Tamborine Mountain Golf Club.inc is a registered not for profit organization.

Eye of the eagle

Vale: Late last month, we lost another connection with the golf club. Jim Yuke, the brother and brother-in-law of Bev and Angus Aird, passed away. Jim used to love his golf, but due to ill health, was forced to give the game away. For a number of years, his connection with the club was reinforced by the competition that bears his name. During the months of April, May and June, the Saturday Monthly Medal scores were checked to see which member had the best nett total for the three months. That well-performed individual was awarded the Jim Yuke trophy for that year. A few years ago, I was the surprised recipient of that prize. I was unaware, not only of the existence of the trophy, but of the person behind it. I think it is incumbent upon club management to make us more aware of our history and the people behind it; thus, this publication will endeavour to give a bit more insight into the named special events that crop up during the year. This year’s Jim Yuke Trophy will have an especial poignancy to it. To Bev and Angus, we offer our heartfelt condolences and wish them many happy memories of former times.

Love: Out of the mouths of babes come words and ideas that us world-weary adults would do well to reconsider. The filler lines this month come from a survey of 4 to 8 year-olds on the topic of ‘love’. The comments may want to make you cry, laugh, become deeply thoughtful, or even all three at once! The final entry is the response given to Leo Buscaglia who was judging a contest to find the most caring child. This one is an absolute heart stirrer.

Since the start of their season, the ladies have not had a lot of luck with the weather, apart from the last Tuesday in February. That day was picture perfect and was the ideal way for Jan Ide’s friend, Pam Williams, to really appreciate what this game can be. Jan and Pam enjoyed a delightful and relaxing – well, as relaxing as a game of golf can be when the competitive juices are flowing – session on the course. Apparently, Pam is a gun bowler, so that should translate to talent in putting. Good start, Pam! The only fly in the salve was the low number of the turnout. Maybe more will turn up as the season progresses. Incidentally, there is a vicious rumour going around that one of the fair sex has some problems staying vertical at home. Either that, or she gets so excited about things that she doesn’t watch where she puts her feet.

Interclub: On Sunday, 14^th February, our Juniors played Robina Woods at Robina Woods. They lost 1.5 to 4.5, with the losing matches finishing fairly closely. Ryan Milner was the winner for the mountain boys while Liam Maloney halved his match.

Sunday, 21^st February saw our lads at Emerald Lakes battling the team from Gold Coast Country Club and did they do us proud! The result was a resounding win, 6 to 0! This history making team was made up of Jacob Cogan, Ryan Cooke, Sterling Gregory, Liam Maloney, Ryan Milner and Clifford Arnesen.

As this issue goes to the webmeister for publication, Tamborine will be hosting a round of the Interclub. We wish our team all the very best and hope to bring you good news in the next issue, along with photographic evidence.

Vale: Another sad note was sounded late last month. Tim Kerr’s grandfather, one of Tamborine Mountain’s original vets, has passed away. For those of you who remember the par about Tim, under the heading of "Meet your fellow member", will recall that Tim made special mention of his grandfather. He was given the major credit for Tim’s love of the game. We wish Tim and his family long memories of the good times shared.

Shield Day and District Championships: Friday, 19^th March is the biggest day on the 2010 calendar so far. Lakelands is hosting the northern District Vets’ Shield Day which doubles as the District Championships. It will really test the mental acuities of those chronologically challenged blokes, having to keep track of the gross score as well as calculate the Stableford points. It will probably result in a slower than usual round with everyone putting out at every hole, regardless of the horrendous scores being totted up. At least, Lakelands doesn’t have the number and invasiveness of water hazards that many other coast courses have.

Road closure: Council has agreed to close the road along the southern edge of the second fairway. With the demarcation of boundaries, the adjoining landholder will be offered slightly more than half and the golf club slightly less than half. In case anyone is thinking that we should not spend the money, the situation could easily arise whereby neither party wants to purchase and the road is declared and we would have to vacate the part that we already occupy. If the landholder declines to take up the purchase offer of the half closest to the farm, then we would be given the opportunity to purchase the whole. We are expecting that the purchase price would be based on no more than the appropriate fractional valuation of the entire course.

