Chooks, Nicknames, and Sandy Fairways
A Thursday at Portsea’s Legendary ‘Chook Run’
As I stepped onto the first tee at Portsea Golf Club on an unseasonably warm August afternoon, I was immediately enveloped by a palpable sense of camaraderie. The air buzzed with laughter and good-natured ribbing – this was clearly not going to be my typical Thursday afternoon.
Welcome to the ‘Chook Run’, a weekly ritual that’s as quintessentially Australian as a meat raffle at the local pub. Neil “Slip” Schlipalius, one of the event’s organizers, filled me in on its origins: “The Thursday chook run started up in the early nineties, a gentleman named Les Price – Pricey – started it all off. In those days, we just handed out a frozen chook as one of the prizes, and down the line it’s morphed into a ‘chook chucker’ type of event.”
Portsea Golf Club – The Thursday ‘Chook Run’
Indeed, the prize of a frozen chicken seemed to be a source of both amusement and mild reverence among the participants. As I watched the day’s proceedings, I witnessed a player turn down the poultry prize in favor of a golf ball – a decision met with a chorus of good-natured boos.
“We’re one of the few clubs in Australia that would throw a frozen chook,” Slip boasted, his chest puffed with pride. “When we have visitors from some of the prestigious clubs around Melbourne, they find it quite a surprise that we’re doing something like this, which really is unique to Portsea.”
The sandy fairways played unbelievably firm for winter, a testament to Portsea’s unique terrain. As I followed a group around the course, I found myself in the company of ‘Slip’, ‘Spook’, and ‘Chadders’ – nicknames as integral to the Chook Run as the chooks themselves.
Slip explained the nickname tradition: “Soapy [David Opie] in his day would always have different nicknames for people that they probably never had anywhere else in their life. So it’s always a bit of fun to try and keep that tradition going and also honour Soapy’s legacy with the way we run the Thursday comp.”
Portsea Golf Club Thursday Chook Run – August 2024
Steve, a relative newcomer, regaled me with his initiation into this nickname-heavy world. “I first joined Portsea a few years ago and the first game I played was on a Thursday. I showed up and I’m down to play with three blokes. I introduce myself – ‘Hi I’m Steve’. ‘I’m Slip, this is Soap and Chadders’,” he laughed. “Played 18 holes, had a beer afterwards and when I got home my wife asked how it went. ‘Who did you play with?’ She asked. I said ‘Slip, Soap and Chadders’. ‘What are their real names?’ ‘I don’t know!’ I said. And I still don’t know!”
As the warm light of the afternoon began to fade, I found myself reflecting on the spirit of the Chook Run. It’s more than just a weekly competition; it’s a living, breathing piece of Portsea Golf Club’s history. Slip emphasised its importance: “It really is just about the comradery and about the membership. We get really good feedback as to what Thursday means to the club.”
The event has evolved over the years, as Slip explained: “It originally was a lot of the midweek golfers that didn’t have weekend memberships, and then it’s morphed into all member comp. It’s the only mixed comp we have for the week, where ladies and men play together in the same comp, which is fantastic.”
But the Chook Run is not just about maintaining tradition – it’s about growth and inclusivity too. “We want to make sure the Thursday comp not only continues, but we want to get better, and we want more members to play – both our men’s and ladies members,” Slip said. “It’s fantastic to see so many more ladies now playing on a Thursday in a really inclusive atmosphere and having a great time.”
As I watched the players file into the clubhouse, nicknames flying and laughter echoing across the course, I couldn’t help but feel I’d witnessed something special – a tradition that, like a good chook, is best shared with friends. The Chook Run may have evolved since its frozen poultry origins, but its heart remains the same: a celebration of golf, friendship, and the unique culture that makes Portsea Golf Club a great members club.