All Ryley Martin wants is an opportunity to ply his trade.
The Noosa-based professional golfer’s game is sharp, he hits the ball so far he can reach many par fours with his drive, and he’ll travel to any part of the country.
He just doesn’t have anywhere to play.
Martin, who plays and practises at Noosa Springs, has no official status – he’s a member of no tour – and his only chance to play in a tournament is to pre-qualify for one of a handful of spots available to hopefuls like him.
He’ll be trying to do just that at next week’s New South Wales Open, and then at the Western Australian PGA next month, and even at the Northern Territory PGA in Darwin in May.
But it’s tough for a young man with a burning ambition to become a touring tournament player.
“I’m playing well,” he said.
“I had five-under at Noosa Springs last week and three-under on Tuesday.”
Martin’s hoping to gain his playing privileges through the annual Q School qualifying tournament, which was held last year in April.
“They haven’t posted any dates for this year,” he said.
“But when they do, I’ll be there.”
Meanwhile, Martin’s earning a living working in hospitality, while practising whenever he can.
And he’s enjoying being a new dad. He and his wife Sophie became the parents of baby Theo a month ago.
Developer seeks to overturn council decision
GemLife, still committed to establishing a retirement resort on part of the Cooroy golf course, will present amended plans and reports from environmental scientists to the Planning and Environment Court next week in a bid to overturn Noosa Council’s rejection of the ambitious proposal.
Independent consultants have been assessing and reporting on the ecology of creeks as seen by the tagging of trees. GemLife is understood to have modified its development footprint to accommodate an increased setback to the northern end of the project and is addressing issues raised by the independent experts.
As part of the development proposal, GemLife has pledged to deliver numerous benefits to the golf club, including a new clubhouse, pro shop, golf buggy storage for 40 carts, new sealed 100 space car park, new entry road and course improvements.
It has also guaranteed 246 new golf memberships (one for every dwelling in the GemLife resort) for a period of 10 years. Understandably, the golf club is supporting GemLife’s appeal.
A good day for Amanda
Like many potential golf widows, Amanda Harburg took up golf 20 years ago because it was a sporting activity she could share with her husband, Julian.
These days, though, she’s the one with the passion for the game, competing two or three times a week, enjoying the company of her friends, and playing some fine golf.
On Saturday, for example, she shot net 73 to win the Noosa Springs’ members’ stroke event on a course that had recovered remarkably from the weekend rain.
“I had no expectations,” Amanda said.
“I don’t hit the ball very far, so I just tried to keep it in play, and I just had a good day.”
Amanda and husband Julian were members of Brisbane Golf Club before retiring to Noosa last year. They joined Noosa Springs in October and Amanda says they love living on the Sunshine Coast.
Cassie in the mix again
She will probably feel she was a victim of the weather after the final round of the weekend’s TPS Sydney was abandoned because of rain, but Cassie Porter has certainly cemented her place among Australia’s best professional golfers.
After four holes of that final round Porter, the pride of Peregian, was nine-under-par, clinging to sixth place in the male-female field, and had taken over as the leading female player from a faltering Grace Kim.
But when the rain continued to fall, officials decided to abandon the final round and reduce the tournament to 54 holes. That meant positions remained as they were after three rounds, with Porter tied for eighth, one shot behind Kim.
The joint third-round leaders – Perth’s Jarryd Felton and veteran Brendan Jones, from Canberra – went to a sudden death playoff with Felton claiming the title with a rock steady birdie on the first playoff hole.
In the six tournaments she’s played since turning professional late last year, Porter has recorded five top 10s – two of them against male professionals.
Burns goes on his winning way
Evergreen Yandina Creek professional Brad Burns, one of the most travelled players on the Australian Legends Tour, chalked up another win when he took the Club Mandalay Legends Pro-Am, north of Melbourne, last week.
Burns, who has been one of the dominant players on the tour, topping the Order of Merit for four of the past five seasons, shot four-under-par 68 to share the win with fellow Queenslander Nigel Lane and Kiwi Michael Long.
He followed up with a three-under 69 the following day at nearby Gardiners Run – good enough for tied eighth behind yet another Queenslander Richard Backwell in the Watts Legend Pro-Am.
