Club Championship & Grade Cup qualifying

There will be a separate Email to all eligible Members nearer the time and I will also repeat the below in the next Newsletter so it is top of mind nearer the timesheet opening..... but read on and if you have any questions then please feel free to ask Jenny or I.

The two qualifying rounds for the Men's Club Championship, Grade Cups and Senior and Junior Championships will be held on Saturday 23rd September and Saturday 7th October.

Priority on the timesheet for both those dates will be given to Members wishing to qualify for the Matchplay.

Therefore, for those Members, the timesheet for Saturday 23rd September will open at 6pm on Sunday 17th September - instead of Monday 18th. The playing time that you select on that date will also be your playing time on Saturday 7th October. You will enter the draw process as normal on Sunday 17th 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 (and get it back off them!!!). The early access to the timesheet will close at midnight on the 17th September.

If you do not wish to pay the $30 entry fee upfront to guarantee your spot for both rounds or you just want a game on Saturday 23rd, if there are still spots available, the timesheet will re-open as normal on Monday 18th at 6pm and you can enter your name and any playing partners at that time. If you wish to try and qualify for the Matchplay, you will need to pay the $30 entry fee at the Pro shop on Saturday 23rd and put your name on the "qualifying" sheet. Your name and playing time will then be added automatically to the timesheet for the second round. You do not need to enter your name on this "qualifying" sheet if you pre-paid.

If you enter your name and pre-pay the $30 on Sunday 17th and for some reason you need to change it, please contact jenny@lrgc.com.au - do not try and move yourself. Please note that the $30 entry fee is non-refundable. 

Other Winners

David Wing won A Grade, Score of the Day and the Super 6s last Saturday with 40 points. Greg Hunter was the B Grade winner with 38 and Sascha Plate won C Grade with 36 points. Cam Gillespie was the Scratch winner for the second Saturday in a row and Alyssa Starc won the Women's comp. The 4B comp was won by Ross and Mitch Bockman, Steve Prior and David Bradley. Special mentions go to Michael Hodgett and Paul Bradford who scored 5 points with 2s on 4A and 4B respectively. It took me 6 holes at one point on the back 9 to amass 5 points!!!!

David Ronald won B Grade and Score of the Day on Wednesday 16th while Andrew Koch won A Grade with 37 points and Sami Gaundar beat Craig Wood on a countback to win C Grade when they both finished with 36 points. Craig did however, combine with Tony Smithyman to win the 2 Ball Aggregate event. Ross Bockman was the Scratch winner

On Saturday 12th, Mark Pitt must have been playing a different course to everybody else in the field because his Score of the Day (44 points) was four better than any other male. Joel Warren won A Grade with 40 points while Gary Martinolli won C Grade with 38.  Cam Gillespie was the Scratch winner. You have to feel for Emma Thurlow who won the Women's comp but her 41 points would ordinarily have been good enough to take out Score of the Day. Jimmy Knox and Jane Hagan combined for 48 points to win the 4BBB.

Simon Thorn won C Grade and Score of the Day on Wednesday 9th and combined with William Nunn for runner-up in the 4BBB. Cam Gillespie had a successful day taking out A Grade with 37 points, he won Scratch and was NTP on the 2nd. Mark Pitt was only warming up for his Saturday round by winning B Grade with 38 points but he did also partner Terry Hill to beat Simon and William on a countback for the 4BBB. 

Enjoy your golf!

Doug Campbell | Club Captain

The discounted play is between 8am and 3pm next Monday & Tuesday only. No bookings required.

Long Reef members would have to present a valid Long Reef membership card for the discounted rates to apply.

A great opportunity to check out the newly branded Par 3 and sharpen those short game skills!

The Pennant season has come to an end and 2023 has been a fantastic year for all our Pennant teams. Every team took their relevant competition down to the last week of the season. It started with our Grade team winning GNSW Grade Division 3. The NDPC started with our Silver Pennant team being joint runners-up, just missing out on games won. Bronze Plaque came 3rd with games going down to the 18th on the last day. Bronze III also came 3rd and just missed out on the last day. Bronze IV's last game was held at Long Reef Golf Club and unfortunately, the games didn't quite go our way and the team came third (Photo from our Bronze IV Pennants day Friday 11th August). Thank you to all of the convenors and to Cath Piper who is on the Northern District Pennants Committee. We look forward to the 2024 Pennant season.

Thursday 10th the Remembrance Trophies were played for. Congratulations to Clare John (30) who won the Scherrie Hughes Plate (18) holes with +2. The 9-hole trophy Forget Me Not was won by Judy Hore (39) with a Square.

Sunday 13^th August saw Fiona Bone (25) win with 38 pts on a C/B from Jen Jansson (13). 

Tuesday 15^th August winners was div 1 Lynne Clayton (21) 38 pts, div 2 Di Muncke (31) 34 pts, Gold Tee Fran Candrick (41) 36 pts who scored a birdie 3 on 4A and got 6 points! Well done to Fran on her awesome score. 9 holes was won by Mary Payne (36) 19 pts. 

Thursday 17^th August was our annual Visitors Day. It was fantastic to see 142 players including 49 visitors from 21 visiting clubs The sun shone and there was very little wind, so Long Reef looked amazing and course was in great condition to show off to our visitors. 

