It’s been described as the world’s most isolated golf course.
Carved out of thick, tropical jungle, Rimba Irian sits on what was once a lowland swamp in the shadow of West Papua’s highest and most sacred mountain, Puncak Jaya.
Built 25 years ago for the employees of Indonesia’s largest gold and copper mining company, Rimba Irian occupies a site once roamed by cannibals. It is truly unique.
It was here that Margaret Stawski, the Polish-born wife of an expatriate mining executive, first learned to play golf.
“A lovely Australian coach came there to teach us the game,” Margaret said. “Somebody felt it was a good thing to keep the expats and their families occupied.
“It was a lovely course and we looked forward to our weekly round of golf.”
These days Margaret and husband Mike live in retirement at Noosa Springs in a house they bought while still living in West Java.
They have long been Noosa Springs’ members, where Margaret last week scored one of her most memorable golfing achievements.
She scored 38 stableford points to win the resort’s Ladies Series competition – a thrice-yearly event that attracts female golfers from throughout south-east Queensland.
Play on Tuesday began in heavy rain – not that the conditions daunted a woman who honed her game in rainforest where drenching rainstorms are the norm.
“When the rain stopped it was quite pleasant,” Margaret said. “I felt rested, the body cooperated and the company was good.
“I always enjoy the Ladies Series because you get to meet new people, it’s relaxed and a little bit different.”
More than 80 ladies braved the rain to contest the final event of this year’s series – reduced to two events because of the pandemic.
Eight under caps a great year
JUSTICE Bosio, this year’s Sunshine Coast Junior Masters champion, capped a marvellous year when she shot an eight under par 64 to win the Cameron Smith Junior Classic at Wantima.
For Justice, 16, a member of the Invincibles Sunshine Coast Tour, it was the best 18-hole score of her career.
She opened with three birdies and was seven under par after nine holes.
“I had a lesson with my coach Richard Woodhouse, tweaked a few things and was hitting my driver really well out there. I had some good approach shots and sunk a lot of birdie putts,” she said.
Harry Takis who, like Justice, won the Sunshine Coast Junior Masters with a brilliant final round at Noosa Springs last month, won the boys’ section of the Cameron Smith event with a five under-par 67.
Taj Egea, the former Noosa junior who now plays at Brookwater in Brisbane, shot 73 to win the boys B grade (handicap 5-9) division.
Justice followed her stellar performance with a second placing in the rain-shortened Greg Norman Junior Masters on the Gold Coast. Justice shot rounds of 71 and 75 to finish four strokes from the winner, Park Hye-jun.
Samara Dryden, a member of Noosa Springs and Peregian, shot rounds of 90 and 78 to finish 12th in the Under 17 division.
Golf is booming in Noosa
People are joining golf clubs in Noosa at twice the rate of the national average, sparking a boom in the game that we haven’t seen in more than 30 years.
Golf Australia last month published a report which showed 42,000 people had joined golf clubs in the 10 months to November, representing a 5% annual increase in membership.
But in Noosa the membership increase is closer to 10%.
Noosa Golf Club general manager Allan Harris said 45 men and 13 women had joined the club in the past five months, and the interest showed no sign of slowing.
He said such was the demand that the club was considering raising the nomination fee from $1000 to $1500.
Over at Noosa Springs, executive general manager Mark Brady said the resort was now accepting only mid-week and corporate new members.
Both men believe the golf boom is a direct result of Covid-19. Despite restrictions across the country, people have continued to play golf, authorities recognising the benefit of exercise in a safe, outdoors environment.
Mr Brady said his challenge was to allow his members ample opportunities to play, while providing resort guests and visitors a chance to access the golf course.
“I’ll continue to monitor the situation,” he said. Mr Brady believes Noosa will continue to boom during 2021, as interstate visitors flock to an attractive region that has a proven record of safety.
Cooroy Golf Club manager Wayne Patston said new members were still welcome in all categories.
“There is no nomination fee at Cooroy and no waiting list,” he said.
Mr Patston said there had been a significant increase in green fee-paying players.
“In the first few months of Covid-19, golf was the only thing you could play,” he said. “People have become hooked on the game.”
Where are all the women?
Golf Australia, concerned about the decline of female involvement in the sport, is spearheading a move it hopes will lead to more women becoming involved in all aspects of golf.
Chief executive James Sutherland said the project was important to the future of Australian golf.
A steering group, comprising chief executives of all governing bodies of the sport in Australia, will look at issues including:
– Low numbers of women on club boards,
– Increasing the number of female high performance coaches,
– Showcasing examples of clubs providing opportunities for women, and
– Encouraging clubs to provide opportunities for females,
“Everybody has shown a great resolve to redress the historic gender imbalance in Australian golf and we look forward to driving the changes the industry needs,” Sutherland said.
‘Nine and Dine’ now on Saturdays
With dinners now being served on Saturday evenings, Noosa Springs has extended its popular ‘Nine and Dine’ special to include Fridays and Saturdays.
The deal – nine holes of golf followed by a main meal of your choice – costs just $75.
And if golf’s not your thing, there’s an option – a 55-minute Spa Thermal Suite, which includes access to the hydro-massage pool, steam room, infrared sauna and blitz shower, followed by a main meal in Relish restaurant. The price is the same.
Queensland Open back on the Coast
The Queensland Open will be played on the Sunshine Coast again this summer. The event will be played over 72 holes at Pelican Waters from March 11 to 14.
Queensland state manager Luke Bates said there had been positive feedback from competitors when the event was won by Queenslander Anthony Quayle at Pelican Waters a year ago.
“It’s a big deal for the club and the Sunshine Coast, so it’s something I’m really looking forward to, as is, I’m sure, everyone on the Aussie tour” Quaill said.
Merry Christmas
I wish all Pin High readers a merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year. The column will not appear next week, but will resume in the first week of January.
NOOSA SPRINGS
Tuesday, 15 December
Ladies Open Day, stableford: Margaret Stawski 38c/b, Jennifer Lyndon Cross 38, Kath Merritt 34c/b.
Wednesday, 16 December
Men’s stableford: Greg Taylor 40, Craig Davis 39, Alistair Rooney 37c/b; women’s stableford: Jann Carr 38, Birgit Wehrenberg 37, Lorna Gibson 36.
COOROY
Wednesday, 16 December
Vets 4-man Ambrose: Graham Laing, John Butler, Peter Smith, Terry Wilson 54.25, Jim Henderson, Grant Smallacombe Dave Lyons, Steve Howes 54.5, Bob Noble, Andy Stewart, Keith Harkins, John Stewart 56.5.
Thursday, 17 December
Women’s stableford: Lou Taylor 34, Aileen Morton 32, Tina Thomas 31.
TAKE THE TIP
Think ahead to reap rewards
Managing your game around the course will lead to lower scores.
Golfers need to identify their strengths and play to them to avoid their weaknesses.
The better you know your own game, the better you can then adapt to the course.
Work from the green back to the tee with every hole. In other words, play the course backwards in your head.
Always note where the flag is on the tee before you tee off. Then consider the best and easiest angle to the pin. That spot on the fairway will dictate the club you choose to tee off with and what shape of shot you play.
Planning ahead will point your game in the right direction.
PETER HEINIGER – Noosa Springs resident PGA teaching professional
