From Tony Durkin

HAY SHINES: Taking full advantage of the scant sunshine during the past week, on Saturday Andrew Hay made the best of a well-worn proverb that relates to his surname. “Yes, I suppose I did make the best of the weather,” quipped the former Champion of Gisborne Park Golf Club in New Zealand after winning A Grade in Saturday’s big Single Stableford field of 226. A Headland member since 2019 following a short stint at Nambour, Andrew scored his second win since joining and shot his best round, a one-over 72 from his six handicap, for 41 points. The Building Estimator, who plays just once a week because of his busy work schedule, had four birdies and five bogeys on his impressive card, and in doing so shaved his handicap to 5.7. “My lowest mark was 2.9 when I won the Gisborne Park Club Championship back in 2006,” he said, revealing he did not take up golf until he left school, and later joined Auckland’s Pukekohe Golf Cub. In winning C Grade, John Mannix (41) matched Andrew’s top score of the day, while Dean Jones (39) returned the best in B Grade.

PUTTING CLOVER: Advice, and even a new putter courtesy of the advisor, gave Narelle Hollowood the advantage in Saturday’s Single Stableford for Women. Despite being somewhat under the weather health wise, Narelle scored 39 points in a round she did not think ‘went particularly well’. “But my putting saved me,” explained Narelle, who joined Headland two years ago, shortly after taking up golf during the Covid lockdown. And she heaped praise on fellow member and six-marker Stewart Clover, who she says has helped with her putting. “I have played with Stewart a few times and he is very encouraging,” she said. “But as well as the advice, he has gifted me one of his old putters, and it definitely worked on Saturday.” When Narelle last won – back in June, with 38 points – it was her putting that muddied what could have been a great round. “The putter cost me three double bogeys that day,” she recalled. Beating A Graders Lisa Ramen (36 points) and Kate Wilkie (35) into the minor placings, Narelle penned seven three-pointers on her card and hopes she can carry the good form into Thursday’s Women’s Foursomes Championships in which she is paired, ironically, with Kate.

PETER’S FIRST: A self-confessed ‘hacker’, Peter Hayman scored his first win on Sunday as a Headland member and could not have been happier. “My wife Lynn (a fellow member) told me when I arrived home from golf that I had finished 16th in the field, and I actually was happy with that. But I am absolutely thrilled with the win,” said Peter, a retired business owner who joined the club just two years ago. Playing from his 30 handicap, Peter totalled 93 for nett 63, and victory in the Medley Single Stroke by four shots. “Not only is this my first win, but it is the first time I have played a stroke event,” acknowledged Peter, who said a new set of Mizuno irons had helped create the breakthrough. “My wife bought me a set of clubs in 2005, and I had hardly used them before joining Headland. The difference the new irons have made, is amazing. I had no idea I could hit a ball as far as I am now.” Although he had seven double bogeys in his round, there was nothing worse, with three pars and eight bogeys completing his scorecard. “I’m loving golf,” he said.

 FOURBALL CHAMPS: The first elimination round of Headland’s 2024 Fourball Best Ball Match Play Championship tees off this coming Sunday (August 25), with an eclectic mix of qualifiers. A father and daughter combination (Coralie Walsh and Don Follent), father and son (Bernie and Brendan Duncan) and first cousins (Peter Richardson and Simon Richardson) are among the 16 teams to contest the Honour Board event, once again sponsored by Michael Thomas of Zenfind Accounting. And, one of the 16 pairs – Mick Kelsey and Mick Kinnear – are the only former champions with a chance of being crowned again in 2024. They were the inaugural winners in 2018, and the only former champions to qualify, finishing second on a countback in the qualifier two Saturdays ago. Past winners Matt and Jack Fisher (2019), Anthony and Sam Fichera (2020) and defending Champions Alex Dwyer and Lachie Moffat (2023) did not contest the event this year, and Dan Diachkoff and Geoff Bland (2021) and John Marrington and Sergio Nogarotto (2022), failed to qualify for the play-offs. The knockout series will be played over the next four Sundays, with the final on Sunday, September 15. The draw for Sunday’s first round is: Bruce Prince and Mick Prince (1) V Greg Stray and Matt Fisher (16) ; Mick Kelsey and Mick Kinnear (2) V Ben Pearson and Rob Van Delft (15); Brendan Duncan and Bernie Duncan (3) V Neil Oxley and Graeme Warne (14); Barry Newton and Gary Martin (4) V Peter Richardson and Simon Richardson (13); Jamie Holbrook and Ciaran Fenton (5) V Coralie Walsh and Don Follent (12); Bob Lane and Terry Grogan (6) V Mick Morris and Glen Grimish (11); Cathy Roberts and Robyn Muir (7) V Gary Marr and Andy Whitmore (10); Daniel Brooks and Chris Schultz (8) V Leeanne Ptak and Vicky Sheridan (9).

