From Tony Durkin

PAR LOVER: Ten-year member Wayne Cassidy never liked playing par events. But, after scoring plus nine to win Saturday’s Par Plus – a relatively new event recently introduced to Headland – he now loves them. “The previous Saturday, I had 100 off the bat in the Monthly Medal. Today I scored 78,” quipped the 14 handicapper, who played Masters Pennant earlier in the year. “I have been playing very ordinary golf for the past couple of months, but thankfully – and hopefully – things have turned around.” Wayne, who now drives locally for Direct Freight after recently finishing as a FIFO oil rig worker, had three birdies, nine pars, three bogeys and three doubles on his card, but was only ‘docked’ for the three doubles and one bogey. But, under the Par Plus scoring system, birdies, with a shot, were worth two plusses, meaning his three birdies earned him six plusses. And while his 78 is not his best round – that was a 77 a few years ago when par was 72 prior to the recent work on the course – Wayne was just pleased to have solved his recent issues. “It was pretty simple really. I just slowed down my swing,” he revealed. Ross Brimblecombe (plus six) won A Grade and Steve Walters (plus 7) won C Grade.

SANDY PUTTS: As has been the case with many winners during the past week, Anne Callanan has adjusted well to the renovated/sandy greens. “I was a ferocious putter today,” Anne quipped after winning Saturday’s Single Par Plus for Women, with plus five. “When the greens are like they are now, with plenty of sand on them, that seems to suit my style.” And she also enjoyed the Par Plus event, which better ‘rewarded’ her 22 handicap, giving her double plusses on two holes. “I birdied the first hole, which gave me two plusses, so I was off to a great start,” she said. The win came after and up-and-down few months for the four-year retired Executive Assistant, who spent an unforgettable two decades of her professional life at the former Hyatt Coolum Resort. “I had a win a few weeks and ago, and another back in August, but otherwise I have been regularly returning Stableford scores in the 20s,” Anne lamented. Recently-returned member Margaret Moran, who also scored plus five, was beaten on a countback. 

HOT ROUND: Despite being two of Headland’s lowest handicapped players, there was little skill in the way Shane Muller (scratch) and Leon Faulkner (1) putted on day-old renovated greens on Wednesday. “Hit them at the hole, and hit them much harder than usual,” was how Shane explained their excellent putting display to win the Two-Person Ambrose event with the excellent score of nine under par. Although the pair ‘lipped-out’ multiple times during the round – which was played on the front nine twice – they still managed nine birdies and nine pars to score 62.75 nett, and win by a shot from Darcy Brown and Paul Clarke. “We combined superbly, and drove the ball straight, and long,” said Pro Shop Manager Shane. “Only once, on the fourth hole the first time around, did we both miss a fairway. We ended up playing my drive, which finished in front of the eighth green, and were able to get up and down for par.” Although Shane and Leon have played in the same group previously, it was the first time they had teamed together. “Leon is a great ball striker,” praised Shane, who described the greens on Wednesday as ‘heavily sanded, and fairly bumpy’. 

SECOND THREE: When Narelle Hollowood graduated from SWING in 2021 and became a Headland member the following year, she bought an ‘almost’ full set of golf clubs. But after winning her second three-club event on Wednesday, the former semi-professional Adventure Racer confided that she possibly only uses half a dozen of her clubs on a regular basis. “In some rounds I might use more, depending on where my ball finishes,” she conceded after taking her driver, five wood, eight iron and putter to score 36 points and win Thursday’s Division One Single Stableford. “But I‘m still learning a lot about the game, and when in doubt will often take a club I feel confident with.” Playing the front nine twice because of green renovations, Narelle scored identical points on three holes, although one hole did not produce a great experience. “I twice wiped the par-five second. I finished in a bunker both times and discovered including my eight-iron was a mistake,” she said. However, three-pointers at the sixth and eighth both times around helped her to 17 and 19 points respectively, on each nine. Narelle’s first three-club event victory was in 2022. Janette Mason (35 points) won Division Two. 

A BIG YEAR: Even though he still has another major final to contest, Bruce Heseltine has enjoyed his most stellar golfing year. With three major titles already celebrated, Bruce added another minor dollop of cream to his 2024 congratulatory cake when he won Tuesday’s Medley Single Stableford. Playing the back nine twice because of green renovations, the retired engineer shot twin 41s from his 17 handicap for 43 points, his best Stableford score as an eight-year Headland member. And he did it despite committing one of his cardinal sins – looking at the event leaderboard before finishing. “I knew I had a good score going, so after bogeying the 16th the second time around, I had a look and saw I needed par, birdie to win. And that’s what I did,” he enthused. “I was really pleased with my round, with just the one slip-up, a double bogey at the sixth. I actually played to a 10 handicap today.” Bruce, who finished third in the Handiskins National Championship last year, has already won Headland’s C Grade Championship and Match Play Championship this year, and two weeks ago was named Headland Vets’ Male Player of the Year. And he has also qualified for the final of the Vets’ Match Play event, to be contested in coming weeks.

