From Tony Durkin 

DROUGHT BREAKS: Not that he’s been counting, but Gary Ehsman calculates a span of around 1500 days since he last won an event at Headland. But like the farmers from Inverell in north-west NSW from where Gary originates, he knows droughts will eventually be broken and that occurred on Saturday for the Sunshine Coast Regional Council’s Co-Ordinator of Holiday Parks. Gary beat the big field of 220 men with a superb score of 42 points, to win C Grade and record his first victory since capturing the B Grade Monthly Mug back in October of 2016.  Saturday’s win was set up by a front nine of 25 points, with two birdies, two pars and a bogey reaping 17 points on a golden run from holes five to nine. Without wanting to make excuses, Gary recently underwent knee-replacement surgery which not only stymied his golf, but sent his handicap ballooning from 13 to 21, the mark from which he played on Saturday. But with the purchase of an electric buggy – and a confidence-boosting round which he described as ‘one of those days’- Gary is hoping his game is coming back on track. Tristan Scott (40 points) topped the A Grade ladder while Denis Farmer (also 40) won B Grade. 

WOMEN’S MATCHPLAY: To hopefully give them an edge when North Coast Zone Pennants kick off on March 1, Headland women are currently taking part in a Handicap Consolation Matchplay competition. Sponsored by Lend Lease, the competition is being contested in two divisions by 32 women who will play in one of the four Headland teams – Division 1, 2 and 3, as well as in the Weekend competition. And while the winner of each round of the intra-club competition will progress through the draw, those eliminated will continue to contest matchplay in a consolation plate and a flight division. The minimum number of individual matches played in preparation for the 2021 Pennant season will be three, while the eventual finalists will play five. Results to date are: Division One – Amanda Ingham beat Robyn Boreham 8&6, Jenny Ingham beat Helen Fraser 4&3, Carol Dwyer beat Annabel Harris 4&2, Josie Ryan beat Christina Claxton 1-up; Division Two – Chris Parkinson beat Gail Young 5&4, Cathy Roberts beat Leigh Derigo 4&3, Ali Lamond beat Kathy Petrie 5&4, Mouna Humzy beat Rhonda Parry 4&2, Carol Quin beat Jane Boaler 3&2, Susie Fenton beat Pik Chong 3&2 and Leeanne Ptak beat Di Stark 2-up.

FAMILY AFFAIR: Mark Dolan and his son Josh made Thursday’s Fourball Best Ball Stableford for men a family affair when they scored 46 points to win the event by a single point. And while the father-and-son team combined superbly by contributing 23 points each, it was 25-year-old schoolteacher Josh who steered the team home, finishing with three-pointers on four of the final five holes. A member at Brisbane’s Virginia Golf Club where he won his first four events after joining late last year, Josh has been honing his skills at Headland over the summer break while holidaying with his parents, and his handicap has dropped from 30 to 20 in recent months. NOTE: Josh, along with his siblings Sam and Grace, was educated at Stella Maris Maroochydore under the guidance of Headland Men’s Director of Golf, Tony Kelleher.

DOCTOR ACCURATE: He has lived adjacent to the seventh fairway at Headland since 1989, yet Dr Michael Fenton concedes he has rarely utilised the course to refine his game. But a return to the ‘good old days’ on Wednesday when he scored 41 Stableford points to win B Grade, might just be the spur which reignites his enthusiasm for the game. Michael recently sold his dental practice and because he now works just two days a week, he is eager to play more golf and cut his current handicap of 17 back to somewhere near the single-figure mark from which he played ‘for a long time’. His Wednesday round of 84 was consistency personified, with seven pars, 10 bogeys and a double bogey when he was distracted by a cyclist riding the path between the sixth and seventh fairways. Matt Griffiths (39) won A Grade and John Siddons (39) took C Grade honours. 

EARLY RISER: It seems fitting that someone who rises at 4.30am twice a week to be first on the tee to practise her golf, should win the first Women’s competition for 2021. Carolyn Schwarz, a SWING Graduate in 2018, scored a competition-high 38 points on Thursday to take out C Grade Division on Opening Day. Her impressive round – for just her second-ever win – included a five-point birdie at 14, two four-point pars and four three-point holes. Although she competes only in the Women’s Thursday competitions, retired teacher Carolyn plays two weekly practise rounds at 5.30am, and usually on her own because of the lack of willing early risers. And with her handicap reducing from 39.5 to 37.1 following Thursday’s win, she reckons those practise rounds are starting to bear fruit. Monica Knowles (37) won A Grade, with Maria Hireme (34) saluting in B Grade. 

CRAIG FIRMS: Newcomer Craig Firns established himself as a genuine threat to fellow members of the Headland Hustler’s Club with victory in the first event since his recent induction. The Medical Sales rep who joined Headland in December, scored 42 points to win Tuesday’s Stableford for men, holding off fellow Hustler Daniel Hurst (40). A former No.1 ranked junior tennis player in Western Australia, Craig did not take up competitive golf until he joined Northern Golf Club in Melbourne five years ago. Playing off an 18 handicap, his impressive fifth competition round of 84 at his new club was a picture of consistency with five pars and 11 bogies interspersed with a birdie and a double bogey. The Headland Hustlers are a group of 10 like-minded ‘sports nuts’ in their mid-30s who accrue points during the year in the Birdie Board competition. In 2020 Daniel Hurst scraped in by a percentage point to become the first multiple winner of the prized jacket which accompanies the award.

