From Tony Durkin
COURSE UPDATE: In his 14 years as Headland Course Superintendent, Ben Tilley cannot recall a longer, continuous spate of rainfall nor a lengthier closure of the course than last week’s shutdown. When Headland reopened for play on Friday afternoon, the course had been ruled unplayable for five successive days after receiving 317ml (12.68 inches). And while the drainage of the course has improved markedly in recent years, Ben said he had never seen it as waterlogged for such an extended period of time. The obvious query from members will be ‘when will be course be back to the schmick condition to where it was headed in preparation for this weekend’s Men’s Sunshine Coast Open Amateur Championship?’. All being well, according to Ben, within two weeks.
STAFF BUSY: While the rain continued to pour and the course was closed, ground staff were far from idle. They were able to work on the actual course towards the end of last week pumping water from bunkers, as well as refacing and edging them; cutting brush adjacent to the dams; repainting plates on tee blocks; trimming hedges; cutting lifted tree roots; and trimming around sprinkler heads. As well, the car parks were cleaned and potholes bitumen-filled; the machinery shed was cleaned and general maintenance carried out; and a special camera was brought in to inspect drains with the express purpose of locating blockages, which will be repaired in coming weeks.
DIZZY SIMS: John Sims collected a $105 booty at Headland on Saturday – and he didn’t even finish his round. Standing over his par putt at the eighth – his second last hole for the day – John suffered a dizzy spell, and almost fell. The 16-marker putted out – for a two-point bogey – and walked to the ninth tee, but on the advice of his playing partner, Dr Daniel Lane, and Paramedic David O’Mahoney who was also in the group – he was whisked away to the clubhouse from where an Ambulance delivered him to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital. John spent six hours undergoing various tests before being released, with medical staff convinced the combination of heat, humidity and dehydration was the cause of his condition. However, after experiencing a similar episode on course five months ago John – who said the assistance he received reflected the community within our club – will undergo further tests.
DOUBLE DIP: Despite his late-round wobbles and three wipes on his scorecard, John Sims returned his best score at Headland since January to team with Daniel Lane to win Saturday’s Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford. With the course closed for almost a week, a near-capacity field of 244 teed off in the event which was also accompanied by a Single Stableford for men and women, and John’s 38 points scored him a third finish in that event. Apart from the medical drama, John’s other headline act was three birdies, each earning him and his Fourball partner four points. And just to add further theatre to the Saturday morning narrative, Daniel parred the team’s final hole – the ninth – for three valuable points as John sat in the carpark, awaiting the arrival of an ambulance. For the retired schoolteacher who joined Headland in 2016 after returning from a 13-year posting in London, it was a rare return to form following months of below-par golf. Graham Smith (40 points) won the men’s Single Stableford while Louise Harriott (35) led in the women’s field.
EASTER OPEN: Winner of the Australian Open Mixed Doubles with Sam Stosur in 2005, dual professional Scott Draper, is the latest addition to the impressive capacity field for the 2021 Men’s Sunshine Coast Open Amateur Championship to be played at Headland over the Easter weekend. A Wimbledon Junior Champion in 1992 who rose to No.42 in World Tennis rankings, Scott plays off plus four at Keperra Country Club in Brisbane and will be joined in the 36-hole tournament by his brother Mark (plus 2). While still playing tennis, the talented Scott made his professional golf debut in 2005 and in that year finished eighth in the South Australian PGA and two weeks later stepped on to the clay courts of Roland Garros to play in the French Open. In 2005 he won the New South Wales PGA Championship but his Pro career was cut short by injury in 2008, and when eligible he returned to the amateur ranks and at 46 still – obviously – plays superb golf. Strangely, Scott plays tennis left-handed and golf right-handed.
WALKER’S ON: Headland Club Champion Scott Walker has not missed a Men’s Sunshine Coast Open Amateur Championship for the past decade, and would cherish nothing more than holding aloft the trophy sponsored by his good mate, Justin Walsh of Walsh Consulting Engineers. And because Scott has contested so many of the Easter weekend events, he realises just how tough it is to beat home a field chock-full of talent. But he would love nothing more than to add the SC Open Amateur to his Headland Championship and Headland Match Play victories from last year. The Open will be played this coming Saturday and Sunday and has attracted a capacity field of 208, 20 of whom have handicaps of scratch or less. Apart from Scott Walker, Headland players in the mix for Championship honours include former Club Champions Adam Richards (1) and Dave Rattray (2), current Junior Champion Josh Holbrook (1) and late nominee, scratchmarker Brad Butler. And two-time winner of the event and 2019 Club Champion, Jake Crowther (plus 3), will be back from Sydney after missing last year’s event because of Covid restrictions.
