BRENDAN Warby took over as Course Superintendent at Narooma Golf Club following the retirement of the well-known and long serving, Richard Goodridge. He took up duty in November last year, so my resultant interview and report is a little overdue. Better late than never and it has been a very busy and challenging eight months for all at the club and I am stating the obvious when I state same.
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Anyhow during the big wet a fortnight ago I shouted Brendan a coffee and we sat indoors enjoying the vista and had a long chat. All that follows is my own and if I have erred, it is all of 'my own doing.
Brendan grew up in Sydney, but the family moved to Bowral in the southern highlands of NSW when he was in school. He did his training at the Illawarra Institute of TAFE (Wollongong) and during his early years as an apprentice he worked at Concord from 1989-1992 and then at Gerringong, the Highlands, Camden Lakeside, Bowraville near Nambucca and finally back to the Highlands Golf Club from 1999-2014.
He told me on one occasion at Concord, during the NSW Open he nearly ran over a young Greg Norman in his enthusiasm. A near miss of the correct kind!
His first impressions of Narooma were that it was really two golf courses, one links and one in the spotted gum forest around Little Lake. He was suitably impressed with the club and its facilities.
I asked him what his priorities were and he quickly mentioned turf quality, grey water for the front nine and to improve our bunkers by refurbishment and redevelopment. Great stuff BW!
There are many challenges facing golf clubs worldwide and Brendan feels more needs to be done to attract more younger players, improve social golfing opportunities and cater for the travelling golfer. How about cabins on the back nine in amongst the trees below the Greenstaff shed. All we need is a golfing entrepreneur. Justin Hemmes and / or a James Packer. We will see how we go as time goes by.
He impressed me as a consummate professional. His own assessment of himself was as "a jack of all trades… master of none!" Very modest too and a good A grade golfer to match.
In the future, with wife and family settled, he would like to see a feature wall near and to the 18th green region. So too an improved entrance to the pro shop and practice areas. How special that could be in planned improvements to the old barbecue and outdoor areas as envisaged at our planning seminar a few months back.
With a storm and whales approaching it was time to head home from Narooma. I left Brendan thinking here is man, with ideas and a positive outlook on the future of Narooma Golf Club!
I don't think we could get a better man for the job. Thanks for your time Brendan and all the best to you and your wife and family on the big move. So too thanks to your staff and their efforts over the interim.
Regards, Bill Baker, director and member, Narooma Golf Club
Narooma Golf Club news and results
A MIXED bag of lollies was always a favourite of mine heading to the movies as a kid on a Saturday afternoon. The past week was a variation on that in terms of mixed weather, four seasons in one day and a fair bit of rain. In fact we have had over 81 mms this month and over 556 mms for the year to date. They are both above average for Narooma at this stage of the year. Maximum temperatures have ranged from 14 to 18 but the wind chill has made it feel cold on many days this week just gone.
Last week during the big wet I finally interviewed Brendan Warby, our relatively new Course superintendent. I have filed it separately to my golf article this week.
Thursday's Stableford Competition
The overnight rain stopped briefly during the early morning but by the time I drove to golf at 10am it was raining lightly and I doubted there would be many players out. I was wrong again and there lots walking and in carts and a mild 12 degrees and light southerly wind. I cancelled and did my chores and the rain appeared to stop around 1pm as I had lunch at Dalmeny Headland.
It must have been hard going on the course and the scores in reflect same. Chris Brown returned to the winners list with a competent 35 points, one ahead of Greg Riley in A grade. Chris Goldsmith easily won B grade with a creditable 37 points and he was four ahead of the pack. John Crofts had the same winning score in C grade.
Saturday's Par Event
Saturday was a beautiful winter’s day for golf. Clear blue skies, little or no wind and it had warmed up to 12 by 10am and reached 18 in the afternoon.
The course had held up pretty well after the rain, however, the bunkers were to be avoided and there was no run. So you had to hit them straight and putt well to do any good. I did neither and found the bunkers regularly.
In A grade Brett Thompson had plus 3 to just win ahead of the retiring director of many years, Jim Grant. Allan Maddison was all square in B grade and won on a count back from Wayne Houston. Warwick Dickson also had a plus 3 to win C grade, one better than Kevin "Simmo" Simpson.
In the Ladies Janice Eardley was back in front with a fairly tidy minus 1.
Later on Saturday night we had the second of the big draws and it was a happy winner indeed. I am sure he will enjoy the big prize while the rest of us have to wait until the end of August for the last of them.
Hopefully we are in for a bit more sunshine this week and the course should be in great condition for all concerned. Hopefully I am going to be a little healthier next week and hope to pass a fitness test mid-week.
Visitors have just arrived so I will sign off and wish you well for the rest of July and into August we go.
Bill Baker
Men’s golf
Tuesday, July 21 - 12 Hole Stableford
Winner, Peter Boyle 25 points. Runner-up, Nigel Roberts 23 points.
Nearest to pin: 9th Bob Steel, 14th Ron Gordon, 17th Bob Piper.
Golf balls down to lucky Ian Vincent on 20 points.
Thursday, July 23 - Men’s Stableford
A Grade: Winner, Chris Brown 35 points. Runner-up, Greg Riley 34 points. Third, Nigel Roberts 33 points.
B Grade: Winner, Chris Goldsmith 37 points. Runner-up, Norman Watson 33 points c/b. Third, Paul Ingamells 33 points c/b
C Grade: Winner, John Crofts 37 points. Runner-up, Gary Cox 36 points. Third, Bob Steel 34 points.
Nearest to pin: 3rd Bob Piper, 9th Nigel Roberts, 14th Chris Brown, 17th Clive Williamson.
Golf balls down to all on 30 points.
Friday, July 24 - 9 Hole Par
Winner, Kevin Budds minus 3. Runner-up, Joe Ryan minus 4 c/b.
Nearest to pin: 3rd Nil, 17th Nil.
DPP 17th Maureen Casswell.
Golf balls down to lucky Peter Johns on minus 4.
Saturday, July 25 - Men’s Par
A Grade: Winner, Brett Thompson plus 3. Runner-up, Jim Grant plus 2. Third, Dave Hayward square.
B Grade: Winner, Allan Maddison square c/b. Runner-up, Wayne Houston square. Third, Terry O’Callaghan minus 1 c/b.
C Grade: Winner, Warrick Dixon plus 3. Runner-up, Kevin Simpson plus 2. Third, Gordon Bird minus 1.
Ladies Grade: Winner, Janice Eardley minus 1.
Nearest to pin: 3rd Robert Coulson, 9th Jim Grant, 14th Robert Sayers, 17th Richard Porter.
Golf balls down to all on minus 3.
Ladies golf
Monday, July 20 - Stablford - "Death by Chocolate"
Winner Division 1: Jenny Wuttke-Hayes 29 points. Runner-up: Julie Blessington 28 points.
Winner Division 2: Jan Healey 29 points. Runner-up: Sue Shelley 28 points.
NTP 14th Hole Division 2: Sue Shelley. 17th Hole Division 1: Nil.
Chocolate down to: 24.
Wednesday, July 22 - Stroke
Winner Division 1: D Wilkes 73.
Runner-up: D Monteith 76.
Winner Division 2: J Healey 77.
Runner-up: L Whelan 80.
NTP: 14th Hole Division 2: R Cheale. 17th Hole Division 1: Nil.
9 Hole Ladies Stableford
Winner: A Durnan 9 points ocb.
Putting A. Hamilton 9 points ocb.
Contact 4476 1203 or 0437 771 911 for information to play 9 holes golf or come along 8.45am Wednesday. Meet outside pro shop.