AT 79, Wodonga Golf Club’s Noel Nicholas achieved a feat that had fellow members in awe after he broke his age by an astonishing nine strokes.
Nicholas, who only took up golf at 44 after hanging up his cricket whites, fired a two-under-par 70 off the stick to win a mid-week competition with 46 Stableford points.
Playing off an eight handicap, the former Electricity Commission linesman walked away with both bragging rights and a three-shot handicap reduction for his efforts.
“I played a lot of cricket and when I stopped playing at the age of 44, I took up golf and loved it,” Nicholas said.
After 10 years at Deniliquin Golf Club across the border in New South Wales (2008–2018), he joined Wodonga Golf Club where he has improved his game.
For Noel Nicholas, practice makes perfect.
His stellar round built steadily, reaching a notable moment on the 17th tee with 41 points already on the scorecard.
The finale, however, proved unforgettable as he eagled the 535-metre par-5 18th, aptly named Pro Alley, adding five points to reach 46 and cement top spot on the leaderboard.
Asked where his game’s strength lies, Nicholas offered a grin.
“When I hit a good shot, I tell the blokes my foot keeps slipping,” he joked. “But in all seriousness, I can draw the ball quite well and that helps my game.”
Now retired, Nicholas plays up to three times a week and practises whenever possible … helped by the fact he lives right beside the golf course.
“I live on the third hole at Wodonga so I can sneak out and hit a few balls and have a few chips and putts,” he said.
For a man who only discovered golf halfway through life, the game has proven not just a pastime, but a platform for remarkable achievements.
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