By Casey OÇonnor
Brendan Barker has a passion for sport – to many people he is best-known as a more than handy cricketer for Wanderers and the Stanthorpe representative side, but he has another string to his bow.
Earlier this month Barker took the A Grade Stanthorpe Golf Championships – his biggest win in his latest sporting endeavour.
In fact, it was Barker’s first major competition win and he is clearly thrilled.
“I have won quite a few Saturday competitions, individually and in a team situation but winning the A grade championships is my biggest achievement since I began playing,” he said.
The championships event is normally played over four days however it was reduced to three days due to rain.
An excellent round in the final stroke event sealed his win.
Barker said he was prompted to give golf a try about ten years ago.
“I was working away at the time and finding it difficult to commit to cricket,” he said.
“I did not want to let my team mates down if I was unavailable, so I decided to give golf a go because it is such a personal sport.”
Now playing off a handicap of two, it’s not an exaggeration to say he took to the sport quickly.
He said the turning point in his game was when he bought a new set of clubs.
“They have made a big difference,” he said.
“I really enjoy the personal challenge you get playing golf.
“You are always playing yourself as well as the rest of the field.”
Throughout the summer Barker juggles golf which is his passion, with cricket which he loves.
When the 2022/23 Stanthorpe cricket season gets underway in a week’s time, he will be back in his whites playing for Wanderers on a Saturday afternoon but not before he has finished an early morning round of golf, normally teeing off around 6.30am.
Following his championships success Barker has not been resting on his laurels.
At the weekend he teamed up with fellow cricketer, Danny Folkers to win the Howard and Sons cups – a Canadian Foursome event in Stanthorpe.
Barker’s advice to anyone consider taking up golf?
“Give it a go,” he said adding he finds both the best and worst parts of the game for him can be playing to your handicap.
