2025 News

2025 NEWS

KEVIN RULE - 150 GAMES

Kevin Rule played his 150th game at Wakehurst on Sunday 14th November 2025.

He is the 6th Nomads Sydney North to achieve this milestone.

Here is some interesting info on Kevin's journey at Nomads:

Started playing golf in the mid 70’s when he was at high school

While his main focus was cricket and hockey he was a member at Parkview Golf Club in Johannesburg
He was inducted into Nomads in March 2006 and his proposer was Gordon Hatch
Kevin has attended 2 Australian National tournaments
In the 17 years from Jan 2008 since detailed stats were kept:
   - His average score is 29.77
   - His highest score – 43 points at Long Reef in July 2022
   - His lowest score - 15 points in July 14
   - His starting handicap at Nomads was 8
   - His average handicap 9.17 with his lowest being 5 (August 22) and his highest handicap 14 (July 10)

Well done Kevin on achieving this milestone.

CHRIS BREDENHANN- 100 GAMES

Chris is the 20th Nomads Sydney North Club member to achieve the 100-game milestone, Chris (left), is congratulated by Captain Ryan van der Walt at Riverside Oaks Golf Resort on 14 December 2025.

He started hitting a ball around Windsor Park golf course in Durban while at university. Chris played a bit of golf at Corporate days while working at Deloitte , but never managed to get an invite to Mark Howard-Browne’s company golf day as their auditor. Chris joined Durban Country Club but left South Africa 6 months after becoming a member so didn’t really play much golf there either.

He is still a very infrequent golfer given his AGU handicap still has scores from 2017 contributing to his handicap.

Chris joined Nomads the year after it was formed in Sydney. He was introduced by the Drever brothers.

He has received a couple of crying towels (now at the back of the garage) over the 20 years with Nomads. While he has never been close to a hole in one (you need to hit the ball straight for that!), he managed to burgle a “40 plus” cap once (that hat was lost at a past charity day!)

Chris was inducted in January 2004 at Long Reef and since then his stats are as follows:

Average score is 29.97
Highest score – 40 points (off an 8 handicap) in July 2018 at Long Reef
Lowest score - 20 points in July 2017 also at Long Reef
Starting handicap at Nomads was 9
Average handicap 8.25
Lowest handicap 4 (August 2018 at Wakehurst)
Highest handicap 13 in September 2023

WILLIAM LOMBARD - 100 GAMES

William Lombard is the 19th Nomads Sydney North Club member to achieve the 100-game milestone, William (left), is congratulated by Captain Ryan van der Walt at Riverside Oaks Golf Resort on 14 December 2025.

William played the odd game of golf when growing up in Greenside Johannesburg. Living close to Parkview golf course he remembers playing more in the sloots that ran through the course rather than on the course itself.

He recalls the sloots being the provider of an endless supply of lost balls that he then sold back to golfers so that him and his mates could ride their bikes to the “Milky Bar” to play Pinball, Donkey Kong, Pac-man and Asteroids.

Living in Fish Hoek, Cape Town prior to moving to Australia in 2008, he only played the occasional game.

Being introduced to Nomads by his brother-in-law Dave Twycross in 2015, William has attended 7 Australian National tournaments and 1 Zimbabwe National tournament in May 2024.

William was Captain of Nomads Sydney North over the crazy years of COVID 2020/2021 and served on the committee for a few years prior to that and 1 year post being Captain.

He has managed to evade the crying towel in his 100 games thus far and is still searching for that elusive Albatross or hole-in-one.

William was inducted in November 2015 at Mona Vale and since then his stats are as follows:

Average score is 29.95
Highest score – 37 points (off a 24 handicap) in April 2022 at Long Reef
Lowest score - 23 points in August 2023 at Mona Vale
Starting handicap at Nomads was 21
Average handicap 21.03
Lowest handicap 18 (May 2018 at Wakehurst)
Highest handicap 24

PETER HODGE - 100 GAMES

eter Hodge is the 18th Nomads Sydney North Club member to achieve the 100-game milestone, Peter (left), is congratulated by Captain Ryan van der Walt at at Riverside Oaks on 14 December 2025.

Peter succeeded his brother, Michael, as the club captain in 2019 and he served on the committee for 7 years and was gear steward for 5 years and secretary for 2 years.

Peter held the record for the highest score for the crying towel at 28 at Long Reef until superseded by another member who scored a 29 also at Long Reef.

Peter, who is a civil engineer, started playing at corporate golf days whilst at university in the 1980’s. He played at Riverside Oaks in a corporate game the week that they opened in the mid-80s with Kilpatrick Green - now UGL part of the CIMIC Group.

He has never scored a hole in one but has played in a 4 ball (not a monthly Nomads game) where past member Greg Smith scored a hole in one on the 18th at North Ryde.

He has never hit 40 points but has played in five 4-balls where a fellow Nomad member has scored 40 points or more. That must be a record….

