29 Club Championship wins across six decades and five Holes-in-Ones are just some of the fantastic golf achievements of Barbara Kennedy from Moruya Golf Club on the NSW Far South Coast.
While dating her husband to be John, back in the early 1960s, and following him around the golf course as he got his first handicap cards in, she decided to pick up a club for the first time.
It was the original ‘love match’ and the start of a life-long love affair – with golf.
Miss Johnson, who was the Club’s Treasurer at the time, went around the course with the then 19-year-old Barbara to get her three cards, and soon enough, she had a handicap of 18.
Not only did Barbara have a handicap, but a short time later, she also took on the role of Club Treasurer; the first of many positions on the committee.
John and Barbara married in 1964, and three years after taking up the game, Barbara won her first Club Championship.
Barbara took time off from golf to have two children, Joanne in 1968 and Steven in 1971. She soon returned to her winning ways, taking out an amazing 24 Club Championships from 1975 to 1999.
Barbara also worked full-time, and with some help from her husband John, her handicap got as low as 4. She also had a handful of lessons from Charlie Grey, who used to come in from Batemans Bay to coach, and he said Barbara had a “natural swing”.
Barbara in 1997
Some rising stars got in on the action over the years, but Barbara managed to pick up a few more Championships taking out her 29th in 2016.
With 29 Mixed Foursomes Championships and 25 Women’s Foursomes, Barbara picks her partners well too. She says she still has ambition for one more.
Her other significant golfing achievements include 12 times FSC&TGA Champion of Champions and playing in a winning Pennant Team 21 times (both scratch and handicap).
Barbara was awarded Life Membership at Moruya Golf Club in 1997 and continues to be a very active member, always putting her hand up to support the many activities within the club.
She is still very competitive, and although her handicap has “blown out” to 18, she is still winning more nett prizes these days.
Barbara isn’t the woman you spot in the bushes looking for a golf ball; she still hits them very straight.
Gardens at Moruya Golf Clubhouse
Barbara is a keen gardener and has spent many hours tending to the gardens across the course for the last ten years. The spectacular roses around the Clubhouse result from her labour of love.
Barbara enjoys the game enormously, and her contribution both on and off the course at Moruya Golf Club is immeasurable. She is a genuinely outstanding golfer who has achieved unprecedented success—an absolute living legend and very respected.
Barbara has shown that amateur golf can be a “love for life”.
