The great uncertainty of golf is one of its ultimate appeals. Just ask Noosa Springs’ member Peter Catchlove, who had watched with growing frustration as his handicap ballooned out to 23.
Then, last Friday, he and a friend popped out to Noosa Valley golf course to play 18 holes on that picturesque layout.
“Suddenly it all clicked,” said a delighted Mr Catchlove. “I hardly made an error and I went close to parring the course.”
His good form continued next day when he competed in Noosa Springs’ Monthly Medal.
He shot 94 around the more difficult Noosa Springs course. Deduct his 23 handicap and he’d returned a net 71 – good enough to snare his first ever Monthly Medal trophy.
Peter Catchlove, a long-time Noosa resident who ran his own advertising agency before retiring, was a Peregian member before he joined Noosa Springs about five years ago. He says he loves the course and the facilities, and enjoys the company of his fellow members.
Though he regularly plays in club events on Wednesdays and Saturdays, his first love is taking on his mates in social, but nonetheless, serious competitions on Monday afternoons, where every player kicks in $5 with the winner collecting the spoils.
Reward for effort at Noosa
No wonder Noosa Golf Club’s Tuesday Club has accrued a membership base of more than 350, or that most of them turn up and compete each week. With generous rewards, including cash prizes of $150 for the winners of each of three grades, the competition is almost certainly the most lucrative on the Sunshine Coast.
“It’s certainly very popular,” said Noosa general manager Allan Harris, a Tuesday Club member himself.
Though it’s made up entirely of Noosa members, the Tuesday Club operates independently of the golf club and members pay a modest joining fee. Entry fee each week is $15, most of which is returned to the competitors by way of generous prizes – quality golf gear or, as was the case last week, $150 for first, $120 for second, $90 for third and $60 for fourth in three grades.
There’s enough left over for an end-of-year function, and an annual donation to Noosa Golf Club for a specific project.
Allan Harris had special reason to celebrate last week’s competition. Playing off a handicap of 14, he won B grade with 42 points. “It was a flash in the pan,” he said with a smile. “I reckon it’s the first time in six months I’ve played to my handicap.”
Skins back next month
It might have a new name, but the fun‘s just the same at the Noosa Springs Skins series, which continues on Wednesday, September 9.
Once known as the Wednesday Wine Down, it’s an opportunity for golfers to let their hair down and play serious golf in a very social manner.
Teams of four play a skins-type stableford event with a prize of four bottles of wine on offer for the best score on each hole. If two or more teams get the same score on a hole, the prize jackpots to the next hole.
At the end of the presentation there’s a draw for $1500 worth of advertising from Southern Cross Austereo; and if anybody is lucky – or talented – enough to hole out at the 4th they’ll win a corporate membership valued at $2250.
The cost is $79 ($39 for members) and that includes lunch and post-game nibbles. Call the Golf Shop on 5440 3333 or email golf@noosasprings.com.au. Covid-19 regulations will be in place to ensure the safety of golfers and staff.
Fine weekend for Lucas
Lucas Herbert, the world Number 73 golfer who now calls Marcus Beach home, saved his best for last when he competed with the stars in the World Golf Championship Fedex-St Jude Invitational in Memphis, Tennessee, this week.Herbert, who had spent his time on the Sunshine Coast during the four-month break from tournament golf, shot rounds of 71, 73, 69 and 67 to finish tied 49th in the elite field. He is likely to remain in the US for the next few weeks before re-joining the European Tour.
Pennant finals date set
Noosa will be well represented when the Sunshine Coast zone pennant finals are finally played at Gympie on Sunday, September 20.
Noosa will defend its title against Headland in A grade, while Noosa teams will take on Mt Coolum in B grade and Maroochy River in Masters. Two Caloundra teams will compete for the Juniors final.
The pennant finals, originally scheduled for March, were a casualty of COVID-19.
Golf and dinner at Noosa Springs
What a way to end the working week – an afternoon of golf at one of Queensland’s best golf courses, followed by dinner at Noosa Springs’ award-winning restaurant, Relish.
The Friday ‘Nine and Dine’ special – nine holes of golf followed by a main meal – costs just $75.
If golf’s not your thing, you could try the ‘Hydro and Dine’ option – a 55-minute Spa Thermal Suite followed by a main meal in Relish restaurant. Same price. Same great value.
Slow start for Noosa star
Sunshine Beach star Katherine Kirk showed understandable signs of rust when she competed in the LPGA Drive On Championship in Toledo, Ohio this week. It was the first event on the premier women’s tour since the schedule was disrupted due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Kirk missed the 36-hole cut after rounds of 77 and 75. The event was won by American Danielle Kang, while Western Australia’s Minjee Lee (69, 73, 70) was third.
Friday challenge at Cooroy
All golfers with an official handicap are invited to play in Cooroy’s Coopers 18-hole Challenge – a stableford event played every Friday with tee times from 7am to 1pm. The entry fee is $10 and there are prizes to be won. Put your name down on the timesheet in the clubhouse or book by phoning 5447 6258.
