Unfortunately due to the forecast poor weather the junior coaching clinic scheduled for this Saturday the 27th July has been cancelled. The next coaching clinic is scheduled for Saturday August 29th.

With the recent rain the course has become quite wet in parts and whilst the front nine is still holding up ok many players have been seeking drier courses which means competition numbers have dropped off. Those wondering where to play their golf during the winter some options are below:

Echunga: The course remains open and, weather dependant, the clubhouse will also be open as per normal however it will be CLOSED this Saturday July 18th. As the COURSE will still be open for play members and green fee players are welcome to play and any members wishing to enter the competition on any day can still do so by entering the weekly competition. This competition will be held by playing the front nine twice and can be entered ANY day. Cards and the $5 entry fee are to be placed in the honesty box and generally results are finalised on a Friday.

Murray Bridge: The committee has obtained a reciprocal rights arrangement with Murray Bridge that allows our members to play at Murray Bridge for $10 and who hold competitions on Wednesday and Saturday which members are welcome to enter. Given many of our members are also use to playing a Thursday competition we will also hold our own competition on Thursday for those that wish to play. A score card box with Echunga Golf Club on it will be on the bar and members can place their cards along with a $5 competition fee into this box and cards will be handicapped whilst scores and results will be posted online as per a normal Thursday competition. Details of if this competition is being held at Murray Bridge will be detailed on the website by Wednesday evening.

Fleurieu: Fleurieu have offered Echunga players the members guest rate of $25 and are happy for members to play during competition times on a Saturday whilst they also hold a weekly competition allowing players to play in a competition during any other time of the week.

Other courses such as Lady Bay and Mt Barker have all indicated that they are happy to accommodate any of our members during the winter months. It is suggested that members phone ahead to book stating that they are from Echunga. 

The competition game on Saturday 11th July will be played on the front nine only. With the extra rain and forecast for the weekend the back nine is likely to be too wet and as the front nine is holding up well in the conditions the match committee has decided that the competition will be held as an 18 hole competition playing the front nine twice.

Tee times and bookings will continue to be honoured as per the current online booking sheet and if a number of groups are hitting off as the first and tenth members are asked to be patient and hit off alternatively. Members are also asked to ensure that they remove their names from the booking sheet should they not be playing.

Pennant 2015 came to an end on Sunday with Echunga featuring heavily in finals across 4 grades. Full results and the end of season player summary can be found on our Pennant webpage.

Our A2 team, with a stand out performance, came away Pennant Champions winning an excitingly close match in overtime to beat a much more fancied opponent in Lady Bay 4/3. Player highlights were:

- Elliot Willgoose at #5 played fantastic golf to win 4/3 against an older and more experienced opponent.
- Steve Kinnane at #7 continued his good pennant season form to win 2up against the Lady Bay captain.
- Danny McVitty at #6 was involved in a tough tight battle that headed to extra holes after Danny made a birdie from a fantastic approach on the 18th to win the hole. The tough 19th (Mount Barker's 1st) would be mostly suited to Danny's long game and with his opponent all but conceding the final putt, he made Danny play it to win...,but with the crowd watching the putt was missed and the Lady Bay player put his hat back on and to the 20th they went. On the par 3 20th, Danny's flushed 8 iron nestled 8 feet from the pin and with his opponent unable to secure a par, it gave Danny 2 putts to win and the 3rd match for Echunga.

Lady Bay then struck back at #'s 4, 3 & 2 winning very close games against Ian Bonython on the 19th, Anthony Evans and Naren Taverna both on the 17th, leaving David Spaven playing a #1, needing to win if Echunga was going to hold the shield.

David, playing the 18th 1up, had a strong chance to win, but from the fairway miss-timed his approach, leaving it well short. His opponent was bunkered, but he managed to get up and down to win the hole and go to the 19th. David then played two superb shots to the long par 4 and then effectively had three putts from the back edge of the green to win the game and Echunga the match. With all his team mates watching on, and David's ice cool temperament on show, a win was probably never in doubt.

Well done boys! You really played well all season and deserve your A2 pennant win.

Congratulations to Ian Bonython for a great Captaincy job this year. Your leadership and experience showed the team the way and results followed.

Our other grades A1, B1 and C1 unfortunately were all runner ups, but fought out some very tight matches.

C1's lost 4/3 to Nairn. Tied at 3 matches all, Echunga was looking the goods with Rob Eibisch's match going down the 19th, but a miraculous shot from his Nairn opponent out of the trees on to the green and then rolling in a lengthy putt for par put the pressure back on, and with Rob's putt slipping by from a similar distance gave Nairn the win. That's match play golf though, you never know what can happen.

Good wins to Liam Carroll 5/3, David Bedson 2/1 and Bill Walter 1up gave Echunga a sniff, but were just not quite able get the result they wanted.

B1's lost to Mount Barker/Hahndorf 4/3 in another close contest. Again hinging on one match, they were unable to close it out. Good wins to John Norman at #1 5/3, Steve Griffiths 6/5 and Chris Nailer 3/2 gave Echunga a chance, but alas it wasn't to be.

A1's took on hot favourites Mount Barker/Hahndorf in a rematch from the 2014 final, but were knocked over 5/2 in the end. At the turn, it was neck and neck, but over the back nine, Mount Barker started to gain the upper hand, and with the wind also getting up, made it tricky for all players. As with the apparent theme of the day, and with the close matches being played, there were defining moments, and with a better shot here or there, the results could have gone our way, but wasn't the case. Echunga had wins to Jamie Burt 3/2 and Brenton Slee 1up with 3 losing matches finishing on the 17th and 18th.

Best Player Awards for the finals.
A1 - Jamie Burt
A2 - Elliot Willgoose
B1 - John Norman
C1 - Liam Carroll

So, that's the season. Thank you to everyone who competed for Echunga this season. Bring on season 2016!