From Tony Durkin
SEEING IS BELIEVING: No doubt, at some stage in our lives, we have heard the saying ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’. But those who did not visit Headland Golf Club last Sunday or Monday to view for themselves the destruction caused by Sunday afternoon’s mini tornado, can totally disregard that idiom. No image, whether on a phone, the Headland website or an Instagram, could possibly do justice to the carnage which stripped the layout of just on 30 significantly-positioned trees plus another 50 away from the actual playing area, and left tonnes of debris strewn over almost every section of the course. From the early hours of Monday morning through to Friday, an average of 80 volunteers each day helped members of the green’s staff to clear the mess – from menial tasks of raking leaves and stick picking to using chain saws to dismember some of the giant fallen trees, and loading and unloading hundreds of truckloads of green waste. Volunteers – mostly members – used their own equipment ranging from rakes to chainsaws and utes, and spent an estimated 2000-plus man hours clearing the course to enable the resumption of competition play by Saturday. And apart from joining the male members in the clean-up, many of the ladies provided much-needed sustenance to the volunteers each day. The cost of damage to the course and property, combined with the clean-up operation – which included hiring specialised equipment and vehicles – has been appraised at close $300,000, although insurance assessors are yet to evaluate the actual loss to the club. Club President Jon Welch commended all involved in the process of restoring our course to its usual pristine condition, heaping particular commendation on Course Superintendent Ben Tilley whose leadership he described as ‘absolutely outstanding’. And while in awe of the immediate response and week-long support from members, Mr Welch said the teamwork demonstrated by all involved typified the wonderful spirit and camaraderie which is a trademark of Headland Golf Club.
OUTSIDE HELP: Support with the clean-up of the course was not just from Headland members. A dozen people from Maroochy River, led by Head Professional Sean Seymore, arrived mid-week to assist, as did PGA Tournament Co-ordinator John Noble from his base on the Gold Coast. And local clubs Maroochy River, Nambour, Caloundra, Cooroy and Noosa Springs offered reduced rates for Headland members to play in their competitions while our course was unplayable.
PRINCE AGAIN: Miffed at being told his win the previous weekend was against half a field – which it was – Bruce Prince hit back in the best possible way with 44 points to return the highest score in Saturday’s Medley Single Stableford event and win C Grade. And his outstanding round, which included a two-over-par 38 on the back nine for 26 points from his 20-handicap, came against a big field of 227. The previous week Bruce teamed with his brother Michael to score 49 points in Saturday’s Fourball Best Stableford before the afternoon field was called in because of storm activity, but they were declared winners of the competition. Bruce says his win was just his second in 30 years of golf, with his card showing two birdies, seven pars and two wipes. Dave Mayes won A Grade with 42 points while Kristin Griffiths returned 41 points to win B Grade. NOTE: Because holes six, seven and eight were out of play on the weekend, all competitors were automatically awarded two Stableford points on each.
MORGAN’S JACKPOT: It may not compensate for his car being written off in last weekend’s storm, but Morgan Winston’s only two decent shots – his words – on Saturday won him an incredible $208. With competitions the previous Saturday and Sunday not completed because of the consecutive storms, no Pro Pin winner was awarded and the prize pool jackpotted. And with the sixth hole out of play on Saturday, the Pro Pin was solely on the 12th, and worth $178. Morgan won the jackpot by hitting a nine iron to within 243 centimetres, and subsequently rolling in his birdie putt. He then struck a wedge to 14 centimetres on the 18th, again holed his birdie putt and collected $28 for NTP. A Headland member for just two years, Morgan has reduced his GA handicap from 23 to 9.9 in that time and the metal fabricator says he will need more wins like those on Saturday to cover the cost of replacing his storm-damaged car.
CLOSE SHAVE: Recently-departed Headland Assistant Pro, Mat Douglas had a lucky escape from serious injury last weekend. Now the Club Professional at nearby Woodford Golf Club, Mat was disposing of a mirror when it bounced off the edge of a garbage bin, broke and a piece struck him in the face cutting him from under his right eye, down to below his nose. Following a trip to emergency at Royal Brisbane Hospital and a dozen stitches later, Mat was back at work hoping he is not facing seven years of bad luck.
QUEEN OF CLUBS: Nine Headland ladies have recently returned from an eight-day golfing trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia, where they played four rounds of golf on two different courses and were treated like golfing greats. Jackie Walkington, Deborah Thomas, Tracey O’Connor, Katrina Watts, Julie Welsh, Mary Dowling, Veronica Bassingthwaite, Ali Lamond and Penny Cooper and embarked on the trip, tagged Queen of Clubs, which had been organised by one of the Headland Golf Club sponsors, Thailand Golf Tours. The Headland team was part of 30 who toured, playing Angkor Golf Resort and Phokeethra, with Deborah Thomas finishing runner-up in B Grade after the four events and Tracey O’Connor being named Star of the Tour for her sportsmanship and genial personality. In 2020 the Queen of Clubs tour will be in Da Nang, Vietnam, in August.
FOURBALL MATCH PLAY: The final of Headland’s annual Fourball Best Ball Match Play Championship will be completed on Saturday, with the father-and-son team of Matt and Jack Fisher already three-up after five holes. Playing against Warren Selvage and Warren Sorby, the Fishers were on fire when play was suspended two Sundays ago as the ferocious storm hit the golf course. The final of the event, which is sponsored by Michael Thomas of Zenfind Accounting, will continue on the sixth hole from where the players had already hit the tee shots.
JACK’S BACK: Former Headland junior Jack Trent, who is making a name for himself on the US golf scene, will be back in Australia to compete in the Australian Open at the Australian Golf Club in Sydney, from December 5. He earned one of the few invites to the event which are handed to amateurs by Golf Australia. Jack recently won the Men’s Individual Championship at the Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship at Whispering Pines in Texas, which followed his brilliant USPGA debut as an amateur, finishing tied 29th at 16-under in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in October. While back in Australia he intends visiting Headland and is keen to hold a coaching clinic for junior members. More detailed information will be published when plans are finalised.
SUPER GOLF: Spots are filling fast for Headland’s second Super Golf event of the year – Saturday and Sunday, December 7 and 8. Super Golf is a four-person Ambrose format played over 10 holes on a specially-designed ‘cross-country’ course, with three separate tee times – 7am, 10.30am and 2pm. Cost of a weekend pass is $120 per team and bookings are now open only to teams of four. Members who wish to play individually on either day can book via the Members portal when the timesheets open on Saturday at 6.30pm. Two different courses will be played over the two days with an overall prize for the lowest two-day aggregate being awarded for the first time. Sponsorship packages are still available, at $440, which includes entry fees for four players, hole signage and food and beverages on both days. Contact Headland administration (5444 5800) for more information.
WEEKLY WINNERS:
Saturday, Medley Single Stableford (227 players) – A Grade, Dave Mayes (42 points), Brad Downes (40), Jack Pyke (40), Jason Meehan (39); B Grade, Kristin Griffiths (41), Gordon Russell (41), Ken McGuire (40), Glenn Brooker (38); C Grade, Bruce Prince (44), Stu Ennever (39), Peter Elsworth (38), Vince O’Neill (38).
Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (47 players) – Alan Ward (41 points), David Cawthorne (41).