AGE BEATER: When he retired to the Sunshine Coast in 2016, joined Headland and played competitive golf for the first time, 75-year-old Trevor Simpson never dreamt of beating his age. And even though it wasn’t on the ‘official’ course, the 83-year-old played 18 holes at Headland on Thursday in 82 strokes. “I didn’t realise that,” said the former Mercedes Benz sales executive after winning the Single Stableford for Men, playing the front nine twice because of greens renovations. “It was never something that even entered my head.” But playing off a handicap of 14, Trevor had nine pars, eight bogeys and a double to score 40 points, beat his age by one and win the event by four points. And while the greens may have been sandy and bouncy, Trevor said the conditions certainly helped his score. “I find it difficult to stop the ball on the greens, but today they were very receptive,” he said. “I must admit though, I actually did play well.” Of New Zealand descent, Trevor worked in London and Sydney before retiring to the Sunshine Coast, and Thursday’s victory was his third at Headland.

BEST MAN: Teenager David Groom was the best man at Headland on Sunday, winning the Medley Single Stableford event with his lowest round since becoming a Headland member mid last year. The 14-year-old played alongside fellow juniors Sam Fichera and Mitch McFarland, and totalled 40 points from his 90 strokes, bettering his previous best round by two shots. It was David’s third win as a member, his previous victories with 41 and 42 points respectively. And while the highlight of his round were two four-pointers – a birdie at the par-four 12th and a par at the 10th – the talented sportsman was aptly proud of his drive at the par-four 11th, which finished on the green. “But I three-putted for par,” was his disappointed reaction. Like many promising Headland juniors, David has mutilated his handicap since starting as a novice. After Sunday’s round his GA is now 22 – when he scored his first victory back in June, his GA handicap was 31. NOTE: David backed up from his impressive round the previous day – plus five, and second place in C Grade. 

UGLY EAGLES: To most average golfers, an eagle is an eagle, irrespective of how it is scored. But back-to-back Headland Junior Champion, Sam Fichera, is still waiting for the conventional two-under-par bird to land after scoring his first two on the same hole 12 days apart. Sam rolled in a 20-metre putt from just off the front of the 11th green during the King’s Birthday event on October 7 for his first eagle, and then repeated the effort on Saturday, at the same hole. But, says Sam, the second was even less attractive than the first. “I thinned my shot from the back left bunker, it whacked the pin and dropped in,” he confessed. There is, however, little doubt the 14-year-old, who says his handicap has been ‘stuck’ on eight for a while, is destined for bigger things in the game of golf. Now in his seventh year as a Headland member, the Grade 9 Sunshine Coast Grammar student has reduced his handicap from a starting point of 34, with the ultimate goal to be a scratch marker before he leaves school.

HH HIATUS: The 40th edition of Headland Headlines for 2024 will not appear, as scheduled, next Monday (October28). Like the greens at Headland, HH management and staff need a regular refresher, and will take a short break. Edition 40 will now be published on Monday, November 4. 

WEEKLY RESULTS:

Tuesday, Medley Single Stableford – back nine twice – (63 players) – Bruce Heseltine (43 points), Anita Boyle (42), Geoff Sawyer (39). 

Wednesday, Medley Two-Person Ambrose – front nine twice – (108 players) – Leon Faulkner and Shane Muller (62.75), Paul Clarke and Darcy Brown (63.75), Jim Saunderson and Michael Phillips (64.25). 

Thursday, Women, three clubs plus putter – front nine twice – sponsors, Wendy Burnie, Suzanne Pledge and Lee Heseltine – (64 players) – Division One, Narelle Hollowood (36 points), Althea McLean (35), Odette Day (35); Division Two, Janette Mason (35), Coralie Snowball (35), Debbie Proud (32).

Men, Single Stableford – front nine twice – (48 players) – Trevor Simpson (40 points), Mark Dolan (36), Doug Morgan (36).

Saturday, Single Par Plus, Women (35 players) – Anne Callanan (plus 5), Margaret Moran (+5), Sandee Brimblecombe (+3).

Men, (194 players) – A Grade, Ross Brimblecombe (+6), Bryan Haggarty (+5), Barry Newton (+4); B Grade, Wayne Cassidy (+9), Glen Teakle (+8), Neil Oxley (+4); C Grade, Steve Walters (+7), David Groom (+5), Nathan Weymark (+4).

Juniors, nine-hole Stroke – Matthew Bothma (40), Max Faulkner (44),

Dominic Manning (44), George Jones (44), Finn Darlison (45), Keaton Fox (46), William Kisby (46).

Sunday, Medley Single Stroke (37 players) – David Groom (40 points), Noel Harris (38), John Matson (38).