Poker machines: We have registered our licences with Clubs Queensland. As yet, no offers have been made. This is probably due to the fact that the government has had a bloc of licences out for tender and the tender period has just been concluded. Until the bids are made public, no one has any real idea of the worth of licences such as ours. If we left the licences with the Queensland government, and there are no offers within twelve months, then we forgo the licences for no return. We do expect some positive approaches however, once this tender process is sorted out.

Review of Andy’s contract: The next review is scheduled for early March and it will be undertaken by Captain Maurie, Treasurer Brendan and Vice-president Leon.

Insurances: If anyone wonders where our funds go, have a think about this. We are reviewing our options at present but will be soon paying out about $10 000 for four types of insurance. There is a Directors’ Liability policy, a Public Liability policy, a General policy and a Machinery Breakdown policy. This latter is not what it sounds like in that it does not cover the plant kept in the shed. It is more to do with pumps and computers and has a lot of conditions attached. The mowers, tractors, etc., are covered by the General policy. The quotes were compared by a broker connected to Brendan Hay, our Treasurer, and they appear competitive. The big plus is the fact that outlays in this area are down by about $4000 on previous years.

Machinery shed security: Concern about the safety of our equipment in the machinery shed led our President to obtain quotes on measures such as sensors, cameras and services. Sensors, which emitted siren noise, without any visit by security personnel, costed out at $1700 with cameras or patrols worked out at much more. This option will not be taken up at this time.

Annual program booklet: This is now available from Andy should you want one.

Saturday competition fields: These are back up in the low 70s to 90 range again. It is good to see so many players out there enjoying the challenge and making use of the amenities that so many people work so hard to produce.

Local Rules Board: A new board will be installed to cover the changed local conditions. Full details of the updated version are available in the "Rules Corner" of this and last month’s issue of EYE OF THE EAGLE.

Notice at first tee: A new sign will be placed at the first tee so that all players – visitors and members alike – are reminded of their responsibilities when out on the course. It will feature reminders to repair divots, fix ball damage to greens and to keep buggy traffic away from greens and tees. It asks members to look after their assets and visitors to appreciate the hospitality.

Farm Appeal: A letter was received from Betty Pugh, the co-ordinator for Farm Appeal, thanking the club members for their support in providing all those Christmas presents for the kids of struggling farming families. A very big "Thank You" should also go to Andy for his help in this appeal and for what he gives. Many members may not realize that Andy forgoes his starter’s fees for the day because there are no fees to collect. Well done, Andy!

Wayne’s holiday: Almost everyone will be really pleased to hear that Wayne is back on deck after a two week break. I know the tension was getting to me, especially after I stuffed up big time on the first couple of days. All I can say is that it turned out okay, thanks to the two days of good rain, and I managed to get through the rest of the fortnight with only minor dramas. Phew!

Greens renovations: These will be done during the latter part of the month. The usual call for volunteer helpers will go out and the usual suspects will answer the call.

First tee barrier: A row of short posts will be installed between the path and the first tee. This will preserve the tee from the, all too frequent, incursions of buggies driven by players wanting to take a shortcut to the tenth tee or too lazy to walk an extra three metres to access the first tee (sarcastic basket, aint he!).

Pin position indicators: Small signs will be placed beside the tee markers at holes 2 and 7 to indicate the position of the flag on the green. For hole number two, the sign will be F for front or B for back of green. At hole number seven, the sign will be F for front, M for middle or B for back.

This month, we complete the explanations of the changes to our local rules.

Water Hazards: This particular section has been omitted because it is not necessary. All golf clubs are governed by the same Rules of Golf pertaining to Water Hazards. The procedures to be followed if your ball is affected by them, the ways in which they are marked, the definitions of what constitutes the various types, are the same for all clubs. What we are doing in this segment is reminding players of what they should do if so affected and which areas on the course are now designated as Water Hazards.

Yellow stakes and/or yellow lines define the boundaries of Water Hazards. Red stakes and/or red lines define the boundaries of Lateral Water Hazards. If your ball crosses a yellow line into a Water hazard, you have three options. You may elect to play the ball as it lies, but in so doing, are not allowed to ground the club at address. You may go back to where you struck the ball before it entered the Hazard, taking a penalty stroke. Thirdly, you may drop the ball behind the Hazard on a line which keeps the point where the ball crossed into the Hazard directly between the hole and where you drop the ball. We have two locations on our course where Water Hazards exist. They are at the lowest point of the 1^st/10^th fairways and the drain above the culvert on the dirt path alongside the 5^th/14^th. Both locations will be clearly marked with yellow stakes and lines. All players should make themselves familiar with, not only the Definition of a Water Hazard (pages 42-43 of the Rules of Golf), but the rule relating to manner of play (Rule 26, pages 103-105 of the Rules of Golf).

