2022 WBC

The Golf

The Format: 36 holes of 2-ball ambrose over two days for stableford points. Longest Drive and Nearest the Pin will be contested each day.

The Rules: Since slow play is a potential problem for us, these rules are designed to encourage play in the right spirit and at the right pace. Teams play their chosen best ball on each shot and may place their ball half a club length (about 50cm) from where the chosen ball lies, no nearer the hole. Balls must be placed in the same cut as the chosen ball. In the interests of fast play from tee to green, teams are NOT required to mark with a tee and precisely measure from the chosen ball as they play each shot. Team members can play in any order on a shot. Please have fun, move quickly between shots, keep up with the group in front and pick up your ball when you have scratched on the hole.

Putting: Once on the green, Bushrangers should mark near the chosen best ball so all team members play from near enough to the exact same position.

Handicapping: Each team will be assigned a handicap based on official Australian handicaps and information supplied by the Bushrangers. The handicapper will be governed by a commitment to rewarding good play according to a player’s ability.

Playoffs: In the event of a tie, a sudden-death playoff will be held. Teams play together as a twosome (taking alternate strokes playing one ball). Teams can determine the order as each member takes their first shot. This order is then continuous and carries over from one hole to the next until the playoff is decided.

The Rodeo Rule: This is minimum drives for each team member and will be enforced. Each team’s rodeo requirements will appear on their scorecard.
 

Who was William Buckley?

“William Buckley was a tall, ungainly man ... and altogether his looks were not in his favour; he had a bushy head of black hair, a low forehead with overhanging eyebrows nearly concealing his small eyes, a short snub nose, a face very much marked by smallpox, and was just such a man as one would suppose fit to commit burglary or murder."

-- George Russell, 1836

Born in Cheshire, England in 1780, William Buckley fought as one of the King's Own Regiment against Napoleon's forces in the Netherlands. He was convicted of receiving stolen cloth in 1802 and was sentenced to transportation to Australia for 14 years. He was among 300 prisoners sent out in 1803 to establish the first settlement on Victoria's Port Phillip near what is now Sorrento.

Buckley and two others escaped in December 1803 with the aim of getting to Sydney. Alas, they went the wrong way and circled Port Phillip Bay. Due to the harsh terrain and lack of food, Buckley's companions decided to return to the settlement and give themselves up. But not the determined Buckley. It was the last time any white man would see of him for 32 years.

A powerful man standing over 6'6", Buckley pressed on along the coast to Breamlea, Torquay, Anglesea, Aireys Inlet and beyond. His first permanent resting place was near Mount Defiance where he found an abundance of shellfish, edible vegetation and natural cover. In the winter, Buckley was close to death but was rescued by an Aboriginal tribe.

Fortunately for Buckley, the locals believed that white people were Aborigines who had come back from the dead. They named him Murrangurk and took him in as one of their own. For the next three decades, Buckley travelled extensively throughout the region, mostly around Geelong, Barwon Heads, and the Otway Ranges. On July 7 1835, Buckley wandered into a camp of John Batman’s party and reacquainted himself with European society.

He was the first European to walk the bush on both sides of Port Phillip Bay, living off the land and on the run from the law. Given that our determined Bushrangers regularly ingratiate themselves with the locals on our trips and that this tournament is played on courses on both sides of the bay, we think it is fitting that this event is known as The William Buckley Classic.
 

The Form Guide

The Murrangurk Masters – Early in his travels, William Buckley found a spear by a grave near Torquay. It belonged to the respected warrior Murrangurk. The locals believed Buckley to be Murrangurk returned from the dead as a giant white man. The two-player team format and the name of WBC perpetual trophy reflect the lives of these two men combining under one name and each year the reigning champions will play as The Murrangurk Masters.

Kirk Hayward (Joe) & Travis Graham (TG) – As they proved with their thrilling WBC playoff win at 13th Beach last year, this combo are bona-fide big game performers who have the ability to take this event by the scruff of the neck and embarrass the opposition with a frenzy of scoring. Super consistent and rock solid in the heat of the battle, look out if they get away to a good start because they will be very hard to run down on the home straight. One of the top fancies here this week.

