Club Email

Winners

"Nobody likes par events" according to the Member survey, but Mark Broadhead, Daniel Boorman and Greg Hunter certainly enjoyed last Saturday's competition because they all finished with +7.

Spare a thought for Luke Edgell who shot a bogey free 64 off the stick for +6 and could only finish 3rd in A Grade, behind Mark and Daniel with Mark winning the countback for Score of the Day too. He also took out the Hidden Holes and had 2 x 2s.

Greg comfortably won B Grade with Mark Gilligan beating Anthony Papandrea on a countback for second after both finished with +3. Paul March was the C Grade winner with +4, with Steve Coulson second on +2 and Josh Dowse won a countback for third with +1.

Anthony Dignan and Ben Knight combined for an incredible +13 in the 4BBB, one ahead of Greg Hunter and Cha Loh.

The Women's winner was Janet Atchison with +1.

Adam Rust won Score of the Day and B Grade on Saturday 19th with 42 points while Colm Galloway won A Grade with 41 and Barry Murray was the C Grade winner with 37. Colm also teamed up with Russell Young to win the aggregate event with 75 points. Dom Dowling beat Phil White on a countback for second in A Grade after they both finished with 38 points. Mick Snell finished runner-up to Adam in B Grade with 39 points with Jeremy Gruzman third on 38. Russell Smylie was runner-up in C Grade with 36 points while Peter French continued his recent good form to take out third after a countback.

Chun-Ta Wu won Scratch after a countback on 2 over.

Jenni Brown beat Wendy Thomas on a countback to win the Women's competition when both finished with 35 points and Jenni also won the Hidden Holes.

Midweek Strokeplay Cup and Premiership

Last Wednesday was the concluding round of both competitions. In the Strokeplay Cup (Gross), congratulations go to Jimmy Knox who won A Grade (145), Chris Mitchell for B Grade (175) and Steve Gearin (185) in C Grade.

The Premiership winner for the best overall nett score went to Maurice Fischer with an excellent aggregate score of 135. He won C Grade on the day with nett 68

Mark Frith had Score of the Day and won A Grade with nett 66. Peter Watson was runner-up in A Grade with nett 68 and Simon Couch took out third with nett 69. Simon also won Scratch with 4 over par and Nearest the Pin on the 2nd.

Keith Warren was the B Grade winner on the day with nett 70, one ahead of Ross Guignon, Patrick Ford and Phil Ton-That but Phil missed out on the placings after the countback.Colin Thomas finished runner-up to Maurice in C Grade after a countback while John Masters was third with nett 72.

Event updates

As a result of the Member survey, we have changed some Par events to Stableford and will further review the back part of the Membership year in the coming weeks.The following dates have changed from what is in the Program book. Timesheets will reflect the changes when they open.

Monday 28th November, Wednesday 14th December & Monday 30th January.

The Eclectic finishes this Saturday so one last chance to find that eagle, birdie or par that has eluded you so far. You can check the website to see your scores by hole if you are unsure.

Invitation Day - the morning is full but there are still a handful of spots available for the 12.30pm shotgun start if you would like to bring a guest along.

Do the right thing

On Wednesday 23rd November, a ball was hit out of bounds from the 9th tee and it smashed the rear windscreen of a parked car. I'm assuming that the Member responsible or any of his group were unaware of the damage because it was not reported. Insurance covers Members for such accidents so there is no personal liability but it does assist the owner of the car if the accident is reported. If you do happen to hit the ball out of bounds, please check for potential damage to vehicles parked in the area and report it. Thank you for your cooperation.

Member Information night

I'm hearing all sorts of rumours about the changes to bunkers and mound, some of which are right but many of which aren't!!!!

My apologies, I had intended to have the information night to share the plans before now but it is not going to be practical before Christmas so we are now looking at scheduling something in January, with the first phase of work to commence in April 2023.

Whilst I am enthusiastic to share the whole plan as soon as possible, I am also happy to answer any questions that you may have in the meantime, to prevent misinformation spreading. So, if you have burning questions that cannot wait to be answered, please feel free to ask me next time you see me....just don't make it straight after I've duffed a bunker shot!!!!

