President’s Communique

Since the opening of the first nine holes Maleny Golf Club Inc has essentially transformed from a construction-focused enterprise into a business operation, resulting in a number of changes both on and off the course to create a strong and sustainable community asset.

In a forthcoming communique President Dr Max Whitten will address a range of topics including the recent appointment of a club manager, the AGM timeline and agenda and details of an information evening to be held at the RSL Club in September to update members on subscription fees for 2016 and progress in planning for the second nine holes.

The information evening will be held at 7.000pm on Thursday 17th September in the Maleny RSL Memorial Hall. Put it in your diary.

Golf Link affiliation and AGU handicap

It was pleasing to see more than 70 of our 420 members take up the club’s three and four-month Special Green Fee offers which also attracted a number of new members. However, less than half of this group have yet taken advantage of the other benefit included which covers the cost of obtaining an AGU handicap and Golf Link affiliation – usually costing $77. Members with Golflink affiliation also have the opportunity to transfer administration of their handicap to Maleny as their home club.

Contact Garry Mayer at handicaps@malenygolfclub.com.au for more details on how to get a handicap.

Competition Golf

Maleny Golf Club holds competitions every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday and is keen to foster and build participation by members and visitors alike. On Wednesday mornings the club holds a 9-hole competition for ladies of all standards and beginners are especially welcome. Members wishing to lodge scorecards for handicap purposes will be warmly welcomed to play in all club competitions.

The starting and tee times for some of the competitions will be amended as the days get warmer and longer. For September, Saturday morning competition tee times will be from 8.30-10.00am, Tuesdays Shotgun Start at 8.30am, Wednesday’s Ladies 8.30-9.00am and Thursdays 12 Noon to 2.00pm. For more details on fixtures and competition results please consult the club website www.malenygolfclub.com.au

The winner of the August Monthly Medal was Mike Finley, well-done Mike.

Tuition

Locally-based golf professional Paul Stratford will be conducting group clinics for ladies and men for up to 8 people at the club on Wednesday mornings at 9:30am for four weeks from 9 September – the cost being $99 for 4 lessons. To book or arrange private lessons please call Paul on 0417 643 988 or email him paul@melex.com.au

Regarding social golf, patronage has not yet reached levels requiring adherence to strict timesheets, even on competition days, but members are encouraged to call club manager Richard Owen or the volunteer on duty on the club’s new telephone number 5499 9960 to arrange a tee time or to book one of our fleet of new EzGo electric carts. If there is a competition on you will usually be able to get on the course without too much of a wait

Club Christmas Party

The Maleny Golf Club Christmas party and presentation night will be held again at Maleny Manor this year on the evening of Wednesday 18 November and the cost will on a par with last year. An entertaining night is in store including a presentation of “Fairway Follies” – a boisterous revue of songs and sketches devised by John Cundill and produced by Margaret Taylor and a dozen of her accomplished Maleny Singers.

The lyrics have been adapted to reflect the pain and punishment golfers put themselves through as well as the sublime moments of success. The show also celebrates the long, hard struggle to achieve the first nine holes and the eventual euphoria of success. Attendance will be restricted to 100 so book early to avoid disappointment. Contact Margaret Trigger ASAP on 0417 633 660 or mjtrigger03@bigpond.com to register your interest.

Committee Feedback

Committee members would like to acknowledge and thank those members who have been providing feedback both verbally and in writing on a range of course and operational matters. The Committee also wants to thank all members for their patience while numerous issues are being worked through to provide the best and most economically sustainable experience possible for members and visitors alike.

Course Update from the Superintendent Mick McCombe

From left Mick McCombe and Mark KearneyThe Maleny Golf Club is pleased to welcome our new apprentice greenkeeper Mark Kearney who will be working with me three days a week until he completes Grade 10 and commences full time. Mark is a local lad and it’s great to have him on my team.

Renovation work on the greens will commence in early October, involving aeration, addition of soil amendments and some top-dressing to level out the putting surfaces. Construction of the new tees on the fourth hole is well advanced and the new path should be completed within the next week or so. Ongoing work on the new ladies tee will involve the addition of drainage, a top layer of sand and irrigation to deliver the highest quality product.

From left Mick McCombe and Mark Kearney

Captain’s Corner with John Pottage

We have a local rule which provides relief from the electric fence on the 9th hole. Relief can be taken via a drop with no penalty to avoid touching the fence with your body while taking a normal stance. The basics, such as taking relief from a cart path and what to do when your ball is in a water hazard, out of bounds or lost, are not as hard as you may think. They are covered in the RandA’s publication A Quick Guide to the Rules of Golf and knowledge of them is enough to see most players around the golf course most of the time.

Copies of the Rules of Golf are available at the golf club.

Happy golfing.