From Tony Durkin
OPENING SUCCESS: The pairing of Kevin Howe and Brad Williams may have won Saturday’s Opening Day Fourball Best Ball Stableford on Saturday and collected a whopping $95 each for doing so, but the big winner was Headland Golf Club. Signalling the official start of the 2021 golf year following a Covid-interrupted 2020, a capacity field of 256 players contested the first major event of the year. And the decision to once again stage a Medley Fourball event to kick off the new season was a masterstroke, with a capacity field – despite the oppressive conditions – a rare event for the club. Head Professional Adam Norlander says the big field reflects the expectation and excitement around Headland at the moment. “The course is in brilliant condition and the really positive vibe is as good as I have experienced in my six years at the club,” he said.
STRANGERS WIN: Kevin Howe and Brad Williams had never met until they shook hands on the first tee before Saturday’s Fourball Best Ball Stableford event, which opened proceedings for the 2021 golf season. Adding to the narrative was the fact that Brad, a fly-in, fly-out miner, had been listed to play in another group until a phone call from the Pro Shop late in the morning asking if he would agree to the switch. And the shift proved a winner, with Kevin (handicap 19) and Brad (21) scoring 48 points to win by a shot in a relatively low-scoring event. Despite two four pointers and 10 three-point holes on their card, the winners also recorded two one-point results. Brad scored on 11 holes and contributed 28 points, while Kevin – in his first game for a month – added 20 points. NOTE: Their respective fourball scores may not have set the field alight, but Headland low markers Scott Walker and Brad Butler were on fire in the 2020 season opener. Both scored five birdies and – remarkably – the only hole on which they both had birdies was the par-four 11th.
NICK’S DOUBLE: Mooloolaba Lifeguard Nick Bolton took up golf only three years ago and joined Headland – and received his first handicap – late in 2018. But it will be a while before Nick forgets the opening weekend of competition at his new club for 2020, having pocketed $110 for a win on Sunday and a runner-up prize the previous day, both fourball events. Nick partnered Headland Trainee Professional McKenzie Wright (scratch) on Sunday to score 46 Stableford points and win on a countback, while on Saturday he joined good mate Lang Pryor for 47 points, and a runners-up prize of $80. He contributed 29 points on Saturday and 20 on Sunday, the highlight a 30-metre birdie putt from the back of the seventh green for five points. As a result Nick, who tabled 119 shots in first competition round two years ago, cut two shots from his 23 handicap over the weekend. NOTE: New General Manager Matt Lang had his first round on Sunday since joining Headland just before Christmas and intends playing regular competition golf.
COOROY MUG: As one of the seven Headland members currently playing the ‘Sunshine Coast Open’ tour event, Paul Henricks has saluted with victory in the January Cooroy Monthly Mug. Playing off five, Paul returned a nett 72 to win the A Grade Mug on his first visit to Cooroy, a course he described as ‘in excellent condition and a great challenge’. In August last year Headland members – and good mates – brothers Paul and Mark Henricks, Chris Pace, Bryan Haggarty, Jim Aspinall, Mark Swift and Tim Diedricks kicked off the ‘open’ event in which they play eight Sunshine Coast courses. They have already played Maleny, Beerwah, Caloundra and Cooroy, and have Mt Coolum, Noosa, Nambour and Maroochy River to conquer before the ‘tour’ finishes at Easter.
NO KIDDING: Just two days into his 30th year as a member of Headland Golf Club, immediate past Director of Golf, James Kidd, celebrated the new year with a hole-in-one at the par-three eighth hole – the first ace at Headland for 2021. Playing socially with his partner Trish Howe, good mate Simon Mitchell and five-time Headland Champion Adam Richards, James slam-dunked a perfectly-struck seven-iron to the 150-metre mid pin. In fact, so accurate was the shot that the ball actually wedged itself between the edge of the hole and the foam pool noodle which sits at the base of all 18 holes on the course. The ace is James’ second at Headland, his first coming at the fifth two decades ago. He has also aced the difficult 17th at Twin Waters, playing in a Men of League charity day in 2017. NOTE: Another member to celebrate a hole-in-one during the ‘off-season’ was Peter Leggo, at the 14th, on January 6. It is Peter’s third ace in his 33 years as a Headland member.
