From Tony Durkin
JOHN’S REVENGE: Seven months ago, spritely septuagenarian John Wettenhall broke his shoulder and suffered major ligament damage when he fell from his bicycle. Surgery followed, and his return to golf just eight weeks ago. But it had been a miserable reassociation with the game he loves – until Wednesday, that is. Stableford scores in the late 20s and early 30s were the norm as his AGU handicap ballooned from 19 to 26 before the reality hit that he needed to relax, concentrate, watch the ball and follow through with his swing. The result – a nett 66, a Monthly Medal for the second time in his 15 years as a Headland member and immense satisfaction. A member of the Old Goats group (Order of Late Developing Golfers Optimistically Approaching Terminal Senility) which plays together every Wednesday morning, John’s steady round of 94 included just four pars but nothing worse than double bogey, which was a source of relief and testament to his new mental approach.
MAIDEN MEDAL: Sue Briffa isn’t sure why her form took a sudden about turn, but it did recently and culminated with a Monthly Medal victory on Thursday. Sue and her husband Tony joined Headland when they moved to the Sunshine Coast from Moranbah four years ago and have been regulars on the golf course since, but with mixed success. And playing ‘very poorly’ recently – her words – has resulted in Sue’s GA handicap escalating from 24 to 29. But that handicap proved handy on Wednesday when she signed for a nett 67, the lowest score of the day and a win in C Grade. It is not, however, her best score at Headland. In November last year she shot 65 nett to win the annual Rabbit’s Cup. While Sue’s win was well received by the ladies, the victory of Sharon Thomas in A Grade has created much interest at the club. Sharon has totally dominated the Ladies’ Monthly Medal events in 2018, winning five of the eight contested to date.
THAT’S GOLF: Tim Reed loves golf. In fact, in recent years as he became a single figure handicapper, he could well have been described as a golf tragic. But, as golfers of varying ability can attest, the game has its ups and downs, and Tim tasted them both on successive days this past week. With his handicap recently blowing out from nine to 14, Tim had 109 shots (51/58) in Wednesday’s Monthly Medal round to finish 187th in the field of 206. Twenty-four hours later, in the Thursday Single Stableford event, he shaved an incredible 25 strokes off his score from the previous day for 40 points and second placing in a field of 82. On Wednesday his round included just two pars, while the following day he had two birdies as well as six pars. And although Tim has no credible reason for his miraculous form turnaround, he has now decided that Wednesday’s contemplation to give the game away might now be put on ice.
HUKI IS HOOKED: He has been playing serious golf only since joining Headland three years ago, but Huki Matenga admits he is starting to become genuinely serious about his new pastime. And he has good reason. On Tuesday, playing off a handicap of 13, he broke 80 for the first time and his 77 garnered him 44 points and a win in the Vets’ Single Stableford competition. But while satisfied with his score – which included nine pars in a 10-hole stretch – he says it could have been better had his putting not been a little off line. When he joined the club in 2015 Huki was given a handicap of 18, which is now 11 (AGU) after Tuesday’s success, but was down as low as nine in March this year.
IT’S TEE TIME: Before he departed for Dubai this past week on a three-year working contract, Headland Masters Pennant team captain Peter Perrett left a jar of golf tees and pencils on the Pro Shop counter. It was not a parting gift, but a call for assistance for a fellow member whose courage has won a spot in Peter’s heart. Popular member Cody Laskey has Spina Bifida and 18 months ago members donated to a fund to help defray costs of him hiring a cart, which is his only means of playing the course. Realising that cash reserve was drying up, Peter has instigated another fundraiser for Cody, with the tees and pencils part of a guessing competition. For $10 members can estimate the number in the jar, support Cody and stand the chance of winning the contents which are a memento of Peter’s golfing experiences during his previous working stints in Dubai. Although a qualified Zoologist, Cody has been unable to find employment on the Sunshine Coast since arriving from Western Australia almost three years ago, but volunteers two days a week at Eumundi Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.
