By Peter Owen
Uli Schmetzer is, in some ways, the James Bond of international journalism.
While he may not have had a licence to kill, the veteran reporter certainly had a ticket to write some of the most compelling news stories of the 20th century.
And, like 007, Uli’s assignments took him to some of the world’s most intriguing and dangerous destinations.
These days, though, Uli is content to live quietly in Noosa, work on his seventh novel, and test his golfing skill at Noosa Springs two or three times a week.
More often than not the golf course comes out on top, but last week Uli had his revenge.
He shot a wonderful 41 stableford points to win the Wednesday members’ comp, halting a run of indifferent form.
“A couple of years ago I was playing quite good golf,” he said. “A round like Wednesday’s was not unusual for me then, but lately it has been difficult.
“Sometimes, though, things go right. You make putts and hit the ball straighter than usual. That’s what happened for me.”
Uli began his journalistic career as a cadet reporter on Melbourne’s Sun News-Pictorial in 1960. He then moved to Sydney before deciding the entire world was going to be his beat.
During a colourful career, he worked for Reuters and the Chicago Tribune, covering South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, India, China and Japan.
He met controversial politicians from all around the world and reported from some of the globe’s trouble spots. Those adventures inspired Uli to write a series of books based on his real-life experiences.
Normally Uli splits his time between Italy, the Philippines and Noosa, but Covid-19 has seen him sit out the pandemic on the Sunshine Coast.
“If it wasn’t for the virus I would have only recently returned from Europe,” he said. “But I can’t say I haven’t enjoyed spending more time than usual in Noosa. I have many wonderful friends here.”
Coast Classic returns to winter date
DATES have been set for next year’s Sunshine Coast Winter Golf Classic.
The inaugural event – rescheduled and branded as the Spring Classic this year because of Covid-19 – attracted a capacity field and proved to be a popular addition to the Coast’s golfing calendar.
Next year’s 72-hole stableford event will begin on Monday, June 7 and continue until Friday, June 11, with a rest day on Wednesday, June 9.
Noosa Springs Golf and Spa Resort executive general manager Mark Brady, one of the tournament’s organisers, said entrants this year had suggested a rest day after the first two rounds would be welcome.
“It will also give competitors and their partners an opportunity to explore our region and sample some of the delights of the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
The tournament will again be staged across four of the Sunshine Coast’s premier golf courses – Twin Waters, Maroochy River, Peregian and Noosa Springs.
This year’s event was capped at 76 competitors because of the pandemic. Mr Brady said he was expecting a capacity field of 128 players next year, with entrants likely from all Australian states and, possibly, from New Zealand.
The Winter Classic is open to male and female players with an official golf handicap.
The entry fee is $695 ($645 if paid before March 15). It includes golf, a welcome cocktail reception and a presentation function.
The inaugural winner, Richard Robinson of Coolangatta-Tweed Heads, has already pledged to return and defend his title.
Shane’s ace a highlight for home fans
HOME town favourite Shane Healey made a rare appearance on the Legends Tour at Noosa last week, shooting four under-par 68 and finishing fourth in a hotly contested event.
But it was his hole-in-one on the 120m par three 12th hole that provided the highlight of the $15,000 Noosa Legends Pro-Am, and had the popular pro’s fans cheering loudest.
Healey, a Sunshine Coast resident for nearly 40 years and a Noosa Golf Club pro since 1989, was delighted his game was competitive, but said he had no intention of joining the tour on a regular basis.
High profile tour regulars Brad Burns, Peter Fowler and Andre Stolz shared the Pro-Am victory with five under-par scores of 67.
Fowler, the former Australian Open winner who made a last-minute decision to contest the tour’s Sunshine Coast swing, had four birdies, an eagle on the par five 16th and a single bogey in his great round.
Normally a member of the European Seniors Tour, Fowler has enjoyed his time on the Legends Tour this season.
“I am hoping I’ll be able to get back to Europe next year, with a vaccine hopefully soon to be distributed, but who knows?” he said.
“If things don’t go to plan I’ll continue to play these Legends events,” he said. “I’m having a great time.”
Brad Burns, the 2019 Legends Order of Merit winner, scored seven birdies and two bogeys in what was his sixth victory of the year.
“I fixed my favourite putter overnight and it paid me back today as I putted great,” he said.
Stolz, a rookie on the over-50s Legends Tour and already the winner of the Australian PGA Senior Championship, had six birdies and one bogey.
“Coming off a wrist injury I didn’t expect the results I’ve had this year,” he said. “I’m thrilled to know I can still compete at this high level.”
The Legends’ Sunshine Coast swing continued at Twin Waters on Friday, where Matthew Ecob and Terry Price shared the spoils, while the Maroochy River event, scheduled for Sunday, was washed out because of the rain.
Kirk falls short in US Open
Katherine Kirk couldn’t sustain her recent run of excellent play into the LPGA’s final major championship of the year.
Kirk, who still calls Sunshine Beach home, shot rounds of 75 and 74 to fall four strokes short of qualifying for the final 36 holes of the US Women’s Open in Houston, Texas. Fellow Sunshine Coaster Sarah-Jane Smith also failed to make the cut.
Club competitions
NOOSA
Tuesday, 8 December
Pro-am amateur, stableford: A grade – Peter Featherby 43, Michael Newell 40; B grade – Peter Blair 39c/b, Mathew Leahy 38; C grade: Brett Gavin 40c/b, Gary Rogers 37; women’s Meredith Bunn 40, Rowena Faerch 39.
Wednesday, 9 December
Men’s 4BBB stroke: Robin Hawdon & Bruce Blakemore 62c/b, Barry MacDonald & Neal Moloney 62c/b, Bernie Phillips & Alastair Kerrison 62c/b. Rundown to 66.
Saturday, 12 December
Men’s single stableford: A grade – David Cameron Mills 39, Trev Sumner 38c/b, John Osmaston 38c/b; B grade – Tony Cawley 38, Sam Harrington 37, Stephen Cook 36c/b; C grade – Rob Bruce 41, Ben Joseph 39c/b, Greg Peeler 39. Rundown to 33c/b.
NOOSA SPRINGS
Wednesday, 9 December
Men’s stableford: Uli Schmetzer 41, Jock Robertson 40, Bill Young 38c/b; women’s stableford: Jan Fancsali 39, Chrissy Hordern 38, Dee Pugh 36c/b.
Saturday, 12 December
Men’s Christmas golf & lunch, stableford: David Hay 42, Chris Collinge 40, Graham Young 39; men’s stableford: Benjamin Hancott 35, Matthew Graham 33, Ryan Graham 32; women’s stableford: Barbara Sweeney 33, Karen O’Brien 30, Noi Pike 29. COOROY
Tuesday, 8 December
Women’s stableford (9 holes): Kathy Butler 16, Beatrice Bruin 13c/b. Rundown to 12c/b.
Wednesday, 9 December
Vets stableford: A grade – Mike Kent 40c/b, Ian Lumsden 40c/b, Kerry Davies 40c/b; B grade – Grant Smallacombe 38c/b, Ray Lally 38c/b, Darryl Ayers 38c/b; C grade – Ian Mulhall 42c/b, Andrew Aves, 42c/b, Larry McErvale 42c/b. Rundown to 35.
Friday, 11 December
Coopers Challenge, stableford: M. Davies 36, K. Ross 34.
Saturday, 12 December
Men’s stableford: Div 1 – P. Korczynski 40c/b, R. Rylance 40; Div 2 – J. Martin 38, G. Ozzie 37; Div 3 – P. Gannon 36c/b, R. Braithwaite 36.
