Local Golfing Legends: The Dish

Golf was the furthest thing from Neil “The Dish” Petrie’s mind a few years ago and he could be found on his farm tending to the grapes for the next batch of wine. Golf was something his good mate Alf played but after much
persuasion, Alf “The Butler” Sturnieks managed to get Neil on the golf course.

Neil only played a few rounds before he was hooked. It was like a box of Pringles from then on. On the few occasions Aussie Golfer played at Werribee Park Golf Club, Neil was on course perfecting the game in preparation for the Saturday competition.

The relationship between Neil’s handicap and the golf conversations at home soon became an inverse one. The handicap dropped and his wife Sue possibly knows his game better than anyone. He had good rounds like any golfer but early last year he won the Monthly Medal. It was something his mate Alf had done previously. It is a prestigious honour at any golf club and quite an achievement for The Dish considering he’d only taken up the game a few years earlier.

A few months after the win, his good mate Alf suddenly passed away which left a gaping hole in the lives of many people. Neil decided he’d build a memorial to his mate who’d introduced him to the game in the form of a shelter on the 15th tee. The plans for the shelter were passed by the club committee and with the help of a few other members, The Butler’s Hut was built over the course of two weekends late last year. It can be seen from the Werribee Park clubhouse and many golfers will be thankful throughout the years to come.

Werribee Park Golf Club hold an annual Medal of Medals championship involving the winners from the previous years’ monthly medals. Two weeks ago in tough, windy conditions Neil managed a superb nett 72 to win an emotional event and added another trophy to his cabinet. No doubt he can build himself a bigger one if need be.

“Every time. Every time”.