TILLY JOINS: Tilly Poulsen, a two-handicap golfer from Rosebud Country Club in Victoria, this week joins the staff of Headland Golf Club. Tilly will be heavily involved in Golf Operations (club competitions, timesheets, major events etc), and will be working in both administration and in the Pro Shop. Her most recent role at Rosebud was in charge of Golf Operations. As a talented amateur, Tilly was close to turning Professional, she still plays competitively and this year was No. 1 player in Rosebud’s Pennant Squad. Her first day at Headland will be on Tuesday (March 30).
MASTERS MONDAY: Following the best round of his life in the event last year, reigning Headland Monday Masters champion Mark Fisher has confirmed he will be defending his title, claiming he ‘wouldn’t miss it for any money’. Entries have opened for the annual event, to be played on Monday, April 12, after the final round of the 85th US Masters has been completed. The Headland Masters will be an 18-hole Single Stableford with a shotgun start on a course set up to a standard akin to the famed Augusta National. Cost is $30 for members and $40 for non-members, which includes breakfast and coffee (served from 7am), as well as golf. The event is again being sponsored by James Kidd of EKO Financial, but hole sponsor spots are still available at a cost of $220. Entries close at 5pm next Wednesday, April 7, with the entry form on the Headland website. NOTE: Playing off 19 last year, Mark Fisher shot 40 on the front nine for 23 points and with 20 points coming home, his total score of 43 won him the green jacket by a runaway four points.
VW SCRAMBLE: A Headland team of Gavin Terry, John Bohringer, Mick Kinnear and Rhett Charlton has qualified for the regional final of the nationwide 2021 VW Scramble following a second placing in a qualifying event at Headland on Sunday. A capacity field of 144 teed off in the Scramble with a visiting Gold Coast team scoring nett 53.87 to win by almost three shots. Headland’s best returned 56.75, with eight-marker Gavin Terry describing the performance as a ‘genuine group effort’. But he did pay a special tribute to 19 handicapper John Bohrigner who putted first on all 18 greens and ‘gave us great reads’.
BUFFALO’S BRIEFS: Following more than six weeks of saying ‘sorry, we can’t’, the Headland Pro Shop is now able to help members with their club maintenance issues. I’m happy – no, make that delighted – to report our Repair Room is back in operation to assist with those small but important golfing necessities such as re-gripping and re-shafting clubs, as well as lie and loft adjustments. And, thankfully, the Simulator is back in operation as well. So, while renovation/repair work still continues around us, we are slowly getting back to some form of normality.
EASTER TREATS: A member’s favourite, Mediterranean Risotto, is fittingly on this week’s takeaway menu at Headland’s Eat Out In in the lead-up to Good Friday. Also, for the non-meat eaters on this sombre day, Vista Executive Chef Greg Pollard has added Salmon Poke Bowl, Vegan Poke Bowl and Grilled Barramundi. With the main kitchen and restaurant remaining non-operational, the livelihood of Greg and his staff has become hugely dependent on the support of members – and their friends, neighbours and relatives – to help grow the boxed-meal service. To view this week’s menu, go to www.eatoutin.com.au and order by Monday (March 29). Orders can be made on the website, or texted to 0414 375800.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Saturday, Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford (244 players) – John Sims and Daniel Lane (47 points), Thomas Adcock and Tom Burnett (46), Greg Stray and Mick Kelsey (45), David O’Mahoney and Steven Kenesey (45), Stephen Blampied and Michael Hinds (45). Single Stableford, Women (34 players) – Louise Harriott (35 points), Naomi Doyle (33), Sharon Thomas (32); Men (212) – Graham Smith (40), Kirk Hardy (40), John Sims (38).
Sunday, VW Scramble Four-Person Ambrose (144 players) – Allison Cross, Aaron Purdue, Matthew Radcliffe and Michael Findlay (53.87 nett), Gavin Terry, John Bohringer, Mick Kinnear and Rhett Charlton (56.75), Brad Reed, Dalton Kelly, David Weisenberger and Trent Bazley (57), Dave Mansley, Derrick Bogaart, Andy Whitmore and Jay Gourlay (57.25).
