On Monday, March 2nd 2009 a great day of weather, social interaction and golf was enjoyed by all at the Werribee Park Golf Club in Victoria. This annual event of the Melbourne Archdiocese is now celebrating its 50th year. Great speeches were made to honour past champions such as Bryan McCormack (1971 winner); J. Nippard (1967,68,70, and 74) and a former friend to many of the clergy, Paul Dalton (1977,79, 81-5, 1996). As many remember Paul died only days before his intended 60th birthday celebrations, bearing witness to Jesus’ words “you will not know the day nor the hour”!!

The MCG or Melbourne Clergy Golf tournament started in 1959 at Long Island Country Club in the Frankston area; endured a year at Spring Valley Golf Club, and enjoyed the beautiful links of the Royal Melbourne Golf Club on even  one occasion. However, the last 30 years have seen it appropriately played right next to the former diocesan seminary for Victoria and Tasmania from 1923-1972, Corpus Christi College. A more recent tournament, the ‘Corpus Christi Golf Tournament’ has been combined in latter years with the Melbourne Clergy Golf Tournament.

The overall winner of the Annual Melbourne Archdiocese Golf Tournament for 2009 was not only our current President, Peter Matheson, with 87 off the stick, but also our winner between the years of 2003-2005. Maybe lucky for Peter was the absence of Brian O’Sullivan CM, another very good golfer who has won the last 3 years, but is now up in Sydney. We expect him to take the Sydney Archdiocesan Tournament by the horns – bookmakers get your money on him! Incidentally our 2009 winner is the only known golfer to score an albatross (a 2 on a par 5) at our Werribee Tournament a few years back – in other words a big bird or birdie!

This year there were 33 golfers in the field for the ‘big 50’ celebrations as opposed to 26 the previous year.

Thanks to all who made the special effort for our celebrations.  Again we entertained priests from all the Victorian dioceses: Sale, Sandhurst and Ballarat. Together with a number of Religious there were 48 at the dinner on the night itself for speeches, meal and trophy presentations.

As far as the recent winners on the day go: an old fox and a young fox drove together from Northern Victoria and took away the silverware. John Ware with one piece of ‘silverware’: the ‘Paul Dalton Trophy and our youngest competitor Jake Mudge acquired the ‘Corpus Christi Trophy’ – well done Jake. One of our recently retired priests, Paddy Duggan, with 36 points won the B Grade Stableford plus the ‘Brian James Trophy’. Earlier he had given an eloquent address about his former great golfing friend, Paul Dalton. May he rest in peace.

The Administrator of the Sale Diocese showed signs of Samson strength when he took out the longest drive for the first time and the Williamstown PP gave all he could on the day to win the prestigious Bradman Award with 140 shot – another worthy champion.

Any chumps or champs are welcome to join us at our Annual Melbourne Clergy Golf Tournament. It is the first Monday in March every year. Just ring me on 0400 524 363 and free accommodation will be provided with someone near the Airport going to the Tournament – the premier Tournament of Victoria besides the Ballarat Priests, the Sale and Sandhurst Priests Golf Tournaments!

We always get magnificent service and a great meal at the Werribee Park Golf Club. The committee, Peter Matheson (President), Grant O’Neill (Treasurer) and I are thankful for the regular financial support of Catholic Church Insurances, the Catholic Development Fund and Tobin Brothers Funeral Services. The latter have seen many of our old golfers retire to a better green over the years.

Greg Trythall
Secretary of the MCG!
(Melbourne Clergy Golf)