CAPTAIN’S REPORT

This could become a rainfall report rather the Captain’s Report however rainfall does have a direct impact on our golf course from a play perspective as well as turf management. Cyclone Marcia certainly delivered the rainfall that was predicted with 199mm falling over the weekend. I have attached photographs of the Ladies 6th Hole (19th Hole) where there appears to be a river emerging from the front of the green, the 12th green approach with the water level lapping the edge of the green and the 18th creek where it cuts in front of the Ladies tee.

Luckily we didn’t receive the associated winds so there was little damage to the vegetation around the golf course. Tree work does however continue, the Arborist and tree gang have been busy too carrying out work around the golf course with the removal of dead wood and unsafe trees.

Unfortunately the Casuarina cunninghamiana, commonly known as She Oak, located on the right hand side of the 9th fairway 90 metres from the centre of the green, was badly damaged by lightning during the storm event in January and is one of the trees that has been lost. This will be replaced with another Casuarina to maintain the theme and some history.

Interesting to note, Casuarina species were planted on the front nine as distance markers while Melaleuca leucadendra (Weeping Paperbark) were planted on the back nine as distance markers.

Originally, the golf course was built for a Japanese company so the trees indicate ‘yardage’ … Single specimens are located 100yards (90 metres) from the centre of the green, where there are two trees they are located 150 yards (135 metres) from the centre of the green. Take a closer look next time you play and generally you will find the metreage is reasonably accurate.

Minor renovation works have been conducted over the past couple of weeks on the greens with grooming and dusting or light topdressing. These practices will assist in providing some smoother putting surfaces during winter and no doubt a bit of speed.

We have now entered Autumn and I thank all members for continuing to adhere to The Grand Rules on the golf course. Please avoid wet patches around the golf course as any damage to our fairways and rough areas will be slow to recover with the anticipated reduction in turf growth over the next month or so.

It was great to meet six of the new members on our New Members Welcome night and we look forward to having several more of these nights throughout the year.

See you at The Grand.

David Burrup Captain Monthly Medal Winners Congratulations to our February monthly medal winners. Jim Vernon Nett 66 Christina Lee Nett 70

REMINDER: DRIVING REMINDER TO ALL RANGE HOURS MEMBERS 1ST MARCH-30TH APRIL Mens Black Tie and Ross Tisch Memorial 1st Round 6.30AM-5.30PM matches must be completed by Monday March 30.

Mens Presidents Cup qualifying round Sat 7th March. 1st and 2nd Round Presidents Cup matchplay Sat 14th March Quarter and Semi Final Presidents Cup matchplay Sat 21st March Final Presidents Cup Sat 28th March

Ladies Presidents Trophy Please Qualifying round Wednesday 4th March 1st Round Presidents Trophy matchplay Tues 10th March Welcome Quarter Final Presidents Trophy Wednesday 11th March returning Semi –Final Presidents Trophy Tuesday 17th March Final Presidents Trophy Wednesday 18th March Member Robert Muir GUEST It’s On Again! Buy your book of 10 Guest Passes for PASS $770.00 charged to your Club Account. Valid for twelve months from date of issue. No restrictions on days you can SPECIAL play. Enquire at the office. Congratulations Member to this month’s of the Member of the Month Month BRIAN MORIARTY You’ve won a $50 Credit at The Golf Shop

LADIES CHALLENGE TROPHY POSTPONED

The weather has hit The Grand of late, so much so that the Ladies Challenge Trophy has been SHOE SALE postponed to May 27th Men’s FJ sport shoes now on sale at due to the current course The Golf Shop. Limited sizes left. conditions. Just $159

DEMO DAY AT THE GRAND! Saturday, March 28 10am-1pm See you here! Ladies Opening Day The Ladies enjoyed this year’s Opening Day and look forward to the season ahead.

GOOD FRIDAY Alcohol is available from 10am, however, may only be served in conjunction with a meal. You may purchase alcohol 1hour before dining, during your meal and for 1 hour after only

The Grand Golf Club BLAST FROM THE PAST Can you pick the faces?

Ladies Opening Day Recipe of the Month

Lemon Chicken and Parmesan Rissoles Heading into autumn, this is an easy, healthy and above all tasty meal that you can put together fairly quickly. Enjoy it during a weekend barbecue with steamed greens or the tossed salad that is within the recipe:

● 500g chicken mince ● 1 egg, lightly beaten ● 2 garlic cloves, crushed ● 1/2 cup fresh breadcrumbs ● 1 tablespoon fresh basil leaves, finely chopped ● 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon rind ● 1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives, chopped ● 1/3 cup parmesan cheese, finely grated ● 1/4 cup plain flour ● 1 tablespoon olive oil

Antipasto salad

● chargrilled eggplant ● capsicum ● basil leaves ● marinated artichokes ● shaved parmesan

1. Combine mince, egg, garlic, breadcrumbs, basil, lemon rind, olives and parmesan in a bowl. Place flour on a plate. Shape into eight 2cm-thick rissoles. Roll in flour to lightly coat. Place on a large plate. Cover. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.

2. Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced.

3. Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Cook rissoles, in batches, for 1 to 2 minutes or until browned. Transfer to a greased baking tray. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until cooked through.

4. To create the salad, roughly chop all ingredients, slicing the eggplant and capsicum. Grill the eggplant and let it cool. Toss all ingredients together and for added flavour, give a dash of balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Sirromet Seven Scenes Chardonnay

Wine REGION: Granite Belt, Australia COLOUR: Fresh green straw with a hint of gold NOSE: An intense aroma of tropical fruits, of the honeydew melons, rock melons and citrus and toasty vanillin oak. Month PALATE: A generous, rich, full-bodied Chardonnay; creamy pear, cashew, melon and a touch of lime acidity make this premium wine very well balanced with great length.

WINE SPECIALS

Paringa Pinot Gris $35.00 Sirromet Seven Scenes Chardonnay $33.00 Shaw & Smith Sauvignon Blanc $35.00

Paringa Pinot Noir $35.00 Kooyong Pinot Noir $69.00 Rockford Rifle Range Cabernet Sauvignon $69.00 Ireland and its’ influence on Australia

t’s now March and on the transported to Australia.” 17th, the world celebrates “More than 300,000 other ISt Patrick’s Day - and Irish settlers (not convicts) Australia is no exception. migrated to Australia between Why do we celebrate another 1840 and 1914. Many Irish country’s National day? Why immigrants came to Australia does such a small country have to escape famine in their such a big impact on Australia homeland. and the rest of the world? St Patrick is one of Ireland’s I’m sure the fact, that up patron saints. He died on March to a third of all Australians 17 in or around the year 493. have Irish blood in them, has He worked as a missionary in something to do with it. So Ireland and it is believed that many great things have come he banished “snakes” from the out of Ireland – their musicians, country although the term may their authors, their movies, their have referred to druids or pagan actors, their superstitions – just worshippers. listening to the accent makes Arabia, The Usual Suspects, John Boyne you smile. Irish Music Jurassic Park, My Left Foot and –The Boy in The Striped Here’s a bit of history on how Well who doesn’t love Van Miracle on 34th Street. I’m sure Pyjamas the Irish came to be in Australia Morrison? His lilting voice there are heaps I’ve left out but in the first place. picks you up if you’re down, you get the picture. Jonathon Swift “In 1690, Catholic Ireland makes you feel good and he’s – Gulliver’s Travels was conquered by Protestant loved all over the world. Even Irish Movies England. The English then if you don’t own one of his There’s something about Maeve Binchy passed laws that Catholics could CD’s – you’ve heard his music Irish Movies – their stories – Circle of Friends not own a gun, could not travel as he has made it onto many are real and gritty and they more than 5 miles from home movie soundtracks. His Album, show everything, warts and Cecelia Ahern and could not teach in Protestant Avalon Sunset is just beautiful all. Awesome movies like The – PS - I Love You schools. producing gems like These Are Commitments, My Left Foot, Three-quarters of the Irish The Days and Have I Told you Angela’s Ashes, The Boxer, In Last but not least we have the land was owned by the English Lately. His Song, The Last the Name of the Father, Bloody Irish Superstitions like believing Protestants, who rented it to Laugh with Mark Knopfler is Sunday, The Crying Game and that there’s a Pot of Gold at the Irish farmers. If rent was also awesome. Do yourself a a little independent film called the End of the Rainbow or that not paid, bailiffs would take favour (to coin a phrase) and Once which I just loved. All of good luck will come your way anything moveable, such as have a listen if you get a chance. these movies are memorable and if you come across a Four Leaf livestock or furniture, and then Then there’s U2, the band you could easily watch them Clover. The leaves are meant evict the family. formed in Dublin in 1976 and again and still be inspired and to represent Faith, Hope, Love To survive, many Irish has been around for nearly entertained by them. and Luck. were forced to a life of crime. four decades. The Cranberries, All of the above have Other Irish struggled to realise Sinead O’Connor, Enya, The Irish Authors influenced us and enriched political change. In March 1798, Fureys (I remember my Dad There’s nothing like settling our lives, so this St Patrick’s Ireland was declared to be in a listening to this band all the back with a great book which Day, why not get some friends state of insurrection. Under the time particularly The Twelfth takes you to another place – together, have a Pint of Insurrection Act, Magistrates of Never) just to name a few – where you get lost in another Guinness or two, pop on some and Military Officers were all of which have contributed time and another world. All of Van Morrison, enjoy some Irish empowered to arrest and towards the soundtracks of our the following Authors wrote Fayre and tell a few Irish Yarns punish, by death or otherwise, own lives. wonderful stories that were (in their accent of course)! Or according to their discretion, made into unforgettable movies: come out to The Grand Golf people committing treasonable Irish Actors Club and have a game of Golf acts or even suspected of There are so many fantastic Frank McCourt with your mates and join in the treason. An Indemnity Act Irish Actors – Liam Neeson, – Angela’s Ashes and ‘Tis Irish Festivities. protected them from suits for Colin Farrell, Pierce Brosnan, illegal acts committed by them Peter O’Toole, Gabriel Byrne, Oscar Wilde Article by Donna with the History in suppressing a rebellion. Brenda Fricker & Maureen – The Importance of Being bits extracted from the Net Consequently, many thousands O’Hara – all of which have Earnest of Irish were, without any starred in some brilliant movies judicial trial or investigation, like Schindler’s List, In Bruges, Bram Stoker flogged, tortured, and James Bond, Lawrence of – Dracula Flora and Fauna If you think you saw a lot of butterflies around the course in December and January, you weren’t imagining it. The Grand Golf Club has had Rainer Ebel, a Canadian Ecologist, visit our course several times over the last eighteen months recording, observing, photographing, banding some of the wildlife and reporting on our abundant varieties of Flora and Fauna. He has been completing studies at various Gold Coast Golf Courses.

