From Tony Durkin
CHAMPIONS:
Annual Patron’s Day last Saturday was – fittingly – a family affair with a mother-and-son combination winning the mixed event and a father-and-son duo clinching the overflow (non-mixed). The event was an American Foursomes where each plays their tee shot, hit each other’s ball and then select the best for their third. The remainder of the hole is played with just one ball. Scott Walker (2) and his mum Kath (33) shot 81 gross for a nett score of 67.8 to win Patron’s Day by a stroke. They had 13 pars, two bogeys and three doubles on an impressive card in what is a ‘very different’ competition that requires great patience and much forgiveness. And in the overflow event Neven Daniel (10) and his teenage son James (26), the current Junior Champion, returned the best nett score of the day (64.5) to sneak home from Ed Hoey and Stuart Ennever (64.8). The Daniels had two birdies and nine pars in their round. Best gross round was returned by Glen Grimish and Scott Bromfield with 73.Club Patron. The family connection wasn’t just on the course. Simon Whittle, who sponsored the event and has been a member for 58 years, is continuing the long association his mum and dad established with Headland Golf Club. His parents, Harold and Sybel Whittle, were foundation members back in 1955 when the club was formed and both served as respective Club and Associates presidents before being granted life membership.
ROUND OF THE WEEK:
Former banker Gordon Russell hopes his 42 points – 81 off the stick – to win B Grade last Wednesday is a pointer to things to come after three years of an ever-increasing handicap blow out. Having arrived at Headland on a nine handicap from Wynnum in 2014, Gordon’s handicap increased to 17 and his frustrations with a game he loved became just as enlarged. Regularly playing a much more demanding course only once a week combined with the stress of being a DYI renovator, had taken its toll. But some recent tips from fellow member and neighbour Darren McLeod have seemingly done the trick with Gordon’s round last week his best in three years. Although he three-putted three of the first four greens, his nine par-nine bogey round pleased him immensely. Ironically his playing partner, Neil Dougherty (24), also returned 42 points and won C grade.
GIVER:
A very generous club member wins our ‘Champ of the Week’ award. The member, who prefers to remain anonymous, recently played a round with Spina Bifida sufferer Cody Laskey and realised the unemployed zoologist was doing it a little tough financially. A few days later Cody was informed by the club that his annual membership fees had been paid. While not trying to reveal the identity of the benefactor, his surname is the same as a very popular beer brand – and it’s not Tooheys or Carlton!
WHOOPS:
Alan Reed, who has sliced four shots from his handicap in the past two months, knows he ‘blew it’ last Wednesday when he double bogeyed holes 17 and 18. Alan, a relative newcomer to competition golf, had his best-ever round at Headland with 95 off the stick for 41 points, but was beaten by Neil Dougherty (42) for the C grade win. The costly hole was 17, where he was just off the front edge for two and took four more shots to find the hole. But six three-pointers and a four of four on the fourth helped ease the pain.
UPCOMING:
This coming Friday (November 3) evening the club will be running a chipping competition under lights on the 18th green. No need to bring your wedge – the Pro Shop staff will have plenty of the latest clubs to try on the night. Cost is $2 per chip or three shots for $5, and the winner on the night takes home a prize. The competition starts at 5.30pm and the winner will be announced after the member’s draw that evening.
PS:
For those seeking helpful chipping tips before Friday, the Pro Shop recommends a chat with Headland’s Finance Director, Michael Thomas. Speculation is that as a result of a recent lesson on the ways of the wedge, Michael has it on a string.