RAINFALL RECORD: Headland is on the way to receiving a record annual rainfall – at least for the past decade – as another week of cancelled competitions closes. As of last Wednesday (August 15), 2022 was the only year in the past decade that Headland received more rain than in 2024. At the end of August that year 2069mm had been recorded, compared to the 1958mm which has fallen until last week. The final rainfall for 2022 was 2541mm, but with some weather forecasters predicting further heavy falls for the remainder of this year, that figure may yet be beaten. The lowest annual rainfall recorded at the course in the past decade was just 1269mm, and ironically that was last year. And that comparison is reflected in the progress of the bunker reconstruction program, and allied course improvements. Work started on the 10th hole in April last year and, essentially, within eight months all but the ninth and 17th holes were completed. The past six months of wet weather has, however, regularly brought progress to a standstill on those two holes. To date in 2024, 13 days of competition golf have been lost to inclement weather and related course conditions. However, one positive from the abundance of rain has been the ‘response’ from the new bunkers. Despite the persistent deluge, not once in 2024 has a GUR sign appeared in bunkers during a competition round. According to Course Superintendent Ben Tilley, in the past bunkers would be out of play for at least a week after as little as 30mm of rain. “Our new bunkers have withstood as much as 130mm,” he said. “The only time we have carried a GUR sign out this year was when we had to move a little slumped sand back up the faces, and that was before play on those days had started.”

 ZOYSIA GRASS: With the cancellation of four competition rounds this past week resulting in additional ‘space’ in HH, we have taken the opportunity to speak to Headland’s award-winning Course Superintendent, Ben Tilley, in relation to the introduction of Zoysia grass on the immediate surrounds of our new/upgraded bunkers. And despite concerns from some members relating to the ‘playability’ from the grass, Ben said he was ‘very comfortable’ with the choice of Zoysia – or Shadetuff Zoysia Matrella, its official name. “We no longer have any significant water shedding over green surfaces and into the bunkers in heavy downpours, as was previously the case,” he said. Zoysia has a very slow metabolism/growth rate compared to Couch grass, but it also has fantastic density and it is this density that holds up on our bunker faces. The ‘rolled’ laying of Zoysia over the bunker edge also contributes to very good stability, which does not allow erosion to occur.” Erosion, Ben explained, leads to contamination of the bunker sand with soil from the surrounds washing onto the surface, and migrating down through the sand. “This in turn blocks the pore spaces and does not allow water to drain through the sand as freely, and as efficiently, as it should,” he added. “Many courses have Couch grass surrounding their bunker edges and while trying to achieve a nice sharp ‘sand- belt’ presentation on the bunker edge, this maintenance strategy also contributes significantly to erosion, and over time the bunker edge migrates outside the original bunker sand line. And, as Couch grass is not as dense as Zoysia, the edges crumble because the Couch does not hold the soil back, and this permits the soil to contaminate the sand.” The style and construction of Headland’s new and redesigned bunkers, with the use of Zoysia, has eliminated the potential for both contamination and erosion, according to Ben. However, he does agree that playing from the Zoysia grass does require a different approach, and concedes that adjusting to this may take Headland members some time, and practice. NOTE: Shadetuff Zoysia is an Australian owned and developed medium-to-fine textured Zoysia Matrella turfgrass variety.

WEEKLY RESULTS:

 Monday, Vets – Single Stableford (competition abandoned because of course conditions).

 Tuesday, Single Stableford (competition abandoned because of course conditions).

Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford (competition abandoned because of course conditions).

 Thursday, Single Stableford (competition abandoned because of course conditions).

Saturday, Single Stableford – sponsor, Mick Kinnear, Zero Termite and Pest – Women (28 players) – Narelle Hollowood (39 points), Lisa Ramen (36), Kate Wilkie (35).

Men (226 players) – A Grade, Andrew Hay (41), Jamie Hill (38), Paul Henricks (38); B Grade, Dean Jones (39), Barry Hudson (39), Greg Wareham (38); C Grade, John Mannix (41), Dave Wickham (38), Adam Montgomery (38).

Juniors, Nine-hole Stroke – Dominic Manning (38), Finn Darlison (38), Max Faulkner (45), Blake Rydwanski (45), Dylan Manning (52), William Springall (52).

Sunday, Medley Single Stroke (61 players) – Peter Hayman (63 nett), Paul Anderson (67), Damian Moelands (67).