Posted on 02/24/2006 8:03:15 AM PST by presidio9
AN army of senior golfers have shot down a former US president in the Battle of Medway.
Maidstone's Medway Golf Club refused former president Bill Clinton a round of golf on Thursday because the crowded course was hosting its midweek championships. The rejected Mr Clinton instead played at Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club at Point Cook, where he happily signed autographs and posed for photos.
The incident has left Medway red-faced, but yesterday members were standing firm on their presidential snub.
"We can't deprive the paying members of their golf, even for an ex-president," said 62-year-old member Wendy Alley. "But it would have been a buzz for the ladies. There's no Monica Lewinsky here -- we're better."
Ms Alley's regular golf partner, Lorraine Bramley, agreed: "We would have played with him -- golf, that is."
Head club pro John Dixon took the phone call from Mr Clinton's people, but thought it was a hoax.
"Being our midweek championships, I politely told him we didn't have room," Mr Dixon told the Herald Sun.
"But when I got off the phone, I thought 'he couldn't possibly be real, could he?' "
Mr Dixon only found out yesterday that the call was authentic. "I just did what I thought was right at the time, but if I had've known it was legit, we would definitely have found room," he said.
Medway Golf Club chief executive officer Noel Stringer said he would write to Mr Clinton to explain why he was knocked back.
"We don't want to be known as the club who snubbed Bill Clinton," Mr Stringer said.
"We might have started the new Battle of Medway."
Mr Stringer believes Mr Clinton's entourage chose Medway because it was close to the city and the airport.
Mr Clinton flew out of Melbourne on Thursday for New Zealand.
At Sanctuary Lakes yesterday, the place was still buzzing after its brush with fame.
General manager Peter Butler said he wasn't about to turn down a former leader.
"It was fantastic for the club," he said. "He chose the right time because the course is in great nick after hosting the Victorian PGA championship a few weeks ago."
Mr Clinton arrived around 1.30pm, played 18 holes and left just after 5.30pm.
Mr Butler said the former president even phoned course designer Greg Norman to congratulate him on the layout. The Shark wasn't home, but the message was passed on to his wife, Laura, who said the Aussie champ was in hospital for minor surgery.
During the round, Mr Clinton bumped into former Test star Colin "Funky" Miller and Victorian cricketers Jon Moss, Shane Harwood and Gerard Denton.
Mr Clinton's minders approached the cricketers to ask if they could "play through".
The security entourage was an obvious indicator someone important was approaching, but the Victorians didn't realise it was the former president until he politely thanked them for the gesture.
A quick-thinking Moss produced his mobile phone to get a once-in-a-lifetime happy snap. "He chatted for a while and we were in awe of the man," Moss said.
Mr Clinton did not reveal his score after his round but posed for photos and signed autographs.
BTW, I should add that my club also did not take Rudy Giuliani as a member. Politically, the membership tends to be Republican, but mostly they just don't want the headaches. Among the members is a friend and former G'Town classmate of Bill's.
"(Exclusive Oz golf club tells vacationing ex-pres to beat it)"
Wonder how far he had to go to find a sink.
I always get a laugh when folks here mean to spell Huge and spell it Hugh. After looking at this picture I see why they get mixed up.
Seriesly.
Greg Norman lives in Florida.
And your point is?????? Or didn't you read the article????
And your point is?????? Or didn't you read the article????
I didn't finish reading the article.
He's evil personified, IMO.
He's evil alright but he's also so shallow and self-centered that it's obvious to most right-thinking people.
<< Hugh Rodman makes white trash look good on the links. >>
Oh, I dunno ...
He's better looking than his sister.
Neither he nor his sister can look straight down and see a penis.
Hell, I would!
I'd give half a year's salary for that reputation!
His sister keeps one in her drawers.
Cigar?
Ewwwww...you don't know
where that thing has been!
LOL!
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