David Rose won his 15th Bingara golf championship in 30 years last weekend. Photo: Robert Chappel 250912RCE21
RORY McIlroy and the like would love to have the record that David Rose does at Bingara.
Rose has been the A grade champion 15 times now after taking out the title again last weekend.
“I won it the first time in 1980 when I was 29,” Rose said.
The maths works out that almost every second year he’s won it.
“There’s probably six or eight years in that I didn’t play for work commitments and whatever,” he said.
Other years he’s gone close.
“I’ve missed out a few times by a shot,” Rose said.
He was streets in front of the competition this year, winning by 16 shots.
“This year was the biggest winning margin I’ve had,” he said.
The championships were played over two weekends, with 27 holes on the first weekend and another 45 last weekend, split over 27 on Saturday and 18 on Sunday.
Rose was well in front after the first round and a half.
“The first weekend I was 10 in front,” he said.
By the end of the second he’d stretched his lead out by another six.
He was pretty happy with how he played.
“I played to about my handicap,” he said.
That was eight at the start of the championships and seven by the end.
“I hit it off the tee fairly well,” he said.
“But I didn’t putt that well.”
He was still pretty consistent over the eight rounds, carding 36, 37, 35, 35, 37, 37, 36, 39.
“The course was in excellent condition,” he said
“It’s all done by volunteers. They do a great job.”
Describing himself as a social golfer, Rose was introduced to the game by his father.
“My father played. I started when I was about eight,” he said.
He was back out on course this week for the Fossickers Way veterans’ tournament.
It’s held annually over four days, alternating between the Bingara, Barraba and Warialda courses.
“I didn’t go too well the first two daysbut I went all right today (Thursday),” Rose said.
The Sportsman’s Hotel publican is also pretty handy on the bowling green.
“I’ve won the bowls championships 10 times for Bingara,” he said.
He’s also a noted greyhound trainer and will on Monday have Sportsman’s Liam running in the final of the Moree Services Club Outback Sprint Final.
“He won his heat (last week) and was the second fastest qualifier,” Rose said.
“He’s named after my grandson and hotel.”
Crimea Tear ran the fastest heat time and will be the dog to beat.
But Sportsman’s Liam is in there with a chance.
“It depends on how they jump,” he said.
He has drawn the eight box and Rose will be hoping he can get across well.
“He loves it when he gets on the fence,” he said.