Club Email

REEF BREEZES

Wednesday 20 April 2022

Dear KIM,

From the Captain

Course conditions
You don't really need me to tell you how wet it still is underfoot in many areas, particularly off the fairway. There is a bit more rain forecast for the back end of this week, so even without that, I feel the course is too wet to be playing stroke rounds, so unfortunately (although some of you may be pleased!!), I am going to cancel the April Medal. It will mean that both March and April's Medals have been cancelled but until the rough dries out, it really wouldn't be much fun playing stroke events. The May Medal is scheduled for Saturday 7th, so with any luck, that will be able to go ahead.

Just a reminder to please carry sand buckets and fill divots - there are a few craters being left out there - and be diligent in repairing pitch marks as the greens are so soft. Also, there is a three-minute time limit on looking for your ball - I appreciate that you can be unlucky to lose a plugged ball in the rough but the allotted time must not be exceeded.

Pace of Play
I know the conditions are perhaps causing play to be a little slower than normal but please ensure that you keep up with the group in front. Under the circumstances, we will be more lenient about the actual time taken to go around but we will closely be monitoring how groups keep their place in the field. You should be finishing with 10 minutes of the group in front. Please remember to be ready to play your shot, leave your buggy on the correct side of the green, send playing partners to tee off if you are behind and mark your score at an appropriate time.

As you will see from the attached photo - pace of play is not a new issue for golfers. Pictured below
is the cover of Golf Illustrated from January 1938. The philosophy is easy to read but in case you can't make out the handwritten portion, it reads "Dear Members, we respectfully appeal to you to take notice of the above" - yours truly, The Committee. Even 84 years on, I'm happy to steal their approach with pride.

Masters Pennant
We have been drawn in a group with Cabramatta, Cronulla and Cromer this year and start with a home match against Cabramatta on Sunday 15th May. The first match off will be at 11am if you wish to come down and support us old guys, as we again look to go beyond the semi-finals. We have a ten man squad this year - Jimmy Knox, Jimmy Little, Tony Holley, Ian Brown, Ross Bockman, Adam Lynn, Mick McKerihan, Jamie Duff, Nick Sherlock and me.

NPIC
This year's competition was severely disrupted by the recent rain and in the end, it could not be played in full.

We were hopeful of defending the title we won last year but the cancellations denied us the opportunity to take on Cromer in what would have been a "winner takes all" match so we ended the season as runners-up.

Men vs Women
To maximise tee times, we have decided to move this popular fixture back a week, to Sunday 22nd May. The Men are the holders of the trophy so the Women will need an outright win to take it off them.

Barling Trophy
This event will be played this Sunday (24th April) and is open to all Men and Women Members with at least 20 years Membership on that day.

Golfing Highlights

Again, there hasn't been much golf to report on but it was good to back doing the Saturday presentation last week and have a decent crowd in to celebrate the winners - many of whom were actually there.

The "Score of the Day" went to Russell Lee with an excellent 42 points. Russell was also the C Grade winner. Paul March was the runner-up in C Grade with 38 points while Peter Skiffington was third with 36 points. Brad Boyce won B Grade with 41 points while Brian Ferguson was runner-up with 38 points and Chris Stoneman third with 37 points. Brad Verrills won A Grade with 40 points and also combined with Dragan Mitrovic to win the 2 Ball Aggregate with 78 points. Martin Haywood beat Mitch Bockman on a countback for second when both finished with 38 points.

The Women's winner was Janet Atchison with 34 points.

Chun-Ta Wu was the Scratch winner with 4 under par while Tony Cooper won "Nearest the Pin" on the 2nd and Shane Parsons was closest on the 13th.

Congratulations to Kim Sloane who won last Sunday with 40 points.

Harry McKerihan (pictured below) had his first win in a junior tournament last weekend- the Regional Academies Championship in Wagga Wagga. Harry had scores of 75 and 74 and finished in a tie for first after the 36 holes but he held his nerve and won on the first sudden-death play-off hole. Harry was representing Metro North Academy and that win secured him a place in the season ending championship at Bonville later in the year and a spot in the North team for the "Ryder Cup" style event to be played between the North and South Academies. Well done, Harry!

Enjoy your golf!

Doug Campell | Captain

From the Women's Committee

After a few weeks with little golf played it was lovely to see the sun come out and start to dry the course and we were able to play the game we all enjoy.

