Q Golf - Official online magazine for Golf Queensland Autumn 2014 | Page 13

Women’s Country Champs
more than just golf

By Bernie Pramberg
For 82 years female golfers beyond
Brisbane and surrounds have competed
and enjoyed the annual Queensland
Women’s Country Week Championship.
The 2014 Championship will be held
from May 19-21 in Toowoomba and
maximum fields are expected to test
their skills on the Garden City’s two
premier courses.
Toowoomba Golf Club’s traditional
layout at Middle Ridge and the
progressive City Golf Club’s centrallylocated course will host the ladies.
Adele Roberts, president of the Downs
and South-West District Ladies Golf
Association and also lady president at
Toowoomba Golf Club, anticipates a
bumper three days on and off the
golf course.
“We expect lots of good golf, fun
and social activity,’’ she said. “This is
traditionally a great event and both
clubs look forward to welcoming visiting
players.
“It is six years since the event has been
held in our district and Toowoomba has
lots of good quality accommodation
and the two golf courses are only 10
minutes apart.
“And we can be easily accessed by from
a wide geographical area. Toowoomba
is within easy driving distance of
the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, Wide
Bay, the western regions and even
Rockhampton.’’
At the time of writing it was not known
if record-breaking teenager Samantha

Foley would defend the title she won
last year on the Sunshine Coast.
Gold Coast-based Samantha, who
was originally from Inglewood and
played her early junior golf at Warwick,
became the youngest winner of the
state country women’s championship in
2011 when successful as a 13-year-old
in Rockhampton.
She was runner-up the following year at
Townsville and last year carded rounds
of 72 (at Mt Coolum) and 73 (TewantinNoosa) to again prevail.
“We hope Samantha will defend the
title and also have a number of juniors
who are low-markers who may enter,’’
said Adele Roberts.

We expect lots of
good golf, fun &
social activity.
But Ms Roberts stressed the
inclusiveness of the Championships and
catering for players of all standards.
“Not everyone is an A grader and
we want to make sure all players
go out and enjoy themselves at the
championships,’’ she said.
Opening day of the event (Monday, May
19) will feature Foursomes with the
field spread between Middle Ridge and
City. The following two days will decide
the Silver Division (0-18 handicap),
Bronze Div 1 (19-29) and Bronze Div 2
(30-45) over 36 holes strokeplay (18
holes at each course).

www.golfqueensland.org.au

“The Country Championship provides an
opportunity for golfers to play different
courses and to interact socially and
exchange ideas,’’ she said.
Although she has been Toowoomba Golf
Club lady president for just one year, Ms
Roberts will step down from the Downs
and South-West Queensland Ladies
District presidency in August after
serving her three-year term.
She said the roles and responsibilities
varied considerably from club to district.
“At district level you are essentially a
conduit between the clubs and Golf
Queensland,’’ she said. “It is important
to ensure clubs receive all necessary
information from Golf Queensland and
also to give the clubs a voice at district
level.
“At club level the emphasis is on looking
after the interests of lady members
and making sure everyone enjoys their
involvement.’’
Ms Roberts’ has had a particular
interest in developing junior golf at
district level and believes positive
results have been achieved on the
Downs and South-West.
Karrie Webb is the shining example of
a golfer whose formative years were
spent in the country and the Darling
Downs has also produced a number
of outstanding female players over
decades. Alison Munt and Karen Pearce
were top former amateurs who went
on to have professional careers and
youngster Samantha Foley has already
proved herself as a golfer of great
potential.

Q Golf Online Autumn 2014 13