From Tony Durkin
GREAT SCORING: Brilliant conditions – weather wise and on the course – no doubt assisted in some outstanding scores being returned in Saturday’s Single Stableford round. Twenty-five players – 23 men and two ladies – bettered their handicaps on one of the better scoring days of the year. Three men – Jamie Duffy (six handicap), Warren Selvage (13) and Dennis Farmer (21) – each scored 42 points, with new member Duffy shooting a par round of 72. Former Headland president John Joseph returned his best score for some time with 40 points, as did Ken Maynard (41 points), the husband of Ladies Director of Golf, Vicki. Leading ladies’ scorers were Sandee Brimblecombe and Wil Sprake, both with impressive 38 points. On the day 40 members played to their handicap, or better – a salute to the work of the ground staff and the excellent condition in which they present our course.
MISS PIGGY: The ‘Miss Piggy’ trophy, awarded to the Ladies team losing the annual Captain versus Vice-President Scrambled Ambrose event, has returned to its rightful owner. Purchased by Captain Vicki Maynard before last year’s inaugural event as something ‘unusual, but memorable’, the Vice-President’s team led by Mandy Oster ‘won’ the trophy in 2017. But Mandy’s team had its revenge on Thursday with an overall lowest aggregate result, and Vicki will now house Miss Piggy for the next 12 months. The team of Edith Merchant, Naomi Doyle, Wil Sprake and Liz Dunford – representing the Vice-President – returned a nett 60 to record the best score of the day, while Vicki led her quartet of Sandra Whittle, Leigh Derigo and Jodie McDonell (net 62) to be the Captain’s best. Jodie McDonell, of Century 21 on Duporth, sponsored the event and donated her share of the winnings to Headland’s Junior Golf program.
GOOSE COOKED: Just on 45 years ago John Henry’s grandfather, Dr Claude Henry, gifted him a Golden Goose brass putter which he has proudly used since – give or take a rare ‘spell’ every now and again. And one of those rarities was during Wednesday’s Single Stableford competition when John scored a mammoth 46 points, and putted the lights out with ‘an old Odyssey’ he keeps in reserve ‘just in case’. He had been putting poorly of late and effected the switch a week earlier and, with the help of the new wand, scored three birdies and nine pars in a round that also recorded a wipe on the 11th. He was also nearest the pin at the 14th – a mere 18cms away. Once a seven marker and Pennant player at Wynnum Golf Club, John (13 AGU handicap) now plays just once a week and relishes collecting the side bets from his regular partners as much as he does winning the competition.
BOARD VACANCIES: Three positions on the Headland Golf Club Board of Directors – Finance Director, Ladies’ Director of Golf and Course Director – will become vacant at the annual general meeting on September 4. Vicky Maynard (Ladies Director) and Michael Thomas (Finance) will be recontesting their positions, but Rob Howard, who has served seven years as Course Director, has decided to lay down his tools. Nomination kits for the board positions are available from the General Manager, Ben Dobson, and completed forms must be returned by August 21. Any Notices of Motion from members, to be considered at the AGM, must be submitted in writing – again to the General Manager – by August 14.
DUCK EMBLEM: Now that kangaroos are a rare sight on the Headland Golf Course, maybe a change of club emblem should be considered? If so, the friendly – and plentiful – wood duck might be a handy replacement if this image of absolute tranquillity, captured recently on the dam between the third and fourth fairways by member Di Stark, is a yardstick. And, of course, our monthly Sunday black tee event is named the Wood Duck Challenge. Course Superintendent Ben Tilley has no idea how many ducks call Headland home, but his estimate is ‘maybe not thousands, but into the many hundreds when conditions are favourable’. Food for thought, maybe?
ROUND OF THE WEEK: Following almost three months away from the game recuperating from a back injury, 2015 club champion Ryley Martin has found his mojo if two rounds this past week are any indication. Ryley is preparing for a number of local amateur tournaments including the Gary Player (Pacific Golf Club) and the Keperra Bowl in coming months and has suddenly struck a rich vein of form. On Wednesday, in his third round back from his injury, he ripped Headland apart with six birdies in his three-under par round 69, scorching around the front nine in 34 – two under par. And then on Saturday he signed for a one-under 71 – 37 points), which included five birdies in seven holes from the sixth to the 12th. But his 39 points on Wednesday wasn’t good enough to win A Grade. That honour went to veteran Ken Anderson who had 40 points despite a seven – a wipe – on the 10th hole. But he still carded a 75, which means the 77-year-old has again bettered his age – for the 12th time.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Ladies (53 players) – Ruth Broderick (37 points), Raewyn Andersen (37), Gwen Nancarrow (36); Men (62 players), Patrick Carmody (38), Steve Walters (37), Len Dawson (37).
Wednesday, Men, Single Stableford (206 players) – A Grade, Ken Anderson (40 points), Ryley Martin (39), Lawrence Hireme (38): B Grade, John Henry (46), Steve Walters (39), Denis Brumby (39); C Grade, Sergio Nogarotto (44), Peter Andrews (40), Brendan Richardson (38).
Thursday, Ladies, Scrambled Ambrose (94 players) – Captain’s team, Vicki Maynard, Sandra Whittle, Leigh Derigo and Jodie McDonell (62 nett); Rosalie Brandt, Joanne Stifler, Sue Jones and Judy Farmer (64); Vice-President’s team, Edith Merchant, Naomi Doyle, Wil Sprake and Liz Dunford (60); Raewyn Andersen, Christine Parkinson, Susie Fenton and Julie Halliday (61). Ladies Match Play, final, Gay David beat Gwen Nancarrow 1up on the 18th.
Men, Fourball Best Ball Par (82 players) – Glen Wakefield and Mick Kinnear (plus 11), Tony McDonough and Ted Banaszczyk (plus 9), Greg Jellis and Michael Leale (plus 9).
Saturday, Single Stableford, Ladies (33 players) – Sandee Brimblecombe (38 points), Wil Sprake (38), Janelle Heaney (36); Men (205 players) – A Grade, Warren Selvage (42), Jamie Duffy (42), Peter Francis (39); B Grade, Ken Maynard (41), Ross Kelly (39), Gavin Tuck (39); C Grade, Dennis Farmer (42), John Joseph (40), Ian Flegler (38).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (40 players) – Wayne West (39 points), Ashley Reck (38), Tracey O’Connor (37).
