From Tony Durkin
SUPER GOLF: Prolific winners Mick Kelsey and Mick Kinnear have added yet another title to their respective 2018 tallies with victory in Headland’s weekend Super Golf tournament. They joined fellow Fraser Follies members Graeme Warne and Brad Reddan to win the annual event, played over two different courses on Saturday and Sunday. The team score of 63.5 nett in the Ambrose – 32.25 Saturday, 31.25 Sunday – was good enough to get them home ahead of the team of Matt Prince, Darren MacLeod, Grant Martyn and Darren Walters (64), with Aaron Shaw, Tony Pattinson, Barry Newton and Dane Hammond third (64.25). Mixed winners over the two days were Mandy Oster, Kym Mason, Bill Oster and Sean Hanna (65 nett) from Liz Dunford, Fiona Munro, Ken Anderson and Mike Radmall (68). A big field of 234 players braved the heat and extreme humidity on Saturday, but consistent rain on Sunday reduced the numbers to 142. Mick Kelsey and Mick Kinnear, both newcomers to competitive golf at Headland, have enjoyed outstanding years and most recently won the inaugural Fourball Best Ball Match Play Championship. The Super Golf title is the ninth victory they have shared in the past 12 months. The best 10-hole score of the weekend was returned by the team of Al Larchin, Quentin Poulsen, Justin Nicholson and Scott Walker, whose nett 28.25 on Saturday included 10 one-putt greens. Major Super Golf sponsors were Bidfood and CUB while EKO Financial, Walsh Professional Engineers, Outdoor Elegance, GV Sensors, Image Business Furniture, BCP Strata, Grant Martyn Constructions, Better Business Finance, Headland Pro Shop and Directline Timbers took hole sponsorships for both days.
LEFT OR RIGHT: Apart from Ross Itzstein, is there a Headland member who religiously carries two putters in their bag, and uses them both? Ross, who has been a member of the club since 1987 and his handicap was once as low as five, is a victim of the dreaded putting yips, hence the reason for carrying two putters. But strangely, one is a left-handed putter, the other right-handed. Ross uses the left-handed putter for long putts, and its companion for short putts – those inside a metre. And those, he rarely misses. Until the yips beset his game about five years ago, Ross was regularly playing to a handicap around 10. But while he is now frustratingly out to 17, the two putters in his bag have helped. And he says that as someone who has always played one-handed sports (tennis) right handed and two-handed sports (golf) left handed, he has mastered his new art of putting and claims it is one of the most productive aspects of his game.
JENENE FINE: Much-loved Headland staff member Jenene Nicholson is home from hospital after undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumour, which tests have determined was benign. Jenene endured the surgery at Brisbane’s Wesley Hospital last Friday week (December 7), had 15 staples inserted in her wound and – remarkably – was home the following Monday. The staples were removed on Friday, a week after being inserted. Relived, happy, in good humour and slowly recovering from the traumatic experience, Jenene has set a goal to be back at work behind the bar at Headland sometime in February. While she says she is not allowed to drive for three months, Jenene – humorously – advises she can putt and chip whenever she feels well enough.
SIMON SAYS: Physiotherapist Simon Burley, a guest of the Young Doctor’s sponsorship group at Headland on Wednesday, fashioned the comeback of all golfing comebacks. A golf rookie when he joined Headland six years ago, a time-poor Simon had not played competition golf for almost 14 months before he strode to the first tee in the Single Stableford event which was sponsored by a group of his medical colleagues, with whom he played. And, like a good racehorse, being first up from a spell was not a problem as he accumulated 42 points from his 25 handicap, winning C Grade and pocketing $70 from his hosts. Simon scored 19 points on the front nine despite a wipe in the ninth, then roared home with 23 on the back, including a birdie three on the 11th, followed by successive pars. He says the win has whet his golf appetite and his New Year resolution is to play more of the game he loves.
NEW YEAR’S EVE: Those frustrated Headland members – and guests – who have a Hawaiian shirt or grass skirt tucked away in the corner of their wardrobe, can feel disgruntled no more. For $85 Headland Golf Club is offering a Polynesian New Year’s Eve Party – and a mouth-watering buffet – that actually encourages members and their guests to allow the party animal to escape, and at the same time welcome in the Year of the Pig. And Executive Chef Greg Pollard and his staff have duly recognised the significance of the name with such dishes on the menu as Huli Huli Pork and Hawaii BBQ Pork Ribs. But there will be more – much, much more – including a Poke Station, Barbecue on the Deck, a Main Buffet, Salad Bar and Desert Buffet, as well as a free drink on arrival. Because of the sensational views from Headland’s clubhouse, guests will be treated to the spectacular Mooloolaba fireworks, live music will be provided by CopyRyte and a special performance by the Magic of the South Pacific Polynesian Dance Troupe will be delivered. As well, prizes will be awarded to the best dressed and the best dancer. To avoid disappointment click on the link below to secure tickets www.eventbrite.com.au/e/new-years-eve-2019-at-headland-golf-club-sunshine-coast-tickets-53169017964
PRECEDENT SET: Headland’s fleet of new golf carts have arrived. The carts, from Club Car, are the Precedent model, grey in colour, and are equipped with a rain cover for the protection of player’s golf clubs, and an esky. And, the fleet has increased by ten, from 26 to 36.
