“Mick’s doing super work with Maleny” was the headline on the Sunshine Coast Daily’s articleannouncing to readers that our talented Superintendent Mick McCombe had collected Australia’s top gong for Excellence in Golf Course Management at the Australian Golf Course Superintendents’ Association’s annual conference dinner in Melbourne on June 20.

Mick was up against Superintendents from some of the best and most exclusive courses in the country and now stands alongside previous winners representing a veritable “who’s who” of the Australian golf course maintenance industry.

The award includes a $5,000 bursary to fund further education or an approved study tour and word is Mick is considering a trip to abroad next year to visit Machrihanish Dunes – the Scottish seaside links course which inspired us to adopt their “Golf as it began” development philosophy.

President Max Whitten said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Mick and a great outcome also for our course architect Graham Papworth, the Club, our Project Manager and Vice-President Rod Richards RPEQ, the Management Committee and all our volunteers.”

Mick is pictured above receiving his award from Tony Irvine of sponsor Rainbird (left) and AGCSA President Peter Lonegan.

Click on this link to read the full story

Club Shop

Development of the club’s temporary headquarters progressed further during June with work now underway on the addition of a deck to extend the covered terrace. Many thanks to Andrew Barnes, who has migrated north for the winter from Launceston again this year with Jan, John Tytherleigh and Tom Kennedy for working on this latest project. Andrew (left) and John are pictured here below setting out the support posts for the bearers.

Thanks also to the Chook Run Committee for financial assistance as well as to those members who have made individual donations to help fund the purchase of materials including the decking.

Staffing at the golf shop still remains challenging with many regulars away on holidays. Taking on a shift need not be a commitment of more than two hours plus some initial training.

So if you have any time available and are interested in getting involved please get in touch with Richard Owen by phoning 5499 9960 or emailing shop@malenygolfclub.com.au.

Competition Golf

Congratulations to Jan Johnston who shot 78 off the stick on Saturday 25 June to card a net 66 and win the Division 1 Maleny Property Rentals Monthly Medal – 3 shots clear of runner-up Bill Reynolds on 69.

Richard Owen was the winner of the Division 2 Maleny Property Rentals Monthly Medal with 88/67 – 4 shots ahead of runner up Paul Viertel 94/71. Nearest the pins went to Alan Ward on the 3/12th and Peter Gilbert on the 5/14th.

Congratulations also go to Susanne Hardy who shot a net 76 on Wednesday 29 June to win the Ladies Monthly Medal and coveted glassware, also provided by our sponsor Maleny Property Rentals. Runner Up was Beth Glover who carded a net 76 but lost on a countback. Susanne also cleaned up by winning both Nearest the Pins on the 3/12^th and 5/14^th.

Please note that the Maleny Community Precinct and Maleny Golf Club will be hosting the Queensland Athletics Cross Country Championships at the end of this month on Saturday 30 July.

Consequently, and as foreshadowed in the June Newsletter, there will be no competition or social golf on Saturday 30 July until after 3pm.

The Men’s Monthly Medal has been brought forward by a week to Saturday 23 July.

Captains Corner (with Margaret Trigger)

Play during June was hampered by wet weather – although the course held up very well and has been playing fantastically, thanks to the efforts of Mick, Mark and all the volunteers involved.

We had a steady stream of visitors enjoying the course and one of the highlights of the month was the successful hosting of the Club’s first officially sanctioned Glasshouse Mountains Zone Seniors event on Monday 13 June 2016.

Despite the looming threat of rain which prompted some withdrawals from a full complement of 64 nominations, a field of 47 players was in position for the 9am Shotgun Start and completed the event.

You can read the full story here by clicking on this link to our website

Plan are now underway to stage another Seniors’ event in late September.

Course Update – Superintendent Mick McCombe

You may have noticed that Mark is currently on well-earned 2-week break and I will be doing the same later in the month. The course is looking a little frostbitten at present and the greens have browned off but no real damage has been sustained.

In the weeks ahead we will be applying some sand on the greens to level off some areas which have been affected by disease but nothing too dire.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to once again thank all the volunteers who have helped us to achieve such a high standard of course presentation. I’m really over the moon in that regard and hopefully we can keep it up into the future.

Tuition

The club has longer term plans to develop a permanent clubhouse on site complete with a pro-shop to be operated by a full-time PGA professional. However, this is well beyond the club’s financial reach at present – particularly given the current focus to first develop the second 9 holes in stages.

In the meantime Don Portway ( Australian PGA Member from 1981 to present), who lives locally and previously worked as the head professional at the Capital and Belconnen Golf Club’s in the ACT, has offered to work as a volunteer in the Golf Shop and help the club in any way he can.

Some of you may have probably already met Don (pictured) who has advised that he will make himself available to provide group clinics and one-on-one lessons if requested. Tuition times being considered include Mondays and Tuesdays from 1pm, Thursday 9am-2pm and Sundays from 1pm.

Plans are also afoot to implement a structured “Ladies Let’s Golf” teaching program with funding and administrative support from Golf Queensland next month.

For further information please feel welcome to contact Don directly on don.portway@gmail.com or 0417 431 245 or alternatively please enquire at the Golf Shop.

The Committee would like to thank PGA Professional Paul Stratford for his support and involvement with the club over many years and work in supporting and promoting junior golf.

Paul is focusing his time and energy on family and business interests, but remains available to provide lessons if required. Paul can be contacted by email on paul@melex.com.au or 0417 643 988.