From Tony Durkin
THIRD TIME LUCKY: Former Buderim Wanderers soccer player Brendan Williams had played just two competition rounds of golf before he stepped on to the first tee at Headland on Saturday to challenge the black tees, and take a shot at the February Monthly Mug. And, remarkably, with four holes to play, the almost-unattainable nett 59 was beckoning. But despite triple bogeys on holes 15 and 16, Brendan stood almost as tall as any rookie can stand and signed for a nett 63 from his 28 handicap, easily winning the C Grade Mug and returning the best score from the capacity field of 222 golfers. As a teenager Brendan played socially and for the past decade the 36-year-old has golfed only an annual charity event, but after suffering an ACL injury 12 months ago playing soccer, he decided to take up the sport seriously and joined Headland in December. His two previous competition rounds before Saturday produced scores of 106 and 99, a far cry from the 91 in the Monthly Mug which also won him the best gross round for C Grade. He attributes hours of chipping and putting practise for the greatly-improved form.
KEN AGAIN: Ken Anderson has yet again achieved the remarkable feat of shooting less than his age – and he has done it in the demanding Monthly Mug. Now 78 years of age, Ken scored 77 in Saturday’s event to return 67 nett and beat his age for the 14th time. He started shakily with bogeys on the first three holes, struck back with a birdie on the fourth and then unveiled the remarkable consistency of his game with nine pars over the next 10 holes. While lamenting the fact his handicap has slipped out to 8.4 (AGU) – the highest since he started playing four decades ago – Ken says he still loves the game as much as ever. Before Saturday the last time he shot less than his age was a three-over par 75 in September 2018, while his first was back in 2011 with a five-under par round of 67 when he was a spritely 70. Ken was beaten on a countback for the A Grade February Mug by Caloundra-based greenkeeper Graham Smith, with Scott Walker (73) taking the gross. Retired schoolteacher Bruce Reid (67/82) won the nett and gross in B Grade and Brendan Williams (63/91) took the double in C Grade. Josie Ryan (75) won the Ladies Monthly Medal and Lang Pryor (69 nett) won Sunday’s Medley Monthly Medal.
SCORING APP: Headland has recently signed to trial MiClub’s new digital scoring application (App) and 50 club members are already testing the product. The MiScore Mobile App is a purpose-built scorecard for use in competitions, and includes a GPS. The App is fully integrated with Headland’s online golf module, with course changes such as ratings and indexes automatically detailed. Fully approved by both the R&A and Golf Australia, the App allows the marker to submit the score of their playing partner in – initially – Stableford, Stroke and Par events. The trial period finishes at the end of April and any Headland member keen to use the new App should contact Headland’s Golf Manager, Clay Williams, at clay@headlandgolfclub.com.au.
ADAM ASTOUNDED: Head Professional Adam Norlander has returned from the annual PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida, ‘totally astounded’ by the amount of technology currently being used in golf tuition. Adam won the trip for two through an On Course Golf promotion, held in conjunction with Cobra/Puma Golf, and attended the recent show with his business-partner wife Melissa. He said that apart from the sheer scale of the event – more than 1000 exhibitors and 45,000 attendees – he was blown away by the technology available to teaching professionals, and whether it be indoor or outdoor, or for driving, iron play, pitching, chipping or putting, a monitor was now available to measure performance and map results. And while he gleaned the game of golf to be far more elitist in the US, Adam said that status came at a price. The cheapest club membership he heard was $US 2500, and that was membership to a course open just seven months of the year.
GOLDEN RUN: Annabel Harris has been a Headland member for 16 months but because of family commitments, has played only spasmodically until this year. And since her ‘comeback’, the former seven-marker from Maroochy River has made every post a winner since – literally. Since the club’s Opening Day on January 18 when official competition kicked off for 2020, Annabel has played five competition rounds for two wins and a runner-up. Her best result – and crowning glory – was in Thursday’s Captain V Vice-President day when she wiped the first hole but scored 42 Stableford points to win A Grade. Playing from a handicap of 15 – which she concedes is embarrassing – her scorecard showed 11 pars and six bogeys. Still a ‘relative newcomer’ to the course, Annabel says she is finally starting to become accustomed to the greens and hopes to be back down to single figures in the not-too-distant future. NOTE: Despite Annabel’s 42 points a very impressive 41 points (two-over-par 76) from Josie Ryan who were both members of the Vice-President’s team, the Captain’s team won the annual challenge with 1650 Stableford points to 1614.
