Club Email

Michael Infanti update

Our Head Teaching Professional, Michael Infanti, has now been away from work since late April as he continues his courageous battle with cancer. In early August, Michael received encouraging news that chemotherapy had reduced the tumour, paving the way for surgery. Since then, he has faced some difficult setbacks, including a bout of influenza A, but his positivity and resilience have carried him through. He is now just weeks away from surgery, with his wife taking extended leave to be by his side through the recovery period.

The funds raised through the raffle in June have already made a real difference, helping Michael and his family with everyday living expenses during this challenging time. We thank everyone who contributed so generously.

We’ve been fortunate to see Michael back at the Club on a few occasions recently, and his strength continues to inspire us all. Please take a moment to watch the video message from Michael below.

Looking ahead, we are planning a special event to bring together Michael’s many friends, his wide social network, and the Long Reef community. This will be an opportunity to show our support and rally around him. More details will be shared in the coming weeks.

On behalf of the Club, we wish Michael every success with his upcoming surgery and look forward to welcoming him back in the new year.

Golf Connect

Golf Australia is introducing Golf Connect, a new national handicapping and competition platform that will replace Golf Link .

From Thursday 2 October, the new Golf Australia App will be available for download (click link)

To activate your account, please see the short video from Golf Australia Click here

If you have any issues with your account or dowlaoding the all please see our team of Golf Onboarding Champions. They can assist with downloading the new app and activating your account:

Oli & Jenny – Golf Shop
Kim – Reception
Josh – Administration

Combined Services Day

The Combined Services Day was held on Monday 22nd September, with over 100 players taking part, including Members, Guests and Sponsors.

Everyone enjoyed the lunch after golf, highlighted by an inspiring talk from Major General Mark Kelly, AO, DSC.

Most importantly, thanks to the generosity of all involved, an incredible $22,686 was raised for Legacy. This is a truly outstanding result and will go a long way in supporting this very worthy cause.

Ben Russell | General Manager

Four Ball Knockout

The Final of the 4B Knockout was played on Saturday, 20th September, with Tony Valentine and Malcom Weir taking on Michael Harding and Ross Kocass. It was a tightly contested match with Ross Kocass and Michael Harding winning the match 3 & 2. Congratulations Ross and Michael.

Scarifying the Farways:

Scarifying of the fairways has been taking place since last week. This essential maintenance was originally scheduled for August but was postponed due to the prolonged wet weather. It is anticipated that it will be completed by the end of this week.

Scarifying is a critical part of maintaining the health and quality of our fairways, and this is the optimal growing season to complete the work. Although the timing is not ideal with the Club Championships commencing on 11 October, ensuring the course remains in peak condition is our highest priority and cannot be delayed further.

The Local Rule from Wednesday 24th September allows for a 30cm preferred lie in the general area.

Club Championships - Timesheet
For those Members wishing to participate in the Championships, the timesheet for Saturday 11th October will open at 6.30pm on Sunday 5th October (Provisional Members will have access at this time too) - instead of Monday 6th.

The playing time that you select on that date will also be your playing time on Saturday 18th October. You will enter the draw process as normal on Sunday 5th and when you get into the timesheet, you will also be required to pay the $30 entry fee. If you are also entering playing partners, you will need to pay their entry fee too. The early access to the timesheet will close at midnight on the 5th October.

Vince Horan Memorial Trophy

Congratulations to this year's qualifiers of the Vince Horan Memorial Trophy which will be played on Wdnesday 15th October.
Wishign all players good luck.

2024/2025 qualifiers: David Bradley, John Crowley, Rob Mander, John Dertateossian, Michael Cooper, James Jennings, Peter Verrills, Sebastian Cooper

Mick Snell Cup
Congratulations to Brett Kinsella and Phil O’Regan who will be playing the final of the Mick Snell Cup this Sunday 4^th October.

We wish them both the best of luck.

Golf Industry Awards
Mick Snell has been shortlisted for the Volunteer of the Year in the Golf Industry awards. The event will be held on Monday 27^th October and we wish Mick every success.

Results

Wednesday 17^th September – Single Stableford and 4BBB with a field of 221.

The winner and score of the day went to David O’Sullivan with 43 points.
Full Results

Saturday 20^th September -Single Stableford and 4Ball (best 3 of 4) with a field of 191.

The winner and score of the day went to Yutaka Yoshino (aka YY) with 43 points.
Full Results

Wednesday 24^th September – Single Stableford and 4BBB with a field of 224.

