From Tony Durkin

COURSE UPDATE: After walking the course on Sunday morning, Superintendent Ben Tilley described the condition of the general surface of Headland as ‘soup’. As a result of incessant rain since late last week, Ben has predicted the course will not reopen until Wednesday at the very earliest, and that is conditional that no further rain is received. Since rain started falling on Wednesday (February 23), 686mm has been recorded, taking the total figure for the first two months of the year to 950mm, almost three-quarters of Headland’s annual average of 1500mm. The highest 24-hour recording was 304mm, from 6am Friday to 6am Saturday. “I have never previously experienced that amount of rain in such a short period of time, and the course is the wettest I have seen it in my 15 years here,” he said. While damage, generally, has been limited, Ben predicted it would be at least Tuesday before vehicles could get onto the course and the clean-up started. “Golf Wednesday may be a chance, but Thursday is more likely,” he said. Erosion to the recently-rebuilt second tee was minor, although some of the turf laid on Wednesday has been washed away. The one plus from the torrential rain is that green duck weed, which had invaded the dams on the tenth and twelfth holes, has been washed away.

 ARTISTIC GOLF: Archibald Prize entrant John Jones conceded there was nothing too creative about his golf on Monday, but his 39 points in the Vets’ competition was his best-ever Headland score in his two years as a member. Formerly the Qantas Operations Control Manager at Sydney Airport, John scored his 39 points from the blue tees and won B Grade, his first victory since he returned to golf following a declaration five years ago that he would ‘never play this game again’. Once an eight handicapper, John became totally frustrated with his indifferent form, but was tempted back into the game by a friend when he moved to Buderim to retire in 2010. A new set of clubs and lessons from Head Pro Adam Norlander set him on the comeback trail and although Monday’s card revealed two wipes and two doubles, the two birdies, four pars and eight bogeys were enough to bring the now 19-marker the joy he once experienced from the game. NOTE: John’s entry in the Archibald Prize in 2013 was a painting of well-known Sydney clockmaker, Chris Cook, who plied his trade in the historic Queen Victoria Building.

 MOWED DOWN: Playing in a capacity Headland field of 144 for a one-tee shotgun start, Bernadette Cassidy mowed down the women’s Vets field on Monday to win B Grade with the equal best score of the day. A SWING graduate from 2016, Bernadette and her fellow-member husband Pat formally owned the iconic Big Mower business at Beerwah and have enjoyed playing off the neatly trimmed fairways of Headland, albeit not always with success. In fact, before Monday’s win Bernadette’s last victory was three years ago – almost to the day. Her 39 points was highlighted by a magical stretch of six holes – from 13 to 18 – where she reaped a superb 19 points, including a four-point par at the 15th. Such was the excitement of the win, it was shared on a family app called The Clan, which helps Pat and Bernadette keep in touch with their four adult sons who are domiciled in Canada, France, Sydney and the Sunshine Coast. The boys, however, recognised something was missing from the update – the score of Pat, who played in the same group as their mum. It was, regrettably, just 21 points.

 SORE ANKLES: It may have been a throwaway line, but Steve Eggins’ comment that his wife Chrissy had sore ankles from ‘carrying’ him through Tuesday’s Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford, has a familiar ring. The 27-year married couple won the event with 46 points, Chrissy scoring 27 and Steve 19, a similar result to three years ago when they won a Fourball Aggregate Stableford event. That day Chrissy, a 2016 SWING graduate then playing off 44, penned 45 of their victorious 85 points. And while Steve considered their score on Tuesday to be ‘nothing special’, the couple was most pleased there were no wipes or one-pointers on their card, and no holes where both bombed out. Apart from winning – and both having $55 added to their House Account – the major thrill for Chrissy, who scored on 10 of the 18 holes, was reducing her AGU handicap to an all-time low of 35.

MIXED FOURSOMES: Entries for the 2022 Headland Mixed Foursomes Championship are now open, and will close on Thursday, March 10 at 5pm. The 36-hole Championship will be played on Saturday, March 19, with an entry fee of $40 per player, which includes lunch. The Match Committee will allocate tee times, but members can request to play in groups of up to six. And any member who wants to play in the Championships, but does not have a partner, should email golf@headlandgolfclub.com.au and list their application. Champions from 2021, Dominique Paice and Wayne West, have confirmed they will be defending their title.

 WEEKLY RESULTS:

Monday, Vets, Single Stableford, Women (44) – A Grade, Kathy Atkins (38 points), Robyn Boreham (36), Jill Nixey (36); B Grade, Bernadette Cassidy (39), Dianne Keen (37), Jill Nixey (36). Men (100 players) – A Grade, Rob Willemse (38), Huki Matenga (37), Peter O’Brien (35); B Grade, John Jones (39), Chris Mackay (38), John Langdon (38); C Grade, Alan Stratford (36), Chris Byrnes (36), Mike Loftus (36).

Tuesday, Medley Fourball Best Ball Stableford (108 players) – Chrissy and Steve Eggins (46 points), Stuart Dykstra and Colin Williamson (45), John Jamieson and Graeme Warne (44).

Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – sponsor A R Coastal Scaffolding – Adam Robbins [ course closed, competition suspended.

Thursday, Women, Ovarian Cancer Day Scrambled Ambrose – sponsors Monica Knowles, Kathy Atkins, Jodie McDonell, Robyn Muir, Anne Callanan, Pamela Hudson-Jessop, Carol Quin, Karen Wilson – course closed, competition suspended.

Men, Single Stableford – course closed, competition suspended.

Saturday, Single Stableford, course closed, competition suspended.

Sunday, Medley Wood Duck Challenge – sponsor Eko Finance and Mod bathrooms – James Kidd & Chris Klazema – course closed, competition suspended.