Published July 19, 2018 16:24
Back in the late 60s and 70's a young lady from Everglades, Rosalie Hughes, made her mark on the golfing map and developed her game well enough to be selected to represent both NSW and Australia on a number of occassions.
Rosalie probably could have made her mark in the professional ranks but decided that pro golf was not the life for her and married another Everglades junior, Greg Needham, and together with Greg now resides on the Gold Coast.
Rosalie's daughter Jacquie, still resides on the Woy Woy Peninsula with her young family and recently her daughter, Abbigail Grimish, has proven that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and is starting to make her mark on the game.
Just 10, Abbi has come through the Everglades cadet programme and in the past few months has reduced her handicap to 35. On Monday last Abbi contested a junior event at Lynwood Country Club and played well enough to win her age section. Not content with that she backed up on Tuesday at Everglades and captured the major prize on the day much to the delight of her doting Nan way up north.
No doubt Rosalie would love to be able to play regularly with Abbi to pass on some of the knowledge she gained whilst representing but due to the tyranny of distance will have to restrict herself to providing tips over the phone, by text and when she visits.
There is little doubt that the Coast has a budding star in the making in Annika Boyd from the Toukley club who is already in the sights of the NSW selectors. With Abbi showing such promise, and being a couple of years younger than Annika, it is possible that the Coast could be providing NSW with rep players for some time to come.