The Sullivan Bay Ginger Bread Men – Buckley and two other convicts escaped from the camp at Sullivan Bay near Sorrento on December 27, 1803. The others turned back after a few days, but Buckley pressed ahead and stayed on the run for the next 32 years.

Graham Ball (Bally) & Richard Fellner (Quigley) – These two devious reprobates must be respected and regarded as a massive chance here if they can find a way to understand what each other is saying, as the official Bushranger Aussie-to-American-English translator-unit is in the shop. When up and about, they look like a well-oiled, but hungover machine. If they don’t burst a few valves and start leaking oil all over the place, then expect to see them come flying home at the finish. Albeit on the wrong side of the car, on the opposite side of the road, and on completely the wrong track.
 

The Corio Bay Fugitives – Buckley and his two fellow escapees reached the waterfront on Corio Bay at what is now Geelong a few days after escaping. He came to know this area very well over the next 32 years.

Lisa Saunders (The Enabler) & Peter Calverley (Cuddles) – Crafty. Skilled. Determined. Talented. Inspirational. Brilliant. Witty. Genius. Camaraderie. Entertaining. Rousing. Teamwork. Glorious. Remarkable. Uncompromising. These are all words that can be found in the Macquarie English Dictionary. Unfortunately, they have no relevance here. Fortunately, the very same dictionary contains many other words, like: inconsistent, scruffy, futile, odd, unpredictable, three-putt, bizarre and discombobulated. Given their significant lack of serious preparation, they will need to produce something very special to contend this week. Long shots at best.
 

The Swan Island Hackers – Buckley and his two fellow escapees reached Swan Island at Queenscliff on New Year’s Day 1804. It was here that the other two chose to return to Sorrento but Buckley refused to give up and made the momentous decision to press on alone.

Rod Welsh (Whales) & Steven Gracev (Spacey) – They say to succeed in golf, you must make great decisions. And to make great decisions, you must have the capacity to clearly discern the probability of outcomes from a diverse range of often uncontrollable variables. Given that these two are the biggest pair of uncontrollable variables in the field here, this team has close to bugger-all chance of success. Both of them have somehow managed to make an equally rash choice of teammate for this event. They are both already off to a pretty average start before even arriving at the course.
 

The Point Lonsdale Caveman – After parting ways with his companions, Buckley moved on to Pt. Lonsdale where he is thought to have sheltered in a cave for a short time. Buckley’s Cave is still a popular destination for local history buffs and Bushrangers on the lamb.

Graham Sherlock (Sherl) & Shaun Condron (Dom) – You’ve heard of Superman, Batman, Aquaman, The Amazing Spiderman and The Marlborough Man - all formidable opponents. However, the cast of super villains vying for the 2022 WBC have a big task in front of them this week, because to win the title they will have to get past these two Super-Freaks! This dynamic duo leave all other super-hero combinations in their wake. These guys look primed to take all before them and obliterate the field here. Have been overlooked in the betting ring and are grossly over the odds, so refinance your mortgage, call your bookie immediately and bet the farm!
 

The Barwon Heads Sir Robins – On his first day marching alone, Buckley happened upon a group of Wathaurong people camped peacefully by the Barwon river. Fearing for his life, he silently crossed the river at the heads and bravely ran away.

Jason Pratt (JP) & Joe Amenta (As a mental) – This couple of flighty stallions are past champions here and will certainly have a good time between rounds and must be given half a chance of getting amongst the action on the leaderboard on Sunday arvo if they get their games going. This hard-hitting combo are a pair of golfing superstars who are famous for their majestic, sartorial splendour and splendid metrosexual refinement. They raise the entire tone of this event and give the field here a finishing polish and touch of class it so richly deserves. A big chance to be thereabouts when the whips are cracking on the home straight.
 

