It is normally a top priority within the NSW Veteran Golf Association calendar, and with the COVID cancellation last year, the booking sheet filled up months out from the competition start. Some 79 local individuals and businesses sponsored the event and there is a real sense of gratitude within the veteran golfers and the Gloucester Country Club for the massive support. A triumph was the work put into the week's events by captain Derek Bardwell, the committee and their huge team of colleagues who worked tirelessly over many months on event preparation, event management, contacts with potential sponsors, course assistance on the day not to mention all those goodies provided for the morning teas and lunches during the four days of competition.

Competitors took part from all over NSW. There were individual Stableford events on the Monday, Tuesday and Thursday ahead of the presentation at the gala dinner Thursday evening. This was followed on the Friday for those who could manage it after the previous evening's entertainment by a Four Ball Better Ball Stableford. Gloucester member Rod Hinton entertained the troops at the presentation dinner in what attendees described as a "fantastic" performance.

On Monday, the women's A Grade winner was Evelyn Potts (Hawks Nest); in second place was Marie Field (Toronto) followed by Gillian Wilson (Breakers) in third place. In B Grade the winner was Robyn Strand (Long Yard) with Jeannette Walters (Belmont) second and Laraine Wilson (Breakers) third. In the men's event A Grade was led home by Peter Gunn from Port Macquarie; Colin Penfold (Toronto) was second and Michael Maher (Hawks Nest) was third. In B Grade the winner was Robert Bisset (Viney Creek); Alec Cormack (Shelly Beach) was second and Ben Clarke (Shelley Beach) third.

Tuesday was a special day with all competitors in the mix for the day's Stableford trophies and members of the NSW Veteran Golfers Association or its equivalent in other states and territories also compete for a perpetual trophy, the NSW-VGA Shield. The winner of the women's event was Sheena Gunn (Port Macquarie) with Linda Summerville (Toronto) was runner up. The men's winner was Alec Cormack (Shelley Beach) and runner up was Greg Lane (Howlong-Belmont).

In the Individual Stableford, the Women's A Grade winner was Linda Summerville (Port Macquarie); second place was Carol Maher (Hawks Nest) with Marilyn Armstrong (Shelley Beach) in third. In B Grade, the winner was Aileen Williams (Murree); Carmel Downton (Calliga) was second and Sheryn Fuller (Terrigal) was third. The men's A Grade winner was Brian Clarke (Maitland) and Wayne Fuller (Terrigal) was next with Gary Jones (Shelley Beach) in third spot. In B Grade, the winner was Bill Downton (Calliga); Trevor Hodgson (Kurri) was second and Peter Ray (Shelley Beach) came home in third place.

Thursday was the final day for the Individual Stableford events, and the women's A Grade winner was Kristine White (Shelley Beach); second place went to Denise Lucas (Toronto) and third place to Jean Lane (Belmont). In B Grade Robyn Ray (Shelley Beach) was the winner; Roma Bernadin (Shelley Beach) was second and Colleen Inskip (Hawkes Nest) was third. The winner in the men's A Grade was Sam Catanzariti (Shelley Beach); Rod Hinton (Gloucester) was second and David Riley (Toronto) was third. In B Grade the winner was John Tesoriero with second place going to Jeff Draper (Jimbaroo) and Tony McClure (Hawks Nest) was third.

The Individual 3-day (54-hole) aggregate trophies for women went to Gabriella Catanzariti (Breakers Golf Club); Sheena Gunn (Port Macquarie) was second and Gail Barnett (Beverley Park) was third. The 54-hole women's scratch trophy went to Ruth Riley (Toronto). For the men, the top 54-hole honour went to David Potts (Wyong) with Greg Lane (Howlong-Belmont) in second place followed by John Armstrong (Shelley Beach) third. The 54-hole men's scratch trophy was won by Malcolm Ryan (Toronto).

The final day of competition on Friday was the Medley Four Ball Better Ball Stableford lead home in first place by winners Greg and Jean Lane (Howlong-Belmont); runners up were Peter Bernadin (Hawks Nest) and Jeff Draper (Jamberoo). In third place were Carmel and Bill Downton (Calliga Golf) followed by fourth placed Frank Rochford (Forster). Bruce Summerville (Toronto), Allan and Jeanette Walters (Belmont) were fifth and Aileen Williams (Murree) and David Riley (Toronto) came home in sixth place.

Although individual scores averaged well below par there was no doubt in anyone's mind not only that the Gloucester course was a well prepared and fantastic venue but that the Gloucester Veteran's Week of Golf week was well run and much appreciated by all who played.

In "back to normal" mode veteran golfers will be playing an Individual Stableford sponsored by Maureen and David Hjorth on Tuesday June 1 and the following Tuesday Ele and Bruce Fraser sponsor a Four Ball Batter Ball Stableford with an Individual Stableford in conjunction.