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Hole in One - Mitchell Starc

Following an Ashes victory and winning the Player of the series Mitchell Starc achieved his first ever Hole-in-One on the 13^th on Saturday 10^th January. What a way to top off a great couple of weeks. Congratulations Mitch.

Major Pennants

The Major Pennants commence their 2026 season on 1 February and will compete in Section 2 of Division 3 alongside Macquarie Links, Cumberland and Antill Park.

The team: Nick Hutchison (C), Harry McKerihan, Harry Woolford, Will Toleman, Ryan Farrell, Cam Gillespie, Matt Tierney, Adam Elliott.

Team Manager: Michael MeKerihan

Long Reef will host three home matches this season on the following dates:
1st February, 15th February, and 1st March.

On these home matches, Major Pennants will tee off from 7.00 am. Members are welcome to come down and support the team.

We wish the team all the best for the season.

Best Practice for Taking a Preferred Lie on the Golf Course

There have been some questions from Members concerning what is permitted when taking a preferred lie.

Preferred lies are only permitted when a Local Rule is in effect. When they apply, following the correct procedure is essential to avoid penalties and ensure fairness.

Preferred lies do not apply when in a penalty area, bunkers or on the green.

Mark the Ball First

Always mark your ball before lifting it, and:
Place a marker immediately behind or beside the ball.
This establishes the reference point for placing the ball.
Place the ball within the allowed distance of the original spot (e.g 30cm).The ball must not be placed closer to the hole.
Rolling the ball with your hand or club is not permitted and incurs a 1 shot penalty.
The ball is considered in play once it has been placed and you have taken your hand off it.

Once you place the ball and release it, that spot is final.
You are not allowed to adjust, re-place, or improve the position again just because you don’t like the lie.
Moving it again to get a better lie results in a penalty for improving the lie.

Identifying your Golf Ball

If a player lifts, twists or rolls a golf ball to identify it without first marking its position, a one-stroke penalty applies if the ball is theirs.

Remember: If you mark your ball before lifting, twisting or rolling it, you will not incur a penalty.

Reference: R&A Preferred Lies (Model Local Rule E-3).

Water Levels

During the six months from August to January, the course received just 120 mm of rainfall. In stark contrast, between Friday and Monday morning this week the course recorded 200 mm. This rain could not have come at a better time, with our dams critically low. Following the rain over the weekend, the dams are now at capacity and should comfortably see us through to spring.

We should see course conditions improve considerably over the next couple of weeks, which will be welcomed by the Membership, as well as by Kurt, our Course Superintendent, and his staff.

Upcoming events:
Stroke Play Cup - 7^th February - Round 3
Leader Board
Founders Cup - 7^th February - Round 2
Leaderboard

Registration for the Mick Snell Cup Knockout is now open to all 7-day Members. To enter, please select 22 February in Golf Bookings and add your name to the registration sheet.

Course Set Up and Competition Update
Members will be aware that competitions are currently being played over 17 holes. This has been the most effective way to manage two holes being out of play while ensuring competitions remain handicap compliant. We are actively exploring course rating and layout options to determine whether an 18-hole competition format can be reinstated while works are ongoing.

Results

Wednesday 7^th January – Single Stableford and 4BBB Vince Horan Qualifying with a field of 232.
The winner, with a five under par round, was Jimmy Little, with 42 points.

Full Results

Saturday 10^th January – January Medal, Round 2 of the Stroke Play Cup with a field of 159.
Very hot and gusty conditions with the temperature reaching 40 degrees Celsius made for a testing day of golf at the Reef.

The winner of the Men’s Medal was Richard Thomas with a Nett 66.
The winner of the Woman’s Medal was Peta Bird with a Nett 76.

Full Results

Wednesday 14^th January – Single Stableford & Best 3 of 4 with a field of 230.
The winner and score of the day went to Phil O'Regan with a score of 42 on the countback.

Full Results

Saturday 17^th January – Medley Stableford and 4BBB with a field of 101.

The winner and score of the day went to Shane Parsons with 35 points.

Full Results

Rob Cordaiy | Captain

Weekday Opening Day - Thursday 29 January 2026

The Weekday Opening day timesheet will open online on Saturday 24th January. The event is an 8am shotgun start . Please arrive in time to get to your tee.

If you are wanting to join a team, please email the ladies committee by Friday January 23rd and we will do our best to find you a team

ladies@lrgc.com.au

To assist the staff in the Golf shop, please only have one member of your team pay the competition fee for your team. Please also book carts prior to the day, so the Golf shop know how many carts to have ready. The person paying for the team will collect the instructions on how to play the Dropout Ambrose.

If you have not paid for lunch on Opening Day ($35.00), please do ASAP. Payment needs to be made before the day, so catering staff know numbers. You will not be able to pay on the day. If you have any dietary requirements, please notify Linda Sinclair or let the reception staff know.

Along with the daily prize presentations, we will present the following:

2025 Most Reduced Handicap

Weekend Opening Day - Sunday 1 February 2026

The Weekend Opening Day will be held on Sunday 1 February 2026.Light refreshments will be served after the game in the Reef Room. Along with the daily prize presentations, we will present the following:

2025 Weekend Gold Medal
2025 Weekend Aggregate Stableford

GNSW Fees - $15.00 Total (Weekday) $10.00 Total (Weekend)

Only 7 Day members are eligible to play in the Weekend GNSW events, while 5, 6 and 7 day members are eligible to play in the Weekday GNSW events. While 7-day members are eligible to play in both you must choose either Weekend or Weekday.