Peta’s in hot form
Golf sometimes is the easiest of games. Peta Mancktelow is certainly one golfer who seems to have found the secret. Last Wednesday she won Noosa’s B grade stableford competition with 41 points, separating herself from the runner-up by five points.
Then, on Saturday, despite her handicap being cut by two strokes to 21, she won the Women’s Monthly Medal with a net 75 – three strokes clear of her nearest opponent.
Katie Rose charity event called off
A golf day, aimed at raising funds for the Katie Rose Cottage Hospice and scheduled for October at Noosa Springs, has become another Covid-19 victim.Simon Gamble, a Noosa Springs resident and chairman of the charity golf day committee, said coronavirus restrictions would have reduced the number of players and limited the fund-raising potential of the event.
The committee felt it better to cancel this year’s golf day, and concentrate on making next year’s bigger and better.
Katie Rose Hospice is a palliative care facility offering free professional care for those in the Noosa community facing a terminal illness.
Competition results
NOOSA SPRINGS
Wednesday, July 29
Men’s stableford: Alistair Rooney (24) 42, Kerry Sunderland (22) 40, Michael Mason (8) 39, Bill Young (24) 38, Mike Angus (18) 38.Women’s stableford: Janet Young (25) 37, Bri Morrissey (25) 36, Sandra Probert (18) 36, Jennifer Carr (29) 35, Jill Yeatman (31) 35.
Saturday, August 1
Men’s Monthly Medal: Peter Catchlove (23) 71, Paul Sangster (17) 72, Neil Cutting (21) 73c/b, Gil Hoskins (19) 73, Andrew Grzegozewski (9) 73, Damien Nicholson (27) 73, Greg Brookes (17) 73.
Women’s Monthly Medal: Rowena Faerch (17) 70, Judy Buss (12) 73, Kelly Lynch (7) 74, Barbara Sweeney (30) 74.
NOOSA
Monday, July 27
Womens’ stableford: Connie Gordon (22) 33, Raye Cairns (29) 32c/b, Alice Cumming 32. Rundown to 29.
Women’s 9-hole stableford: Ann Tummon (17) 17, Lindy Owen (27) 14, Barb Allen (16) 13c/b, Judy Williams (29) 13.Tuesday, July 28
Tuesday Club men’s stableford: A grade – Ian Burrough (12) 41, Coman Reynolds (9) 40c/b, John Curtiss (10) 40, Terry Fitzgerald (12) 39; B grade – Allan Harris (14) 42, Studley Martin (17) 39, John Purdue (15) 36c/b, Mike Dehnert (13) 36; C grade – Lee Clayton (21) 38, Jerome Stuart (21) 37, Stephen Jackson (19) 36, Bill McCarthy (31) 35. Rundown to 33c/b.
Thursday, July 30
Women’s stableford: A grade – Connie Gordon (22) 37, Mandy Webb (16) 34, Judy Patterson (22) 33; B grade – Peta Mancktelow (23) 41, Pauline Hull (26) 36, Trish Strang (30) 35c/b; C grade – Michelle Linklater (36) 38, Sandra Dover (32) 35, Lavinia Hill (37) 31. Rundown to 29c/b.
Saturday, August 1
Men’s Monthly Medal stroke: A grade – Zachary Southgate-Smith (12) 68, Justin Morgan (10) 69c/b, George Giblett (-4) 69; B grade – Dale Robinson (17) 66, Greg Strang (18) 68c/b, Dave Butler (14) 68; C grade – Jarrod Davis (26) 66, Tony Cawley (19) 69, Werner Muschalla (27) 70. Rundown to 74c/b.Women’s Monthly Medal stroke: Peta Mancktelow (21) 75, Cindy Lawson (24) 78, Allana Moore (20) 79c/b.
COOROY
Tuesday, July 28
Women’s Tuesday Club (9 holes): Sandy Viney 17c/b, Kathy Butler 17. Rundown to 13.Wednesday, July 29
Vets stableford: A grade – Bronco Price 39, Andy Stewart 36c/b, Greg Michael 36; B grade – Terry Lyons 42, Dave Lyons 37, Tom Williams 36; C grade – Dennis Beckhaus 39c/b, Andrew Moon 39, Tony Kershaw 38. Rundown to 32.
Thursday, July 30
Women’s stableford: Eve Hunt 37, Carole Clancy 35. Rundown to 30. NTP: 4th – Tina Thomas, 6th Mary Miller.
Friday, July 31Friday Challenge: B. Robbo 37c/b, D. Clelland 37. NTP: 1st Bronco Price, 18th M. Davies.
Saturday, August 1
Men’s stableford: Div 1 – B. Robertson 38c/b, K. Davies 38. Div 2 – D. Tink 41, G. Anderson 35. Div 3 – L. Horn 31c/b, R. Ballantyne 31. Rundown to 33. NTP: 4th R. Gibson., 6th L. Grainger, 7th P. Buchbach, 10th P. Piggott, 12th D. Clayton, 15th K. Harkins.
