VRMA GOLF DAY 2026
The 2026 VRMA golf day, which was sponsored by the Moonee Valley Racing Club and Southside Racing, was run on a Heavy 9 at Northern Golf Club on Tuesday morning (August 11) and it proved to be a resounding success.
After several scratchings in the days leading up to the event, 23 players faced the starter. Luckily the event was changed from Monday to Tuesday this year as if it was the day before we might have been shifted to a synthetic track or abandoned.
Northern demonstrated its amazing recuperative powers to handle rain as it was fine to play on.
Victory in the Stableford competition went to Moonee Valley’s chief Michael Browell who used his home track knowledge to his advantage and he scored 36 points.
He defeated Brent Thomson and Matt Welsh who both scored 35 points. The Babe got second placing on a countback.
Brad Bishop was the best VRMA member with 33 points and he took home the Southside Racing trophy.
In the teams event it was the Mixed Marriage combination of RV’s Shaun Kelly and Julian Cook, Betsy’s Matt Welsh and GRV’s Damien Ratcliffe who won the Stableford teams event with 48 points.
They defeated Racing and Sports team which comprised Craig Brennan, Brad Bishop, Trent Crebbin and Danny Matthews who scored 45 points. In good news for them they were the VRMA’s best performer, and they took home the coveted trophy.
Third placing was Michael Browell’s team whose other members were Neil Bainbridge, Cam Miller and Tony Peate.
Last year’s winners, the Media Hacks racing crew who romped it in last year with 57 points could only muster 38 points this time around.
The biggest upset came when Danny Russell took out the longest drive on the 18th hole, upsetting the title holder and odds-on favourite Cam Miller by 13 metres. The drive was an estimated 250 to 260 metres – Huge.
Northern Golf Club again proved to be wonderful hosts.
We only had eight VRMA members play so get off your backsides and play next year at Settlers Run.
A big thanks to Brad Bishop, Craig Brennan and Brian Meldrum for their support and assistance with getting numbers together. Craig and Brad also played key organisational roles on the day.
MVRC/SR looked after breakfast and lunch and a big thank you to them. The VRMA looked after $1000 worth of prizes and golf balls for participants. The eight VRMA also received $50 in subsidies from the green fees.