From Tony Durkin 

COURSE CLOSURE: Headland management greatly regretted the forced closure of the golf course over the three days of the long weekend but, as Course Superintendent Ben Tilley has revealed, there was absolutely no option. “To put it bluntly, the water table was full. As the rain continued over the weekend rivers were forming on the course it was that wet,” he said. Since the rain started falling late last week, almost 200 mls (800 points) has fallen on the course, taking the total for the year to a staggering 1066 mls. Rain has been recorded on the course on 46 days in 2021. Ben said the course had been ‘by far’ the wettest he had seen it in his 14 years as Course Super, and despite widespread upgrading of the drainage system in that time, removing water from the course was impossible when the ground was at maximum field capacity. And while the course closure was made primarily to protect the course itself, the safety of members under the prevailing conditions was also paramount in the decision making. The course is expected to re-open tomorrow (Tuesday). 

EIGHT IS GREAT: Bob Trevor is on the road to challenging the inimitable Ken Anderson for the record of Headland golfer to have beaten their age the most. Bob achieved the rare feat for the eighth time on Tuesday when the 76-year-old shot two-over par 74 in the Medley Fourball Aggregate Stableford for the best score of 40 points. And that was despite two balls in the water – one at the fourth and another at the tenth. Apart from the double bogey at four, his impressive card revealed three birdies, three bogeys and 11 pars. Bob’s best-ever round is three-under 69 – twice at Headland – with his most recent in 2015 when he first bettered his age. Last year was his most prolific at beating the difficult ‘age’ mark – he did it in January, May and December. Ken Anderson (78), who has had a long recent lay-off from golf because of injury and illness, has beaten his age an incredible 15 times, including twice in 2020. NOTE: The Fourball event on Tuesday was won by Steve Walters and Stephen Woolcott with 72 points. With an outstanding 24 points on the back nine, Stephen contributed 39 points to the winning score. 

CANADIAN WIN: When Louise Armstrong joined Headland 17 years ago, she was sponsored on her nomination form by three-decade member, Helen Fraser. But despite having played together numerous times since, Louise and Helen have never combined for a fourball victory – that is until Thursday of last week. Playing from a combined handicap of 20.25, Louise (36) and Helen (17) scored a gross 94 for 73.75 nett in the Women’s Canadian Foursomes event to win from Mouna Humzy and Rebecca Masters. And while Louise revealed that Helen’s long and consistent driving was the key to their score, Helen was full of praise for the control around the greens by Louise. The other bonus for the duo was that they were able to recoup portion of their sponsorship money, which they contributed along with Jan Miles and Ali Payne. 

SHOULDER ON: Playing his third game in more than two months following recent shoulder surgery, fortunately for Barrie Whelan he did not need to ‘carry’ partner Nick Cox in Thursday’s Fourball Aggregate Par event. But despite the superb round from 12-marker Nick – 82 off the bat which included a triple-bogey eight at the tenth – Mt Coolum GP Barrie more than paid his dues with four plusses and four halves for his team in their winning score of plus 11. Regular Wednesday playing partners for around 17 years, Nick and Barrie had never previously won a fourball together and both agreed their victory was simply ‘one of those days when we combined miraculously’. Nick (+3) finished third in the associated individual event which was won by drive in-drive-out miner, Ben Victor (+4), having his first game at Headland since Australia Day. 

WOMEN’S PENNANT: Despite being beaten on Sunday, Headland Women’s Weekend Pennant team holds a four-point lead at the top of the ladder and needs only to snatch a minimum two wins in the final match against Caloundra at Woodford on May 16 to capture the Pennant. With Carol Quin and Amanda Ingham unavailable, Headland struggled against Bribie Island on Bribie’s home turf, and was beaten 4 ½ to 1½, with Vicky Sheridan winning 1-up and Cathy Roberts scoring a squared result. Headland member Sharon Purnell – who represents the club for which she is GM – was in the Mt Coolum that gave Headland some breathing space with a surprise win over second-placed Caloundra. 

