then held at various Sydney courses, with NSWGC
and Manly preferred in the 1960s and 1970s. The first RANOGS
Championship to be held at RSGC was in 1966 and “Royal”
as it is more commonly known, has been the ultimate challenge
for many a golfer ever since.
RANOGS also endeavours to assist with Defence-related charity
and in 2007 this has included Legacy/Ex-Serviceman Days at Carnarvon
GC, Pennant Hills GC, Manly GC and Monash CC to raise much-needed
funds and assistance for this commendable charity.
Various challenges took place throughout the year with RANOGS
prowess questioned after being defeated by the sailors team
in the annual ADML Treloar Trophy at Bonnie Doon GC while also
losing to the Army (AOGC) at both the Interservice and Anzac
Challenge events.
It didn’t help that there were also losses to NSWGC in
the annual clash and an even more frustrating loss to The Lakes
GC that continues a losing streak that dates back to 1956.
The Sydney-based organisation is open to all “permanent
officers past and present, and to all reserve officers whose
name appears in the current Navy List for the RAN”.
Led by the RANOGS’s Captain CDRE Geoff Ledger, the club
is an ideal way for officers both serving and retired to play
golf and socialise away from the work environment.
At the same time RANOGS works hard to foster Navy links with
the civil community, playing the majority of monthly events
alongside the members of those clubs to which they are invited.
Any officers (serving or retired) interested in joining RANOGS
and continuing the tradition of playing Navy Golf are invited
to contact LCDR Brian Schlegel via email at 02a@f153.navy.gov.au.
