Apex funds Defibrillator for Golf Course & Community Precinct

A defibrillator has been installed in the Golf Shop

The lives of future heart attack victims within the Maleny Community Precinct and its surrounds may well be saved thanks to Apex Maleny’s insightful decision to help fund the purchase of a defibrillator now installed at the Maleny Golf Club.

Golf Club President Dr Max Whitten said the defibrillator, which cost about $2500, could be readily accessed to assist anyone in need on the golf course, the wider precinct or on the surrounding walking trails.

“This is a state-of-the art piece of equipment which is portable, lightweight and easy to use if the need arises,” Dr Whitten said.

“We want to thank the Maleny Apex Club on behalf of the community for providing the funds to purchase this equipment which we know can greatly improve a heart attack victim’s chances of survival if deployed and used in time.”

Incoming Apex Maleny President Mr Barry Meager said members had been delighted to be in a position to support the Golf Club’s community-focused initiative.

“Apex is always happy to get behind projects and initiatives of benefit to the broader community and the purchase of a defibrillator for the golf club and community precinct certainly ticked all the right boxes,” Mr Meager said.

The golf shop is staffed between 7am and 5pm daily and can be contacted on 5499 9960.

Solar Power Operational

Installation of two separate state of the art solar energy systems by Gary Phillips of Negawatts Solar & Electrical was completed in June and Energex has since signed off on the installation. The 6Kw system, which incorporates a lithium battery, will cut the cost of keeping our fleet of 10 golf carts charged and reduce our environmental footprint at the same time.

A separate 4Kw system is connected to the grid and services the club house. Thanks to Gary for a first class job. Funding for the solar systems came from a $15,000 grant from the Commonwealth Government.

New Cart Container and Dark Sky Update.

Dark Sky public viewing night

A new 20-foot container has been delivered and installed as a result of the infrastructure-sharing agreement we have forged with the Sunshine Coast Dark Sky astronomers who are members of the Brisbane Astronomical Society. In return for use of two of our lower level cart sheds, the astronomers have supplied the container which is being wired to accommodate charging for two of electric carts and fitted out with shelving to provide additional storage.

Thanks to Richard Clayton for paving the floor of one of the cart sheds for storing the telescopes.

The Dark Sky Park inaugural public viewing night was a tremendous success with more than 100 budding stargazers visiting on the night for a sample of what the heavens have to offer. The next public viewing night for those interested has been scheduled for the night of Saturday July 22. Click here for more detail.

Practice Nets

Thanks to Mick McCombe, Andrew Barnes, John Tytherleigh and Tom Kennedy for getting our much needed driving net installed. There was a lot more work involved than might meet the eye but it has been tested and is fully operational. Now members and visitors will be able to warm up with long irons and drivers before teeing off.

Trading Update and Golf Shop

June trading was up markedly on the previous year but down on May’s result – largely due to almost two weeks of un-seasonal wet weather. Golf revenue net of membership receipts was pleasingly up 35% on the previous June’s revenues. Significantly, Visitor Green Fees and Cart Hire were again the main source of revenue increase.

Golf Shop Manager Richard Owen will be on leave until the end of August so there will be no edition of Hinterland Golfer in August. Neil Stenhouse will be working with the Management Committee during Richard’s absence to manage the Golf Shop and coordinate the weekly staffing roster.

There are still some vacant shifts on the golf shop roster each week and there is always someone away on holidays or indisposed for one reason or another creating a vacancy. So if you have some spare time available and want to lend a hand, why not consider volunteering to work in the golf shop?

Tee signage

As a result of a lot of effort all the tees on the course now have signage providing distances and a schematic layout of the hole ahead. These should be of great assistance to visitors who have had to rely on their scorecards for such information.

The cost has more than been offset by the local businesses who have embraced an opportunity to support the club by sponsoring a hole in return for marketing space.

Queensland Cross Country Championships

Maleny Golf Club will again be hosting the Queensland Cross Country Championships on Saturday 29 July – exposing the course to many visitors to the area as part of the our broader community engagement strategy.

Consequently social play will be limited and the course will be closed circa 10:30am.

There will be no 18-hole completion as a result,but a trial 18-hole competition will be held the following day, Sunday 30 July. The management committee apologises for any inconvenience.

Competition Golf – Monthly Medals & Club Championships

From left: June C Grade Medal Winner Neil Gould, Maleny Mug winner Tom Kennedy and B Grade Medal winner Richard Clayton. Absent A Grade winner Marcus Wellington.

