From Tony Durkin 

A BELLRINGER: As Steven Bell was writing the name of his mum Trish on the NTP card following her ace at the eighth hole on Wednesday, she innocently inquired ‘what if someone else gets one here today?’. Assured by her son that would not happen, Trish – a member at Warwick Golf Club – felt as proud as punch. After all, as a golfer of just seven years standing, she was obviously chuffed with her very first hole in one. But alas, a few hours later the unthinkable occurred and Graeme Warne repeated the feat. Trish, on holidays at Maroochydore, played in the morning in the same group as her husband Ross – also a Warwick member – and her pharmacist son Steven, who was runner-up in last year’s Headland B Grade championship. She took up the game when her children left home, fearing she would become a ‘golf widow’ to Ross who has been playing for more than three decades. The NTP cash for the eighth was shared between Trish and Graeme – $12 each – and both players won $30 for their respective eagles. NOTE: After playing for just on 40 years without an ace, Graeme Warne has now scored two within six months. His first was on the 18th at Headland in August. 

EAGLES GALORE: Further to the item above, four eagles were scored in Wednesday’s Medley Single Stableford event. Adding to the aces of Trish Bell and Graeme Warne were eagles to Jamie Hill (11th hole) and Tim O’Keeffe (13th). However, eagles are not a rare bird for the respective Headland A and B Grade Pennant team members – for Jamie it was his 15th eagle, and the 12th for Tim. But both players admitted their two-under par scores were not classics. Jamie dunked his from the bunker on the 11th and Tim chipped in with a gap wedge from 50 metres out at the par-five 13th. But only Jamie (handicap two) with 36 points, could boast that his eagle was part of a good round. The others – Trish (26 points), Graeme (32) and Tim (32) – weren’t quite as productive. 

MACCA’S FIRST: Just on 12 months ago McKenzie Wright joined the staff of Headland Golf Club as Trainee Professional, and in the interim has made a very favourable impression on members with his courteous, thoughtful and friendly greetings in the Pro Shop. But ‘Macca’ – as he is affectionately known – has made few impressions on the golf course, mainly because work and study commitments mean he has rarely played in club competitions. But he changed that on Sunday with his best-ever round at his new club – a one-over par 73 in the Medley Single Stableford event for a return on 39 points from his four handicap. And, ironically, he beat a former Headland Assistant Professional from 2001 to 2003, Matt Fisher to the major prize, on a countback. Matt, now a schoolteacher and currently Headland’s Junior Golf Co-ordinator and Junior Pennant Team Manager, and also had a one-over 73. 

ROSS RETURNS: Ross Kelly arrived on the Sunshine Coast from Melbourne two decades ago and joined Headland on a handicap of nine. Last Monday, playing in the opening Vets’ competition of 2020, he played off 15, and was as frustrated as he was embarrassed. But a fitting for a new set of Callaway clubs, fine tuning of his swing and tuition from Club Professional Adam Norlander has seemingly turned around what has been a frustrating 12 months for the 74-year-old. Twice this past week he has won A Grade at Headland – 42 points on Monday and 43 points on Wednesday. And while his resultant AGU handicap of 11.9 is a long way from the 9.2 of January last year, he feels his game has improved to the point where he can challenge to be a single-figure player once again. 

VETS’ YARDSTICK: Brian Kesby has started 2020 with a bang, setting a high bar from the very first Headland Veterans’ competition of the year. The 67-year-old retired engineer shot three birdies and three bogeys in his par round last Monday, scoring 40 points from his four handicap in the Single Stableford event. But it wasn’t good enough to win the day, or his grade. That honour was jointly shared by Ross Kelly (14) who won A Grade with 42 points, and Michael Nicholls (25), who won C Grade with the same score. Last year four-time Club Champion Brian twice equalled par at his home course, but his best-ever round at Headland has been 68, scored on two occasions. 

MAGIC MARKER: One detail missing from the birdie blitz item in last week’s Headland Headlines was the coincidence that the marker of both magnificent cards mentioned was popular 27-year-member, Justin Walsh. Justin, whose business Walsh Consulting Engineers sponsors the Men’s Sunshine Coast Open Amateur Championship over the Easter weekend, marked the card of Justin Nicholson when he rolled in eight birdies back in 2003, and was the marker for Scott Walker who last Saturday week achieved the same rare feat. Also overlooked in the story was the brilliant nine-birdie card of three-time Club Champion Adam Richards in the first round of the Sunshine Coast Open Amateur in 2005. Adam started on the back nine and reeled off six birdies before a four-putt double bogey at the first blemished his card. He recovered however, with two more birdies for a seven-under 65.

RENOVATIONS: Course renovations – one of the obligatory tribulations for golfers but an absolute necessity for Superintendents and their staff – kick-in at Headland next Monday. Renovations to greens, tees and fairways will be carried out of the front nine on Monday and Tuesday, with the same process for the back nine on Wednesday and Thursday. This will necessitate competitions being played over the back nine twice on Monday and Tuesday, and twice over the renovated front nine on Wednesday and Thursday. Course Superintendent Ben Tilley has defined the upcoming work as ‘major’ for the fairways, and ‘reasonably minor’ for the tees and greens. If weather conditions ahead are as forecast, Ben estimates the course will be back to normal playing conditions within a month. 

WEEKLY WINNERS:

Monday, Vets, Single Stableford, Ladies (39 players) – A Grade, Heather Lum (36 points), Kate Wilkie (35), Helen Fraser (35); B Grade, Carmel Visser (36), Margot Easton (32), Ann Dykstra (31): Men (83 players) – A grade, Ross Kelly (42 points), Brian Kesby (40), Ian Scobie (39); B Grade, Jock McLaughlin (38), Paul Santamaria (37), Barry Mapes (37); C Grade, Michael Nicholls (42), Steve Wickman (36), Geoff Montgomery (36).

Tuesday, Medley Single Stableford – competition abandoned because of weather conditions.

Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford (202 players) – A Grade, Ross Kelly (43 points), Peter Welsh (40), Chris DeBruyn (39); B Grade, Michael Gregora (41), Jeff Jones (38), Ian Scobie (38); C Grade, Kurt Lawlor (38), Gordon Peak (37), Bill Barnes (37).

Thursday, Ladies, Follies Foursomes (116 players) – Monica Knowles, Sue Jones, Robyn Muir and Kathy Atkins (111 points), Annabel Harris, Cathy Roberts, Josie Ryan and Jenny Ingham (105), Jenny Campbell, Emilia White, Many Oster and Di Stark (105). Men, Single Stableford (64 players) – Dean Allen (40 points), Mick Kinnear (39), Josh Holbrook (39).

Saturday, Single Stableford, Ladies  (30 players) – Annabel Harris (33 points), Doreen Davidson (31), Lisa Ramen (31); Men (217 players) A Grade, Aaron Shaw (39 points), Gary Duckling (38), Ken Anderson (38); B Grade, Greg McDonald (38), Tony Kelleher (37), Mike McQuarrie (37); C Grade, Peter Elsworth (38), John Hall (37), Lachlan Moffat (35). Medley Split Sixes (247 players) – Gary Duckling and Chris Goundrey (65 points), Kevin Howe and Greg McDonald (65).

Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (50 players) – McKenzie Wright (39 points), Matt Fisher (39), Neven Daniel (38).