He scored 37 points when he was smashed by Greg Wilkinson who scored 46 at the Springs during their knockout game in 2020

Peter was inducted in January 2015 at Mona Vale and since then his stats are as follows:

Average score is 29.61
Highest score – 38 points (off a 22 handicap) September 2018
Lowest score - 24 points at in Mar 16 at Long Reef
Starting handicap at Nomads was 21
Average handicap 22.22
Lowest handicap 18 (Feb 17 at Mona Vale)
Highest handicap 24 (quite a few times)

He has attended 9 Australian National tournaments.

MEMBERS CHARITY DAY DRAW DECEMBER 2025

In 2023, your Committee decided to include the $50 Raffle tickets in the Annual subscription so that all members contributed to the very reason why we belong to Nomads.

We have around 50% of our members playing in the Charity Day, so it was decided that there would be a separate Members Charity Day Raffle and the draw would be done at the Gold Cup game in December at Riverside Oaks.

Our VC, Martin van Eeden set aside a number of prizes, to the value of over $3,170 for the Members Draw and the Winners were:

20 YEAR TIE AWARD

David Twycross received his 20-year tie at Riverside Oaks on Sunday 14th December 2025

2025 PETER O'MALLEY KNOCK OUT

Mark Howard-Browne was victorious in the final of the 2025 Peter O'Malley knock out by beating Inacio Dos Santos 29 - 25. Bertus Fick took out 3rd place with Jurgens Snyman withdrawing due to a broken ankle. In the Plate Final, Marius Harmse edged out William Lombard 30 - 29

RIVERSIDE OAKS WINNERS PHOTOS - 14 DEC 2025
(Click on photo to reveal the winner's details)

RIVERSIDE OAKS WINNERS - 14 DECEMBER 2025

WAKEHURST WINNERS PHOTOS - 16 NOVEMBER 25
(Click on photo to reveal the winner's details)

WAKEHURST WINNERS - 16 NOVEMBER 2025

LYNWOOD WINNERS PHOTOS - 19 OCTOBER 25
(Click on photo to reveal the winner's details)

LYNWOOD WINNERS - 19 OCTOBER 2025

MONA VALE WINNERS PHOTOS - 21 SEPTEMBER 25
(Click on photo to reveal the winner's details)

MONA VALE WINNERS - 21 SEPTEMBER 2025

WAKEHURST WINNERS PHOTOS - 20 JULY 2025
(Click on photo to reveal the winner's details)

WAKEHURST WINNERS - 20 JULY 2025

LONG REEF WINNERS PHOTOS - 22 JUNE 2025
(Click on photo to reveal the winner's details)

LONG REEF WINNERS - 22 JUNE 2025

ANNUAL SYDNEY CLUB CHALLENGE - MAY 2025

Victorious Norths Captain, Ryan van der Walt (right) receives the Sydney Club Challenge Shield from Nomads Golf Australia's Honorary Life Member, Johan Landberg at Riverside Oaks Golf Resort. Looking on is Souths Captain, Kevin Adler.

Sydney North beat Sydney South 6.0 to 3.0 and in the overall standings Norths now lead 8-5.

RIVERSIDE OAKS WINNERS PHOTOS - 25 MAY 2025
(Click on photo to reveal the winner's details)

RIVERSIDE OAKS WINNERS - 25 MAY 2025

40 CLUB - 13 APRIL 2025 - LONG REEF

At Long Reef Golf Club, Michael Smith (right), scored his 3rd 40 pointer to go with his first at Riverside Oaks (Dec 2018) and second at Long Reef (24 July 2022 scoring 40 points).

Long Reef has now twenty one 40 pointers, behind Riverside Oaks Gangurru with 25.

LONG REEF WINNERS PHOTOS - 13 APRIL 2025
(Click on photo to reveal the winner's details)

LONG REEF WINNERS - 13 APRIL 2025

FURTHERANCE OF GOLF 2025

Captain Ryan van der Walt announced, at Wakehurst Golf Club on Sunday 16th March 2025, that the Nomads Sydney North Scholarship Recipients for 2025 were Shaylon Bennett and Kiara Connolly-Jackson.

Each year, in conjunction with the General Manager of Jack Newton Junior Golf, Dale Hughes, deserving juniors are identified and are put forward by JNJG to the Nomads Sydney North Committee for consideration.

On Sunday 16 March 2025, at Wakehurst Golf Club, Sydney North Captain, Ryan van der Walt, was pleased to announce that the Jack Newton Junior Golf Scholarship recipients for 2025 were Shaylan Bennett and Kiara Connolly-Jackson.

Shaylan's Mum, Sam was in attendance as was Helen, Kiara's Mum.

A cheque of $6,000 was handed over to JNJG to administer, on behalf of Shaylan and Kiara, and this will be used to assist them in meeting some of the costs in getting to tournaments around NSW.

Here is a little information of each of our Scholarship Recipients for 2025:

Shaylan Bennett

15 Years Old
Everglades CC / Avondale GC
Handicap +2

Achievements

2024 Everglades CC Club Champion
2024 Greg Chalmers JM Champion
2024 Central Coast Academy of Sport Athlete of the Year
2025 Blue Mountains JM Champion
2025 NSWCCC Team Member
2025 NSW Champion of Champions - 4th Place
2025 NSW Amateur Championship - Matchplay Qualifier, eventually losing to Champion Declan O'Donovan in the Round of 16

Shaylan has been hitting golf balls from a young age but only started taking golf seriously in 2022. His father, Scott Bennett, a PGA professional, has been coaching him his whole life. He currently hold a +2 handicap and has ambitions to play college golf in America.