The first GNSW medal round for the Weekend players will be held on Saturday Feb 7th. The first GNSW medal round will be held on 5th February for the Weekday players. Fees will need to be paid by then to be eligible.

2026 Thursday Women's Competitions

Stableford and Par events- optional tees. No Gold tee comp. Red tees will be the default tee. If you choose to play the Blue, White, Gold or Composite tees you will need to inform the Golf shop prior to hitting off.

If you play off a tee that is different to the red tees without informing the Golf shop eg play the Gold tees or composite course you will be DQ'd.

Stableford and Par events will be in 4 Divisions.

Div 1 GA 0-22.2
Div 2 GA 22.3-29.4
Div 3 GA 29.5 – 37.6
Div 4 GA 37.7- 54.0 (max DH 45.0)

All Stroke Rounds and other Major events as defined by the Women's Committee will be Red Tees only. A gold tee stableford will be offered on the 6 Medal days only for those that do not want to play a stroke round.

All Medal rounds will be in 3 Divisions as per the GNSW divisions:

Div 1 GA 0-20.0
Div 2 GA 20.1-29.0
Div 3 GA 29.1 -54.0 (max DH 45.0)

Weekend Medal- January

Congratulations to Peta Bird who took out the first weekend medal of 2026 on Sat 10 January. Playing of 12 she had a nett score of 76.

Champion of Champions

We wish our 2025 Club Champion Emma Thurlow all the best on Feb 2nd in The Manly & Golf NSW Champion of Champions which is open to the 2025 Club Champion of all affiliated golf clubs in NSW.

Upcoming Fixtures

Thursday 5 February 2025 - first GNSW medal round

Barrenjoey Week will be held at Long Reef on Monday 9 February 2026 .There will be no competition for members on the Monday when Barrenjoey week is being played. As we are hosting this day, we ask that any person who would like to help could you please put your name down on the sheet in the locker room. Help is needed from 7am.

Thursday 5 February 2026 - Single and Long Markers Knockout qualifying round followed by the Match play on 17 February, 19 February, 24 February and the final on 26 February 2026. Please enter your name on the sheet in the pro shop prior to teeing off on 5 February if you are available for all dates and wish to qualify .

Friday 13 February 2026 - first round of Grade. Long Reef is hosting.

Liz Morton | Women's Captain

We are pleased to announce that Oli Robinson has been accepted into the PGA Associate Pathway Program, commencing in 2026. The three year program combines on the job training with a nationally accredited diploma qualification and requires regular participation in MPP events most Mondays around Sydney.

Oli will join our current PGA Trainee, Lee Grierson, who is entering his final year, having already completed his playing and academic requirements.

It's an exciting time in the Golf Shop with some of the biggest new releases landing this month. We've just welcomed the new Callaway Quantum range, TaylorMade Qi4D, the Ping G440K Driver and S259 wedges and the latest Titleist SM11 Vokey wedges.

We have full fitting gear available across all brands, so now is the perfect time to upgrade. Book a session with Danny, Jenny or Lee and get custom fitted to ensure your equipment is perfectly matched to your game.

Jenny Schulenburg | Director of Golf

Question:

During a very wet spell of rainy weather, during a round Lindsay found the sudden appearance of a mushroom on his line of putt.

This was unusual but very disturbing. He realised that it was unusual but was keen to comply with the Rules and avoid a penalty.

Which is correct?

Lindsay may remove the mushroom.
Lindsay may not remove the mushroom and must work around it.
Lindsay should contact the Committee for a decision.
The mushroom makes the area of his putt an abnormal ground condition so he is automatically entitled to free relief. Similar to casual water.

Clubhouse Operating Hours – Monday 2nd February

The clubhouse will be closing early at 5.30 pm on Monday 2nd February as our team comes together for our delayed annual staff Christmas party.

Thank you for your understanding.

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Special Olympics Golf Day - Friday 27th February 2026

The 2026 Judy Buckley Memorial Golf Day and Luncheon will be held at Long Reef Golf Club on Friday 27 February, raising vital funds to support Special Olympics Northern Beaches athletes. This special day supports people with an intellectual disability by providing opportunities for year round sports training and competition, with funds assisting the 20 local athletes selected to represent NSW at the National Games in Melbourne in October 2026. The event features a Team Ambrose format with an 8am shotgun start, breakfast on arrival and lunch included. Golf is $140 dollars per player or $100 dollars for Long Reef Golf Club Members, with hole sponsorship opportunities also available. To enter, please complete the entry form here (click here) or email SydneyNorthernBeaches.Chair@specialolympics.com.au
for registrations and further information.

Long Reef Golf Club and Collaroy. A pictorial history.

Before the Golf Club.

An advertisement in the “Australian” in 1825, ran as follows “To let for a term of years, .. a desirable farm at Long Reef lately the property and in the occupation of Mr. Matthew Bacon, deceased, containing 730 acres of land, of which 52 are cleared, and have been in cultivation.”

"There is a substantial farmhouse, two stories high, with four good rooms, besides skillions, also a barn, a paddock of about seven acres, a garden of five acres and salt works comprising among other conveniences for salt making two excellent pans capable of boiling ten cwt of salt per day.”

The estate passed to James Jenkins and his daughter Elizabeth. They owned around 1,800 acres of foreshore land from Mona Vale to Dee Why. It remained in the Jenkins family until 1882 when Elizabeth entered into an arrangement with the Salvation Army, transferring her land and property to them in exchange for an annuity.