JOYNER NO.1: Headland Marshall Glenn Joyner, who also continues his career as a Pro Golfer, leads the Australian Legends Tour Order of Merit following a fruitful recent trip to South Australia. Glenn finished tied eighth (72,73) in a two-day event at Links Lady Bay and tied fourth (65,68) at Stirling Golf Club to maintain his OOM lead ahead of a list of big names including David McKenzie, Michael Long, Peter O’Malley, Andre Stolz, Peter Lonard, Mike Harwood, Peter Fowler, Peter Senior and fellow Sunshine Coaster, Brad Burns. The 33-year PGA Tour player who moved from Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast four years ago, joined the Headland staff in December following a career that included a stint as teaching Pro at the prestigious Yarra Yarra Golf Club in Melbourne. The Legends Tour takes a break until July 8 when the tour resumes in Yeppoon, which means Headland members will be seeing more of Glenn.

CHAMPIONSHIPS: Nominations for Headland’s 2021 Women’s and Men’s Club Championships close next Monday, May 10. Both Championships kick off the following Saturday, May 15, with the men playing 36 holes on consecutive days over consecutive weekends, with the women alternating between successive Saturdays and Thursdays. Reigning Champions are Josie Ryan (A Grade), Carol Dwyer (B) and Di Stark (C) with Scott Walker (A), Aaron Duff (B) and Geoff Bland (C), although Carol, Aaron and Geoff have improved their handicaps of late and will be competing in a higher grade this year. 

VICTORY AT LAST: Rick Popik has been a Headland member for 33 years and reckons a successful round of golf for him is when he finishes with the same ball with which he started. And not only did that happen in Thursday’s Modified Stableford for Men, but Rick also won the event with 45 points when, he says, he finally ‘got lucky’. A fly-in, fly-out supervisor in the oil and gas fields for four decades, Canadian-born Rick severed his playing ties with Headland for 16 years, but maintained his membership for when he retired in 2015. But since returning, his handicap – which was once 12 – has expanded to 24 and his round on Thursday was his best since he started playing regularly again, with a six-point par at the fourth and four four-point holes under the modified scoring system. He credits lessons from Pro Shop staffers Adam Norlander and McKenzie Wright for his improvement.

 NICKNAMES: Forty years ago, KFC Caloundra Store Manager Darren Walters was a gun cricketer, resenting Queensland in the under 14s. And, with his name appearing in the scorebook as D.Walters, not surprisingly teammates of the all-rounder, who batted at N.4, quickly tagged him with the moniker ‘Dougie’, an Australian batting legend who had retired that same year. Darren, a native of Maryborough, joined Headland two decades ago and still maintains a low handicap of six, just one more than his lowest-ever mark. Any Headland member keen to divulge the nickname of a fellow member, and its origin, should email atdurkin@bigpond.net.au

VISTA FOR MUM: Bookings for Mother’s Day – this coming Sunday (May 9) – are still open at Headland’s Vista Restaurant. Plated meals will be served from 8am for breakfast and noon for lunch, with costs $28 and $38 respectively for adults, and $14 and $15 for children under 10. Bookings can be made at https://eatoutin.com.au/product-category/year-events/. This week’s menu from Eat Out In includes Moroccan Tagine and Moroccan rubbed Lamb Shanks, as well as a Seafood Mixed Grill. To view the boxed-meal service menu, go to www.eatoutin.com.au and order by Monday (May 3). Orders can be made on the website, or texted to 0414 375800.

WEEKLY WINNERS:

 Tuesday, Medley Fourball Aggregate Stableford (118 players) – Steve Walters and Stephen Woolcott (72 points), Andrew Beck and Wayne Bridgeman (72), Bruce Horton and Sandy Jamieson (71).

Wednesday, Medley Fourball Best Ball Par (192 players) – Nick Cox and Barrie Whelan (plus 11), Coralie Walsh and Justin Walsh (+9), Alan Ward and John Wettenhall (+8), Wayne Phair and Alan Brooker (+7), Graham Wilson and Bruno Ciot (+7). Medley Single Par – Ben Victor (+4), Scott Masters (+3), Brian Hills (+3).

Thursday, Women, Canadian Foursomes (108 players) sponsored by Louise Armstrong, Ali Payne, Helen Fraser, Jan Miles – Louise Armstrong and Helen Fraser (73.75), Mouna Humzy and Rebecca Masters (75), Kath Barford and Kerrie Tibbits (75.375).

Men, Modified Stableford (87 players) – Rick Popik (45 points), Mark Glassop (43), Len Dawson (42).

Saturday, Monthly Medal (competition abandoned because of course conditions).

Sunday, Sunday Medal (competition abandoned because of course conditions).