2019 KGS

The Golf

The Format: Teams of four playing two-ball ambrose best-ball on Saturday and four-ball ambrose best-ball on Sunday.

The Rules: Since slow play is a potential problem for our gangs, these rules are designed to encourage play in the right spirit and at the right pace. Teams play their chosen best ball on each shot and may place their ball half a club length (about 50cms) from where the chosen ball lies, no nearer the hole. Balls must be placed in the same cut as the chosen ball. In the interests of fast play from tee to green, teams are NOT required to mark with a tee and precisely measure from the chosen ball as they play each shot. Team members can play in any order on a shot. Putting: Once on the green, Bushrangers should mark near the chosen best ball so each team member plays from near enough to the exact same position.

Handicapping: Each person will be assigned a handicap by the handicapper based on official handicaps and information supplied by the Bushrangers. The handicapper will be governed by a commitment to rewarding good play according to a player’s ability. Team handicaps for the ambrose groupings are calculated from the individual marks.

Playoffs: In the event of a tie, a sudden-death playoff will be conducted. Teams play together as a foursome (taking alternate strokes playing one ball). The order is continuous and carries over from one hole to the next until the playoff is decided.

Nearest-the-Pin & Longest Drive: Will be contested on both days and, in the interests of team gloating and solidarity, any player who wins a LD or NTP wins prizes and glory for his entire team.

The Rodeo Rule: This is minimum drives for each team member and will be enforced. Each team’s individual rodeo requirements will appear on their scorecard.
 

The History of The Kelly Gang Shootout at Glenrowan

The Kelly Gang arrived in Glenrowan on 27 June 1880 and took about 70 hostages at the Glenrowan Inn. They planned to derail a train of police coming for them and while they waited for the train, they kept the hostages entertained by breaking out the turps and firing up a party that was a rollicking good time. The party lasted for two days. Meanwhile the police avoided the derailment and laid siege to the pub.

The gang members, Ned Kelly, Dan Kelly, Steve Hart and Joe Byrne, donned their now-famous helmets and armour (weighing about 44 kg), and fought a gun battle with the police. Before dawn on Monday June 28, Ned Kelly left the rear of the inn in his armour and circled behind the police. As the dawn broke, Ned cast an eerie figure marching out of the morning fog in his armour and overcoat, firing his revolvers. Police bullets bounced off his armour and it was not until the police shot at his legs that he slowed. He eventually collapsed and was captured beside a large fallen gum tree. He was near death and not expected to survive.

The rest of the gang died in the pub, probably from gun shot wounds, although the police bravely made sure by torching the building and burning Anne Jones’ pub to the ground. The police suffered only one minor injury: the senior officer, Superintendent Francis Hare, copped a scratch to his wrist, then fled the battle and was later suspended for his cowardice. Police bullets struck several of the hostages during the siege, at least two fatally. Ned lived and left on the train they tried to derail.

The Form Guide

The Glenrowan Hacks – Steve Hart, Joe Byrne and Dan Kelly all lost their lives at the siege in Glenrowan (June 26–28, 1880) that Ned had hoped would be the catalyst for a new republic. The myth of Ned grew as he somehow survived the ordeal having sustained enough gunshot wounds to bring down a horse. It was the first and last time they wore their iconic armour. In honour of this, the defending champions will play the KGS every year as The Glenrowan Hacks.

Mark Henderson (Hendo) Leon Doyle (Leondo)
Aaron Henderson (Junior) Shane Lawlor (Shaneo)

Coming off a stellar win last year, this unruly mob will strut into town with an air of confidence not seen since The Kelly Gang themselves bowled into Glenrowan in 1880. Hard to see them far from the business end on Sunday arvo, but may find the going a bit tougher this year with a much higher-quality field to beat this time compared with the circus freaks they had to overcome in Cobram in 2018. The rest of the field went to water on Sunday and left this loose crew of golf nuts coasting over the line in one of the greatest Brabury’s since the 2002 Winter Olympics.
 

The Euroa Removalists – Euroa was the scene of the Kelly Gang’s first bank hold-up in 1878. They were most gentlemanly and polite throughout, as they calmly made off with £2000 in cash and gold.

Gavan Doran (The Rose) Wade Jones (Cot-hopper)
Paul White (Whitey) Pete Calverley (Cuddles)

This patchwork quilt of golfing skill and temperament might not attract much attention in the betting ring, but they may just have the perfect combination of golfing and character assets to pull off a highway robbery here and steal the title from some of the more fancied gangs. A rag-tag mob of loose ends and misfits, they will certainly give a superb account of themselves between rounds but may not be equipped to carry that form on to the golf course. Although they have won four BRG titles between them, The Rose was responsible for three of those, so unless some of his magic rubs off on his shabbier pals, we don’t much fancy their chances of contending here when the whips get cracking on Sunday arvo.

The Beechworth Boys – Ned was gaoled as a teenager for receiving a stolen horse. In January 1873, he was transferred from Pentridge to Beechworth Prison where he spent the next year of his youth learning from hardened criminals how he might become an upstanding member of the community.

Matty Thomas (T-Bag) Gary Dunn (Gazza)
Darren Nelson (Dazza) Dean Mitchell (Deano)

Impossible to draw a line through the form of this rag-tag gang of golfing megastars. They could just as easily rip this field apart or disappear into oblivion. If you see one of them ordering another tray of shots at 3am on Friday, perhaps leave them out of your box trifectas. Although this mob are not the sharpest tools in the shed, the KGS is a big shed with plenty of tools. They clearly have the kahunas, bravado, golfing insanity and liver power, so must be considered a genuine chance. If they have not blown up on Saturday, expect a barnstorming finish to challenge on Sunday.
 