COURSE NEWS: Black ‘Scarybirds’ flying adjacent to greens at Headland are exactly that – ‘birds’ for scaring Corellas. The Corellas, who habitate Headland in their hundreds, have taken a liking to pool noodles currently located inside the holes and, as a result of their rummaging, have been causing damage to the hole surrounds. The ‘Scarybirds’, which are relocated over the course on a rotation system, have had initial success. And members may also notice that despite recent good falls of rain, the dam on the tenth fairway is well below its expected level. The dam level has been lowered in an effort to assist the natural dying process of a green weed called Lemna, more commonly referred to as duck weed. Because an overflowing tenth dam feeds into the dam between the 11th and 12th fairways, the fear was that the weed would migrate. Course Superintendent Ben Tilley is confident the weed will eventually die.
MEN’S PENNANT: Headland’s Men’s A Grade Pennant team, winner and finalist in the Sunshine Coast Golf Zone competition for two of the past three years, will play its first match of the 2021 season on Sunday, June 20. Expected to again field a very competitive team, Headland meets Mt Coolum at Maroochy River in the first round of the competition which will be contested by six teams – Headland, Maroochy River, Caloundra and Mt Coolum, with reigning champion Noosa to provide two teams. Masters and B Grade teams will follow the same draw, with Headland to meet Maroochy River at Twin Waters in both grades, also on June 20. The draw and starting date for the Juniors is yet to be announced. Semi-finals in all grades will be played at Noosa Springs on July 25, with the finals scheduled for Gympie on August 1.
COACH LAUREN: Talented former Headland junior Lauren Mason has kicked off her second year as head golf coach at one of the United States most respected universities. Lauren was assistant men’s and women’s golf coach at Texas A&M University-Commerce in 2018-19, but graduated to head coach the following August. And under her tutelage, the college has enjoyed one of its best seasons on record. Before joining the college, Lauren had a successful career at Texas Tech University, where she competed in the 2015 and 2017 NCAA national championships. As well as winning an intercollegiate championship, Lauren was also an outstanding student, three times receiving the university’s High Merit Award and earning a string of academic honours. She graduated from Texas Tech with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Management and a Masters in Sport Management. Before moving to the US, the former Siena Catholic College student was a member of the winning 2011 and 2012 Queensland junior state teams, and a member of the 2012 Queensland women’s team. And Lauren was the Sunshine Coast junior amateur champion in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
WHOOPS: Robyn Muir scored her fifth hole in one just prior to Christmas, but unfortunately it was during a practise round. And while naturally disappointed her latest ace is not officially recognised, Robyn – a two-time winner of Headland’s Mixed Foursomes partnering Adam Richards – has scored one previously at Headland’s 18th, one at Toowoomba, one at Dalby and another at North Lakes. She can also boast those rarest of golfing birds, an albatross – also at Toowoomba Golf Club – on the par-five tenth hole (now the first), back in 1993. After a decade playing very little golf, Robyn has vowed to play more in 2021 and aims to lower her current handicap of 20, although she doubts she will reach her all-time low of seven.
BUFFALO’S BRIEFS: From next week, Headland Headlines will kick off a new, informative section under the heading of Buffalo’s Briefs. Each week Head Professional Adam Norlander – aka Buffalo – will open his treasure trove of all things golf, including simple tips for a better score, pointers on successful practising methods and professional advice on the latest equipment available. He will also answer any queries on the game members may have (email your questions to proshop@headlandgolfclub.com.au) and will keep members informed on weekly bargains from the Pro Shop.
RIP JOHN KEATING: Headland has lost one of its most decorated golfers with the recent death of John Keating. John, who was 85, joined Headland in 1989 when he and his wife Judy retired to Buderim after selling their sports store in Papua New Guinea. A scratch marker during an outstanding career based at Lae Golf Club, John shot less than his age on at least five occasions while at Headland and played A Grade Pennants for the club. From 1962 to 1984 he represented PNG on numerous occasions and captained his adopted country in the famed Eisenhower Cup. He was PNG National Champion five times and Lae Golf Club Champion on eight occasions, as well the winner of just on 20 Foursomes National and/or Club Championships. In 1980 John was awarded Membership of the British Empire (MBE) for his achievements and services to golf. John, who lost his wife Judy in 2018, suffered various ailments last year and passed away on December 1.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Winners since competitions for 2020 started on Tuesday, January 5: Marcus Schrader (39 points), Garry Marr (39), Ben Brown (40), Gavin Terry (38), Tony Coutts (41), Graham Sargent (39) and Grahame Denovan (40).
Saturday, Opening Day, Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford (256 players) – Brad Williams and Kevin Howe (48 points), Lang Pryor and Nick Bolton (47), Rhett Charlton and Garry Marr (46), Derrick Bogart and Dave Mansley (46), Tony Durkin and David Sims (45).
Sunday, Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford (56 players) – McKenzie Wright and Nick Bolton (46 points), Anthony and Sam Fichera (46), Katrina Watts and Ken Anderson (46).