If your ball crosses a red line into a Lateral Water Hazard, you also have three options. You may play the ball as it lies, return to the place from which you played the previous shot or drop a ball within 2 club-lengths of where the ball crossed into the hazard. A full description of the last option can be found under Rule 26-1I, page 103 of the Rules of Golf.

Sprinkler Heads: You are entitled to relief, not only when your ball is on or near a green-side sprinkler head so that stance or swing is affected, but when such obstruction is between your ball and the line you wish to take to approach the hole. This latter relief does have conditions. Firstly, the sprinkler head must be within 2 club-lengths of the green. Secondly, your ball must be within 2 club-lengths of the sprinkler head. If these conditions are met, you are allowed to drop at the nearest point where interference is avoided and is no nearer the hole. Please note that there is no distance for leeway here. You must drop at the nearest point of relief. You are permitted to clean the ball after lifting. For a full explanation of this local rule, consult the Rules of Golf handbook at Appendix 1, Section 6, pages 134-135. An interesting addition to this rule is the allowance for a free place if your ball is anywhere on the green and a sprinkler head is on the line of your intended approach to the hole.

Embedded rocks: This rule has been discontinued. The difficulty of defining what is a "rock" and not a smaller stone or pebble, or even recognizing an "embedded rock" from the little visible evidence, leads to so much potential disagreement that it is in the ‘too hard basket’. Besides, if tree roots are to be treated as "play as it lies", why not rocks? From now on, players are to play the ball as it lies or take a penalty drop for an unplayable lie.

Concrete paths: There is a rider to last month’s par on "Immovable Obstructions" relating to concrete paths. The only concrete paths you are allowed relief from are, of course, the ones that are in bounds. The path leading from the club house to the first tee is not in bounds. The inside edge of that path actually forms the boundary of the playing course. As with stakes and other objects marking boundaries, there is no relief available. The ball must be played as it lies or the appropriate penalty taken.

Movable Obstructions: All of the small signs directing buggy traffic are movable obstructions. If the ball moves when lifting these obstructions, it must be replaced. There is no penalty for this. The signs can be moved if they interfere, not only with the proper playing of the stroke, but also if they are in your line of play. Keep in mind that play cannot be "unduly delayed" in so doing. This would indicate that you cannot drive/walk fifty or a hundred metres from where your ball lies to shift a sign that "might" be in your line of play. These signs should, of course, be replaced as nearly as possible when you have played your stroke.

Garden beds: If your ball is in any garden bed on the course, you must drop away. A warning note must be sounded here, especially in relation to the garden beds behind the 7^th green and beside the 17^th tees. If you cannot find your ball, you have to be "virtually certain" that your ball is actually in the garden bed before you can claim the free drop. If not, then you have no option but to declare a "lost ball".

Practice chipping area defined by red and white striped stakes: The area below the putting green delineated by the four red and white striped stakes, is a defined practice area. You should endeavour to play those practice shots so that the ball remains within that area. It is not permissible to tee up your ball within the area and deliberately hit shots to places outside that area. An important addendum to this is the banning of any play, at any time whatsoever, from behind the 3^rd green down the 3^rd fairway. This is most definitely not a practice area. Convenience does not ever over-ride safety issues.

We welcome Gary and Matthew Fowler to the club as Fully Paid Up members. May you consider the money extremely well spent chaps and may we see you on the course frequently over the weeks, months and years ahead.

Glenn Antill is the main man this month. Don’t be fooled by the photo; I caught him in a relaxed moment, drowning his sorrows after a loss in the Elton Staffsmith Single Matchplay. Glenn is a transplanted Sydneyite who is extremely glad to be up here. He spent the first 30-odd years living in Carlton and Maitland, but mostly Milperra. Golf was only a very small part of his childhood and teenage years despite his father being a tragic. Fishing was one of his loves, and still is, despite not having a lot of time for it. At 17 he left home for the big wide world and at 19, started his apprenticeship as a chippie. In 1994, he and his wife and two kids decided that getting out of Sydney was a good idea. At first, northern New South Wales was the aim, but a visit to Tamborine convinced them that this was the place to be.

