By Peter Owen
WHAT began as a hobby, something to fill in her time, has become a passion for 15-year-old Maddison Kelly, the Noosa Springs junior who is now determined to make golf her lifetime career.
Maddie, one of a group of talented young golfers at Noosa Springs, has seen her handicap plummet from 36 to 5.3 in the past year.
The huge improvement is the product of her strenuous practice routine – one that would test the commitment of even a seasoned professional.
Armed with a notebook crammed with statistics about the development of her game, Maddie devotes at least 36 hours a week to practice – and that doesn’t include the time taken up actually playing golf.
The result of her tireless work is clear to see.
Last week, for example, she won a stableford competition at Noosa Springs on Tuesday with 38 points, then won the ladies’ stroke competition on Saturday with a nett 71.
The following day she trekked to Redcliffe where she shot 77, won the girls’ nett trophy, and finished outright third, in the Redcliffe Junior Classic.
Golf hasn’t always held such a fascination for the articulate Maddie. “Even now I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with the game,” she says.
She was introduced to golf at the age of five by her dad Greg, who was a fine junior player and a trainee professional in NSW before a motorbike accident ended his career.
By the time she was seven, though, her enthusiasm had waned. She didn’t pick up a club for more than two years, then dabbled with golf for another couple of years before getting serious about it when she was 13.
When she moved with her parents from Sydney to Noosa Springs a year ago, and began working with Heiniger Golf teaching pro Hamish Robertson, her game really started to blossom.
“We live so close to the golf course and the facilities are wonderful,” she said. “I’m home-schooled, so that gives me the flexibility to practice and play golf every day.
“I work very hard,” she said. “I’m determined to be as good as I can be.”
Maddie says the strength of her game is her driving and her short game.
“I’m quite tall and I hit the ball a long way,” she said. “And I work hard on chipping and putting.”
She is looking forward to being a part of Noosa Springs’ junior pennant squad, and competing in as many junior tournaments as possible.
Then, her future is mapped out.
“I’m determined to make golf my career,” she said. “I’ll keep working on my game until I’ve finished school. I want to secure a traineeship by the time I’m 18.
“Then I’ll either have a try at Q School, or enrol at an American college.”
Chance to support Katie Rose
A few spots remain for the Katie Rose Charity Golf Day at Noosa Springs on Sunday, May 23.
It’s a 4BBB stableford competition – golfers play in pairs with the better score on each hole becoming the team score – with an 8.30am shotgun start.
Great prizes are on offer, there’ll be an auction after the game, and organisers promise an enjoyable, fun-filled day.
But the real purpose of the event is to raise money for one of Noosa’s favourite charities – the Katie Rose Cottage Hospice, where more than 100 Noosa residents have spent their final days in a peaceful, caring environment.
The entry fee of $145 ($75 for Noosa Springs members) includes green fees, a motorised cart, refreshments on arrival, a two-course lunch and a chance to win some of the excellent prizes.
Book by going to www.scbdwg.com.au/events/95393.
Herbert sees his future in America
Peregian-based world No 94 Lucas Herbert shot a five-under-par 65 at an obscure American golf course to qualify for last week’s Wells Fargo Championship in North Carolina as he works towards securing his playing future on the US PGA Tour.
A winner on the European Tour last year, Herbert is assured of a start in any of the events on that tour. But, concerned about the pandemic still raging in Europe and focused on earning a spot on the PGA Tour, the former Victorian has based himself in the US.
So far he has made three starts on the PGA Tour this year, without contending. He shot rounds of 76 and 72 to miss the 36-hole cut in the Well Fargo event at Quail Hollow, Charlotte, won by Rory McIlroy.
What a way to start festival
Each year the Noosa Eat and Drink Festival begins with a fun-filled afternoon of golf, with a delicious difference, at Noosa Springs.
Courses on Course – now in its fifth year – is nine holes of golf interspersed with signature food and wine on each hole, accompanied by a generous serving of laughter and entertainment.
Competitors are encouraged to dress up and there will be prizes for the most creative outfits.