Enjoy your golf.

Doug Campbell | Captain

From your Women's Committee

Christmas End Year Dinner

Our Year End/Christmas Dinner will be held on Tuesday 6th December, commencing at 6pm. Drinks upon arrival with canapés followed by a sit-down meal. Cost is $65.00 per person and please pay via MiClub.

Once you have paid, feel free to enter your name on the table allocation sheet which is located in the Ladies Locker room.

Good luck to Robyn Lyon who is playing in the GNSW Women's Medal Competition State Final at Stonecutters Ridge Golf Club on Wednesday 30th November.

Results

Thursday 24th November saw the annual event President's v Captain's 4BBB Stableford played. 83 players enjoyed the lovely warm and sunny day with little wind. Congratulations to Gilda Severino and the President's team on winning this year's event.

The winners, on the President's team were Maria Russell and Fiona Bone 46 pts, Captain's team Chez Hickman and Clare John 46 pts and each player receiving a ham. The runners up on the President's team were Rachel Buxton and Susan Scott 45 pts. Captain's team were Wendy Millson and Wendy Thomas 44 pts, each player receiving a Christmas pudding.

3rd and 4th on the President's team were Diana Muir and Fran Candrick 45pts, Lisa Mackenzie and Rowena Robinson 44 pts. Captain's team were Linda Sinclair and Sue Dewell 43 pts, Helen Cregan and Ann Henderson 42 pts.

Balls went to the winning side.

NTP's division 1 on the 7th was won by Wendy Thomas and the 13th Diana Sier, division 2, Julie Campbell and Lynne Parsons. LD division 1 was won by Wendy Millson and division 2 Susan Scott.

Winners President side Maria Russell and Fiona Bone

Winners Captain Side Chez Hickman and Clare John

9 holes was won by Meriam Matheson (25) 19 pts, 2^nd Fay Sinnott (35) 15 pts.

Congratulations to Janet Atchison (14) who on Saturday 5^th November won the monthly medal with a net 71.

Over the last two weeks we have seen some great scoring. The best score was Julie Preston (29) with a very impressive 44 pts on Sunday 27^th November

18 hole great scores, Dale Ronald (28) 41 pts, Debbie Hankey (40) 41 pts, Nan Crump (38) 40 pts & 38 pts, Cath Piper (24) 40 pts, Julia Mahn (37) 39 pts, Clare John (33) 38 pts, Jie Cheng (23) 38 pts, Janine Banks (38) 38 pts, Ali Gattas (20) 38 pts, Alyssa Starc (5) 38, Fran Shay-Sedillo (45) 37 pts, Sue Smiles (23) 37 pts, Dani Seisun (37) 37 pts, Sam Sparke (30) 37 pts, Ann Henderson (43) 37 pts, Sam Sparke (30) 37 pts, Wendy Millson (19) 37 pts and Janet Atchison (14) +1

9 holes- Michelle Milsted (36) 23 pts, Meriam Matheson (25) 19 pts.

Rookies Christmas Party

Thank you to Jenny Schulenburg, Wendy Millson and Rachael Loomes for organising the Rookies Ambrose event and Christmas Party on Tuesday 29th November.

Congratulations to Petrina Rousel (pictured right) who won the Rookies Cup for 2022.

Congratulations to the winners of the Ambrose, Toni Wilson, Val Hindmarsh, Pam Burke and Bronwen Wade-Leewen (19.625) net 21.375. 2^nd place Fran Taylor, Cici li, Lyndall Mcrae and Linda Sinclair (20.875) net 23.125 C/B.

Winners: Toni Wilson, Val Hindmarsh, Pam Burke & Bronwen Wade-Leewen

Runner's Up:Fran Taylor, Cici li, Lyndall Mcrae and Linda Sinclair

NTP - Cici Li, Longest Drive Fiammetta Archer.

Thank you to Wendy Millson and all the ladies who have given up their time to walk with the Rookies in 2023. We can't thank you enough for the support you give the Rookies program. Thank you to Michael Infanti for the coaching clinics.

