But the one-handicapper admits he doesn’t return to Melbourne completely empty-handed.

“‘Frase’ (Marcus Fraser) is the best putter on the European Tour and has one of the best short games so I try and get a few tips with my short game,” Goddard said before hitting off in the Marcus Fraser Ambrose tournament on Saturday.

“I love the weather here and it’s a great cause.

“We are here for the Corowa Golf Club, for the community and with ‘Frase’ growing up here we want the golf club to stay open as long as it can for the people not just in Corowa but for the Ovens and Murray area.”

Goddard was among a record 720 players taking part over the weekend with Fraser hoping to raise as much as $100,000 for the club from the golf and sportsman’s evening.

The utility said he was looking forward to his third season with the Bombers since crossing from St Kilda.

“Training is good,” he said.

“Going into the New Year it’s even more important that everyone stays healthy.”

Fraser said he was amazed by the support the tournament had received.

“We started off with just 18 holes on a Sunday afternoon three years ago and now all of a sudden we are playing over the weekend with morning and afternoon fields both days and with all those players it’s pretty cool,” Fraser said.

“I think everyone is here in support of the golf club and I think everyone is getting right behind it which is what we need to do because they are struggling a little bit like a lot of golf clubs.

“I love coming back.

“Mum and Dad still live in town, so I cone back as much as I can to see them.”

The tournament is the biggest of its kind in Australia with Goddard and Fraser headed a long list of celebrities including former AFL player Rene Kink, international golfers Peter O’Malley and Wade Ormsby and motor racing identities Jack Perkins and James Moffat.