By Peter Owen
A late starter in golf, and with his 77th birthday approaching, Alan Emblin knew that if he was ever going to achieve anything in the game he’d better hurry up and do it.
So he had a lesson with coach Peter Heiniger, studied videos of the great players, watched how the low-markers at Noosa Springs played, changed his swing, and practiced hard.
“I’ve got a brother in Victoria who’s 86 and plays off a handicap of 12,” Alan said. “I’ve got to admit he was an inspiration, too.”
Things didn’t go well at first. His handicap ballooned to 20 as he struggled with his new swing, but he persevered.
A fortnight ago he scored 38 points in a Saturday competition, the excitement tempered a little by a disappointing 28 points in the midweek competition at Noosa Springs the following Wednesday.
“But I did play some pretty good shots that day,” Alan said. “I felt I was getting close.”
It all came together on Saturday when he played near flawless golf to return 49 points – a score that could have been even better had he not missed a couple of short putts.
Asked how he’d achieved the best round of his career, Alan said: “If I could bottle it I’d make a fortune.”
He said he did not miss a single fairway and struck his irons crisply and accurately.
“It wasn’t just the score,” he said. “I got real joy out of just playing so well.
“I was with three low-handicappers I hadn’t played with before and I thought ‘well, at least I’m going to learn something today’. In the end it was the other way around, but they were very complimentary of my round.”
Alan, who sold his Cooroy-based building manufacturing business five years ago, joined Noosa Springs, and has owned a golf handicap for only four years.
Bob’s a master of more than just golf
Few golfers know their way around Noosa golf course better than Bob Cox.
He’s been playing there for nearly 30 years, and seldom does a week go by without Bob competing in at least one club competition.
And, though age is starting to catch up with him, he can still perform as well as golfers half his age.
Back in 2011 he turned in a round that most of us only ever dream about – a two-over par 74 in a club stableford competition. The 51 stableford points he tallied that day had fellow competitors shaking their heads in wonder.
And last week he was at it again. He won the C grade category of Noosa’s Tuesday Club with a terrific round of 40 points.
When he was at his prime – back in the 1970s – Bob was a fixture in the forwards for Brisbane rugby league club Brothers, lining up with a young Wally Lewis.
Bob represented Queensland for three straight years and was selected in the Queensland Police Team of the Century, alongside legends like Wayne Bennett, Mal Meninga, Peter Jackson and Bob Hagan.
A career policeman, he transferred to Noosa in 1985. He liked the place so much he retired there, and continued his love affair with golf.
Scott plays for glory
Adam Scott, Noosa’s most famous golfer, is one of six Australians assured of a spot in the US PGA playoffs which start in Boston this week.
The others are Jason Day, Marc Leishman, Cameron Smith, Matt Jones and Cameron Davis, who all won their places with outstanding play during this year’s abbreviated season.
Scott, who spent the coronavirus-enforced break at his Sunshine Beach home, ended a four-year winless streak when he won the Genesis Championship at Los Angeles in February, a victory which saw him climb back into the top-10 rankings.
It was his 14th win on the PGA Tour, and the only active players with more wins are Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Jim Furyk. Scott is tied with Bruce Crampton for most wins by an Australian. Only Greg Norman (20) and Jim Ferrier (18) have more.
Noi eyes a year’s free golf
Noi Pike, a regular on Noosa Springs’ fairways, made the most of perfect conditions on Sunday to score 37 stableford points in the Universal Property Sunday Series, and give herself a chance of winning two years’ free golf at two of Queensland’s best courses.
Noi’s was the best score by a woman in the series so far this month. If that remains the case at the end of August, she will qualify for the December final, where the winners receive unlimited golf, including the use of an electric cart, for a year at Noosa Springs and Links Hope Island.
The male golfer with the month’s best score will join her in the final.
The competition is open to members and visitors, with local golfers – those who live on the Sunshine Coast and Gympie – eligible for the Locals Only special green fee of $79, including a cart.
Consistent Katherine
Katherine Kirk, the Noosa golfer who has been campaigning around the world for the past two decades, played consistently to finish 39th in the Ladies Scottish Open at the weekend – 10 strokes behind winner, American Stacey Lewis.
She shot rounds of 72, 73, 73 and 71 for a 72-hole total of five over-par 289. It was an improved performance for Kirk, whose next assignment is the Women’s British Open at Royal Troon this week.
The ultimate Father’s Day gift
Golf, food and a cold beer – this is a Father’s Day gift that ticks all the boxes. Noosa Springs’ Ultimate Father’s Day Gift Idea is the answer to everybody’s query on what to get dad for his special day.
