From Tony Durkin 

DUCK JACKPOTS: Headland’s monthly Wood Duck Challenge, in which each player who breaks their handicap shares in the prizemoney, is to jackpot for the third successive month. Rain and predicted electrical storms on Sunday morning gave the match committee no alternative than to abandon the competition, which will now be held on Sunday, October 21. The jackpot – sponsored by EKO Financial and Mod Bathrooms – has reached $800, which will be the minimum prizemoney to be shared by those who break their handicap in the 18-hole single stroke event. 

BILL’S BOUQUET: Headland life member Bill Bouchatt has been serving on the greens committee ‘for many years’ and, like the other committee members, is rightly proud of their excellent condition. But on Thursday, following 70mm of rain, he was happy they had lost some of their slickness and pleased he had won his first competition in more than 12 months. Although the 85-year-old had 84 shots on his scorecard for 40 stableford points and a win in the Thursday competition, two wipes prevented him from claiming the golfing rarity of shooting less than his age. Bill has been a Headland member since 1985 and once played off a handicap of 10, but these days is happy to be a regular in the Tuesday and Thursday competitions and volunteer his time helping around the club and on the course. 

GOLFING GOLD: A brief flirt with the game of golf in PNG three decades ago came back to haunt the recently-retired – and very honest – Paul Stephens when he joined Headland in March last year. When applying for membership Paul confessed to a former handicap of 20 and that’s what he was given despite having played sporadic golf over the preceding 10 years. But while initially struggling to play to the handicap, Paul persevered and in the past month has struck golfing gold. Scores during the past week of 42 points (Wednesday) and 38 (Thursday) have followed 38 and 39 the previous week, and 69 nett in the September Monthly Medal. Wednesday’s score of 42 points was the best individual effort of the day and included a wipe in his impressive tally of 23 on the front nine. In an understatement, Paul says his game is ‘starting to come together’. 

RULES FOR SENIORS: With 63 the average age of Headland members, it may be fitting to advise those at and above that category of a list of rule changes currently being circulated that will NOT be coming into effect from January. For a laugh, we will publish some of these (non) rules in coming weeks. Rule 1: If a tree is between the ball and the hole, and the tree is deemed to be younger than the player, the ball can be moved without penalty. This is because when the player was younger, the tree was not there, meaning the player is unfairly penalised because of his/her age. Rule 2: A ball hit into the rough shall be lifted and placed on the fairway at a point equal to the distance it carried or rolled into the rough, without penalty. The senior player should not be penalised for tall grass ground which staff have failed to mow. 

ROUND OF THE WEEK: With her father – Don Follent – husband Justin and teenage sons Emmett and Patrick each Headland members and regular players, Coralie Walsh decided early last year that the ‘if you can beat ‘em, join ‘em’ theory may be her best means of outings with the family. And just on 18 months later Coralie has set a standard her family members will find tough to beat with 45 points in Thursday’s Single Stableford event for ladies. Naturally chuffed at the score – 22 points on the front nine, 23 on the back with seven three-point holes and two four-pointers – Coralie was just as proud of the fact there were no wiped holes on her card. And she easily had bragging rights for the week with her fabulous individual score beating the combined total of Justin and Patrick the previous day. 

FEES ARE DUE: Headland members are reminded that annual subscription fees are due to be paid by next Monday, October 8. Payment options are outlined below. All enquiries should be directed to alison@headlandgolfclub.com.au or by phoning Alison on 5444 5800, option three (3).

  • BPAY: Use biller code and reference number provided on the renewal notice
  • VISA AND MASTERCARD: Payable over the phone or at reception during office hours (payments will incur a surcharge of 1.9%)
  • CASH AND EFTPOS: Payable at reception during office hours
  • CHEQUE: Payable to: Headland Golf Club Inc (name and membership number to be recorded on the back of the cheque)
  • DIRECT DEBIT: Ten (10) monthly bank deductions from November 2018 to August 2019. This system will incur a $50 fee
  • HOUSE ACCOUNT: Members wanting to use all or part of their House Account funds towards their subscription, should contact the office

WEEKLY WINNERS:

Tuesday, Vets, Single Stableford (competition abandoned because of rain). Single Stableford, Ladies (competition abandoned because of rain).

Wednesday, Men, Fourball Best Ball Aggregate Stableford (184 players) – Gordon Russell and Neil Dougherty (77 points), Peter Birt and Wayne Chugg (76), Brent Dalby and David Bone (73), Greg Wareham and Paul Stephens (73), Peter Gablonski and Graham Cartledge (73).

Thursday, Ladies, Single Stableford (97 players) – A Grade, Jenny Ingham (36 points), Liz Dunford (35), Mary Young (34); B Grade, Mouna Humzy (39), Susan Wake (37), Kathy Walker (35); C Grade, Coralie Walsh (45), Dianne Keen (37), Carole Dyas (36). Men, Single Stableford (85 players) – Bill Boucatt (40), Mick Kelsey (39), Tim Rees (39).

Saturday, Single Stableford, Ladies (37 players) – Del Whittaker (37 points), Kate Wilkie (36), Wil Sprake (33); Men (191 players) – A Grade, Warren Sorby (38), Greg Doolan (38), Scott Bromfield (38); B Grade, Richard Ryan (39), Peter Leggo (39), David Cekulis (38); C Grade, Graeme Nicholas (41), Stu Enever (39), Kevin Howe (38).

Sunday, Wood Duck Single Stableford Challenge (abandoned because of weather conditions)