BUFFALO’S BRIEFS: Question from Anthony – Now that it appears likely we will be playing preferred lies in the bunker for the foreseeable future, is there a tip for selecting the ‘most advantageous’ lie? I actually prefer to find a spot where I can tee it up. Answer: With regards to taking your preferred lie in the bunker – from within one card length and no nearer to the hole – my advice would be to choose the type of lie that you are most confident from, and to which your wedge is most suited. If your wedge has a lot of bounce (more than 10*) it will be suited to a softer, flatter lie, and a steeper angle of attack into the ball. If your wedge has less bounce (less than 10*) you should choose a lie that is sitting up a touch and employ a shallow angle of attack to your swing. If you have any further questions please drop into the Pro Shop where we are only too happy to help. NOTE: Appointments are still available for the Callaway Fitting Day on Friday (January 29). 

BOUQUETS FOR BILL: Life member Bill Boucaut has stepped aside as co-ordinator of Headland’s Friday Volunteer Group, which meets each Friday morning and carries out minor maintenance and beautification work on the course. Along with former Course Director Max Brown, 34-year member Bill – who was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by Golf Queensland in 2018 for his volunteer work – kicked off the Volunteer Group three decades ago and has rarely missed the two-hour Friday working bee since. But, at 88, Bill has decided his future involvement will not be of a physical nature, although he will continue his secretarial and planning duties, and has announced his attendance at the post working bee ‘coffee and cake’ ceremony. Rob Howard, who was conferred Headland Life Membership last year for his work with the Volunteer Group, will assume the role of convener. 

ELECTRIC ROUND: Sparky Rhett Charlton produced his best-ever round as a Headland member to win Sunday’s Medley Single Stableford with 41 points. And not only was it his highest Stableford return in 6½ years as a member, but his 76 off the bat – from the blue markers – beat his previous best of 79 in July last year when he won with 40 points. Following 3½ years living and working in London, Rhett started playing again in September 2019 and has gradually improved his game to the point where he played off nine on Sunday, a round which featured three birdies, nine pars, five bogeys and an unlucky double on 17. A former hooker with the Kawana Dolphins, Rhett took up golf just on seven years ago when injury forced him into premature rugby league retirement. 

VIP VISITORS: Because our course is regarded as one of the best, and most challenging, on the Sunshine Coast, Headland welcomes thousands of visitors a year – some of which are VIPs. Purely out of curiosity, during 2020 we will endeavour to list the names of those luminaries who have graced us with their presence. In the past week visiting VIPs have included former Australian and Queensland wicketkeeper Ray Phillips, as well as Miron Bleiberg, who coached the Brisbane Roar in the club’s inaugural A-League season. And while on VIPs, Headland member and former Queensland Premier Russell Cooper, celebrated his 80th birthday earlier in the month. 

WHOOPS: An errant tee shot on the third has – more than likely – cost Adam Richards his best round at Headland in the past 12 months. The three-time Club Champion and scratch marker shot two-under par 70 in Saturday’s Single Stableford for 38 points and could only finish fourth in A Grade, but it would have been a different story had he not found the water on the third hole, and taken a double bogey six. His card was otherwise clean, with three birdies on the back nine giving him a superb 33 coming home. Adam’s best round at Headland is a seven-under 65, shot during the Sunshine Coast Men’s Open Amateur Championship in 2005. 

WEEKLY WINNERS:

Monday, Vets, Opening Day, Single Stableford, Women (38 players) – A Grade, Trudi Russell (35 points), Kathy Atkins (34), Leeanne Ptak (33); B Grade, Trish Marsden (36), Ree Condon (26), Ann Dykstra (26). Men (78 players), A Grade, Huki Matenga (38), Greg Patrick (38), Sandy Jamieson (36); B Grade, Ed Hoey (37), Paul Santamaria (34), Peter Birt (32); C Grade, Bruno Ciott (36), Mark Beswick (35), Steve Wickman (32).

Tuesday, Single Stableford, Women (42 players) – Helen Fraser (33 points), Trish Marsden (32), Wendy Burnie (32). Men (73 players) – Craig Firns (42), Daniel Hurst (40), Des McNee (37), Patrick Carmody (37).

Wednesday, Medley Single Stableford – sponsor Team Godwin (185 players) – A Grade, Matt Griffiths (39 points), Rob Cunningham (38), James Kidd (36); B Grade, Michael Fenton (41), John Sims (38), Michael Gregora (36); C Grade, John Siddins (39), Martyn Dix (35), Alan Deller (35).

Thursday, Women, Opening Day Single Stableford – Sponsors: Ree Condon, Jackie Thinee, Shirley Eggleton and Kathy Walker (67 players) – A Grade, Monica Knowles (37 points), Sue Jones (35), Josie Ryan (32); B Grade, Maria Hireme (34), Valerie O’Brien (30), Mary Dowling (28); C Grade, Carolyn Schwarz (38), Leigh Derigo (31), Chrissy Eggins (30).

Men, Fourball Best Ball Stableford (70 players) – Mark and Josh Dolan (46), Hugh Rigby and Paul O’Connor (45), Malcolm Woods and Steve Walters (44).

Saturday, Single Stableford, Women (23 players) – Kathy Atkins (32 points), Trish Marsden (32), Monica Knowles (32). Men (220 players) – A Grade, Tristan Scott (40), Brett Adamson (40), Scott Bromfield (39); B Grade, Denis Clifford (40), Deon Breytenbach (38), David W Smith (38); C Grade, Gary Ehsman (42), Thomas Hewitt (39), John Hall (39).

Sunday, Medley Single Stableford (58 players) – Rhett Charlton (41 points), Katrina Watts (38), Chris Klazema (37).