From Tony Durkin
STRESS RELIEF: Following 46 years of work – most of those running his own business – and two recent heart-related surgeries, last Wednesday Alan Brooker finally severed all employment ties. And three days later, playing in the Medley Single Stableford event at Headland on Saturday, the 62-year-old played as freely as he can ever remember and won A Grade with 42 points. Alan estimates it is his first win in at least 18 months and says now that he has retired, he plans to play more golf, shoot lower scores and reduce his current handicap of 14 back to somewhere near the six mark from which he played ten years ago. On Saturday his 42 points came from one of his most consistent rounds in ages – two birdies, seven pars and nine bogeys – and also included the Pro Pin on the 12th. And he reckons earning $103 – $55 for the win and $48 for the Pro Pin – is more enjoyable and much easier than working for a living.
AGE NO BARRIER: The tees and pins may not have been in as difficult positions, and the course set-up was totally different, but Ken Anderson shot less than his age again on Wednesday. His 75 in the Single Stableford event – for 40 points – came four days after 78-year-old Ken signed for a 78 in the previous Saturday’s Monthly Mug. Playing the front nine twice on Wednesday because of course renovations, Ken had 35 the first time around followed by 40, with 23 and 17 points respectively. And although he had five birdies, quite bizarrely he had the same score on just three holes. Ken has now beaten his age an incredible 15 times.
DROUGHT BROKEN: Al Larchin has been a Headland member for 20 years, has witnessed his AGU handicap drift out to 21.1 and has not won an individual club competition for at least a decade. Until Wednesday, that is. Al, a draftsman, made a 2020 new year’s resolution to play more golf and reduce his handicap, and that goal is off to a dream start after he scored 42 points in Wednesday’s Single Stableford event to win the competition. But his round didn’t start as well as it finished when he steered two balls out of bounds from the first tee. Seventeen holes later – playing the front nine twice – Al’s scorecard revealed seven pars, nine bogeys, one double and that haunting wipe on the first. But while he may have experienced a 10-year drought as an individual winner, he and Quentin Poulsen, Scott Walker and Noel Reid did have a recent three-year domination as winners of Headland’s Closing Day Ambrose event, and he also scored a remarkable 45 points to win the 2019 Santa Shield, a ‘closed’ Friday afternoon competition played between working, golfing and drinking mates.
SAVAGE REDUCTION: After joining Headland Golf Cub in December with the express intention of taking his golf more seriously, Brendan Williams’ first goal was to reduce his handicap. But Brendan concedes he was absolutely staggered to learn that after winning the C Grade February Monthly Mug with an impressive nett 63, his handicap was almost halved. Brendan played off 28 last Saturday week (AGU 27) and following his notable round of 91 off the bat, his handicap was slashed to 14.8. Since joining the club Brendan has submitted just five cards and had played to handicaps of 30.7, 28, 30.7, 29.6 and 16.8 respectively. And while he was thrilled with his round in the Monthly Mug, which won him both the C Grade nett and gross trophies, the former Buderim Wanderers soccer player was stunned by the extent of his handicap reduction. Referring to the new mark as a challenge, Brendan concedes it could be some time before his name is again up in lights at Headland. NOTE: Playing from his new handicap on Saturday, Brendan could manage only 20 Stableford points.
GREENS SEMINAR: Headland’s Senior Greenkeeper, Stephen Hudson, has won a much-coveted position at the Australian Sports Turf Management Association’s Future Turf Manager’s Initiative conference to be held in Melbourne next month. The FTMI is designed to provide practical tools and guidance to help greenkeepers with their career aspirations through this annual interactive professional development program. Stephen will participate in the FTMI in Melbourne in March, with an intensive 2½ days of seminars, talks and workshops covering subjects such as communications, budgeting, team management, CV writing, interview techniques, networking and career development. The conference will be attended by 18 of the best up-and-coming greenkeepers from Australia and New Zealand. Stephen, an Englishman who has played semi-professional golf in his home country with Ian Finnis, the caddy for world No.10 Tommy Fleetwood, joined the Headland greens staff in October 2018 after spending seven years at the Kooyonga Golf Club in Adelaide.
LADIES’ GOLF: Headland will host a ‘Come and Try’ golf event for ladies this coming Sunday (February 16) – and it’s free. With members of the club’s Professional team and other experienced golfers on hand, the occasion is aimed at enabling ladies to be introduced to the game of golf and learn the basics in a fun, relaxed and friendly environment. Details of the club’s highly-successful SWING (Starting Women In Golf) program will be explained and other pertinent information will be made available. All essential equipment will be provided and the only necessities for ladies attending will be a hat, water bottle and enclosed shoes. The event will last for one hour, from 2pm to 3pm, and registrations are essential. To register, contact SWING Co-ordinator Di Stark on swing.golfing@gmail.com or 0419 502 750.
SUPERSOFT OPTION: Such was the quality of his round on Thursday – with the exception of one hole – Steve Walters says that finally ‘everything came together’. Playing the front nine twice, 21-marker Steve racked up 44 Stableford points in the men’s event to street the field by seven points. And despite an ugly triple bogey on the par-five seventh, his 85 off the stick was – in his words – almost pitch perfect. But while the golfing stars may have aligned, Steve also believes a ball change – to the Callaway Supersoft – was a contributing factor. A serious golfer only since he joined Headland when he arrived from Perth five years ago, Steve plays at least three days a week where he ‘loves the environment’ offered by the club.
PENNANTS: The 2020 Sunshine Coast Golf Zone Pennant season kicked off on Sunday – almost. Headland’s Masters and Junior teams played, B Grade received a first-round bye but the entire round of A Grade matches at Hervey Bay were cancelled because of the rain. Headland Juniors beat Maroochy River 2&1, with skipper Keita Griffin-Klazema and Jack Fisher victorious, while the Masters team was beaten 4&3 in a cliffhanger against Noosa at Noosa. Winners for Headland were Scott Bromfield, captain Warren Selvage and Brett Stephenson. Scores were: Masters, Warren Selvage won 5&3, Scott Bromfield won 3&2, Brett Stephenson won 1-up, Burgess Stephenson lost 2&1, Ian Moore lost 1-down, Warren Sorby lost 2&1, Neven Daniel lost 2&1; Juniors – Keita Griffin-Klazema won 3&1, Jack Fisher won 7&6, Campbell Gigney was beaten 3&2.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Tuesday, Medley Single Stableford (48 players) – George Rodman (41 points), Wayne Bridgeman (40), Alex Sue See (35).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford (37 players) – Al Larchin (42 points), Ken Anderson (40), Dominic Geeves (37).
Thursday, Ladies, Single Stableford with three clubs and putter – competition cancelled because of weather conditions. Men, Single Stableford (20 players) – Steve Walters (44 points), John Marrington (35), Kevin George (35).
Saturday, Single Stableford, Ladies (14 players) – Kirsten Kaergaard (33 points), Bev Kelly (32). Men (162 players) – A Grade, Alan Brooker (42 points), Andrew Fisher (39), James Kolbe (39); B Grade, Chris Klazema (43), Mick Kinnear (39), Nick Cox (37); C Grade, Scott Larson (40), Stephen Van Der Linde (36), Alan Ward (35).