He noticed massive amounts of butterflies during one of his studies in January – Here is an excerpt from his article:

BUTTERFLY MIGRATION an unique phenomena on the golf courses – By Rainer Ebel

he mid-January butterfly migration attempted to estimate the butterfly numbers crossing the Pines but on the 16th, the bulk of 2015 in the Gold Coast will be for each species I could identify. The of the movement across the river, a km Teither near its end or finished only numbers are just estimates, but may from the Pines had noticeably slowed by to appear in another several years when all proportionally represent the actual numbers mid-morning. climatic conditions are met. I first noticed over both courses. Actual butterfly The Table below lists five identified a constant stream of yellowish butterflies numbers can never be achieved but if one species and one or two unidentified little crossing the Pine GC during a brief visit on could take the liberty this year, we are brownish jobs observed during certain the 13 January but the concept of a butterfly talking in the 100s of millions, all moving times on 15 and 16 January. For each migration did not really sink in until the 15th South-South South West against the species I include sexes observed (when when I was conducting my first golf course prevailing breezes of the day. separation is possible) and a numerical water bird survey of the season. During the morning on the 15th estimate which reflect their relative While moving between ponds, I thousands of butterflies were on the move abundance.

Date 2015/Location Jan 15; Pines/Palms Jan 16; Marine Dr E, Coomera River Time 07:00-12:30 07:00-09:30

Common Name Male Female Estimate Estimate Blue Tiger Yes Yes 5000+ 750 Yellow Albatross Yes Yes 3000+ 3000+ Caper White Yes Yes 2500+ 3000+ Common Crow ? ? 50+ 20+ Yellow Migrant ? ? 10+ 0 Unidentified brownish species ? ? 5+ 5+

Male Blue Tiger The blue spots and streaks separate this species from all others in Australia

Male and female Yellow Albatross. Disperse southward during summer to SE NSW and beyond. Several generations are completed annually.

Male and female Caper White (pale and dark forms). Adults regularly migrate and usually last a few weeks.

If you’ve read something good (or even something awful!) lately and wish to contribute a book review, by all means put finger to keyboard and email your review [email protected]. We wish to BOOK publish a wide range of reviews to reflect the broad interests of the Membership. Please include the Title REVIEW and the Author’s name(s). We’ll provide a link to purchase the book online.

BREKKY CENTRAL ADAM BOLAND

dam Boland was the young wonderkid of Australian television who changed breakfast television in this country forever with the Seven Network’s Sunrise program, sparking a fierce ‘cornflakes war’ between ASeven and Nine’s Today Show. Brekky Central is Boland’s autobiographical account of his rise and dramatic fall. Fast-paced, easy to read - and a gripping tale - Boland talks about going from being a boy that wanted to work at Channel 7 and would pepper media barons with letters outlining how he could improve their programs through to taking a finance ‘geek’ in David Koch and turning him into one of the most recognisable stars in Australian television.

The Sunrise program in its day played a huge role in fundraising activities for major natural disasters that afflicted Australia and the APAC region, it also led to the popular rise of former PM, Kevin Rudd and current Australian Treasurer Joe Hockey’s political careers.

