THE BEGINNING
Some form of newsletter has been produced by the BGC Ladies’ committee for decades. In 2015, when Helen Placanica was Ladies’ VP (and the only volunteer!), she was given the task of producing a monthly electronic newsletter. Helen named it News from the Red Tees which became and still is The Red Tees.
We now propose a periodic publication which will revert to Helen’s original idea of informing the membership of social events and activities both on and off the course.Janet, our hardworking captain, will keep us informed of competition news in her emails.
Liz, Kathryn & Ann
Red Tees Committee
Note From Member Engagement Group Chair
Our year has got off to great start and I am sure we are all looking forward to an enjoyable season of golf for 2023. In this edition I am going to introduce the members of the Member Engagement Group.
This year the group is made up of eight women and for now most of what we do is organising and promoting golf and social activities for women.
On the team are:
Janet Nathanson who is the co-captain of the golf club. Janet sits on the Club’s General Committee and the Match Committee. As Captain, Janet organises all Women’s golfing competitions and golf events.
Julie Brown is the women’s Vice Captain who is learning the ropes while she assists Janet. Julie is on the Match Committee and has also assisted with our LLG program.
Angela Cottrell has been a former Captain of the club. She brings a wealth of knowledge to our group and now sits on the Course Committee as well as the MEG.
Andree Millard looks after all things financial for the Group as well as many other jobs that come up.
Laura Cunning has been heavily involved in the LLG program over the last year or so and has done an excellent job.
Kate Morgan and Yvonne Butcher are our weekend women representatives. They do a great job in this role as well as their contribution to the group.
Catherine Reidy chair of MEG. My role is to oversee and manage all areas in which the group is involved. I am also on the Members Services Sub Committee.
I am looking forward to an enjoyable and successful year of women’s golf in 2023.
Catherine Reidy
Chair, Member Engagement Group
Captain's Corner Autumn 2023
Hello to you all.
Great news that nationally and at BGC, women’s involvement in every aspect of golf is being acknowledged and celebrated with commitments to develop a more welcoming and inspiring environment for women.
It’s all happening because the Royal & Ancient world governing body of golf, better known as the R&A, created a Women in Golf Charter a couple of years ago (available at https://www.golf.org.au/womeningolfcharter).
The Charter is now part of Golf Australia’s Australian Golf Strategy, and the national Women and Girls Engagement Plan (formerly Vision 2025).
Here at BGC, we have worked with Golf Australia to develop an improvement plan for Women and Girls golfing, social and leadership activities. Our first Women and Girls Engagement Plan includes initiatives around celebrating and sharing our achievements; enhancing the golfing and social activities for women golfers at all levels and supporting women to step into committee roles. We will review the plan annually in March, during national Women and Girls in Golf month. Look for the BGC Women and Girls Engagement Plan in our web site brochure library
We are the first Club in Queensland to sign the R&A Charter and document an improvement plan around Women’s and Girl’s golf. You are invited to celebrate International Women’s Day (8 March) and Women and Girls in Golf Month on Facebook by sending photos and a few words to geoff@brisbaneglfclub.com.au celebrating the golfing and social activities we enjoy together.
We had a terrific turn out for the Clare Kirkwood with 96 players participating. For some of you, a gentle introduction to the idea of Match Play. It was a hot day, and so was the competition especially from the President’s team, with them finishing 4 matches ahead – 13/9 (including 2 draws). Congratulations to all participants for giving their best. The overall tally since inception now stands at Captains 10; Presidents 9, Two draws, and one year of no competition! Bring on 2024 when hopefully the Captains can regain the upper hand!
The pennant squad has been finalised for the year. The pennant structure changed significantly in 2023, both in players per team and handicap ranges. Consequently, several members who have previously played pennants were not approached. It is not that you were not wanted, but rather due to the handicap ranges and number of players required.
Around the traps
Perri Ilott, had an eagle on the 5th on Sunday 19 February. Special mention should be made of the well-timed photo of Perri with a bird in the background. Congratulations to Perri and the photographer Lisa Schoutrop.
Congratulations to BDLGA who won the annual Halcyon Cup beating the Gold Coast Golf Association at Gainsborough Greens on Monday 27 February. Well done to Laura Cunning and Helen Placanica who represented Brisbane Golf Club, helping BDLGA to the win!
The Weekend Fourball is under way. 16 pairs qualified on 4th February. The match play rounds will continue throughout the year, with the finals being scheduled for October. The first match to be played was won by a well-known mother and daughter team – Lily and Jodi Holmes who out-lasted Allison Cook and Kym Knight. Well done to you all.
Congratulations to Safina Kyprianou, one of our up and coming juniors, with her recent scholarship award from Junior Golf Queensland and Titleist, as one of the “Stars of the Future”.