The Frosty Beveridges – Ned Kelly was born in Beveridge, at the foot of Fraser’s Hill, 40 kms north of Melbourne. It was his first home town and is well known for being at its best when the temperatures are a little on the chilly side.

Shane Morris (Fridge) Johnnie Morris (Buddha)
Kent Davies (Sarg) Adrian Goudie (Ay-Gee)

These four reclusive wallflowers from ‘The Cote’ are currently battling a collective form slump of epic proportions. They are all fine purveyors of the post-golf mayhem that is a priority at this event, so we can expect a successful crusade here in-between rounds. Traditionally they set the world on fire with stellar performances that make them some of the most popular men on tour. One of them won this event a decade ago but have not so much as troubled the engravers since then as their golf has been mostly deplorable. But their efforts between rounds is always world-class. A lot of fun is guaranteed for all and having a good time for a long time has always proven to be a recipe for success in the past at the KGS, so they are not without a chance.
 

The Mansfield Wombats – It was the shooting of three Mansfield policemen at Stringybark Creek that lit the fuse of The Kelly Outbreak and put a huge price on the heads of the gang members. After this, the Kelly’s used the nearby Wombat Ranges as a hideout and a base for launching raids. It is well know that the wombat eats, roots and leaves.

Ian Steer (Steery)       Cam Thompson (Thommo)      
Pete Russell (Rusty)        Matthew Pitt (Pw Jones)

Without a single KGS title between them, this mob of transients and drifters have very little to recommend their chances. On face value they are four great golfing pals but scratch the surface and the cracks appear – they are from all over the place and they ARE all over the place. One of them has won half a dozen Bushranger Cups but none have ever contended here. They certainly can golf their collective balls so if they can make it to the first tee in one piece, they might threaten in the right conditions, however, their lack of identity and cultural confusion make it clear that this crew of hobos and misfits are really just making up the numbers.
 

The Jerilderie Gents – The Kelly Gang popped by Jerilderie in 1879, held up the local bank, jagged a few pounds, penned a feisty letter and wandered over to the Telegraph Office to chop down a few poles.

Joel Matthews (Shatter)        Dean Connell (Dee Cee)
Roger Templer (The Saint)     Brett Davies (Speedy)

This mixed bag of golfing skill and nutcases may appear to be just filling in the gaps on the tee sheet, but don’t be surprised if they repeat The Kelly’s surprise raid on Jerilderie and steal the title from some of the more fancied teams. Given the quality of the company this mob is known to keep (i.e. each other), they must be considered a genuine threat in this field. Their main strategy is simply hoping that the sum of their parts is greater than their individual components. A virile, potent and masculine outfit that has the bloodlines, form, training, experience, competitive drive and pharmaceutical access to take this event by the horns and give it a massive shake. A huge chance to cause an upset.
 

The Avenel Gang – Ned Kelly forged a reputation as a stand-up citizen when growing up in Avenel. As a 12 year old, he saved the life of a drowning Richard Shelton near the bridge over Hughes Creek. As a reward for his bravery and courage, Kelly was gifted a green silk sash, which he was wearing under his armour at the siege of Glenrowan.

Jodene Tuau (Two-Oh)           Dennis Williams (Dizzy)
Sharon Morrell (Shazza)         Steve Morrell (Mozza)

It goes without saying that this is, without any shadow of a doubt, the most debonair, sophisticated, swash-buckling, worldly and humble team. Ever. It would not be stretching the truth to add that, as a team full of wisdom, experience, guile, wit, emotional intelligence, humility and intellectual gravitas, this mob may be the most articulate, cunning, perspicacious and erudite team ever to play in the KGS. However, what they make up for in character, they certainly lack in golfing prowess. Will probably struggle to contend over this distance but could be the classiest also-rans in the history of sports.

The Benalla Burglars – As the major town closest to Ned Kelly's home, Benalla was the epicentre of Kelly's bushranging days and was the police headquarters for the Kelly Gang manhunt. As a lad, Ned famously gave three troopers a hiding one day in the main street.

Nick Randone (Fantasia)                Alex Austin (Shiel)
Ashley Davis (McDonald)   Brendan Davis (Tipungwuti)

This mob of sharp-witted, big-hitting, trash-talking, fun-loving, knee-slapping, rib-tickling Bomber lovers are very capable of taking this event by the scruff of the neck and prancing off with the Glenrowan Perpetual Trophy. They won in 2017 and come in here with good form in this event in the past. A few questions do linger about their collective physical and emotional capacity to stay the distance here, but their mental strength and sheer ball-striking power coupled with clinical reliability makes this mob one of the favourites here this week. Are certainly here for the fun and a good time, but don’t be at all surprised if we see them elbowing their way through to the podium on Sunday arvo.
 

The Corowa Borrowers – Corowa was used by the Kellys to 'trade' horses and cattle they had ‘acquired’. In early 1879 the gang was seen back in the region when they crossed the Murray to escape the Victorian Police. Ned knew the river crossings as he had worked at Fairfield Vineyard, danced at Forty’s Pub in Wahgunyah and drank in Corowa.

Richard Dalton (Tricky)       Karen Dalton (Kaz)
Michael Brown (Micky)           Mandy Brown (Maz)

A bunch of Bushranger novices here, we hope for their sake that the quest for golfing glory will be secondary to seeking out the fun, frivolity and good times on offer here. Given the dubious company they are known to keep, they appear to have the right breeding and bloodlines to put in a good first-up performance but given the previous inglorious history of maiden starters in this event, this is not the mob to bet the farm on. Rumoured to be handy on the lip and capable of holding up their end of the bar between rounds but their problems start when they get to the first tee. Consider boxing into your trifectas to add a bit of value.