The account of the program, and in particular Koch, being much maligned following the Beaconsfield Mine Disaster and an ANZAC trek through Kokoda was an interesting read - at the time, both occasions on the surface didn’t look good for Koch as he was lambasted by the public and media outlets, however Boland sets the record straight and will change the opinion of many readers. BUY HERE After leaving Seven with a view to getting away from breakfast TV, Boland was convinced to establish the ill-fated Channel 10 breakfast program. Soon after it went to air - his depression and bi-polar disorder almost cost him his life.

For much of the read there is a lot of personal backslapping, but some humorous behind the scenes anecdotes, particularly for anyone that has been involved in entertainment or major events and understands how things can go very wrong, very quickly. A strong proportion of the tome was dedicated to the first public event in Australia by Justin Bieber and how it descended into a Sydney city-wide riot of pre- pubescent girls looking for the Canadian singer.

Aside from the gritty accounts of the offscreen politicking that occurs in television land (Seven tried to ban the book), there are deeply touching moments where the reader will feel empathy with Boland, especially as he is very raw and honest about his battles with depression and re-connecting with his journeyman father, in the process providing comfort that extended his father’s life appreciably when diagnosed with liver disease.

Certainly one if you like autobiographies and want something that is informative, but easy to read. ‘THE BUNKER’

Haydn Froggatt took this photo of this guy checkin’ out the action on the Driving Range

Linda O’Neill bumped into this little fella going for a stroll near the 17th Hole.

Thursday, April 2 PUTTER DEMO DAY 10:30am-1:00pm Golf Tips with our Resident Professional, Ossie Moore

Putting with the arms

There are two putting styles I really like - one putting from the shoulders and the other from the arms, in this tip I am going to focus on putting with the arms.

As you line up your club behind the ball, the angle should only be one or two degrees and we want to carry this right through the shot. When practicing this, I sometimes use a longer stick that I hold against my putter as a means of control.

What we’re aiming for here is to keep the centre of our shoulders stationary - we’re working with our arms not our shoulders.

Maintain that one or two degree angle as you pull back by bending your rear elbow - but make sure you maintain that shaft angle after addressing the ball.

Then bring the arms through the centre of the putt, still holding the one to two degree angle right past the follow through.

As I mentioned before, the centre of your shoulders need to remain stationary. The left and right shoulders will move as they are dragged around that centre - but we aren’t using our shoulders in this putting method.

The aim is to move the butt of the grip at exactly the same angle throughout the entire shot - Aaron Baddeley is one of the best at being able to maintain the angle with his arm putt.

The good thing about this method is that the putter head stays very low to the ground so therefore you are only producing lateral impact on the golf ball - not down or up.

If you can perfect that, you will become a very good putter.

Should your putting need a review or you aren’t getting the best result out of the greens at the moment, give myself or Aymeric Lecole a call at The Grand and we can arrange a private lesson with you.

To watch this golf tip from Fox Sports’ The Golf Show, follow this link: http://bit.ly/1wagu5l

EVENTSMarch 2015

DATE EVENT PLAY

Wed 4 Ladies’ Mercedes Benz Monthly Medal Stroke Qualifying Round President’s Trophy Stroke Thurs 5 Men’s Single S’ford Sat 7 Men’s Mercedes Benz Monthly Medal Stroke President’s Cup Qualifying Round Ladies Balls Up 8.15am S’ford Tues 10 1st Round President’s Trophy Matchplay Wed 11 Quarter Finals President’s Trophy Matchplay Ladies’ Single S’ford Thurs 12 Men’s Pairs Aggregate S’ford Sat 14 1st & 2nd Round President’s Cup Matchplay Men’s Single S’ford Ladies Balls Up 8.15am S’ford Sun 15 St. Patrick’s Day Irish 4BBB Medley Shotgun Start 8.30am Tues 17 Semi-Finals President’s Trophy Matchplay Wed 18 Final President’s Trophy Matchplay Ladies’ Single S’ford Wed 18 Open Challenge S’ford Thurs 19 Men’s 4BBB – Draw for Opponents S’ford Shotgun Start 12.15pm Spit Roast to follow Sat 21 Men’s Single S’ford Quarter & Semi-Final President’s Cup Matchplay Ladies Balls Up 8.15am S’ford Wed 25 Ladies’ Single (Alt Course) V’s Par Thurs 26 Men’s Pairs Aggregate S’ford Sat 28 Men’s Single S’ford Final President’s Cup – 18 holes Matchplay Ladies Balls Up 8.15am S’ford Mon 30 1st Rnd Black Tie/Ross Tisch Memorial to be completed 1st Rnd Pink Tie/Bow Tie to be completed