The Bream Creek Freaks – Buckley cruised past 13th Beach and crossed Bream Creek the next day. Later he returned and it was here he built a substantial hut and lived for many years on the abundant supplies of food, including the fish he trapped in the creek.

Mick David (Mikey D) & Matthew Pitt (PW Jones) – Completely impossible to draw a line through the form of this rag-tag pair of golfing megastars. With too many BRG titles between them to count, history is on their side even if their recent form is sketchy. They could just as easily rip this field apart or disappear into oblivion. They clearly both have the kahunas, skills, wit, golfing insanity, bravado, experience, waistlines, putting finesse and liver power to go all the way here, so they must be considered a massive chance. Again. If they have not accidentally hit the self-destruct button on Saturday night, expect a barnstorming finish on Sunday for another incredible victory.
 

The Aireys Inlet Slicers – As his situation became more wretched as he trekked alone, Buckley found clear water at Aireys Inlet and much needed food. He built his first dwelling near here, a primitive hut of which Maslow would have been proud.

Doug Henderson (D-Hendo) & Peter Dean (The Helmet) – Not really known at all for their BRG Major Championship experience, this pair will be looking to make a name for themselves here this week. As they tackle this step-up in class, they will need to pace themselves to ensure that they have enough in the tank at the business end of the weekend, both on and off the golf course. A wildcard in the deck and not the biggest roughies here this week, they will certainly be backing themselves, even if no one else does. Could surprise.
 

The Torquay Hookers – Buckley camped on the banks of Spring Creek at Torquay during his solitary march through the district in 1804. It was here he picked up the spear from the grave of Murrangurk that later would be his saviour.

Dean Connell (Honeymoon) & Gav Doran (The Rose of Doran) – This worldly and erudite combination will be brimming with confidence here this week. Although Honeymoon is still licking his wounds from an inglorious TMMP, he has bounced back, as he always does after a shocker. The Rose, as he is known to do, has been polishing up his free-form-jazz-poetry skills. If you see the wondrous Rose of Doran appear at night, you will know he is in fine form, but if you find him launching into some sort of late-night iambic-pentameter rent poetic odyssey after 3am on either night, he probably won’t end up bothering the WBC engraver on Sunday afternoon.
 

The Mount Defiance Alliance – At Mount Defiance just past Lorne, Buckley found a cave with fresh water and food nearby and made it his first permanent home, living there for several months through the autumn of 1804. As winter set in, he began to struggle and decided to make the long trek back to Sorrento.

Channa De Silva (CDS) & Corey Hovenden (Hovey) – First start for this combination in a field of this quality and there are huge question marks over whether they will handle the step-up in class. Alas, these novices will not have a clue what has hit them. They will back themselves and come out swinging early on but expect them to find them gasping for air by Saturday arvo and wondering what him them on Saturday night and then requiring some serious medical/mental/emotional attention after the front nine on Sunday and having been completely overwhelmed by the intoxicating adventure of the magnificent WBC.
 

The Indented Heads – It was at Indented Head in 1835 that Buckley, after 32 years in the wilderness, decided to return to European society when he walked into the camp of John Batman’s exploration party. Standing 6’ 6”, dressed in possum skins and carrying a spear, a driver, 5-iron, wedge and putter, he made quite a first impression.

Marc Borgman (Bjorn) & Jason Beach (Sandy) – This Jekyll and Hyde combination are capable of serving up anything worthy of Palmer and Nicklaus right through to something more resembling Laurel and Hardy. Their golfing ability is not in question as they can whack the pill all over the park. The trick for them is somehow harnessing their rabid commitment to the social aspects of the weekend and sometimes over-indulging in the good times and powerful camaraderie on offer. They certainly have their priorities right and are a good chance to winkle themselves into contention. They may just have the perfect mix of wily experience and youthful enthusiasm to get the job done here. A big chance to surprise.
 

The Coonewarre Revivors – It was near the banks of Lake Coonewarre, a short walk north of the 13th Beach Golf Links, that two local women found the weak and starving Buckley. They thought he was the ‘white ghost’ of Murrangurk and nursed him back to health.