Irish Day on Tuesday 14 March. A great 4-person team event, with 7:30am shot gun start followed by our first gathering in 2023 in the Tennyson Room. What a good day it was, won on a count back by Carmel Delahunty, Julie Lawrence, Elaine Jensen & Leanne Northcott from Kelly Hill, Kelly Stoddart, Trisha Quinn and Louise Kelly.
The final of the Violet Midson Memorial Trophy was played on Thursday 23 March. Starting life as the Annual Club Trophy in 1940, having a name change in 1957 to the Violet Midson Memorial Trophy, only 83 years old! But research so far, indicates that history was made, as the final was played between a mother and daughter for the first time in an honour board event at Brisbane GC.
A very competitive game with only 4 shots between Lyn Brandon, and Louise Kelly. It was memorable both for the golf played and the generous spirit of both players, celebrating together with a fist pump whenever a hole was squared! Not sure who hugged whom on the 18th hole, after Lyn secured her one up victory on the 18th! Well done Lyn and Louise.
The Winning Hug | Winning family – Lyn Brandon & runner up Louise Kelly
Finally, some words of wisdom from Ash Barty – “Excellence is exhilarating, but strategy is more satisfying.”
Janet Nathanson,
Women's Captain
Mahjong
Our Brisbane Golf Club Mahjong Group continues to be very enthusiastic and committed to enjoying this very successful social event every second Thursday at the club starting at 1pm. Our player numbers continue to increase with over 60 members currently on the Mahjong List. It is a great opportunity for our golf players to enjoy the friendship of other members as well as participating in this exciting and fun activity. Mahjong is a game that is not too difficult to learn and the basics can be played successfully with tuition after a session or two.
A big thank-you to the Club for purchasing seven Mahjong Sets and Boards for our group. We also have three other Mahjong sets previously purchased by our group which means we can cater for 40 players in a session. Given that we have sufficient players with the skill level to help others, we are able to continue to mentor new participants and guide them to develop the necessary skill level to enjoy Mahjong.
Please contact Vivienne Cassidy if you would like to join the Mahjong Group.
Bridge
We play on every second Thursday afternoon after golf and lunch, from about 12.30pm to 2.30 pm, or whenever a four is ready to play. The Thursday is the alternate week to Mahjong. So, any Mahjong players who would like to play are most welcome.
It is very “casual” Bridge. We like to talk (not always about Bridge), discuss our bidding and play. We don’t keep score most of the time. You could say we are not really experts!! We just enjoy trying to be better Bridge players.
Contact Liz if you are interested – liz.mcreynolds57@gmail.com
Senior Ladies
The Senior Ladies competition is up and running for 2023. Competitions are every month from March to November on a Friday or Monday.
Come along and join us! It is a very social and fun day of golf and lunch afterwards.
Any ladies who are 60 + and would like to play, please contact Liz for details – liz.mcreynolds57@gmail.com
Irish Day
Irish Day or St. Patricks Day, as it was once called, seems always to have been part of the fabric of Ladies golf at BGC. We cannot find out exactly when this competition started but it has a rich history of being a much-loved event.
Here are a few past and present photos for you to enjoy.
Travel Corner
Abroad with Robyn Elphinstone
Wanting to experience another ‘White Christmas’ in Europe, our family headed to Zermatt in Switzerland for a winter wonderland skiing trip. Beautiful blue skies and heaps of snow provided many magical, ‘pinch ourselves’ type moments, not only in Zermatt but also on the Glacier Express train across the top of the Swiss alps to St Moritz.
It was in St Moritz where I came across a golf academy – quite snowed under – with a challenging driving range facility!
Our final week saw us in the majestic mountain peaks of the Dolomites in Italy, where the excellent Italian specialities were always a welcome treat after a day on the slopes.
At Home
With Liz McReynolds
Narooma Golf Course on the NSW South Coast was recommended by friends as a must play. This course has the most stunning coastal setting, sitting on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Breathtaking scenery and one of the most spectacular and intimidating Par 3’s, over a ravine to a cliff top green. Walked off with a par but I cannot tell a lie, I didn’t go over the ravine!!! Once you see the photo you may understand why.
Memorable ocean holes and the back nine features great holes with tall trees and a large lake.
Would I go back? Absolutely yes. Not the hardest golf course but so spectacular. The photos do not do it justice.
(Ranked number 15 in the top 100 Public Golf Courses)
Ladies' Lunch Haunts
Yatai at Bulimba recommended by, Liz
A new favourite haunt of my ladies’ lunch group. Well, mine especially as I love Japanese food. Great menu with lots of variety and beautifully presented.
My favourite dishes are:
- Yakitori Platter-Skewers of Mushroom, Shichimi Prawn, Karubi Glazed Chicken, Pork Wagu, and Salmon. Served with green salad, lemon and sauces.
