The Cook Islands Golf Club of Victoria was present at the 2010 Australian Masters Golf Tournament held at the Victoria Golf Course in Melbourne, Australia recently.

This is the 16th year we have been invited to marshal for this great golf tournament.

Tiger Wood the defending champion and Sergio Garcia, just to name a few international golf professionals, were present at this year’s tournament.

We had the opportunity to be on the par 5 hole 17th which is the longest hole and claimed to be the hardest hole to manage.

Well, this was the information that was given to us before we got there but to be honest, this was the easiest hole we have ever marshalled in the 16 years of doing this volunteer work. With our easy going personalities and our very assertive decision making our job was very easy.

The weather was not so kind to us but achieved the best out of the golfers.

Melbourne’s weather can change in an instant.

On the first day it was hot, the second day the wind was howling and very challenging for the players, also not so good for the hay fever sufferers!

The third day the heavens opened up and it was cold and the last day it was cloudy but finally perfect for a game of golf.

Tiger brought out his best and finished -7 and fourth overall with Stuart Appleby taking out the championship at -10 – his first ever Australian title.

Congratulations to Stuart Appleby.

This marshalling opportunity was initiated by Ben Mose back in 1994.

He was the first president of the Cook Islands Golf Club of Victoria.

Since then, due to our professional approach to this task, we have been invited back each year.

Our marshalling techniques are sought not only for the Australian Masters, but other major golf tournaments held in Melbourne over recent years.

Our greatest moment to date was in 1996 when we were invited to the first ever Presidential Cup held outside of America.

This was the highlight of our little club here in Melbourne.

Our photo was taken and displayed in the official program for that tournament which was circulated around the globe.

The Presidential Cup will be coming back to Melbourne next year and we have been approached for that gig and are awaiting confirmation.

We, the Cook Islands Golf Club of Victoria, are doing our bit by promoting our little island paradise by marshalling at the golf tournaments.

Some people approach us and ask “where are the Cook Islands?”

They say they would love to visit our islands. They have heard about us and are enticed by our warmth and humorous attitude, combined with smiling faces and flowers behind our ears. What more could anyone ask!

A special thanks to all the members that had given their valuable time in assisting this wonderful event and we are looking forward to next year’s two events, well done guys.