Lino Polo (Marco) & Nick Dunbar (Bar Done) – Aesop’s timeless fable “The Tortoise and the Hare” is the classic lesson in “Slow and steady wins the race.” At this year’s WBC, this team somehow has the magical balance of both the tortoise AND the hare: Fast-starting, energetic, and confident, yet also methodical, steady and crafty. Unfortunately, the team will most probably use none of these skill sets this weekend and will likely be found napping under a tree until well after the other teams have made their way home and put out the cat for the night.
 

The Point Addis Bashers – During his life among the Wathaurong tribe, Buckley travelled and lived along much of the Surf Coast. They moved with the seasons for meetings and ceremonies with other tribes and Point Addis was a regular haunt for some ripping corroborees.

Ian Steer (Steery) & Cameron Thompson (Thommo) – May well bring new meaning to the term well-oiled machine. One is certainly a golfing machine, and both present a very strong case for being well-oiled. Are more than likely to combine their engineering talents here this weekend into some sort of outrageous exhibition of world-class machine-oiling with a little bit of golf served on the side. Both are rumoured to be thoroughly under-golfed and over-oiled of late but don’t be surprised if they bob up at the finish.

The Port Phillip Procrastinators – For many years Buckley had heard reports of visits to his local region by groups of Europeans and he had always avoided them. He worried about if he would be punished or pardoned and whether he could assimilate again having forgotten his native tongue and even his name. So he dithered, dawdled, equivocated & prevaricated for years until finally taking the plunge in 1835.

Shane Harwood (Shano) & Bradley Henderson (Hendo B) – This rampaging combination are making their first start at this event but have plenty of form to recommend their chances. They won’t have any trouble handling the step-up in class here and they certainly know the way to the finishing post. They are both known to enjoy the challenges of a wet track and will be certain to be carrying sufficient medicine in their golf cart to see out the journey. They may very well have the attributes required to vault into contention here, but history is against them as debutantes have traditionally struggled to make a big impression in a star-studded field of this scale.

The Otway Rangers – During his 32 years roaming around the Surf Coast, Buckley rambled and ranged for 1000s of miles including crossing the Otway ranges many times and travelling as far west as Lake Corangamite and as far north as Ballark.

Gavin Tynan (Gavvy T) & Eanna O’Neill (EON FM) – This sophisticated combo somewhat diverge philosophically with one of them totally committing to an obsessive practice regime, while the other believes that golfing brilliance comes from within and he has staunchly adhered to a tried & tested pre-event routine of keeping all golfing time to an absolute minimum. Despite this conflict of paradigms within the team, they remain a massive chance here this week. With more experience, perspicacity and equanimity then the rest of the field combined, they have the ability to produce the goods when required. A huge contender.

The Pointless Impossibles – Buckley's home for many years on the banks of Bream Creek was near the natural shelter provided by Point Impossible. This beautiful spot, by the mouth of the creek at the south end of 13th Beach, was the place he spent most of his time living out the 32 years until the next Europeans returned to the area.

Fraser Gough (Dr F-Tard) & Tom Tomlin (Tech-Tard) – Throughout history, there have been a handful of truly great and iconic pairs. Batman & Robin. Frodo & Sam. The Lone Ranger & Tonto. Jake & Elwood. Bart & Lisa. Tom & Jerry. Bert & Ernie. Mermaid Man & Barnacle Boy. You get the picture. And this WBC Team precisely fits the definition of a “pair”. There is two of them, so they are mathematically perfect when it comes to defining two individual units combining to make a slightly shabbier combined version of the individual parts that arguably slightly less remarkable than the sum of the parts. They are probably just making up the numbers. Of pairs.

The Wallarranga Tribe – While Buckley lived with the Wallarranga Tribe, they taught him their language, customs, bush skills, how to catch fish and eels, skin possums and kangaroo. They soon gave him a wife, at which point he is rumoured to have immediately hightailed it back to the nearest English camp and begged to be thrown back into prison. Probably.

