From Tony Durkin 

SCHOOLMATES SHINE: Even a birdie on the last hole in Wednesday’s Single Stableford event could not get John Wettenhall over the line to beat his schoolmate of almost seven decades ago, Daryl Jones. The Headland members, who play regularly on Wednesday mornings with the aptly-named Old Goats (Order of Late Developing Golfers Optimistically Approaching Terminal Senility), quinellaed C Grade by scoring 43 points, with Darryl’s 19 on the back nine edging out his 1950s boarder friend at The Southport School. It was neck and neck throughout with Darryl scoring two four-pointers and five three-pointers, and John having three four-pointers as well as five three-point holes. Not a bad effort for two guys whose average age is 81 and who ended their working lives on the land when retiring to the Sunshine Coast. And fellow member Tex Teixeira made it a memorable day for the Old Goats by finishing third in A Grade.

MONICA’S SECRET: Monica Knowles, a 35-year Headland member, likes the golf adage ‘when it’s easy, it’s easy’. And for Monica it was easy during Tuesday’s Single Stableford round of the annual Living Choices Classic when she scored 44 points to clear away from the field of 73 players. But it was easy for a reason – Monica, a potter, had spent an hour before her round sculpting, and was totally relaxed before teeing off. Her 44 points included a best-ever four-over 40 on the front nine, which harvested her a fabulous 24 points. The three-day Living Choice Classic (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday) was good to Monica as she and partner John Sims were runners-up in Sunday’s Fourball and she now has a new pair of shoes and a golf outfit as part of the spoils. But ever the realist, Monica understands good form comes and goes, and in Thursday’s Monthly Medal she trudged home with a most unattractive 107 shots of her card.

PACE IT OUT: The direct distance to the hole – as measured by his GPS – was 168 metres, but Chris Pace has no idea just how far his memorable four-iron shot actually travelled to win him the Pro Pin on the 12th hole in Wednesday’s Single Stableford event. Snookered behind a myriad of trees on the right of the fairway after slicing his tee shot, Chris decided on an ‘all-or-nothing’ escapade for his second. That meant employing another slice – this time planned – which would take his ball over the dam to his left. While he knew he hit the ball sweetly, the McGrath Estate Agents principal had no idea where it finished until he ventured from the trees in time to see it land on the green, roll up to the hole, lip out and finish 64cms from the pin. And despite it being one of his more memorable shots, he says it only comes a close second to his hole-in-one at the striking par three third hole on the Quarry course at Joondalup, near Perth.

SIX MEDALS: Although past records are not readily available, six A Grade Monthly Medal wins by Sharon Thomas in eight months is believed to be a Headland Golf Club first. Almost as was expected, Sharon won Thursday’s Medal with a nett 71 – her best Medal score of the year  – beating Lisa Ramen by a shot for the honour. Her previous victories were in February (nett 76), April (75), May (74), June (74) and August (74). But it was B Grade Medal winner Susie Fenton who stole the day with a nett 68, the highlight of which was a five-par, four-bogey front nine for a career-best 40. And keeping it in the family was husband Michael, who was runner-up in the men’s A Grade Single Stableford the previous day, with 38 points. 

JUNIORS RISING: Men’s Director of Golf, James Kidd, stated in his report to the recent AGM that as a Junior Member at Headland ‘a few’ years ago, he was one of many youngsters who would play golf from dawn until dusk, most afternoons and almost every weekend. And while lamenting the fact junior numbers are not what they once were, he reported an increase during the past 12 months, with 100 junior memberships the goal during the coming year. Special events for Junior learners are held monthly and include the Super 6 and Junior Monthly Medal, as well as clinics conducted by Headland Pro Shop staff. And while on the subject of youth, members and qualified accountants, Sarah O’Keeffe and Chris Eccles, have joined Michael Thomas and his team on the Headland Finance Committee.

HELP JENENE: Member Tim Reed has organised a Charity Golf Day at Headland for Friday, October 5, to raise money to assist popular bar staff member, Jenene Nicholson, who is again having some serious health issues. And the great news is that the day has been fully subscribed, which says much about Tim’s salesmanship and a whole heap about the popularity of, and love for, Jenene. Within a week of planning the day Tim has sold all 36 groups of four, who will play an Ambrose event with a shotgun start at 11.30am. But for those who have missed out, ‘reserve’ bookings will be taken to cover for possible withdrawals and the opportunity still exists for donations of cash and/or auction items. Tim awaits your generosity on treed@stilhaus.com.au. 

NEW MEMBER: Headland Golf Club has welcomed a very special new junior member – Alexander Blake Dobson. Alexander was born last week to GM Ben and his wife Ali, and is a brother to Ollie. Mum and bub are well, and dad is having some well-deserved time away from the office attending to home duties. 

 

ROUND OF THE WEEK: He may have had a fourball partner but it mattered little to big Mick Kelsey when he contributed 46 points of his own to Thursday’s outstanding winning score of 51. With Pro Shop assistant Nate Smyth by his side Mick, playing off an extremely-generous handicap of 34, scored on 14 holes with six three-pointers and three four-point scores on the team card. Even though he played second fiddle, Nate had three three-point holes in his seemingly-negligible involvement. While Mick, a relative newcomer to golf, says his ten-under handicap score was ‘just one of those days’, Nate believes the big hitter is destined to become, at worst, a high teens handicapper. 

WEEKLY WINNERS:

Monday, Veterans, Living Choice Classic, Single Stableford, Ladies (73 players) – Thelma Allen (40 points), Christine Hall (40), Ali Lamond (39), Joy Bullock (39); Men (78 players) – Roly Hoy (41), Vince O’Neill (40), Grahame Maund (40), Bob Hayward (37).

Tuesday, Veterans, Living Choice Classic, Single Stableford, Ladies (73 players) – Monica Knowles (44 points), Vicki Maynard (40), Many Oster (40), Ginette Hewlett (39); Men (77 players) – Allan Down (42), Gary Savill (42), Jon Welch (41), Dennis Taylor (40).

Wednesday, Men, Single Stableford (205 players) – A Grade, Rob Cunningham (39 points), Michael Fenton (38), Tex Teixeira (37); B grade, Mark Postles (40), Tony McDonough (39), John Keating (38); C Grade, Daryl Jones (43), John Wettenhall (43), Andrew Murray (42).

Thursday, Ladies, Monthly Medal (70 players) – A Grade, Sharon Thomas (71 nett), Lisa Ramen (72), Kathy Atkins (74); B Grade, Susie Fenton (68), Helen Venter (70), Dorothy Chatfield (73); C Grade, Leigh Derigo (73), Katrina Watts (74), Ruth Broderick (74).

Men, Fourball Best Ball Stableford (82 players) – Mick Kelsey and Nate Smyth (51 points), Barry Mapes and Mark Dolan (48), George Eastgate and Dave Smith (46).

Saturday, Single Stableford, Ladies (29 players) – Sandee Brimblecombe (37 points), Mandy Oster (36), Robyn Boreham (36); Men (211 players) – A Grade, Daniel Hurst (39), Darren McLeod (38), Nathan Osborn (38); B Grade, David W Smith (42), Will Milroy (40), Neil Oxley (40); C Grade, Bruce Heseltine (41), Graham Sargent (38), Nick Reed (37).

Sunday, Medley Monthly Medal (29 players) – Peter Dunn (70 nett), Scott Masters (72), Jay Gourlay (74); Junior Medal, James Daniel (75).