Penola Golf Course played host to the fifth annual Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations Golf Day on Friday.
The event was presented by the Coonawarra Vignerons, together with the Limestone Coast’s SAFM and 963 TripleM and was the first of many feature events to take place during the month-long Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations Festival.
One hundred players converged on the golf course on what was a near perfect day with ideal weather and course conditions for the four ball Ambrose event.
Players started the day with breakfast and a traditional glass of Sparkling Cabernet to acknowledge and celebrate the first day of the Cabernet Celebrations Wine festival, before taking to the pristine 18-hole course in the four player Ambrose competition.
Among the teams in attendance were sponsors SAFM/TripleM, OneFortyOne, Castec Rural Supplies Mount Gambier, BP Nangwarry and VINPAC international.
Teams enjoyed the hospitality of the Coonawarra Vignerons, with wines flowing throughout the day, paired with gourmet barbecue lunch and afternoon treats prepared by the Penola Golf Club, coffee supplied by Seriously Caffeinated and 36º South Beef steaks served for lunch.
Coonawarra Vignerons Events and Marketing Officer Heidi Guyett was pleased with the turnout, which saw a diverse field take to the greens.
“Twenty-seven teams had registered to attend the 4-player Ambrose event and despite a few late drop offs, we had overall great representation from our winery members and welcomed an equal amount of sponsor and public teams from far and wide,” she said.
“The event not only attracts players from the Limestone Coast, but an increasing number of teams from the likes of Victor Harbor, Gawler and interstate.
It was especially great to see Victorians back in the mix, having missed out the past two years due to border closures.
“Aside from light winds, we could not have asked for a better day. It really is an all-round great day out with Coonawarra wines being showcased throughout the day and the opportunity for the public to mingle with the who’s who of Coonawarra.”
The title of Coonawarra Golf Day Champion team went to sponsors OneFortyOne team 2, led by David Pick who produced a winning net score of 54.375.
The winners took home the perpetual red champion jackets and caps, along with an assortment of golfing goods, premium pillows donated by MiniJumbuck and a dozen Coonawarra wines between them.
The red jackets will see the winning team gain VIP access to Cabernet Celebrations events during the month of October.
Mr Pick praised organisers for the day and for the condition of the course.
“The vignerons have done a sensational job to put this day today together and we just love being involved,” he said.
“The hospitality is second to none and the greens are in top condition- a credit to the organisers and the Penola Golf Club.”
Runner up net winners went to the Wynns Coonawarra team comprising of Mike Weatherall, Tim Malone, Sam Davidson and Tyler Hannigan, playing a combined net score of 55.25.
Results were also tight in the overall stakes with only one stroke between the gross winners and runners up. A countback was necessary to determine the winners.
Defending champions, the DiGiorgio Family Wines Team, matched the previous year’s gross winning score with 61 off the stick, narrowly missing out on taking the title of back-to-back champions.
The Mount Gambier contingent of Christian Daniel, Garry Von Duve, Rodney Heinrich and Hayden Cook were happy to accept the award, each receiving an assortment of Coonawarra wines, golf balls and $50 voucher donated by the Royal Oak Penola.
Following closely behind were ‘The Warriors’ with a gross score of 62, comprising of Beachport Golf Club’s Tim McClelland, Ballarat Golf Club’s Dean Jennings, Port Fairy Golf Club’s Matthew Hoey and Queensland’s Tin Can Bay Country Club player Tim Fennell.
Individual novelty prizes were also awarded, with the winners selecting from an assortment of Coonawarra wine, Parker Coonawarra Estate Draught beer, Titleist golf hats and chocolate.
Longest drive prizes for the men were won by Kym Davies on the 1st and Tony Gleeson in A Grade and Justin Robbie of B Grade on the 15th. The women’s prize was won by Deb Redman for A Grade and Deb Tozer in B Grade on the 18th hole.
Nearest pin prizes were awarded to Mick Nesbitt on the 9th, Leanne Hawkey and Tyler Hennigan on the 13th, Mike Weatherall on the 16th and Dan Christian on the 7th. Second shot on the 5th was won by Mary Winsor.
A chipping contest, in combination with a wine and port tasting, was hosted on the 7th hole, with Katie from DiGiorgio Family Wines offering up a suite of prizes for the nearest ball.
James Clarke of the Katnook Coonawarra team claimed the top prize of a magnum bottle of DiGiorgio Coonawarra wine, with his ball landing right on the mark.
Organisers of the golf day were thrilled to learn that many teams from outside the region had opted to make a weekend of it in Coonawarra.
“The golf day is ideally situated ahead of the long weekend, to entice players to make the most of the extended break, bringing their family and mates along for the ride,” Mrs Guyett said.
“It’s exactly what we seek to achieve by planning these event days to tie in with the greater festival program, by gaining room nights, to support Limestone Coast tourism operators and encourage visitation to Coonawarra’s cellar doors.”
The successful day led into the long weekend, the first of five weekends in the month-long Coonawarra Cabernet Celebrations.
