From Tony Durkin 

SLOW PROGRESS: One of Headland’s most enigmatic, yet popular members, hopes his interest in a game he has always loved, will soon again blossom.  Octogenarian Ken Anderson scored 38 points to win Wednesday’s A Grade Medley Single Stableford, in his first win for 2025. A member since 1997, Ken recently took a 12-month break from golf after a forgettable period in which he lost his wife and stepson, and the pragmatic 83-year-old said his round was the best he had played for ‘a while’. “I had three wipes and a double, all due to stupidity,” quipped Ken, who has broken or bettered his age an amazing 22 times. “I must admit, I have lost some interest in golf, but it felt good out there today. I was nowhere near where I want to be, but I did play well in patches.” Apart from what he called his ‘stupidity’, Ken scored two birdies, eight pars and three bogeys, and said his short game had saved him. The win was Ken’s first for the year, and his second since the second round of the Club Championships in August last year. Mick Rose, also with 36 points, won B Grade, the same score penned by C Grade victor, Richard Ryan.

GET STAFFED: None of them were particularly enamoured by their score, but three Headland staff members completed the trifecta in Thursday’s Single Stableford for Men. Bar Supervisor Rory Hanley won the rain-affected event with 35 points, while drinks cart operator Sam Henricks (34) and Pro Shop assistant Peter Perrett (33) filled the minor placings. For Rory, who moved from Nottingham to Australia in December 2022, the victory was his second at Headland, with his first coming last month when he finished birdie, birdie, to score 40 points and win B Grade. His Thursday round was not quite as spectacular – 35 points with five three-pointers and seven twos on his card – but still good enough to collect $40 for finishing top of the small field of just 31 players. If they liked Australia, the effervescent barman and his partner Laura always intended to settle in Australia, and now hope to be offered fulltime residence by 2027. “We both love it here,” he said. “The people have been so welcoming and friendly, and for me, Headland is just a brilliant place to work, and play golf.” And his golf has started to ‘regulate’. “I started on a handicap of 11.4, and really struggled because the course is so difficult. But after my GA handicap blew out to 19.5 at one stage, I have whittled it back down to 15.2,” he said.

CAN’T WAIT: After being on the Headland waitlist for 18 months, pending member Steve Furness is desperately keen to become a full member. “It’s costing me a fortune to play a comp round once a week,” said the young dad of three who won Tuesday’s Par Plus event for Men with the excellent score of plus seven. “I’m hoping I will receive my membership sometime next year, but even that is looking doubtful.” Moving from Victoria to the Sunshine Coast 12 months ago because of the weather benefits for his son, Steve has taken an instant liking to Headland. “It has everything – water, bunkers, trees, and is in excellent condition. I just wish I was a member, and could play more often,” he lamented. Playing off 16 on Tuesday, the contract kitchen installer smashed the first nine in two-over 38 for a return of plus six, but found the back nine a little tougher with four pars, three bogeys and two doubles on his card. Steve will not play his usual round this coming Tuesday – he is currently in Victoria on a golf trip with his Victorian mates. Kathy Petrie won the Women’s event with minus two.

TOUGH ROUND: Although he shot 76 off his seven handicap from the white tees on Sunday, Dave Sims said the conditions were akin to playing from the blue markers. “Considering the deluge we have had over the past few days, the course was presented very well,” he said. “But it played really long, and the preferred lies certainly helped.” Dave, who scored 39 points to win by a shot in the field of 61, penned a birdie, 12 pars and five bogeys on his winning card and collected $80 for his afternoon’s work. And despite parring eight of the nine holes on the back nine, he quipped ‘I couldn’t find a putt’. “In fact, the only decent putt I made was for my birdie, at the sixth hole,” he said. “It was my up-and-down game that saved me.” Andy Whitmore, who finished out of a place on 37 points, looked to be on course for a win when he sat at one-under after 12 holes. But four doubles and a bogey coming home ruined a potentially great round from the nine marker. 

WOMEN’S PENNANT: With the course heavy underfoot and humidity extreme on Sunday, Headland’s Weekend Women’s No 1 Pennant team held Mt Coolum to a 3-3 draw in the fourth round of the 2025 Sunshine Coast and South Burnett District Women’s Pennant competition. Vicky Sheridan won again, 4&2, and Narelle Hollowood showed her class, also with a 4&2 victory. Kate Wilkie and Karen Wilson both squared their matches, Kate against fellow Headland member Sharon Purnell, who is GM of Mt Coolum. Robyn Muir (4&2) and Angela Pearson (1-down) were beaten. The teams meet again, at Mt Coolum, this coming Sunday. Headland’s two Mid-Week teams head their respective ladders following wins against Caloundra on Tuesday. Mid-Week One, with Lisa Ramen (3&2) and Josie Ryan (3&2) to the fore, beat Caloundra 3½ -1½ at home, with Leanne Ptak (2-up) scoring the other victory. Althea McLean squared her match while Kirsten Kaergaard (1-down) and Jan Langdon (2-down) lost their matches. Mid-Week Two travelled to Caloundra and scored an impressive 4-2 win on the back of victories by Laura Mason Baierl (5&4), Debbie Bennetts (4&3), Wendy Mosley (4&2) and Ree Condon 1-up). Kath Barford was beaten 2&1, and Leigh Dorigo lost her match 6&4. 

WEEKLY RESULTS: 

Monday, Vets, Single Stableford – sponsor, Perry and Oster Funerals – Women (32 players) – Jenny Pirini (32 points), Cathy Roberts (31), Trish Arden (31).

Men (85 players) – A Grade, Stewart Clover (36), Graham Farrell (36), Peter Blackford (35); B Grade, Robert Schwizer (35), Andrew Hempsall (35), David Simmons (35); C Grade, Richard Ryan (34), Peter Birt (34), Ed Hoey (31). 

Tuesday, Single Par Plus, Women (29 players) – Kathy Petrie (minus 2), Anita Boyle (-2), Ali Lamond (-2).

Men (53 players) – Steve Furness (plus 7), Colin Cross (+2), Mal Galletly (+1).

Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – sponsor, Jamie Hill, Property Today – (123 players) – A Grade, Ken Anderson (38 points), Gary Marr (38), Shane Muller (38); B Grade, Mick Rose (36), Paul Anderson (36), Joe Stotscheck (35); C Grade, Richard Ryan (36), John Hammond (36), Quentin Mungomery (35).

Thursday, Women, Single Par Plus – sponsors, Sandi Whittle, Patrice Jenkins, Kerry Longworth and Gwen Nancarrow – (cancelled because of weather conditions).

Men, Single Stableford (30 players) – Rory Hanley (35 points), Sam Henricks (34), Peter Perrett (33).

Saturday, Women, Single Stableford – cancelled because of weather conditions.

Men, Monthly Medal – sponsor Ryan Tomlinson, Century 21 on Duporth – competition cancelled because of weather conditions.

Juniors – Parent-Child competition – because of weather conditions.

Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (61 players) – Dave Sims (39), Derrick Bogaart (38), Scott Bromfield (37).