From Tony Durkin
NUMBER 11: Stick your chests out members – Headland Golf Club has been voted No.11 in a poll on Australia’s favourite golf course. The poll was conducted by Golf Australia’s on-line magazine, Golf Australia Express, and votes were canvassed through club websites and social media with golfers asked to lodge their favourite three courses in the country. Headland polled 659 votes and beat some of the most prestigious golf courses in Australia including Kingston Heath, Royal Sydney, Royal Pines, Royal Adelaide and Hamilton Island. The winning course was Bonville, near Coffs Harbour, with 2983 votes followed by Barnbougle Dunes (2113) and Royal Melbourne (1497). Magazine Editor Damian Shutie stressed to those golfers voting that they should consider all aspects of a golf course – the layout, condition and the enjoyment element – and said the vote should be for the favourite golf course in Australia, not necessarily the best. Well done headland.
SUPERHACK TO STAY: With almost 400 golfers taking part in Headland’s inaugural Superhack event over the final three days of last week, the golf extravaganza is here to stay. Men’s Director of Golf, James Kidd, described the three days as ‘absolutely outstanding’ and predicts it will become an absolute feature of the club’s annual golf calendar. Friday’s Holden Scramble, Saturday’s 10-hole Super Golf and the ‘Flagout’ Shootout on Sunday each attracted large but not capacity fields, which the club expects will not be the case next year. “After this trial run, I totally expect each event next year will have waiting lists such was the initial success, and the positive feedback,” he said. But it wasn’t just the ‘different’ style of golf competitions that proved popular with members and guests alike. Social activities in the clubhouse after each event – including a dinner on Friday – as well the erection of viewing grandstands around the 18th green was a hit with sponsors and special guests.
PARMY ARMY: Headland’s winning Holden Scramble team for 2017 was assembled over a regular Chicken Parmigiana night at Mooloolaba’s Beach Bar and Grill – and following their success the team members have decided not to stray from their pre-game routine. Led by one marker Sean McGill, the team also consisted of brothers Brendan (handicap 10) and Matthew Duncan (30), with Michael Goodluck (18) making up the quartet. The four good mates returned an unblemished card of 64, with eight birdies, for a nett result of 56.3. They will now represent Headland in the regional finals of the Holden Scramble, at Pelican Waters in March. Runners-up in the 22-team event were Ian Farrington, Quentin Poulsen, Anthony Larchin and Scott Walker (57nett), with Aaron Shaw, Tony Pattinson, Dane Hammond and Barry Newton (58.5) third.
PS: Brendan Duncan backed up his Scramble win with a second placing in Sunday’s Shootout, which was won by Headland staffer Nate Smyth.
ALISON’S ACE: Alison Payne didn’t see the ball disappear into the hole for her first hole-in-one because – in her words – ‘I can’t see that far’. But the 77-year-old, who has been a Headland member for 17 years, was ecstatic when regular playing partner Jan Miles confirmed the ace, which was scored on the eighth hole last Thursday. Alison, who was having a disappointing round, stood on the tee and told herself to ‘hit this close’. The ball landed just short of the green and, according to Jan, rolled a couple of metres to the red flag, then disappeared. Playing off a handicap of 28, Alison says she holds no over-inflated notions of her golfing talent and says the ace was her first, and more than likely her last.
TWIN WINS: To say Sienna Catholic College student James Daniel is enjoying the school holidays would be an understatement. In the past 10 days golf fanatic James has played every day and has won two competitions in C grade with a 66 nett and 45 points, respectively, on successive Wednesdays. His 66 nett in the December Mid-Week Medal represented his best-ever round – an 87 off the stick – and a reduction in handicap to 20.5. Sixteen-year-old James did not start playing competitive golf until the start of this year when his initial handicap was 36, and his goal now is to be playing off 12 by this time next year. He has no doubt that regular lessons from Headland’s assistant professional Matt Douglas, during the weekly Junior Clinics, has been the reason for the rapid improvement in his game.
MATT’S JOY: On the subject of Matt Douglas, he and his wife Leah have welcomed their first child, a girl. Elizabeth Joy Douglas came into the world at 6.20am on Sunday. Mum and baby are doing well.
HEADLINES HIATUS: In true celebratory spirit, Headland Headlines will take an extended break over the festive season. This will be the final appearance of the blog for 2017 but the tome will reappear, refreshed and reinvigorated, on January 15 next year. HH wishes all readers a happy Christmas and a prosperous golfing 2018.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Men (65 players) – Bruce Horton (41), Garry Thomas (40), Dick Gibberd (40); Ladies (31 players) – Barb Marrington (38), Monica Antony (35), Maria Hireme (34).
Wednesday, Men, Single Stableford (196 players) – A grade, Col Pledge (40 points), Wes Houk (40), Peter Ruscoe (39); B grade, Brent Dalby (40), Robert Chaplin (39), Trevor Beall (39); C grade, James Daniel (45), Dave Westmore (39), John Marrington (38).
Thursday, Ladies, Single Stableford (45 players) – Kirsten Kaergaard (39 points), Marg White (37), Kathy Price (36). Men, Single Stableford (75 players) – Don Kitson (41), Trevor Simpson (41), Kevin George (40).
Friday, Superhack, Holden Scramble Ambrose (88 players) Brendan Duncan, Michael Goodluck, Matthew Duncan and Sean McGill (56.3 nett); Ian Farrington, Quentin Poulsen, Anthony Larchin and Scott Walker (57); Aaron Shaw, Tony Pattinson, Dane Hammond and Barry Newton (58.5).
Saturday, Superhack, 10-hole Super Golf, Men (200 players) – Chris Risby, Earl Hicks, Chris Eccles and Dean Oster (28.17 nett); Trevor Gourlay, Jay Gourlay, Michael Morris and Glen Grimish (29.24); Aaron Duff, Tex Teixera, Mark Durkin and Tony Durkin (29.37); Mixed (32 players) – Maggie Fitzpatrick, Robyn Homans, Blake Thomas and Chris Thomas (29.57); Jodie McDonnell, Sharon Purnell, Ian Hepburn and Ben Dobson (32.72); Naomi Doyle, Louise Harriott, Joel Lane and Adam Richards and (32.82).
Sunday, Superhack, Medley Shootout (101 players) – Nate Smyth (59 points), Brendan Duncan (57), Patrick Walsh (57), Steve Norbury (56), Tiago Ventura (55).