Traditional house building carpentry has never been his prime interest and in 1995 he got into something really different in building movie sets. This saw him traveling to Fiji (twice), Malaysia and Winton in North-western Queensland. This work lasted until 2005, when he swung over to mainly renovations and deck building. However, when he was helping build that distinctive house behind the 16^th tee, he was tempted by the nearness of the golf course and began having the odd game. The lure proved too much and he joined in 2008. He and a mate, Brad Fox, have a bit of a competition going in the handicap reduction stakes. Both started on the then maximum 27 handicap. Brad is leading slightly at this stage with 19 to Glenn’s 20. Now that he has been knocked out of the Matchplay, he reckons that there will be a bit more time for the family and gardening, another love of his. He shares an interest of Ricky Ponting’s in that he likes the occasional punt. And who was the man who gave Glenn back to his family? None other than Roger Wilson. It was a good run while it lasted, Glenn. May your stay with the club be a lot longer.

The program booklet is available from Andy. It contains the year’s fixture list for Ladies, Vets and Saturday play, as well as that essential section, the telephone details of your fellow members. The program is also available on the club website, as is this newsletter.

Thanks to some very good liaison work by Ken Dew, we were introduced to a potential new sponsor in the Upper Coomera Bendigo Community Bank. I went down there and had a chat with Mark MacGregor, the manager, and presented to him our proposals for sponsorship. He was very amenable and after passing on this information to the Board of Directors, we received a positive response. They wish to take up joint sponsorship, to the tune of $1100, in the 2010 Senior Pro-Am. Should this event not take place, they are agreeable to the package reverting to a general tee-sign sponsorship. The sponsorship is to begin as soon as the formalities have been completed, so you can expect to see their sign on a tee and advertising material in the newsletter in the near future.

During the last two weeks that I have been working on the course as a poor substitute for Wayne, I have found much to enjoy. However, there was a down side to it as well. I saw, all too frequently, players not taking the care they should. Not all of the offenders were visitors. Unfortunately, a significant number of members are failing to consider the other users of our little piece of paradise. There were a number of occasions when I had to restrain myself from approaching these inconsiderate people and expressing my opinion of their behaviour in very explicit terms. Some damage is unpreventable, as in divots and pitch marks. These should be repaired immediately by the player as a matter of course. A quick look at the ground after playing a stroke will immediately confirm whether repairs are necessary. Divots in the rough should be treated the same as any other divot. Should you have run out of sand, kicking in the edges and stamping the whole down flat is acceptable. Having played a stroke from 40 or metres out from the green will, almost certainly, have left a pitch mark on the green. Please look for and repair these gouges. If they are left to dry out, any subsequent repairs take much longer to be effective.

Some damage is preventable; buggies should not be driven into certain areas. It’s as simple as that. The small signs around the course are NOT an attempt to be a control freak. They were installed with one aim in mind; to help present the course in the best possible condition given the constraints placed upon us by limited staff hours. They are to be considered visual reminders of what we should be doing as courteous golfers.

This sign, which can be seen near the second, third, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth greens, means that no buggy traffic whatsoever is permitted in those areas. These are narrow areas in close proximity to greens where delicate approach shots are quite often required. Buggy traffic degrades the areas. It really is a no-brainer; keep the buggies away!

These signs indicate that buggies should pass to the left and right respectively and approach no closer to the green. Passing on the wrong side or angling back towards the green after passing the sign is also a no-brainer. Ignoring the signs would appear to be a blatant thoughlessness, arrogance, carelessness or lack of golfing courtesy; you can take your pick as to which it is. If you are ever approached by someone critical of where you have driven, it is really not good enough to say that you forgot or didn’t see the sign. Now that I have got that rant off my chest, I implore all members to consider their own long-term interests as well as those of fellow members.

There are only six more months until my term as a Director is up and so is my job as writer/editor of this newsletter. We have obligations to sponsors, which can only be satisfied through the newsletter. So far, I have not fielded any expressions of interest in taking up the position. I really hope there is someone who will be willing to take over. Call me soon!