The Mallacoota Challenge has become the premiere event for the southern golf club and will go ahead from Saturday.  

Bega and Bermagui have become known as some of the biggest contenders in the challenge while Eden also send a number of challengers, but hosts are also welcoming interstate players and even two from Fiji. 

It is a 36-hole two ball aggregate team event using a modified point score system, but a somewhat unique element, organisers said players can be re-handicapped after their first day of play. 

“Being the small club that it is, Mallacoota teams have always been outnumbered by visitor entries. Despite this, it has been a Mallacoota pair which have taken out the title in all four tournaments to date,” a spokesman for the club said.

He said the hosts were understandably at an advantage on their own turf – with results so far favouring the locals, but visiting players are threatening the crown and good entries from Bega could see the title tipping. 

“The visiting teams have been knocking on the door,” the spokesman said. “Gary Patterson and Warwick Lewis from Bermagui were runners-up in 2015, while players from Bairnsdale were a close second last year.”

Much interest then will centre on this year's results and whether a team might emerge from the contingent of visiting players to become the first to overcome the locals' "home ground advantage"...or will the "horses for courses" theory continue?

The Mallacoota Challenge also features a women's division, run in conjunction with, but separate to, the men's competition.

It too is a 36 hole tournament to be played under the same format as the men’s. The ladies contest has also proved difficult to win regardless of handicaps.

There has been only one previous instance when a woman player has managed to beat her handicap on both days of their event, and there has been only two previous occasions ever, when a player has managed to actually play to her handicap on both days of the weekend program.

An impressive list of prizes await the successful teams. The $50 entry fee will again include the popular offer of complimentary on course refreshments, and a closing barbecue meal.

Organisers are encouraging all Eden golfers to sign up. Entries can be lodged with Carol Reinelt on (03) 5158 0277 during business hours or Alf Bowerman 0416 006 706 or John Hillyer 0438 580 448.