NEW RULES: A number of rule changes – summarised below – will come into effect from January 1, 2019. The club wants to remind members it is their responsibility to acquaint themselves with the new rules which are explained under the ‘New 2019 Rules of Golf’ portal on the Headland Golf Club app. On the app, each new rule has an accompanying video, clearly explaining the change. Another suggestion is to quiz Headland’s very approachable Course Marshall Ian Hepburn, who is a former Australian Open and PGA rules official.
Dropping height – when seeking relief with a drop, the ball must be dropped from knee height, when standing.
Dropping procedure – the ball must land in, and come to rest in, the relief area, which includes any ground that is within one club-length of the point from which relief is taken, but not nearer the hole
Ball search time – a ball will now be declared lost if not found within three minutes
Lost ball or out of bounds – a local rule will permit golfers the option to drop a ball in the vicinity of where it was lost or crossed the out of bounds line, rather than retreat to where the shot was played. A two-stroke penalty will apply
Putting – a ball being putted from the green and striking an unattended flagstick in the hole is now permitted
Green repair – the repair of almost any damage to the putting green is now permitted
Ball movement – no penalty will be incurred for accidental movement of the ball, or ball-marker, when on the green or when accidentally moved while searching for ball
Bunker – loose impediments in the bunker (or in penalty area) may be removed without penalty. Players can also take relief from a bunker, with a two-stroke penalty
Ready golf – to enhance the speed of play, playing when ready is actively encouraged. The recommendation is for a stroke to be played in no more than 40 seconds
Double hit – the penalty for accidentally striking the ball twice during a stroke has been removed
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Tuesday, Vets, Medley Chinese Foursomes (18 players) – Lesley O’Leary, Rod O’Leary, Patricia O’Connor and Greg O’Connor (130 points), Leigh Derigo, Helen Mullholland, Gail Young and Leeanne Ptak, (129), Carmel Visser, John Visser, Des McNee and Michael Needham (126). Single Stableford, Ladies (26 players) – Susan Briffa (38 points), Althea McLean (38), Susan Watts (38); Men (47 players) – Ted Banaszczyk (41), Graham Pinn (40), Grahame Denovan (39).
Wednesday, Men, Single Stableford (192 players) – A Grade, Jacob Mimnaw (40 points), Wayne West (39), Gus Walker (39); B Grade, Greg Wareham (43), Dennis Clifford (42), Shaun Sigley (41); C Grade, Simon Burley (42), Doug Hancock (41), Henry Ptak (40).
Thursday, Single Stableford, Ladies (62 players) – Catherine Peterson (39 points), Trish Howe (38), Josie Ryan (37); Men (81 players) – Tony Kelleher (44), Nigel Morrison (42), Warren Gee (42).
Saturday, Super Golf, round one, Mixed (59 players) –Trish Howe, Dominique Paice, James Kidd, Simon Mitchell (30.625), Jackie Walkington, Trudi Russell, Ian Russell, Brett Stephenson (32.5). Overflow (175 players) – Al Larchin, Quentin Poulsen, Justin Nicholson, Scott Walker (28.25), Chris Eccles, Chris Risby, Matthew Power, Earl Hicks (28.375), Tex Teixeira, Aaron Duff, Mark Durkin, Tony Durkin (30.625)
Sunday, Super Golf, round two, Mixed (40 players) – Jodie McDonell, Sharon Purnell, Ryan Tomlinson, Adam Richards (32.625), Trish Howe, Coralie Walsh, James Kidd, Simon Mitchell (34). Overflow (102 players) –Tim O’Keeffe, Chris Klazema, Ciaran Fenton, Nathan Osborn (32.25), Adam Robins, Stephen Van Der Linde, Deon Breytenbach, David Cekulis (32.625), Steve Rose, Jacob Mimnaw, Daniel Diachkoff, Geoff Bland (32.75).
Overall results, Champions – Mick Kelsey, Mick Kinnear, Graeme Warne, Brad Reddan (63.5); Mixed, Kym Mason, Many Oster, Bill Oster, Sean Hanna (65), Liz Dunford, Fiona Munro, Mike Radmall, Ken Anderson (68); Overflow, Mick Kelsey, Mick Kinnear, Graeme Warne, Brad Reddan (63.5), Matt Prince, Darren MacLeod, Grant Martyn, Darren Walters (64), Aaron Shaw, Tony Pattinson, Barry Newton, Dane Hammond (64.25).