It starts with nine holes of golf in an electric cart, followed by Noosa’s best steak sandwich, washed down with a schooner of cold beer.
This unique Father’s Day gift costs $90, and can be purchased online as a voucher by clicking on www.noosasprings.com.au. The offer closes on Sunday, September 6 and is valid for six months from the time of purchase.
The resort’s Golf Shop is also getting into the spirit of Father’s Day. Buy a polo shirt and then get a Glenmuir merino wool jumper for half price. The offer is available until stocks run out.
Bronco in the lead
Bronco Price will take the lead into the second round of Cooroy’s club championship this weekend. His 70 on Saturday saw him a narrow leader of the club’s A grade net category. The championships continue today.
Competition results
NOOSA SPRINGS
Wednesday, August 12
Men’s stableford: Robert Mayfield (26) 38, John Glasby (18) 38, Kerry Sunderland (23) 38, Terry Nolan (17) 38. Women’s stableford: Jenny Hickey (22) 39, Susan Walker (32) 37, Dee Pugh (24) 35, Joan Cairns (34) 34, Irene Cordukes (32) 34.
Saturday, August 15
Men’s stableford: Alan Emblin (20) 49, Craig Davis (19) 40, Gil Hoskins (19) 37, Paul Betar (12) 37, David Gibson (17) 36. Women’s stableford: Lanore Hocking (31) 40, Rosie Randall (17) 39, Sunday Moore (7) 38, Karen O’Brien (20) 38, Susan Walker (31) 38.
Sunday, August 16
Universal Property Sunday Challenge: Men – David Anderson (2) 38, Blake Heiniger (2) 37, Mike Angus (15) 34; women – Noi Pike (18) 37, Lorna Gibson (18) 35, Zen Boakes (35) 34.
NOOSA
Tuesday, August 11
Tuesday Club Monthly Mug stableford: A grade – Bruce Blakemore (11) 40, Doug Rogers (9) 39, Bradley Juillerat (12) 38c/b, Greg Collins (7) 38; B grade – John Loader (18) 43, Michael Norman (18) 40c/b, Kevin Krogh (17) 40, Greg Strang (17) 39; C grade – Bob Cox (21) 40c/b, Peter Baynes (19) 40, Roger Chaffey (28) 40, Marcus Edwards (19) 39. Rundown to 35c/b.
Wednesday. August 12
Men’s 2-ball aggregate stableford: David Hinder & John Bennett 77, Graeme Rickard & Eugene Barry 76, David Abey & Michael Davenport 74. Rundown to 66c/b.
Saturday, August 15
Men’s stableford: A grade – Shane Dunning (11) 42, Toby Harding (-2) 41, Brendon Strid (12) 40; B grade – Alan Coey (13) 40, Shane Dunn (15) 39, Jack Bryant (18) 38c/b; C grade – Rob Bruce (30) 41, Chris Townson (19) 39c/b, Tom Mulcairn (20) 39. Rundown to 35c/b; women’s stableford: Lisa Joseph (36) 39, Arlene Penlington (23) 37c/b. Peta Mancktelow (20) 37.
COOROY
Wednesday, August 12
Vets stableford: A grade – Brett LeMoy 40, Grathan Leatherbarrow 37, Paul Hennessy 35c/b; B grade – John Stewart 43, Graeme Osborne 39, Trevor Kinneally 34; C grade – Kevin Pickford 39, Ron Blount 37c/b, Jim Henderson 37. Rundown to 33. NTP: Graeme Osborne (4th), Bob Read (6th), Brett LeMoy (7th), Trevor Kinneally (10th), Andrew Carson (12th), Tony Bernhagen (13th), David Tink (15th).
Thursday, August 13
Monthly Medal, women’s club championship, round 2: Div 1 – Patsy Fayne 71; Div 2 – Lee Williams 70; Rundown to 76.
Friday, August 14
Coopers Challenge stableford: K. Ross 40, D. Dangio 35c/b, B Wilshire 35. NTP: P. Carroll (1st), D. Dangio (18th).
Saturday, August 15
Men’s Monthly Medal, 1st round of club championships: Div 1 – Bronco Price 70c/b, R. Gibson 70; Div 2 – R. Rylance 67, G. Flanno 73c/b; Div 3 – D. Davy 67, P. Gannon 68c/b. Rundown to 72.
Women’s Monthly Medal: Maria Taurer 69, Terri Cairns 70. Rundown to 70.
