The game was the first round of the Club Championships and the qualifying game for the 2019 Match Play.

As always, the weather was very hot but once again the club had 59 players, including two women, who took part.

President of the club, Muzio Cantarella, said that a round of golf takes around four or five hours, starting at midday and with 18 holes to play.

After the round, the club typically enjoys drinks and the presentation of the prizes, as well as the donation ceremony.

The results of the recent match were as follows:

A Grade

1st : John Tedesco

2nd : Anthony Pellegrino

B Grade

1st : Pepe Bonnacordo

 2nd : John Dal Pozzo 

3rd : Leofric Kingsford Smith

C Grade

1st : Tony Fioravanti

2nd : Lou Polito

3rd : Charlie Dolso

Nearest To Pin Hole 4 : Pixie Sasse

Nearest to Pin Hole 6 : Pepe Bonnacordo

Visitor 1st : Michele Fezza

Cantarella said that with 150 members in the Sydney Club, “the competition is quite strong”.

“We’ve got professional level players to beginners,” he added.

“We encourage them all to try and compete.

“It’s a very social club.”

The IGC also supports several charities throughout the year, with the principal charity for this year being Motor Neurone Disease Australia.

Cantarella said this charity is chosen for a very specific reason, explaining that each state has its own IGC and that unfortunately, the president of the IGC in Western Australia has Motor Neurone Disease.

“So we thought we’d raise money for the organisation that does research on [treatments and potential cures for] this disease,” Cantarella added.

The club is hoping to raise $10,000 for the charity this year.

The IGC Sydney was founded in 1996 by Nick Scali, who also founded the famed furniture company, and who was the club’s first president.

Cantarella took over as president in 1999.

Besides hosting a round every three or four weeks, the IGC has monthly dinners, Christmas in July and biennial tours of Italian golf courses.

“Last year a group of us spent two weeks playing in Piedmont; next year we will go to Sicily!” Cantarella exclaimed.

When asked on whether Italians traditionally have a strong connection with the game of golf, Cantarella responded: “you’d be surprised.”

“The 7th ranked player in the world is an Italian.

“In Italy, the game is quite well known and popular, although it’s limited by the number of courses the country has.

“It’s still quite expensive over there to play, not like in Australia or Spain where it’s around $30 a round.

“To be honest, most of the Italians in our club started to play the game here.

“It’s accessible, cheap and healthy.

“We’re always on the look-out for new people who’d like to learn how to play, not just Italians.”

Cantarella also explained that handicaps are given to players of varying skill levels.

For example, if Cantarella were to play world champion golfer Tiger Woods, Woods would have to beat Cantarella by 20 shots to make a win.

“It makes it equal and fair for everyone to be competitive,” Cantarella said.