Gil Hoskins and his wife Sandi often play golf together at Noosa Springs, and there is always a wager riding on the outcome. The winner has to pay for that evening’s dinner.
Last Wednesday Gil, a retired businessman who once served on the board of the Hawthorn Football Club, had notched up 22 stableford points on the first nine holes, and was on pretty good terms with himself.
But Sandi, who takes her golf far less seriously than her husband, rallied strongly on the back nine and when they tallied their scores at the end of play they found they’d each scored 39 points.
That was good enough for Sandi to take the ladies’ trophy. Gil, however, shared the lead in the men’s competition with Allan Carter, and ultimately lost on a countback – a result that Sandi quickly suggested should determine the outcome of their private bet.
Irrespective of who picked up the dinner bill, it was an outstanding achievement for a husband and wife to play so well, and figure so prominently, in a competition contested by nearly 100 golfers.
Gil and Sandi are Victorians – Gil a member of Metropolitan Golf Club and Sandi of Kingston Heath – who usually spend six weeks at Noosa each summer. This year, though, they opted to sit out the Covid-19 pandemic in Noosa rather than return to Melbourne – a decision they’re now very glad they made.
“We love it here but we’re looking forward to getting back to Melbourne when we can,” Gil said. “We have a lot of friends and family there.”
Adam Scott ready to play in US PGA
ADAM Scott, the world No 9 golfer who remained at his Sunshine Beach home while the US PGA Tour was suspended because of Covid-19, is back in the States, ready to tee it up in next week’s PGA Championship in San Francisco.
Scott has taken a longer absence from top golf than any other leading player, not absolutely convinced of the security of the PGA Tour’s health and safety plan.
Scott, who has an alternate home in the Bahamas, may stay in the US until at least September, and perhaps even to November, when the US Masters is played, an event he famously won in 2013.
Scott has been a regular on Sunshine Coast courses during the past few months and often practices at Noosa Springs. He twice played nine-hole competitions with friends – at Maleny and Caloundra – in recent weeks, which he streamed live around the world.
He lived on the Sunshine Coast as a teenager and honed his golf game as a junior member of Twin Waters and Headland. Scott has often spoken about how much he’s enjoyed spending extended time with his family in Noosa during Covid-19.
He won the Genesis Invitational in February and is 31st in current FedEx Cup standings. The former world No 1 golfer has played in just seven events this season.
Taught by experts
Noosa golfers had a chance last weekend to learn from one of the best when veteran pro Terry Price took his golf school to Noosa Golf Club. Price was there on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, providing one-on-one Trackman sessions focusing on swing analysis, ball flight analysis and club distances, as well as clinics on driving, long iron play and the short game.
Sunday Series back
With Covid-19 restrictions eased in Queensland, Noosa Springs’ popular Sunday Series is back – providing golfers with a chance to win a year’s free golf at two of the state’s most outstanding golf courses.
The Sunday Series is a weekly stableford competition, with prizes for the day’s best scores.
The male and female golfer with the best score each month 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 competition is open to members and visitors, with local golfers – those who live on the Sunshine Coast, in Noosa and in Gympie – eligible for the Locals Only special green fee of $79, including a cart.
Bowditch’s battle continues
Steven Bowditch, the former Noosa champion who is trying to resurrect his golf career in the US after injury and loss of form, continues to struggle. He finished last – 14 over par after two rounds – in this week’s Price Cutter Charity Championship in Springfield, Montana, on the secondary Korn Ferry Tour.
His attempt at qualifying for the final 36 holes was doomed with a second-round double bogey seven on the 8th hole and a triple bogey seven on the 12th. In his first-round 81 he had seven bogeys and three double bogeys.
Bowditch, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, is making enough birdies and pars. He just seems unable to eliminate the bad holes from his rounds.
Low cost golf at Cooroy
As specials go, this is about as good as it gets. Golfers can now play at Cooroy for just $16. The Noosa hinterland club’s Afternoon Special allows golfers to play nine holes – or 18 holes if they’re quick – for $16 as long as they tee off after 2pm.
During summer the starting time drops back to 2.30pm. Bookings in advance are required during Covid-19 restrictions.
There is also a two-player special on Tuesdays and Sundays. It provides 18 holes of golf, in a motorised cart, for $90.
Tickle finds early form
Popular Noosa pro Mark Tickle warmed up for the return of the Legends Pro-Am Tour when he shot a commendable one over-par 55 to be tied 20th in the Bulimba Pro-Am on Friday.
Tickle, a regular on the Over 55s circuit, finished six strokes behind winner Michael Wright over 18 holes on the par three circuit in east Brisbane. The Legends Tour resumes at North Stradbroke Island on August 19.
Noosa players in state title
Cooroy golfers Marc Bright and Peter Kennedy, and Noosa Springs’ Rob Mowat are part of an 18-strong Sunshine Coast contingent about to compete for the Queensland men’s senior amateur championship at Mount Coolum.
The 54-hole event, restricted to golfers aged 55 and over, will be played from August 2 to 4. The event is run in conjunction with the state women’s senior amateur championship and the Queensland women’s mid-amateur championship, which is contested by women aged 30 to 54.
Competition results
NOOSA SPRINGS
Wednesday, July 22
Men’s stableford: Allan Carter (15) 39 c/b, Gil Hoskins (19) 39, Simon Rice (21) 37, Brian O’Keefe (21) 37, Niels Faerch (25) 36, Andrew Tregaskis (12) 36, Kerry Sunderland (23) 36, Graham Young (16) 36. Women’s stableford: Sandi Hoskins (21) 39, Carol Yancey (27) 37, Lorna Gibson (17) 36, Irene Cordukes (32) 33, Jennifer Carr (29) 33.
Sunday, July 26
Men’s stableford: Craig Williams (6) 35, Raffi Sekzenian (18) 33, Steve Troon (13) 33, Mike Argus (15) 33. Women’s stableford: Sandi Hoskins (20) 34, Tracey Carter (8) 33, Rowena Faerch (15) 33.
NOOSA
Wednesday, July 22
Vets’ stableford: A grade – Trev Sumner (5) 39, Dave Whitehead (15) 37; B grade – Brian Brook (23) 39, Ian Dalrymple (22) 37c/b; C grade – Scott Hobden (26) 42, Peter Gordon (24) 4. Rundown to 34.
Saturday, July 25
Men’s stableford: A grade – Shane Dunning (11) 34c/b, David Murray (11) 34, George Giblett (-4) 33c/b; B grade – Ron Turner (16) 34, David O’Connor (14) 32, Mark Ostwald (13) 31; C grade – Ben Joseph (24) 25, Sam Harrington (19) 33, Jarrod Davis (24) 30. Rundown to 23c/b.
COOROY
Wednesday, July 22
Vets stableford: A grade – Russ Rylance 35 c/b, Ray Lally 35, Shane Le-Gale 35 c/b; B grade – Derek Wood 38, Roddy Anderson 36, Wayne Carty 35; C grade – Alex Kologaras 41, Mike Smith 40, Jim Henderson 37. Rundown to 33.
Saturday, July 25
Stableford: M. Loe 36, K. Hamilton 35. Rundown to 30. NTP: 4th D. Pearce, 7th N. Akland, 10th C. Black, 12th B. Robbo, 15th B. Robbo.
