‘Whippy’ a great of golf in Tassie

TASMANIAN golf lost a genuine legend with Bill “Whippy” Wellington passing away on Monday following a gutsy battle with cancer.

The 74-year-old will be remembered not only for his achievements on the course, but for those off the course and as a true gentleman of the game.

Amid a swag of tributes to his golf, Wellington was also remembered for his 20 years of dedicated service to junior development and as a state junior manager and selector.

Nationally, Wellington was runner-up at the 1971 Men’s Australian Amateur Championship, losing to Randall Hicks 5&4 at the Metropolitan Golf Club in Victoria.

Also, as winner of the 1967 Men’s Australian Amateur Foursomes title with playing partner Doug Thorp.

Locally, Wellington won the 1968 Men’s Tasmanian Amateur Championship and the 1979 Toogood Consistency Trophy. Wellington also won seven state foursomes and four mixed foursomes titles pairing up with the likes of Thorp, the late Peter Toogood, Donald Cameron, Brett Johns and Lindy Goggin.

Wellington was also a member of Tasmania’s legendary winning teams at the 1968, 1974 and 1977 Australian Men’s Interstate Teams Matches.

Wellington is survived by his partner Annette, sons Marcus and Simon and grandson Blake. The family will be conducting a private funeral later this week and are planning a memorial/celebration at a later date. Wellington’s family has requested that instead of sending flowers, please consider making a donation to Cancer Council Tasmania.

THE R&A has announced a series of temporary measures that will enable clubs to remove any hygiene implications related to complying with the Rules of Golf.

These temporary measures are effective immediately and allow the Rules of Golf, and Model Local Rules, to be modified as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The list of temporary measures include modified rules for the handling of scorecards, flagsticks, holes and bunkers.