- Sashimi Platter includes Salmon, Tuna and King Fish
- Chicken Yakisoba, Stir fried soba noodles with chicken, egg, fried shallots, pickled ginger and sesame seeds. -also Vegetable, Prawn or Wagyu.
- Buta Black Ribs, Japanese style BBQ pork baby back ribs.
This restaurant has great quality food and is good value. As it is a small restaurant, I recommend you reserve a table.
Please share your favourite lunch haunt with us – your Red Tees committee.
Books
Thank you to Jan Dixon and Robyn Elphinstone’s book group for these two summaries.
The group also rates the books with The Marriage Portrait being their top choice for 2022.
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell
This beautifully written work of fiction is set in Renaissance Italy. It centres on Lucrezia de Medici who is forced to surrender her freedom in her father’s Florentine court to fulfill a marriage agreement with the ruler of Ferrara. Initially her time at the new court is welcomed but when no heir is produced Lucrezia realises her life is in danger. Her cunning and resilience will see her battle for her survival.
RATING: 9.5/10
Horse by Geraldine Brooks
A sweeping story of spirit, obsession and injustice across American history. A discarded painting in a junk pile, a skeleton in an attic and the record-breaking racehorse- Lexington- lovingly tended by enslaved groom, Jarret, the story traces the history from Kentucky in the 1950’s to a New York gallery in 1954. Finally, the saga sweeps to Washington in 2019 where Australian scientist Jess is studying Lexington’s bones in an effort to discover his power and remarkable endurance with the help of her Nigerian- American art historian boyfriend, Theo.
RATING: 8.7/10
Women and Girls in Golf
In March we celebrated Women and Girls in Golf Month, a new initiative of Golf Australia. At BGC, we celebrated by acknowledging the many ways in which we enjoy each other’s company. In addition, we acknowledged the staff who provide services with a smile every day at the Club. Some of the highlights on Facebook were:
- Cheered that BGC became the first Queensland Club to sign the Royal and Ancient Women and Girls in Golf Charter, acknowledging the status of women’s golf at our club.
- Celebrated International Women’s Day and reflecting on how our Club is more than a golf course, how we create community with our smiles and care for others.
- Thanked our wonderful gardening volunteers who donate their time and expertise to keep our entrance so beautiful.
- Applauded our current longest serving Member, Helen Hudson. Helen is enjoying her 71st year of membership at BGC having joined in 1952. Helen was awarded honorary life membership in 2016.
- Cheered our Women’s and Junior Development Manager and a PGA Professional Asha Hargreaves. She runs clinics almost daily to grow women’s participation in golf. The membership program, which she now oversees, is a market leader in the golf industry and now has over 75 graduates.
- Praised our hospitality team, Tash and Kimberley for the amazing work they do to contribute to the club community spirit.
- Admired the Coffee Comp women enjoying high stakes competition with coffee, cash, and cake on the line!
- Welcomed back the Senior Ladies for their first event of 2023, enjoying a great day of golf and the special friendships the Senior Ladies’ embrace.
Thanks for participating in the Women and Girls in Golf Month social media series.
Debbie Kember
Vice President
What's for Dinner
By Janet Hefferan
Swedish Meatballs in Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Ingredients:
500g Pork & Veal Mince
1 cup Panko Breadcrumbs
1 lemon, zest plus wedges to serve
1 bunch of dill, sprigs removed, finely chopped, plus extra to serve
1 free range egg slightly beaten
2 tbs olive oil
20 g butter (may need a little extra)
200 g button mushrooms, sliced
2 tsp plain flour
S&P
2/3 cup light thickened cream
2 tbs Worcestershire sauce
300 g cooked “bow tie” pasta
Steamed broccolini and brussels sprouts, to serve
Method:
- Combine mince, breadcrumbs, season with S&P, zest, half the dill and egg into a bowl. Roll a tablespoon of mixture into balls and place on a tray. Repeat to make about 30 meatballs.
- Heat half the oil in a large non-stick fry pan over medium heat. Cook meatballs for around 8 min, shaking pan occasionally, or until browned on all sides. Transfer to a clean tray.
- Heat remaining oil and butter in same pan over medium heat. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring often, for 10 min or until golden. Sprinkle flour over and stir to combine. Cook for a minute. Stir in cream, sauce and ½ cup of water and stir until mixture comes to the boil. Reduce heat to medium and return meatballs to pan with sauce. Cook for 8 min or until cooked through. Stir through remaining dill and season to taste. Scatter extra dill over meatballs and serve with or on top of pasta, brussels sprouts, broccolini and lemon wedges.
On the Course
Your Red Tees committee is Liz, Kathryn and Ann.
We welcome contributions to our newsletter. Please contact Ann (maireann1536@gmail.com) if you have an item of interest.
Golf is an easy game – it is just hard to play!
MAY THE COURSE BE WITH YOU…