Men’s 2026 Shoot-Out

2026 RANGIORA GC MEN’S SHOOTOUT

Qualifying for another Rangiora men’s shootout is almost underway with the poster up on the clubhouse noticeboard, after last year’s event went to a chip-off shootout for the first time. The atmosphere was tense last November 23 with an audience of 30-40 enjoying their beers in the hot sunshine as the 2 finalists had their blind chip-off from in front of the clubhouse on No. 18. PETER JONES emerged as the winner with his chip finishing just 2.7m from the flagstick, while runner-up Mark Batchelor’s shot was 4.4m away. The hole had gone to a shootout after Batch parred the par-five hole & Peter (who had a handicap shot) bogeyed.

Shootout co-ordinator Peter Rainey said there would be 10 qualifying rounds this year beginning on Saturday, February 14 (Valentine’s Day) with an entry fee of $25 (one keen golfer’s paid already) & a minimum 4 qualifying scores for the 19-man finals day shootout on Sunday, November 8. Based on net scores one player is eliminated each hole with Rainey sending them to a blind putt-off, chip-off or even sand shots when a shootout is required. It’s a lot of fun; pleasure mixed with pressure. Last year there was a 4-way putt-off on the 8th hole (which the winner survived) & a five-way chip-off on the 9th.

Unfortunately, the original finals day last year had to be cancelled because of Rainey’s illness & several of the qualifiers could not make the new date a fortnight later, having just made arrangements for the first day. Twenty-three players had paid up, but only 11 of the ideal full field of 19 teed off & the shootout had to begin on the 8th hole. One of the most consistent shootout performers, Mark Graham, went out on the par-3 17th after his tee shot finished up against the face of the left-side bunker. Graham has been 5th, 4th & 3rd the last 3 years.

Results: Peter Jones winner $300, Mark Batchelor runner-up $120, Mark Graham 3rd $70, Jim Dwyer 4th $70.

Winners to date: Paul Woods (2019), Bruce Hutchison (2020), Rob Sutton (2022), Keith Anderson (2023), Matt Burns (2024), Peter Jones (2025). The 2021 event was not completed because of Covid