22 December 2023

Our final event for 2023

Today we played for the Norman Von Nida Trophy

Norman Von Nida was rated the greatest Australian golfer of his time and at his peak was among the top half dozen players in the world.  Before there was Adam Scott, Greg Norman or Peter Thompson there was Norman Von Nida carrying the Australian flag.

His example inspired players like Gary Player, Peter Thompson, Bruce Crampton and Bruce Devlin to test their skills internationally.

He picked up golf after becoming a caddie at Royal Queensland Golf Club at the age of 9 in 1923.  At the age of 18 in 1932, Von Nida won the Queensland Amateur championship and then turned professional.

He won the Queensland Open in 1935, 1936, 1937, 1940, 1953, and 1961, the NSW Open in 1939, 1946,1947, 1948, 1953 and 1954.  Apart from his three wins in the Australian Open in 1950, 1952 and 1953 he finished runner up on six occasions.  The Von finished third in the British Open in 1946 and 1958.

He won more than 100 tournaments.

When his playing days were over he taught extensively in America and for 14 years help prepare the Italian National teams.

In 1985 Norman was awarded the medal of The Order of Australia for his services to golf.  Later in life The Von was legally blind but he still played golf using iridescent yellow print on the top of his clubs and iridescent yellow balls.

The Von as he was affectionally know died aged 93 on 20 May 2007.

Von Nida Trophy 

18 lined up for the final event of the year.  Typical Brisbane Summer conditions with the a strong chance of thunderstorms or at least rain interrupting play.

The golfing gods were kind and everyone finished the 18 holes without raising an umbrella.  

Doug Morel played very well to record a score of 39 points to win the annual event.  Dave Mansfield apparently played well for 16 holes and came in with 36 points to be runner up.  Peter Monks showed that a couple of months  in the UK does ones golf no harm and carded 36 points for third place.

To top off Doug Morel's day he also picked both nearest the pins..

Player of the Year

The threepeat, the trifecta a hat trick what ever you want to call it...Bruce Collins won the player of the year award for the third year running.

Its been a great year for Bruce and his consistent golf has paid off again.

It was close run thing.  David Jones was second place and could have been tied for first the Secretary had managed to hole his put on the last in the November event.  Better luck next year David.

Congratulations to Bruce who is a great role model for hickory golf, an enthusiastic contributor on the Management Committee and good bloke too.

Watch out Bruce - 4 in a row will be a huge achievement with an increasingly strong field chasing you.