The Silver team's first two games were cancelled due to the weather. This week the Pennants match is at Long Reef, and next Friday 29^th April the team travels to Killara to play Castle Hill.

The Singles Knockout final between Rosemary West and Catherine Devrye was finally played on Tuesday 19^th April, it was a great match with many twists and turns, the winner on the 19^th hole was Rosemary West. Thank you to Leonie Malcolm for refereeing the match.

The Long Markers Knockout Trophy final between Michelle Milsted v Nan Crump will be played later in April.

The stroke rounds on Thursday 7^th and 14^th April that were cancelled will be rescheduled to later in the year.

Results
Tuesday 12th April, Division 1 winner was Fiona Bone (22) 35 pts on a countback from Karen Smith (17), 3rd was Sue Smiles (22) 32 C/B.

Division 2 was won by Jie Cheng (29) with an awesome score of 39 pts, 2nd Muriel Dawson (29) 36 pts, 3rd Lisa George (28) 34 C/B

9 holes was won by Lyn Harper (36) 19 pts
Saturday 16th April was won by Janet Atchison (13) 34 pts
Sunday 17th April saw Kim Sloane (16) have a great round scoring 40 points with Susan Hay (16) 2nd with 35 pts.
Monday 18th April was won by Jane Hagan (19) 37 pts
Tuesday 19th April saw some great scores, Division 1 was won by Jenni Brown (12) 39 C/B from Jennifer Jansson (14), Rachael Loomes (17) 3rd with 37 pts.
Division 2 winner was Sam Sparke (28) 36 pts, 2nd Clare John (31) 34 C/B from Corinne Crawford (45).
NTP 7th hole - Di Heffernan
9 hole mixed division was won by Graham Heiser (18) 19 pts from Diana Muir (43) 18 pts
Upcoming Fixtures
Thursday 28^th April Par round, the sheets are up in the locker room, and you can use the ballot system on line.

Tuesday May 3^rd and Thursday 5^th May are the qualifying rounds for the Annis Soutar Foursomes. The sheets are up in the locker room. If you are only able to play on one of these days you can still enter (not qualify), just let us know when you enter. The match play will be played on Tuesday 10^th May, Tuesday 17^th May and the final is on Thursday 19^th May. The sheet for qualifying will be in the Pro Shop on the 1^st qualifying day, Tuesday 3^rd May. If you would like more information about the Foursomes please do not hesitate to contact me.

Wendy Thomas | Women's Captain
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From the Women's President
It's been a pity we haven't been able to play much golf lately, firstly because of Covid and now with the enormous amount of rain. We have only had 2 Thursday presentations in 2022. We have certainly missed our Thursday presentations as it gives all of us an opportunity to catch up with friends. It also gives the committee the opportunity to pass on latest information and updates in person. Let's all hope La Niña moves on to another planet very soon.

Our intention has always been that we still hold our Women's Annual General Meeting which includes Prize Presentation for 2021. In addition we would also like to hold our 2022 Opening Day.

Please mark in your diaries Thursday 16th June. Drinks and a light meal will be provided. Bookings will be essential. Will provide more details in the next few weeks.

Gilda Severino | Women's President

Changes to upcoming Fixtures

Monday 9th May | No competition due to the Sydney Vets playing in the morning

Sunday 15th May | Originally Men v Women, this will now be played on Sunday 22nd May

Rules With George | Question

Question: Playing a match, Geoffrey was on the fourth green for two and Alex was on the green for three.

Geoffrey was about one metre from the hole and Alex had a putt of 5 metres.

Geoffrey marked his ball before Alex putted. Alex asked him to move his marker one putter head to the left. Alex putted leaving his ball about 1 1/2 metres from the hole . His next putt finished on the lip of the hole. Geoffrey conceded that putt for a six.

Geoffrey quickly placed his ball in front of his ball marker and holed the putt. At that point Alex reminded Geoffrey, that he had not moved his marker back before replacing his ball.

Which is correct? A) Geoffrey won the hole or B) Alex won the hole

From the Archives | Who are they?
Australian Golf Heritage Society

The article this week is compiled and written by Les Browne. Les is a member of the Club’s Archive Committee, a Life Member, Gold Member, and now Captain of the Australian Golfing Heritage Society. Long Reef is very fortunate to have such a strong and direct connection to the Society.