THIRD IN SENIOR: Three-time Headland Club Champion Brian Kesby has finished third in his age division of the Queensland Senior Men’s Amateur, contested at Coolangatta-Tweed Golf Club during the past week. Playing in the 65-69 age group, Brian had rounds of 74-84-80 for third place in both the gross and nett events. He finished 26th overall in the field of 120, which included golfers from all Australian states, as well as the ACT.
FAMILY AFFAIR: Had it not been for schoolboy James Daniel, septuagenarian husband and wife Brendan and Carolyn Richardson would have quinellaed Sunday’s Medley Monthly Medal. But there were no qualms as Brendan (nett 70) and Carolyn (72) celebrated an extremely enjoyable and successful day. Brendan won his second Monthly Medal – but his first monogrammed shirt – in the past three years and Carolyn recorded her best-ever score as a 10-year Headland member and also won two nearest-the-pin shots. And to make the day a little more special, playing alongside them in their group was their son Simon, whose score of 77 nett paled when compared to the form of his mum and dad. Both Brendan (handicap 23) and Carolyn (35) also scored a birdie, which added to the lustre of the Sunday competition which 76-year-old Brendan ‘thinks and hopes will take off’.
WHOOPS: Assistant Pro Matt Douglas wasted a golden opportunity to register the only par round of the day in Saturday’s Monthly Mug when he missed a tiddler on the 18th. Playing alongside his boss, Club Pro Adam Norlander in the final group of the day, Matt stood on the 18th tee one-over par and struck an eight iron to within 80cms of the pin, much to the delight of the large crowd on the verandah overlooking the green. But after Adam had dropped a curling two-metre putt for par, Matt pushed his ‘sitter’ wide. However, his 73 – with three bogeys and two birdies – was equal best on the day alongside greatly improved three-marker Ciaran Fenton.
TURKEY NEST: What they had been eating or drinking no-one on the Headland course staff is too sure, but it seems the brush turkeys had a wild old time after the sun set on Friday. Course Marshall Ian Hepburn discovered this disarray of the sandbox adjacent to the 11th tee during his early round on Saturday morning. But Ian says reports that an empty bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon was found nearby are incorrect.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Tuesday, Vets, Single Stableford, Ladies (32 players) – Helen Mulholland (40 points), Helen Fraser (39); Men (45 players) – A Grade, Huki Matenga (44), Burgess Stephenson (39); B Grade, Phil Martin (44), Peter McMillan (40). Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford (88 players) – Geoff Sawyer and Tony Flint (50 points), Tony Kelleher and Mick Kelsey (49), Carmel Visser and Tracey O’Connor (48).
Wednesday, Men, Monthly Medal (206 players) – A Grade, Jeff Jones (nett 69), Ian Michel (70), Peter Gablonski (70); B Grade, Laurie Corless (68), Jeff Blundell (68), Lindsay Parchett (69); C Grade, John Wettenhall (66), Dave Whalley (70), Barry Potter (71).
Thursday, Ladies, Monthly Medal (82 players) – A Grade, Sharon Thomas (74 nett), Lisa Ramen (75), Sandra Whittle (78); B Grade, Veronica Bassingthwaighte (73), Gail Young (73), Gwen Nancarrow (73); C Grade, Sue Briffa (67), Penny Cooper (69), Christina Parkinson (69).
Men, Single Stableford (82 players) – Nel Oxley (42 points), Tim Reed (40), Wayne Bridgeman (38).
Saturday, Ladies, Monthly Medal (28 players) – Robyn Boreham (71 nett), Maggie Fitzpatrick (72), Helen Fraser (72); Men, Monthly Mug (206 players) – A Grade, Peter Gablonksi (68 nett), Ciaran Fenton (70), Bill Oster (71), Graham Smith (71); B Grade, Gary Savill (71), Glen Grimish (72), Col Pledge (72), David Cekulis (73); C Grade, Bruno Ciot (71), Mark Swift (72), Richard Whittaker (72), Ian Harper (72); Best nett – A Grade, Ciaran Fenton (73), B Grade, Glen Grimish (87); C Grade – Mark Swift (93).
Sunday, Medley Monthly Medal (42 players) – Brendan Richardson (70 nett), James Daniel (70), Carolyn Richardson (72); Junior Medal – James Daniel (70).