Golfers tackle prostate cancer
Golfers will support the fight against prostate cancer when they play in a special event at Noosa Springs on Wednesday, March 30.
Organised by the Noosa Prostate Association, the fundraiser is an Ambrose event with a 7.30am shotgun start.
Noosa Springs’ members will pay $50, which covers the competition fee, a donation to prostate cancer research, a range of prizes, and lunch in the Plantation Room. Visitors are welcome, but must also pay a green fee of $89.
Players are encouraged to wear their brightest floral shirt, and a prize will be awarded to the best.
The entry form is in the Noosa Springs Golf Shop and the closing date is 25 March.
We’re second on world golf stage
New research has found Australia to be the second most successful country for golf behind the United States.
The study, by the UK-based website money.co.uk, which specialises in comparisons, analysed men’s and women’s major tournaments and World Cups, and looked at the amount of times an individual or team from each country had won.
The United States was way out in front, but Australia’s five multiple major winners – Karrie Webb (seven times), Peter Thomson (five times), Jan Stephenson (three times), Greg Norman and David Graham (both two times) – played a significant role in Australia’s runner-up ranking.
Australia’s victories in the World Cup have been significant – Kel Nagle and Peter Thomson (1954 and 1959), Bruce Devlin and David Graham (1970), Peter Fowler and Wayne Grady (1989), and Jason Day and Adam Scott (2013) all lifting up the World Cup.
Major victories to Minjee Lee, Hannah Green, Jason Day, Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy, Steve Elkington, Ian Baker-Finch, Wayne Grady, Kel Nagle and Jim Ferrier also ensured that Australia finished above England (third), Sweden (fourth) and South Korea (fifth).
Ladies take centre stage
Entries are still being accepted for the first round of this year’s Ladies Golf Series at Noosa Springs on Tuesday 22 March . The 18-hole stableford competition will be followed by a gourmet champagne lunch and presentations.
The cost, including lunch, is $104 ($49 for Noosa Springs members; $94 for social and reciprocal members).
Ladies who play in two of the three events will be in the running for a half-day Spa Escape and four rounds of golf, with an electric cart. The prize will be drawn after the round on December 6.
Contact the Golf Shop on 5440 3333, or email golf@noosasprings.com.au to book.
Club competitions
NOOSA
Tuesday 1 March
Men’s stableford: A grade – Graham Farrell 40, Ryan Mulder 38, Michael O’Connor 37c/b, Grant Baker 37c/b; B grade – Greg Strang 41, Gary Ward 40, Michael Clayton 37c/b, John Purdue 37; C grade – Graeme Martin 39, Michael Masters 38c/b, Michael Norman 38c/b, Bill McCarthy 38.
Thursday 3 March
Men’s stableford: Terry Fitzgerald 29c/b, Kenny Lindsay 29, Lindsay Terrell 23.
Friday 4 March
Men’s stableford: Peter Byrne 42, Shane Dunning 37c/b, Alfie Bartlett 37.
Saturday 5 March
Men’s stroke: A grade – Sam Boulden 68c/b, Thomas Freeman 68, Peter Fryer 69; B grade – Shane Dunn 67, Raymond Waters 68, Tony Cawley 70c/b; C grade – Tim McMcKiernan 69c/b, Cooper Liddell 69c/b, David Tilley 69; women’s stroke: Jess Fleming 68, Allana Moore 71, Rosemary Caffyn 75.
NOOSA SPRINGS
Tuesday 1 March
Men’s stableford: Gary Webster 39c/b, Martin Scollon 39, John Taylor 33.
Wednesday 2 March
Men’s stableford: Craig Davis 45, Peter Schouten 40c/b, Peter Kemp 40c/b; women’s: Annette Philp 39c/b, Helen Ringrose 39, Bri Morrissey 35c/b.
Saturday 5 March
Men’s stroke: Drew McMenamin 68, Paul Grant 70, Jean Luc Chaudet 71c/b; women’s: Amanda Harburg 73, Sally Simmons 74, Diane Hudson 75.
Sunday 6 March
Men’s Sunday Series, stableford: Bruce McCleary 37, Alan Beesley 36, Gary Sherman 35c/b; women’s: Berenice Holmes 33, Joan Cairns 25.