Matty Thomas (Thommo) & Pete Jensen (PJ) – They said it couldn't be done. And this team has proved (again and again) that it, indeed, can’t be done. One certainty (you can bet the farm on it) is that they have the remarkable and unique ability to underdeliver and overpromise when the chips are down, and the whips are cracking, and everything is on the line on the golf course. Fortunately, it is highly likely that they will surely overperform when OFF the course, so look for a solid showing around the campfire, when all the pressure is off, and the frivolity begins.

The Cheshire Militia Pivot Men – At 19, Buckley enlisted in the Cheshire Militia, where he became “pivot man” of his company--the strategically vital (i.e. tall) person in the centre of a manoeuvring rank. During a battle with Napoleon’s army, Buckley’s right hand was severely wounded. This injury may have led him, later in life, to assume the, uh, more modern definition (i.e. Urban Dictionary) role of “Pivot man”. Ahem.

Thijs van Berkel (TVB) & Michael Rohan (Grizzly) – If trophies were handed out for knowing how to have a good time, then these two bodacious units would need extensions on their pool rooms to house all the silverware. Both have a strong golfing pedigree although they do appear a touch under-golfed of late. If late nights, good food, quality refreshments, jocularity and wholesale liver punishment were the criteria that the bookies used to frame the markets in BRG Major Championships, then these two gentle wallflowers would be absolutely unbackable favourites here this week.

The Port Jackson Labourers – In 1803 Buckley and five other convicts escaped their labour camp near Sorrento, and headed in a not-so-direct route towards Port Jackson in Sydney. They made it to the Yawong Hills (Bendigo) before running out of food. Dehydrated, ill and likely “hangry” Buckley retreated back in a not-so-straight line towards Melbourne, via Corio Bay, near Geelong, before settling in a cave near the bustling Airey’s Inlet.

Jeremy O’Sullivan (Jezza) & Nathan O’Sullivan (Nate) – This very easy-going combo look pretty good in the mounting yard. They are a big-hitting, beer-swilling, knee-slapping, gut-wrenching, rib-tickling, side-splitting pairing with a devil-may-care attitude who believe they can carry all before them. One is as unflappable and relaxed as they come and the other is a party animal who will need all his powers of persuasion firing to keep his partner bubbling along through the après-golf festivities. They seem to have the pedigree and the experience necessary so, if they find some form, they will be in the thick of the action on Sunday.

The Cascades Gatekeepers – In 1842, after having returned to western culture, and moving to Hobart, Buckley landed a primo gig as the gatekeeper for the Cascades Female Factory, a workhouse for women convicts. Yeah, baby! Many gates, doors, cells, flaps, traps, entrances and exits were allegedly gatekept (or ungatekept) that year.

Michael O’Sullivan (Sully) & Rob Fuleky (Flukey) – These two trash-talking bullhorns come in here with a lot to say and not much to back it up. They can tend to confuse when it is time to let their clubs do the talking and when it is time to let their big, loud mouths do even more talking. But with very little to recommend their chances here, we expect them to be scrambling for a “safe word” very early in the piece. Probably immediately following the first tee shot on Saturday. Will be silent at the finish.

The Wild White Men – With his wild beard, garb, face, language, golf swing, mannerisms and his towering height—not to mention his 32 years living “as a savage”— Buckley/Murrangurk was the very definition of a wild man. Buckley died in a not-so-wild manner, however, in 1856, at the age of 76, from wounds suffered by unceremoniously falling off his one-horse cart.

Steve Stoward (The Stowaway) & Terry Cooney (Tezza) – Two of the nicest fellas and least-imposing competitors to ever tee it up at this event, these two gentlemen of the fairways raise the entire tone of this event with their good sportsmanship, laissez-faire couture, charming repartee and dashing move-star charm. Spend a bit of time with them and you will certainly forget there is a competition going on anywhere nearby. And so will they. A huge chance to win the best clubman awards at this event, but hardly any chance of contending in the WBC itself. Top blokes. No hopes.