The winner and score of the day went to David Fogarty with 42 points.
Full Results

Saturday 27^th September – Medley Stableford and 2BBB with a field of 199.

The winner and score of the day went to Nelson Murphy with 49 points.
Full Results

Rob Cordaiy | Captain

Visitors Day

Our Visitor’s Day was held on 18^th September 2025 in perfect conditions. We had 117 players of which 32 were from Northbridge , Wakehurst, Pymble, Mona Vale, Monash, Cromer, Balgowlah, Palm Beach, Kempsey, Avalon, Twin Waters, Warringah, Killara, Cronulla, The Australian, Bayview and Elanora .

The event was won by Elizabeth O’Brien, Susan Bardwell, Sandra Haberlin and Helen Harlow with 96 points.

Women’s Weekend Premiership

The Women’s Weekend Premiership took place over 36 holes on September 14^th and 21^st, 2025 with participation from 13 eligible 6 and 7- day women members.

The winner was Natalie Driver with 182 gross and the nett winner was Michelle Milsted 146 nett.

Remembrance Day Trophies

On Thursday 25^th September , the Remembrance Day Trophies were played.

The Scherrie Hughes Plate is played over 18 holes and the winner was Elizabeth O’Brien with a +6

The Forget Me Not Trophy is played over 9 holes and Li-Shyan Chen was the winner with a -1.

WGA – 2025 Metropolitan Championships

The day was a great success and we would like to extend a huge thank you to all the wonderful ladies who baked such yummy goodies for the morning tea. It was very impressive!!

Hole in One

Congratulations to Julie Simpson, who achieved a hole in one on the 2nd on Tuesday 30 September.

Golf Connect – Update

Due to the new digital platform that goes live from October 2nd there will be no handicapped events from Monday 29th September for a few days . Fun team events will be schedules during this period.

Women’s Forum Event – Thursday 9th October

We look forward to welcoming as many members as possible on this night so we can share ideas and contribute to the future of Woman’s Golf at Long Reef Golf Club. Please email Gilda Severino ( gildaseverino@gmail.com) by COB Thursday 2nd October with any specific questions you would like responses to on the evening.

Women’s Club Championships 2025

The Women’s Club Championships are open to all 5, 6 & 7 Day Members, with finals (all grades) played alongside the Men’s Championships. Trophies will be presented at the Major Trophy Presentation on Sunday 2nd November.

Qualifying Rounds

Weekend: Sunday 12th & 19th October
Midweek: Tuesday 14th & Thursday 16th October

Conditions of Play

Top 8 gross qualifiers progress to matchplay (min. 10 entries; otherwise top 4).
Players must nominate either Weekend or Midweek prior to Round 1.
Entry fee: $30 for both rounds (prepay online or in the Golf Shop).

Matchplay Dates

Quarter Final: Sunday 25th October
Semi Final: Thursday 30th October
Final: Sunday 2nd November

Championship Grades

Open Championship – All handicaps
A Reserve – GA 12.5 to 20.7
B Grade – GA 20.8 to 29.0
C Grade – GA 29.1+ (max daily 45)*may change due to Golf Connect transition

Women's Committee

The Course has received a total of 1555.2mm of rain so far this year, with 3.0mm rain falling in the last fortnight. The westerly winds are now starting to dry the Course out.

Over the past fortnight, the Course team has been busy renovating the fairways. This process involved scarifying to remove excess thatch, solid tyning to open up the surface, allowing more air and water into the profile, then blowing off the excess thatch and debris. Finally mowing down the fairways to 10mm. Aerating the soil is a key step in the process. Over time, our fairways have become compacted from constant play and machinery and have a very thick thatch layer which restricts the movement of air, water, and nutrients through the soil. This type of renovation work hasn’t been carried out for years, so it was well overdue. It is necessary that we complete this program annually. To assist with recovery, the fairways will also be given a slow-release fertilizer in the coming weeks. This will provide a steady supply of nutrients to help the turf recover quickly and maintain strong growth leading into warmer months.

Once the Club Championships are complete, we will begin renovating the tees. This work will consist of a heavy scarify, shaving them down to nearly bare soil, coring them, and applying amendments to support their recovery. Tee renovations are a very important part of the annual maintenance program, ensuring a firm level surface with good growth during the warmer months.

You may have noticed a yellow ring around the members 9th tee. This has come from a hydraulic leak from our tees mower. The grass in this area will die off, but it will slowly grow back over time.

Swan Update

Our baby swans are continuing to thrive and have grown remarkably over the past few weeks. They are now almost as large as their parents, showing just how quickly they are developing. Their grey feathers have begun to change colours and it won’t be too long before they take flight for the very first time.

