From Tony Durkin
TIMESHEET CHANGE: From next Tuesday, August 13, a major change to timesheet bookings at Headland Golf Club will be introduced. Instead of the variety of opening times currently in place, all competition play timesheets will open at 6.30pm, seven days prior. This will impact events played from Tuesday, August 20, onwards. However, this change will not have an effect on Veterans competitions, social play or bookings for the club’s Golf Simulator. This decision has been made by Headland’s Match Committee in response to a recent survey which was answered by just on 350 members. Almost 80 per cent of the respondents preferred an evening timesheet opening, with 44 per cent voting for 6.30pm, seven days in advance. Men’s Director of Golf, James Kidd, said the new booking system will be closely monitored in the initial weeks of introduction.
MAIN MAN: Jon Welch has shown he can be Headland’s main man on and off the course with the best score of 66 nett in Saturday’s Monthly Mug. As yet the only nominee to replace retiring president John Alsbury at next month’s AGM, Jon returned his best round – 84 – at Headland since October last year to win the B Grade Mug by three strokes. After two successive terms as president, and 12 years on the board, Jon stepped down two years ago because of health issues. But he is keen to again take on the onerous position and lead our great club through some anticipated challenging times ahead. And if his round on Saturday is any indication, the former RAAF aircraft engine fitter is ready to rip right in. His round included three birdies, the most spectacular on 16 when he struck a sweetly-timed eight-iron from the middle of the 17th fairway, over the trees to within a metre of the pin, and sank the putt. Ian Farrington (68) won A Grade and Stephen Woolcott (68) won C Grade, while Pam Vincent continued her brilliant recent form with a 68 nett, winning the Ladies Monthly Medal.
PASSIONATE LEADER: Fresh from an eight-week European holiday, Jane Boaler has assumed the role of Headland’s Ladies Director of Golf. The official handover from Vicki Maynard to Jane was held on Thursday and the new leader has already started her search for members of the Ladies Match Committee. Jane, who credits Headland’s 2014 SWING program for ‘absolutely’ changing her life and lifestyle for the better, says she accepted the onerous position because of her passion for the club and her new sport, as well as her keenness to make sure the lady golfers at Headland are suitably cared for. Jane started competition golf in 2014 from a handicap of 45 and is now playing off 29, has won three Monthly Medals and in 2019 played Pennant golf for the club. She also acted as a mentor for the 2019 SWING group. The recently-retired financial planner has been a member of the Ladies Match Committee and Treasurer since 2016 and her current management team includes Leigh Derigo, Di Stark, Brenda Smith-Gittings, Rhonda Parry, Susie Fenton and Monica Antony.
WEARY VICTORY: Seventeen rounds of competitive golf on six different courses in the month of July was the ingredient for Jeff Jones streeting the field to win Wednesday’s Medley Single Stableford with 45 points. But the great score – a five-over 77 – was not the result of Jeff honing his skills during those 17 rounds. The former manager of Brisbane Airport conceded that when he arrived at Headland on Wednesday he felt ‘over-golfed’, and consequently ‘went through the motions’ during his round. A single-figure marker for 15 years until three years ago, Jeff says he has been guilty in recent years of trying to hit the ball too hard with – as a result – tension in his hands and too much body movement. But a more relaxed mind and body on Wednesday resulted in his best-ever Stableford score with 10 pars, a birdie and nine bogeys in a stress-free round that he thoroughly enjoyed. A Headland member for 27 years, Jeff played Nambucca Heads, Sawtell, Maclean, Coolangatta-Tweed, Caloundra and Headland during his frenetic July, but still rates his home course – where he once shot a two-over 74 – the best of all.
ROLLERCOASTER GOLF: Back in April Stephen Woolcott had a week to remember. On the Tuesday he scored 51 points to win the Men’s Modified Stableford event and two days later he eagled the par-four fourth for his second career eagle. But until Tuesday of last week the former Canberra public servant had experienced a lean trot in between, with his handicap blowing out from 17 to 22. He then won Tuesday’s Single Stableford with 42 points – 88 off the bat – but immediately slumped back to his previous mediocre form with 29 Stableford points two days later. But on Saturday he fired again, his 68 nett – 89 gross – winning him the C Grade Monthly Mug. Despite the rollercoaster week, Stephen maintains his positive attitude that in retirement golf is a game to be enjoyed, irrespective of the score, and the wonderful camaraderie on the Headland course and at the club is much more important.
RIP GRAHAM BATES: Headland lost a popular and hard-working member last week when Graham Bates passed away following a seven-month illness. Graham, a former banker, and his wife Glenda joined Headland when they moved to the Sunshine Coast to retire two decades ago and have been regular players and helpers ever since. Graham almost immediately became part of the Friday morning Volunteers Group and was an enthusiastic member until struck down and immobilised by a stroke in December last year. He also played an instrumental role in the organisation and continued success of Headland’s annual Senior Eclectic Tournament. Graham passed away on Wednesday and his funeral service will be held at 1pm, this Wednesday (August 7) at Gregson and Weight, Wises Road, Buderim. Graham was 82.
WHOOPS: Electrician Brendan Duncan is on the lookout for a golf glove that can guarantee a better grip. The glove he wore during Sunday’s Medley Monthly Medal became so unstable during the round that his club slipped from his hand during a shot on the 13th hole, and landed about 20 metres up the fairway. The 13th was not a great hole for nine-marker Brendan. After hitting his drive out of bounds, he took the maximum 10 shots on the par five, but rebounded with a birdie on the next hole.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Tuesday, Single Stableford, Ladies (57 players) – Heather Lum (38 points), Roz Brandt (37), Louise Armstrong (37); Men (67 players) – Stephen Woolcott (42 points), John Visser (39), Paul Andrews (39).
Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford (200 players) – A Grade, Jeff Jones (45 points), David Hawes (42), Ross Roberts (40); B Grade, Tony Kelleher (40), Michael Moore (40), Greg Patrick (39); C Grade, Rod J Berger (40), Roly Hoy (39), Barry Rawlings (38).
Thursday, Ladies, Monthly Medal (92 players) – A Grade, Lisa Ramen (76 nett), Helen Fraser (78), Christina Claxton (79), gross – Lisa Ramen (85); B Grade, Pik Chong (72), Katrina Watts (73), Mary Young (73), gross – Pik Chong (91); C Grade, Pam Vincent (67), Roz Brandt (74), Kerrie Tibbits (74), gross – Kerrie Tibbits (105). Men, Single Stableford (93 players) – David Carmichael (40 points), Peter Stocker (38), Neil McNeill (37).
Saturday, Ladies, Monthly Medal (34 players) – Pam Vincent (68 nett), Kate Wilkie (70), Sharon Thomas (73). Men, Monthly Mug (210 players) – A Grade, Ian Farrington (68 nett), Andrew Stirling (69), Ross Brimblecombe (70), Paul Garth (70), gross – Matt Fisher (74); B Grade, Jon Welch (66), David Munns (69), Gavin Tuck (71), Mark Selig (71), gross – Jon Welch (84); C Grade, Stephen Woolcott (68), Terry Murphy (69), Tim Nunan (69), Brian Peter (69), Gross – Stephen Woolcott (89). .
Sunday, Medley Monthly Medal (62 players) – Michael Needham (70 nett), Chris Risby (71), Matt Pyman (71); Junior Medal, Keita Griffin-Klazema (85 nett).