The Australian Golf Heritage Society began as a private collection in 1973. The collection was formalised when it was donated to the Golf Collector's Society in 1995. The Golf Collector's Society became the Australian Golf Heritage Society (AGHS) in 2008 to give a more representative description of the Society's interests and scope. The aim is to collect, conserve, research and exhibit objects and information of golfing heritage to raise the golfing community's awareness of golf's history and the place of that history in the development of the modern game. The Museum's policy objective is to respect and conserve the history of golf in Australia.

In 2000, a Museum was established and the collection moved to the first floor of the Golf Mart Granville store where it remained until late 2018. It is now housed in a section of the newly developed Strathfield Golf Club Clubhouse. The Museum is managed by volunteers & is generally open on Thursdays between 10am & 2pm. The collection now reaches a large number of people in the golfing community through displays that are put on at various golf events.

Part of the display at Strathfield featuring pre 1900 Golf Equipment

Recently Forster Tuncurry Golf Club received a $3m grant to build a new Clubhouse at their Championship Tuncurry Course. Part of the grant was to establish a Golf Museum which AGHS was contracted to develop and provide many of the display items. It will be officially opened by the Sports Minister mid 2022. Interestingly the project has brought together Ivan Bradshaw ex Treasurer at Long Reef, now President at Forster Tuncurry GC and our Life Member, Les Browne, who is Captain of AGHS and instrumental in the development of the Museum.

In 2012 an assessment was conducted by "Significance International" which stated that 'the
Australian Golf Heritage Society collection is significant for its association with professional
golf in Australia, for its role in documenting the history, technicality, personality, and
popular culture of the game generally, and for making this publicly accessible. The
collection is primarily of historic significance, but is also socially significant to the many
people who continue to make the sport the cornerstone of their lives - notably the amateur
and professional Members of the Society, distributed around Australia.

The AGHS also organise and run a number of Hickory events such as The Australian Hickory Shaft Open Championship (hosted by Long Reef in February this year), The NSW Hickory Championships, the Australian organiser of the US National Hickory Championship - Remote Section, and various events conducted by individual Clubs, mainly to celebrate important milestones such as their Centenary.

If you are interested in being involved in the history of the game or playing with hickory clubs, give Les Browne a call.

Les Browne | Archive Committee

Below Image: Players at Warringah GC before competing in the Australian Hickory Foursomes

Vale | Brian King

It was with great sadness that Members learned recently of the death of Brian King at the age of 76.

Brian joined Long Reef on 1st October 2009 and had been a regular competition player for most of those years. Prior to joining, Brian had been a Member at Warringah and Manly Golf Clubs. At Manly, he represented the Club in the Seniors Pennant Competition playing off a handicap of 4.

While at Long Reef, Brian certainly demonstrated his considerable ability on the course but, particularly in later years, he was disadvantaged by knee and back problems that made the game so much more difficult for him. Nevertheless, good or bad shot, his demeanour never changed.

Brian was a very amiable fellow who loved the game and the social aspects afterwards. One of his friends summed him up very well with the words "Brian, was a very easy person to be around".

Brian is survived by his wife, two children and two grandchildren and we extend to them and all his friends our very sincere condolences at this sad time.

Brian Cummins | Welfare Coordinator

Crazy Whist

After nearly a year of disruptions with Covid, Crazy Whist is back on the first Friday of every month, the next being the 6th of May.

If you've never played Crazy Whist before it requires no knowledge or experience with other card games. It's just fun and social, based on pure luck. You don't even need a partner.

The cost of the evening is $20 per person and that includes a light meal and prizes. Each Member of the winning pair wins a bottle of wine as does each pair with the lowest score.

For more information, please ring reception or Nicki Wiebe on 0428 372 183.

Mizuno Fitting Day | Wednesday April 27 | 8am - 1pm

- Sale rack 35% -

- Selected Logo Shirts $49 each or 2 for $80 -

- New range ladies clothing in store -

- Selected Golf Clubs at 35% Off -

Please book through the Pro Shop (02)9982 2943 | proshop@lrgc.com.au

Rules With George | Answer

Answer: B is correct. In failing to replace his ball marker before replacing his ball, Geoffrey played his ball from a wrong place. Although Alex had holed out for six strokes, in match play, Geoffrey was penalised the General Penalty of Loss of Hole for playing a stroke from the Wrong Place....Rule 14 .7a applies.

The fact that Geoffrey had moved his marker as an act of courtesy is not relevant. The penalty of loss of hole must stand.