There are prizes for golf, too – for teams and individuals – but you don’t have to be a star to enjoy this special day.
The cost – for nine holes of golf, plus some delicious food and excellent wines – is $179 and you can book by going to www.noosaeatdrink.com.au/schedule/courses-on-course.
Noosa prominent in pennants
This year’s junior pennant season kicks off on Sunday, with teams from Noosa and Noosa Springs involved in all four matches.
Play begins at Mt Coolum at 7am when Headland takes on Noosa 2. That’s followed by a clash between Noosa Springs 2 and Maroochy River 4, followed by a contest between Caloundra and Noosa 1.
The day’s play wraps up when Noosa Springs 1 plays Maroochy River 3. Two other teams from Maroochy River have byes in the opening round.
Club competitions
NOOSA
Tuesday, 4 May
Men’s stableford: A grade – James Anderson 40, Justin Morgan 39, Darren Wylie 38, Michael Nassereddin 36c/b; B grade – Graham Dacombe 41, Dorcen Walters 40, Terry Fitzgerald 39, Tony Haack 37c/b; C grade – Joe Franz 39, Jerome Stuart 38, Dave Wellington 36, Craig Beckey 35c/b.
Wednesday, 5 May
Vets stableford: A grade – Colin Myers 38, Graeme Caffyn 36c/b, Doug Rogers 36; B grade – Colin MacFarlane 36c/b, Ken Reed 36, Grant Holloway 33; C grade – Bert Zydenbos 38, Brenton Rose 36, Danny Woodward 35.
Saturday, 8 May
Men’s stroke: A grade – Michael Nassereddin 67, Stephen McCaul 69, David Desilets 70; Kevin Krogh 68c/b, Guy Williams 68, Dean Jeffrey 69; C grade – Michael Davenport 69, Peter Bolitho 70, Rod Allen 712c/b. Women’s stroke: Arlene Penlington 76, Rosemary Caffyn 78cb, Rosanne Chisholm 35.
NOOSA SPRINGS
Monday, 3 May
Men’s stableford: Gregory Brookes 38, Uli Schmetzer 37, Ola Andresen 36; women’s stableford: Diana Taylor 35c/b, Dianne Hudson 35, Dorothy Marlow 34c/b.
Tuesday, 4 May
Men’s stableford: Dylan Hayes 39, Phillip Fortington 33, Robert Dutton 32c/b; women’s stableford: Maddison Kelly 38, Marilyn Cookes 37, Dana Angus 34.
Wednesday, 5 May
Men’s stableford: Ola Andresen 40, Brian O’Keefe 39, Alistair Rooney 38c/b; women’s stableford: Bri Morrissey 38, Diana Taylor 37, Birgit Wehrenberg 36c/b.
Thursday, 6 May
Men’s stableford: Rory Bourke 35, Alan Holley 32, Alexander Hackett 31c/b.
Saturday, 8 May
Men’s stroke: Martin Scollon 68c/b, Alexander Hackett 68, Ross Taylor 70c/b. Women’s stroke: Maddison Kelly 71, Annette Philp 73, Tereza Holley 74.
COOROY
Tuesday, 4 May
Women’s stroke + putts, 9 holes: Juanita Langford 39c/b, Mary Miller 39c/b.
Wednesday, 5 May
Men’s vets 4-ball aggregate stableford: Don Clelland, Joe Daniels, Ron Ballantyne & Andrew Carson 130; Ken McKay, Peter Piggott, Dave Chapman, Grathan Leatherbarrow 125; Greg Michael, Peter Palmer, Paul O’Hare, Terry Magill 123.
Thursday, 6 May 2021
Women’s Monthly Medal, stroke: Div 1 – Chris Michael; Div 2 – Mary Miller.
Saturday, 8 May
Men’s 4BBB stroke: G. Menyweather & G. Cowan 59, R. Rylance & P. Jeucken 60.
Women’s 4BBB stroke: J. Tucker & W. Brown 60, T. Thomas & C. Michael 62.