Upcoming Fixtures

Thursday 1 December 4 Person Dropout Ambrose - book in as per normal.

Thursday 8th December Christmas Fun Day 3 clubs and a Putter 8am Shotgun start - information is up in the locker room. Please remember to play in your Christmas themed dress up outfits to be eligible for the dress up prizes. Entries close on Thursday 1st December.

Barrenjoey Week of Golf is 13 - 16 February 2023. Entries are open and they close on 6th January 2023. Website CLICK HERE. Please contact Clare John, Sue Kruse or Sara Backes if you require any further information.

Change in the fixture book 2023. The Stroke - Club & GNSW Medal 1, Singles and Long Marker Knockout competition qualifiers, start of 1st eclectic and point score has changed to Thursday 9th February 2023. Thursday 16th February will be stableford.

The match play for the Singles and Long Markers Knockout Competitions will stay the same as per the program book, 21/2, 23/2, 28/2 and 2/3.

Wendy Thomas | Women's Captain

Cubhouse News | Carpark Works 5th & 6th Dec

The Club is upgrading the internet service and will have Business Grade Fibre installed on Monday 5^th and Tuesday 6^th December. Over these two days, there will be disruption in the Club carpark and 14 spaces will be blocked off for the work to take place.

Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to being able to provide improved internet access to our Members.

Rules with George | Question

Question: On a very windy day there were lots of leaves in many of the bunkers,

Sarah found her ball in such a bunker almost completely covered by leaves.

Her request for relief brought forth different answers.:

A) You cannot touch anything in bunkers so make the most of it.

B) You may move as many leaves as you like so you have a clear shot at the ball

C) You may move some leaves but be careful not to move the ball

D) You can move the leaves but don't touch the sand

Clic Gear Buggies $419

Member Pricing $377 (!!)

Callaway Fitting day

Wednesday 7th December

Bookings Through the Pro Shop

Limited spots left!

Friday Club Report

Just Joking Around!

Golf is a tough game. Most experts agree it originated in Scotland in the middle ages when local farmers were looking for something to do. However, some scholars say a game similar to golf was played in the Netherlands in 1297 by bored teens aimlessly using a stick to hit a leather ball over a long distance into a target.

The game required skill, patience and a modicum of luck. In fact the game of golf itself needed luck to survive.

CLICK HERE to read full Friday Club Report

Read More for: Carnival and cakes at the Colosseum & Hamper Day (Dec 2nd)

Pictured: Steve and Sally Hill show off the new Friday Club 90th year commemorative shirts.

From the Archives | Clubhouse Birthday 1922

The Club House - 100 years on this spot

Our Clubhouse is quite unique and every part has a history. It has grown into a building like no other!!! This is another special birthday as the very first one was built 100 years ago. It was in use by November 1922. There have been two major versions of the club house - (and both had a lot of alterations and additions along the way.)

The wood and tin 1922-60
The brick and tile 1960 + major additions to and around it from 2000 to the present, of brick, glass, chrome and render.

Some time ago I read in one local account that LRGC had acquired a pre-loved cricket pavilion to act as its first Clubhouse. It may have looked very similar but no, the Clubhouse which was built in 1922 and officially opened in Feb 1923 was all ours and every stage is described in the minutes. Following the Members' approval of the idea at the clubs July 1922 AGM, another parcel of beach side land was made available by the Council, (as it has turned out we were so lucky!) a normal tendering process was followed and the Club decided to use an owner/ builder arrangement to construct it. The budget was $510 and every Member was asked to donate money to pay for it. The wood came from Ellis and Co (owner Reginald Manning Ellis was a member) and the builder was a Mr. Wear.

Members were using the 'Golf House' as it was called then well before Christmas. Today we would find the simplicity of the building inadequate - but the Members were delighted to have somewhere to leave their jackets, use a toilet pan that wasn't in an outside 'dunny' on the 1^st hole, read the noticeboard, have a Saturday Committee meeting, create an office for the Secretary and give the new Professional a place to keep his tools. Everyone had their own key after an insurance policy was secured. The list of things that were lacking was far, far greater than what was there, but it was a start.