Kurt Schulenburg | Course Superintendent

CLICK HERE TO BOOK IN

Question: Tom playing in a stroke round had started fr0m the ninth tee. He hit a long straight drive to the centre of the fairway. There was some bird activity in the area.

When the group reached the expected position there was no sign of the ball despite a thorough search. The players agreed that it was virtually certain that the ball had been moved by an outside influence.

Which is correct?

A. Because the ball was not found the only option is to play a ball under penalty of stroke and distance. Penalty of one stroke.

B. Tom must drop a ball on an estimated spot without penalty , because the original position was not known.

C. Tom must replace the ball on a spot which must be estimated. See Rule 14-2.

Join Us! Our 2025 Dine In Dates:

Thursday 2 October
Thursday 11 December

Our Dine In evenings offer our Members the chance to enjoy a seasonally inspired menu overlooking Fisherman's Beach and are the perfect opportunity to get a group of friends and family together for an evening of good food and good company at your Club!

We offer an elevated dining experience for our Members to experience. with table service, a set three course menu, wine pairing suggestions and with the same familiar faces you see in the bar and café.

Golf Members Dine In Voucher Redeemable
(Buy-One-Get-One-Free)
Bookings via Clubhouse Reception (02) 9971 8113 or email: office@lrgc.com.au

Champions - Part 1

The Club Championships have settled into this springtime of year at the Club. It has not always been so but October can now give us pause to celebrate the very gifted members of the Club. The finals are red-letter days! The qualifying stroke rounds followed by Match play give a complete golf and personality challenge. The Championship are the main historic link throughout the Club’s history from 1924, with only the WW2 years interrupting. (The women’s honour board does not reflect this date, but it should. When new teak boards were commissioned in the 50s the information was not transferred forward.)

Over time the Open Championship has been joined by specific handicap Premierships and the men also hold the Junior and Senior Championship in conjunction.

Listed below are some of the celebrated Champions remembering that it is hard to compare finalists of different eras. The difficulty of the course has changed and up to 90 bunkers, shaggy rough especially on our boundaries and very poor lies in the 50s have now been replaced or added to by water hazards, mounds and more O of B’s. Many of our ‘super champions’ played when work and family commitments were very different and before the Junior category of membership was added.

For the women until a few years ago the finals day and the Presentation was one of the most exciting and prestigious days in the calendar. The costs of the celebrations was budgeted for and it was a “tablecloth , flowers and afternoon tea day”. Former members as well as current players on the day would walk the course, especially the second 18 holes as a gallery for the Championship final. Meanwhile in the club house the Dining room would be set up with a very long top table that would seat all the winners and runners-up and their caddies. Speeches from everyone would describe how they did or didn’t do it and thanks was given to the caddies and the three referees followed by photographs for the album.

The Australian Championship 1930

Probably the Club’s most celebrated moment in the club’s history. The Golf Professional Frank Eyre from a 9 year old 9-hole course named Long Reef, won the Stonehaven Cup against an established field at The Metropolitan in Melbourne. It was an unexpected win.

Champions of Champions.

What an achievement to not only win your Clubs Championship but then go on to represent the club against all other Champions in the district or State and have a win. Over all the years of Championships a win at this level has been achieved by three players, Wally Smith in 1930, Col Hallum in 1982 and Steve Jackson in 1983 who won the Australian Junior Championship.

Men’s Champion.

The greatest number of wins and appearances in the Championship was achieved by Des Lofthouse. He won on 12 occasions between 1950 -74, also winning the Foursomes 9 times and the Mixed Foursomes four times. The present trophy was named after him. It is interesting to note that he was full-time member of the Army, never married and was great friend of the Golf Professional at Manly. There were few family distractions and lots of time to practise his game. Golf was his passion. (His ashes are scattered on the 18th fairway! ) Des ended Gordon Thomson’s reign who had won ten times between 1928 and 1951.

Women’s Champions

Dulcie Fouracre won the Associates trophy on 8 occasion beating by one Ruby Watts’s score. Ruby was also runner-up 8 times. Ruby’s golf career was interrupted by the war, having joined the club in 1940, but she went on to have 19 titles altogether. She also qualified for NSW Championships and the Australian Championships in 1952.

In 1952 Val King was Club Champion and she was selected to play for the NSW Team in 1953. To date Val is the only adult female golfer to play for the State.

Mick Snell & Sandra Mellowes | Archives Committee