The pin positions were particularly tough, presenting another stern test off the Blue Markers for the TFM Awards Men’s Monthly Medal on Saturday June 24. Congratulations to Marcus Wellington who carded a net 67 to win the A Grade Medal while Mike Finley was the runner up (70) on a count back from Blake Wellington. Richard Clayton won the B Grade Medal (again!) with a net 68 – 2 clear of runner up Peter Gilbert with Chris Plummer in 3rd on 71.

Neil Gould had another terrific round to card a net 64 – the best net score of the day which earned him both the C Grade Medal and a $30 voucher. Noah Child-Freeman was the runner up on 71 with Geoff Smith in 3rd on 73. Nearest the pins on the 3rd and 5th went to Bill Reynolds, Marcus Wellington on the 12th and Mike Finley on the 14th.

Tom Kennedy mounted yet another successful defence of the Maleny Mug when it transpired that his only rival on the day had to be disqualified for not being of the requisite age! The Maleny Mug has until now been held in conjunction with the Monthly Medal competition to enable players over 70 years and who are not confident hitting off the blue makers to participate in a competition on the day off the White Tees.

In future members of any age who do not wish to play in the Monthly Medal from the Blue Tees can compete for the Monthly Mug. Hopefully this may boost the number of Saturday players on Monthly Medal days.

Seri Tytherleigh (centre) celebrating her win with from left: Margaret Goodger, Anne Devane, Penny Edwards and Christine Lemon.

Despite the small field the ladies competition was fierce and the desire to win undiminished and it was Seri Tytherleigh who took home the coveted Maleny Property Rentals glassware by carding a net 74 to win on a countback from Penny Edwards.

Penny looked set to triumph until some errant shots on the last two holes derailed her campaign. Margaret Goodger came in 3rd place with 76. Seri also claimed nearest the pin on the 3rd.

The Club Championships are not far away now and will be contested next month over 54 Holes (26 & 27 August and 2nd September). They will be played according to the conditions laid down in the front of MGC Fixture Book although the graded handicaps will be amended slightly as per the Monthly Medal divisions.

Thanks to Drummond Golf Maroochydore for sponsoring the prizes for the Men’s Championships with vouchers to the total value of $600. The Ladies Championship will be contested over 18 Holes on Wednesday 30 August and is sponsored by Easton Lawyers.

Captain’s Corner

Preparations are well underway to field a Pennants Team in the Glasshouse Mountains Zone District competition next year. We have been able to recruit an exceptionally strong team led by Marcus Wellington and Mal Ewing.

We are in the process of securing a sponsor to provide Pennant Shirts and cover some of the other associated costs which will include hosting two home rounds. The team’s participation will help lift the Maleny Golf Club’s profile and prestige within the district stretching from Kingaroy to Bribie Island.

The club is also focused on promoting junior golf and a small steering group of Bob Whiteley, Mal Ewing and Karen Heading will look at what processes and strategies might be needed to encourage more juniors to play golf at the club prior to engagement of a full-time club professional. The club will host a Glass House Mountains Zone junior golf competition on Sunday July 23 from 8.00am – 12.30pm.

Please mark the following dates in your diaries: Monday, 11 September, District Seniors 4BBB with a shotgun start at 8:30am. Wednesday, 13 September, Mixed Pink and Blue fund raising day for breast and prostate cancer.

Course Update – Superintendent Mick McCombe

Haydan Ridley (left) with Mick on his first day.

Members may not be aware but we have just taken on a new staff member Hayden Ridley as Assistant Superintendent. His role will primarily be maintain our existing golf course while my attention switches to construction of the three new holes.

There are still a few pitch marks in the greens but I have noticed a marked improvement over recent weeks so please keep up the good work of repairing pitch marks. However, we continue to see quite a few divots left on the Par 3 Tees so please assist by filling these with sand while waiting for the greens to clear.

The new bunkers on the 3^rd hole are settling down nicely in time for club championships later in the month. Thanks to Rob Bailo, John Hay and Jimmy Buyan for assisting with their construction.

During construction of the new holes we are likely to have some open irrigation trenching which may impact play next month so please use common sense in regard to these. Any residual red dirt areas should be considered as GUR even if not marked as such.

Stop Press – Get your Bumper Sticker

If you’d like to help promote the Maleny Golf Club whenever you are out and about on the road then ask for a bumper sticker at the Golf Shop. They’ve just arrived and are a great way to help build awareness about our fantastic golf course.