From Tony Durkin
NOT GOOD LUCK: After hitting all but two fairways in his round, luck played no part in Michael Goodluck winning Wednesday’s Medley Single Stableford with an outstanding score of 45 points. For the former Sunshine Coast Scorchers cricketer, who last weekend won the 36-hole Division Three nett in the Walsh Consulting Engineers Men’s Sunshine Coast Open Amateur Championship, it was his best round of golf since taking up his new sport three years ago. The six-under par 78 from his 15-handicap included three birdies, seven pars, seven bogies and one double, and he cruised home on the difficult back nine in one-over 37. When Michael sacked cricket for golf and started with a handicap of 23, he set himself a goal of single figures within 12 months. He soon realised golf, although very addictive, was an extremely-challenging sport, and appreciated that reaching handicap, within that time frame, was unrealistic. But as a result of his past three rounds, Michael has lowered his GA from 14.5 to 12.3 and the single-figure goal no longer appears a whim.
FOURBALL BLISS: As most golfers are well aware, the ancient game can be frustrating and tempers sometimes fray, so married couples often prefer not to play as partners. But Anne and Bob Hayward, married for 57 years, obviously do not have an issue. The septuagenarians scored a magnificent 80 points to win Tuesday’s Medley Fourball Aggregate Stableford, with Bob – in his 80th year – scoring 42 of them. And it isn’t their first fourball victory – they saluted at Headland two years ago. Despite Bob scoring the majority of points, Tuesday’s win was the result of a genuine fourball partnership. Bob had eight three pointers in his score while Anne contributed with five three-point holes and two four pointers. The Haywards have been Headland members for a dozen years after moving north from Sydney, often play together and enjoy each other’s company on the golf course. According to Bob the secret to on-course harmony is keeping his mouth shut, and the secret to his improved golf was a recent lesson on driving from Head Pro Adam Norlander.
NO CIGAR MARR: Nurse Gary Marr has had two successive impressive rounds at Headland, but finished second in his grade on both occasions. On Wednesday, playing off 15, his 42 points (22/20) placed him second behind Michael Goodluck (45 points) and on Saturday he went one better – 43 points (25/18), yet again ran second, this time to Gary Savil on a countback. And while both scores were excellent, his slow starts are causing the 46-year-old some consternation (he started both rounds last week on the back nine). “I need a few holes to warm up,” says Gary who joined Headland from Nambour this year and played his first competition round on Masters Monday. A social golfer until four years ago, Gary arrived in Australia from England in 2008, was immediately taken by the weather and has since become totally smitten with golf, and his new club. And, as someone who is not a long hitter of the ball, he is making the most of the extra run on the course at the moment hence, his successive gross scores of 81 and 79.
RYLEY RETURNS: Former Headland Champion Ryley Martin is set to return to his junior club following a two-year absence. Ryley, who is 21 and is hoping to turn professional at the end of the year, will renew his membership in October and intends to play golf as often as possible. He is currently a member at Maroochy River, Mount Coolum and Noosa Springs – where he is a brand ambassador – and will utilise the vagaries of all courses in an endeavour to hone his considerable skills before the PGA Tour Schools in December. Ryley, who now plays off plus one, was Headland Champion in 2015 and partnered Dave Rattray to win the Men’s Foursomes Championship three times – 2015, 17 and 18.
RENOVATIONS: Green renovations, a necessary agronomic practise to maintain healthy root zones and the smooth putting surface to which Headland members have become accustomed, start today (Monday) on the front nine. The back nine makeover will kick off on Wednesday. Headland Course Superintendent Ben Tilley says he appreciates the frustrations of members when they see the perfect greens – as they are at the moment – being renovated, but the twice-a-year overhaul is essential if our course is to be maintained to the standard we have come to appreciate, and expect. The work this week will be carried out for the first time by the newly-acquired Toro ProCore 648 aerator, the most productive and efficient walking aerator on the market. The tees will also be renovated, and Ben said members can expect conditions to be ‘back to normal’ within three-to-four weeks.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Monday, Vets, Single Stableford, Ladies (39 players) – Monica Knowles (34 points), Lisa Ramen (33), Patricia Sterling (33); Men (76 players) – A Grade, Greg Doolan (38 points), Merv Lum (38), Bruce Horton (38); B Grade, Wayne Chugg (38), Bob Hunter (37), Robert Bairstow (36); C Grade, Ian McRaild (41), Phil Martin (41), Reg Spillane (38).
Tuesday, Medley Fourball Aggregate Stableford (121 players) – Bob and Anne Hayward (80 points), Hamish Urquhart and Tony McDonough (79), Alan and Sue Stratford (76).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford (212 players) – A Grade, John Sexton (41 points), Jay Gourlay (39), Gary Clotz (39); B Grade, Michael Goodluck (45), Garry Marr (42), Peter Dawson (39); C Grade, Allan Warby (41), Barry Rawlings (40), Lindsay Parchert (40).
Thursday, Ladies, American Foursomes (98 players) – Sharleen McMullen and Chrissy Eggins (71.25 nett), Valerie O’Brien and Kerrie Tibbitts (72.125), Lesley Johnston and Doreen Davidson (72.5), Wil Sprake and Kate Wilkie (74.25), Judy Farmer and Sharon Thomas (74.5).
Men, Single Stableford (93 players) – Neil McNeill (43 points), Darryl Pettingill (42), Kevin George (41).
Saturday, Single Stableford, Ladies (35 players) – Fiona Munro (39 points), Kirsten Kaergaard (37), Lisa Ramen (36). Men (187 players) – A Grade, Peter Gablonski (40 points), Wayne Bridgman (39), Ross Brimblecombe (39); B Grade, Gary Saville (43), Gary Marr (43), Ted Banaszczyk (41); C Grade, Sid Ryan (43), David Parker (42), Deon Breytenbach (41).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (37 players) – Chris McArdle (41 points), Kevin McDougal (39), David W Smith (39).