We played Waltz stableford and the winners with 90 pts were Petrina Rousel, Lesley Little, Sandra Haberlin and Sarah Smith. 

Runners up with 85 pts were Julie Simpson, Julia Deere Jones, Cathy Cave and Jill Hensman. 3^rd with 83 pts was Amanda Savage, Jacqui Kesby, Grace Ping and Michelle Milsted. 4^th place with 82 pts C/B was Marg O'Connell, Judy Curry, Rowena Robinson, and Julie Campbell. 

Longest drives was won by sisters Emma Thurlow div 1 and Karen Scott div 2. NTP on 7^th div 1 Ali Gattas, div 2 Jo Bellemore, 13^th div 1 Lanna Tran Thu and div 2 Janine Banks.

We welcome a new member Adrienne Riddell and we look forward to playing golf with Adrienne. 

Wendy Thomas | Women's Captain

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Charity Day

Our next Charity Day will be held on Thursday 14th September in aid of The Burdekin Association.  As per their website, "Burdekin work with the community to offer an integrated approach to solving issues of child and youth homelessness."  burdekin.org.au

Golf will commence at 8.00am shotgun start followed by High Tea.  Tickets will be $70.00 which includes golf with concession tickets, High Tea, welcome drink and bottomless tea included, and of course an amazing menu.   Lunch only tickets also available for $50.00. Great prizes are on offer.  Colours of the day will be Blue, Orange and white.  Registration sheets and information on how to book are up in the locker room.  An event not to be missed.  Any questions please see either Sue Blanche or Gilda Severino. 

Thursday 31^st August and Saturday 2^nd September - GNSW 2 ball Ambrose. The best score or two best scores (depending on how many pairs play) from weekday and weekend will go onto the regional final. The conditions of play are up in the locker room. Please book in the normal way. 

Thursday 7^th September - Par round mixed divisions. The registration sheet is up in the locker room. 

Women's Premierships and Championship dates - Weekend Premiership qualifying dates, 6 and 7 day members  - Sunday 17^th and Sunday 24^th September. Match Play dates - Sunday 8^th October, Sunday 15^th October and Sunday 22^nd October. 

Weekday Premiership qualifying dates 5,6, and 7 members - Tuesday 10^th October and Thursday 12^th October. Match Play dates Tuesday 17^th October, Thursday 19^th October, and Thursday 26^th October. 

Championship play off Sunday 29^th October 

The conditions of play for the Premiership and Championship will be up in the locker room this week,

Gilda Severino | Women's President

Alex Knight | Operations Manager

What is your background?
I was born and raised in the Southern Highlands with Mum, Dad and 1 older sister. My sister and I both relocated to Sydney once High School was completed, my parents still live in Mittagong in our Family home.

As a teenager I was introduced to Golf joining Bowral Golf Club at 13. I only lasted 2 years at the Club as I also competed in water polo, tennis and swimming and something had to give.

In my mid 20s I decided to leave Australia to experience living abroad and relocated to Ottawa, Canada for 3 years. At one point I thought I might permanently reside in Canada but after experiencing my 3^rd winter of continually -40 degree days Sydney was calling.

In Canada I worked across multiple restaurants and bars and also completed my WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) certificates. I develop a passion for wine and enjoyed Canada's heavy European wine influence drinking a lot of French, Italian, Spanish varietals and of course Canada's famous Ice wine. Although nothing compares to our Aussie wine!

How long have you worked at LRGC?
I started at LRGC as a causal bar staff member in 2005, and excluding my overseas years have been working for the Club the majority of my career. It's exciting to see the evolution of the Club and to work at such an iconic venue. 

What do you do in your spare time?
I am recently on a fitness journey and have been consistently going to the gym for the last 2 years (where I see many familiar Members faces there too). I of course balance this out with regular social outings enjoying great food and wine.

I try to plan an overseas holiday each year, generally somewhere tropical where I can relax and recharge. Napa Valley is next on the list for a visit. 

Alex had a six metre putt and Peter's ball was lying about 3 metres past the hole well off the line of putt. Peter asked Alex if he would like his ball marked. He said no need. Alex putted and the ball kept rolling past the hole and eventually just touched Peter's ball.

Which is correct?

1. No penalty to any player because it was an accident
2. Alex gets a one-stroke penalty.
3. Alex gets a two-stroke penalty.
4. Peter gets a two-stroke penalty.

Brad McDonald was the Champion in 2009 and was a member of the Major pennant team. Due to family and work commitments his golf has been very limited over the last few years. He plays 4 or 5 charity days a year but that is all time allows.

One of our legendary members won the title in 1995, 1997 and 2002. Ross Bockman grew up in Albury. In Sydney he joined Monash Country Club where he won multiple Championships. He came to Long Reef and was an instant success playing in the Major pennant team. At 73 years of age he regularly beats his age and is always in the Masters Pennant team. He represented Australia at the Senior level in 2009, 2013 and 2014 and shows no signs of slowing down. 

"In stroke play if a ball in motion hits another ball on the green and both balls were on the green before the stroke, the player  gets the general penalty of 2 strokes". In match play there is no penalty for such an occurrence".