OVARIAN DAY: Headland’s annual Ladies Ovarian Cancer Charity Day will be held on Thursday, February 27. The format will be a Scrambled Ambrose for teams of four, with a $20 nomination fee and a shotgun start at 8am. All funds raised from the day will go to Cittimani Hospice Service and Ovarian Cancer Australia. On-line bookings will open at 6.30pm Thursday, February 20.
WHOOPS: Five-marker Paul Henricks scored a three-over 75 for 38 Stableford points in Wednesday’s Medley Irish Foursomes, and that included an intriguing bogey on the par-five 13th after he was just 20 metres from the green in two. The score, however, could have been worse had it not been for the leg of one of his playing partners. Paul, a former first grade cricketer and champion bowler, inexplicably shanked his chip, which was headed for the bevy of bushes surrounding the 14th tee. But luckily – for lefthander Paul at least – the ball struck the leg of his unsuspecting partner, stopped short of the shrubbery, and he was able to chip on, two putt and take bogey. It was one of seven bogeys on his somewhat spectacular card, which also included four birdies.
WHOOPS II: Headland Junior Pennant Team Captain Keita Griffin-Klazema won the Junior Monthly Medal on Sunday, but on the 16th hole his round turned to rubbish – literally. Keita spanked his drive down the middle of the par-four fairway, but tugged his second left and shouted ‘fore’ as he watched the ball in the direction of the 17th tee. Luckily Keita did alert the preceding group, otherwise he would never have found his ball. The players watched on as it whizzed – on the second bounce – smack bang through the smallish opening in the recycle bin positioned beside the tee. Unperturbed, 16-year-old Keita took a drop, chipped on and two-putted for a bogey five.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Tuesday, Medley Canadian Foursomes (120 players) – Gary Rugless and Phil Kornmann (69.75 nett), Josh Poole and Steve Walters (71.75), Ian Harper and Jack Williams (72.75).
Wednesday, Medley Irish Foursomes (211 players) – Greg Wareham, Haenga Pirini, Bruce Heseltine and Greg Patrick (91 points), Chris Duhig, Bevan Horsnell, Barry Newton and Tony Pattinson (90), Ryley Martin, Ian Harper, John Jones and Brian Hills (89).
Thursday, Ladies, Single Stableford (116 players) – A Grade, Annabel Harris (42 points), Josie Ryan (41), Monica Knowles (36); B Grade, Carmel Visser (40), Beverley Perry (38), Di Stark (37); C Grade, Jenny Pike (41), Marie Flegler (37), Helen Martin (32). Men, Single Stableford (94 players) – Kevin Howe (38 points), Rod Hamilton (38), Tim Rees (37).
Saturday, Ladies, Monthly Medal (32 players) – Josie Ryan (75 nett), Maureen Lyon (76), Vicki Maynard (76); Men, Monthly Mug (222 players) – A Grade, Graham Smith (67 nett), Ken Anderson (67), Blake Thomas (68), Dave Mayes (70), gross – Scott Walker (73); B Grade, Bruce Reid (67), Graeme Warne (70), Luke Mitchell (71), Gavin Tuck (71), gross – Bruce Reid (82); C Grade, Brendan Williams (63), Michael Fortune (71), Tony Briffa (71), Karl Aldrich (72), gross – Brendan Williams (91).
Sunday, Medley Monthly Medal (48 players) – Lang Prior (69 nett), Jamie Duffy (70), Donald Campbell (72); Junior Medal – Keita Griffin-Klazema (79).