He enjoys competing in junior tournaments but especially adult events, particularly Vardon events, where he challenges himself against experienced adult players. This year, Shaylan plans to participate in more tournaments to further develop his game.

Before golf became his main focus, he spent seven years in nippers, competing at regional and state levels in board, swimming, and Ironman events. he also competed in high-level indoor swimming and continue to train with the top squad at his local leisure center to maintain his golf fitness. Additionally, Shaylan has played in rugby union and soccer teams and enjoys surfing with his mates.

Kiara Connolly-Jackson

16 Years Old
Kooindah Waters GC / Avondale GC
Handicap +2

Achievements

2023 JNJG Most Improved Junior Girl
2023 / 2024 Wyong GC Club Champion
2024 Kooindah Waters GC Club Champion
2024 JNJG Master of the Masters
2024 South Coast Junior Masters Champion
2024 Greg Chalmers Junior Masters Champion
2025 NSWCCC Team Member
2025 NSW Junior Interstate Team Member
2025 JNJG Elite Squad Member

Kiara has been playing golf for eight years, but she started taking it more seriously in recent years. Her coach, Zach Churcher, a teaching professional, has been guiding her for the past three years. When she first started working with him, her handicap was 15, and she has since improved to +2.3. Before Zach, Kiara was mostly self-taught with occasional guidance from professionals at Wyong Golf Club.

She began my golf journey at Wyong Golf Club on the Central Coast but later moved to Kooindah Waters Golf Club to take on a greater challenge. Kiara started competing in Jack Newton Junior Golf tournaments at age 12 and has developed significantly as a player since then.

Looking ahead, Kiara aims to compete in more elite tournaments, including Jean Derrin events, Next Gen competitions, and high-level amateur tournaments, to continue progressing in her golf career.

Shaylon and Kiara, we look forward to your development with JNJG and hope you have a lot of fun while growing in the game of golf.

WAKEHURST WINNERS PHOTOS - 16 MARCH 2025
(Click on photo to reveal the winner's details)

WAKEHURST WINNERS - 16 MARCH 2025

Bertus Fick getting his 5-year tie

February Inductee - Jacques Steyn

RIVERSIDE OAKS WINNERS PHOTOS - 23 FEB 2025
(Click on photo to reveal the winner's details)

RIVERSIDE OAKS WINNERS - 23 FEBRUARY 2025

MONA VALE WINNERS PHOTOS - 19 JANUARY 2025
(Click on photo to reveal the winner's details)

MONA VALE PRIZE WINNERS - 19 JANUARY 2025

2025 GAME SCHEDULE

This year we play three times at Wakehurst and Riverside Oak, including the Norths v Souths in May 2025, twice at Long Reef and Mona Vale, and once at Bayview and Lynwood.

Nomads Sydney North will be hosting the 15th Nomads National Tournament at Cypress Lakes (Hunter Valley) from 24-25 October 2025.

2025 NOMADS GOLF CLUB (SYDNEY NORTH) COMMITTEE

In-coming 2025 Captain, Ryan van der Walt, introduced his Committee for 2025. We have one new face on the Committee this year, Jurgens Snyman who takes on the role of Club Secretary, game draws and match day scoring.

From Left: Rouan Snyman, Bertus Fick, Martin van Eeden, Damon Cornish, Deon Deetlefs, Captain Ryan van der Walt and Mark Howard-Browne

Archived News

2025

Kevin Rule 150 Games Nov 25
100-game Badge - Chris Bredenhann
100-game Badge - William Lombard
100-game Badge - Peter Hodge
Members Charity Day Draw
20-year Tie Award
2025 Peter O'Malley Knock Out
2025 Gold Cup Winners
Riverside Oaks Winners Photos - Dec 25
Riverside Oaks Prize List
Wakehurst Winners Photos - Nov 25
Wakehurst Prize List - Nov 25
Lynwood Winners Photos - Oct 25
Lynwood Prize List - Oct 25
Mona Vale Reef Winners Photos - Sep 25
Mona Vale Prize List - Sep 25
Wakehurst Winners Photos - Jul 25
Wakehurst Prize List - Jul 25
Long Reef Winners Photos - Jun 25
Long Reef Prize List - Jun 25
Norths v Souths Annual Comp - May 25
Riverside Oaks Winners Pics - May 25
Riverside Oaks Prize List - May 25
40 Club - Michael Smith Apr 25
Long Reef Winners Photos - Apr 25
Long Reef Prize List - Apr 25
2025 Furtherance of Golf
Wakehurst Winners Pics - Mar 25
Wakehurst Prize List - Mar 25
Riverside Oaks Winners Pics - Feb 25
Riverside Oaks Prize List - Feb 25
Mona Vale Winners Photos - Jan 25
Mona Vale Prize List - Jan 25
2025 Game Schedule
2025 Committee

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