An architect friend of a Member was asked to draw up a plan. (The architect and his wife were given Honorary Membership as a thank you.) Even he would not have recognised the floor plan of the 1950s structure 30 years later. It had been added to so many times on both the ocean side and at the back as demands and needs changed to become a collection of about 20 rooms. The first welcomed extra addition was electricity and the veranda was glassed-in which gave the Secretary an office with a 180 degree view of the 9-hole course, ocean and reef. (Sadly Ben has no view at all now!) By the 50s the Members were screaming out for change and renovation. The Club Committee led by President Wally Smith at that time, wrote to all Members (we have the letter in the Archives) explaining the confirmed intention to develop and rebuild but also explained that changes would move slowly as funds and borrowings allowed. It took ten years to complete as money became available to create the next version, finishing in the 60s. The inconvenience can only be imagined. There is no record of any grants from the Council or Ministry of Lands.

From a 1953 floorplan of the wood and tin version, (that came to light a year or so ago in Ben's Office), we can see and count about 20 rooms, some quite small. The largest by far were the Men's locker room, the Dining room, the Men's lounge and the 'Associates lounge'. For example there was also a laundry and a small locker room for visitors. The Professional had his room and storage room with a separate entrance at the back of the building facing the starters box across the road. The two bedroomed flat was also within the walls next to the kitchen and food stores.

That brick and tile 1960s building makes up the skeleton of the present Clubhouse. At the recent Club AGM, President Keith gave a warts and all visual tour of behind the scenes problems and of course there is no doubt that the skeleton both above and below is in need of some serious medical help. The rendering and painting of the outside walls in 2003 may have made for a more modern look blending in with the new Terrace but also covered up many a problem! It some places when walking through our back store rooms it feels as if we are walking on the 100 year old floor joists - perhaps we are!

LRGC Golf House 1927

Facing east, from the panoramic photo to be seen in full in the Bar. See glassed-in veranda

2020 version of the club house - showing the Long Reef Golf Club Café view.

The finished brick and tile version c1960. From L-R -Toilets, Offices, Bar, Dining-room

The Brick and Tile of the 50-60s with Terrace Stage 1 attached in 2000. (The Pro Shop in the background)

The new Clubhouse which was finished around 1960 would have appeared solid and modern for the times. It satisfied our needs for a while but then the changes started all over again! Many present Members may remember paying their fees at the Office which was where the snack bar is now, knowing that the cash would be in the safe room overnight in the space where the special needs toilets are now. Snooker was played on two big tables where the office is now, or perhaps you made a phone call from the booth that now stores the table linen. The bar has moved, the pokies took years to settle and have their own home and the caterers did their paperwork from a converted pantry in the main kitchen. It was a relief when later the corridor from the entrance was created bringing us straight into the bar. Space was taken from the office. Before this if there was a function in the then dining-room it was impossible to travel from south to north in the building or vice versa without interrupting an event. We can think of the buried practise putting green when sitting on the terrace under the big pine tree. The green served us well for 80 plus years.

The bar as planned in the 2000 Master Plan was designed as an island serving on four sides as there was a clear corridor from the side entrance past the toilets and down towards the new terrace. The kiosk was tiny, just enough for basic needs and to serve the promoted new outdoors barbecue area. The plan did not anticipate the demands that developing the Social Membership would bring to a snack bar. Since then there has been at least three upgrades, closing off the corridor for a counter, making a larger kitchen and eating into the sunroom space with a large storage room. The second stage of the terrace was finished in 2006.

I think the above goes some way to prove that the Club house has always been a living growing thing. All changes were done with the best of intentions to solve a problem and improve things. Over the 100 years many plans for a new "Golf House" have been drawn up, paid for and then abandoned for a variety of reasons. We can say with confidence that 'All we want for Christmas" is Club House number 3 to satisfy the needs of all.

Sandra Mellowes | Archive Committee

From your Captain

From your Women's Committee

Cubhouse News | Carpark Works 5th & 6th Dec

Rules with George | Question

Friday Club Report

From the Archives | Clubhouse Birthday 1922

Rules with George | Answer

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