4th July 2025
News Archive
3rd July 2025
Watts and Jepson Storm Home to Claim 2025 Mixed Foursomes Crown
In a thrilling tale of grit, experience and a touch of golfing drama, the 2025 Mixed Foursomes Championship at Pennant Hills Golf Club delivered a memorable storyline worthy of its place in Club folklore. From a blistering start by youthful front-runners to a storm-delayed twist in proceedings, and finally a vintage comeback performance, this year’s contest had it all.
Youth Takes the Early Lead
Round 1 set the tone with a remarkable display from the promising duo of Jack Sherry and Phoebe Bourne. Clearly unfazed by the magnitude of the occasion, they opened their campaign with a clinical 75 off the stick. Their precision and poise granted them an imposing four-shot lead heading into the second round. The clubhouse was abuzz with talk of a changing of the guard, as the young team looked poised to make a name for themselves.
A Weather-Induced Intermission
However, as is often the case in golf, nature had its own plans. Inclement weather forced a postponement of Round 2, pushing the conclusion of the championship back to June. While frustrating for some, the break provided time for contemplation and recalibration — particularly for one team that had kept its powder dry.
The Calm Hand of Experience Prevails
Enter Paul Watts and Debbie Jepson — two seasoned campaigners with a combined wealth of competitive know-how. Using the enforced delay to reassess and refine their strategy, they emerged from the break with renewed purpose. In Round 2, they turned the heat up to maximum, carding a scintillating 72 — the best round of the championship.
Their performance was not just a masterclass in ball-striking but a demonstration of composure under pressure. With every fairway found and every putt holed, Watts and Jepson steadily erased the deficit and surged past Sherry and Bourne to claim the title with a commanding four-shot victory of their own.
Champions Crowned
As the final card was signed and the dust settled on a championship rich with storylines, it was Paul Watts and Debbie Jepson who were crowned the 2025 Mixed Foursomes Champions of Pennant Hills Golf Club. Their triumph was a testament to the value of experience, preparation and an unyielding belief in one’s ability to rise to the occasion.
Congratulations to Paul and Debbie, whose names now join a long and prestigious list of past champions. The Mixed Foursomes remains one of the most cherished events on the calendar, and this year’s edition will be fondly remembered for its spirited competition, camaraderie and classic Club spirit.
3rd July 2025
Ryan’s Roaring Revival: A Junior Championship for the Ages
It was a crisp winter’s day at Pennant Hills Golf Club as two of our brightest young talents, Adi and Ryan, took to the course to contest the 2025 Junior Club Championship Final. What transpired over the ensuing 30 holes will be remembered as one of the most dramatic and courageous comebacks in the storied history of our Junior ranks.
Adi Sets the Pace
From the opening tee shot, Adi appeared to be a young man on a mission. With an electric start, he stormed out to a 3-up lead through the first 7 holes. A trio of deft chip-ins—each seemingly more audacious than the last—sent murmurs through the small gallery following the match. His touch around the greens was masterful, and his confidence soared as he rounded out the front nine of the morning 18.
The back nine, however, saw a noticeable tightening of the contest. Ryan, despite being on the ropes, refused to yield and began to claw back into contention. Yet Adi held firm, and it was only a nervy three-putt from 12 feet on the 18th green that allowed him to take a slender 2-up lead into the lunch break. Momentum, though still in Adi’s favour, was beginning to shift.
The Turning Point
After a brief interlude and no doubt bolstered by a hearty meal and perhaps a dose of David Goggins-style determination, Ryan returned to the course with fire in his eyes and the bit between his teeth. What followed was nothing short of extraordinary. In the opening stretch of the afternoon’s play, Ryan produced a breathtaking sequence, carding birdies on four of the first six holes. His game was all muscle and nerve, his putter suddenly ablaze, and within the blink of an eye, he had transformed a 2-down deficit into a commanding 4-up lead.
Where Adi had danced with flair in the morning, Ryan now marched with power and poise. Adi attempted to answer the challenge, trying to recapture the magic of his early chip-ins, but the spark seemed to have dulled. His putter, so reliable earlier, betrayed him in the face of Ryan’s relentless pressure.
By the time the players reached the 27th hole, Ryan had surged to a 7-up advantage.
A Champion’s Finish
There was a brief pause at the 12th hole of the afternoon round—by now the 30th of the match—where it was confirmed that Ryan had done it. With a final margin of 7&6, he sealed the Championship in commanding fashion.
This was not merely a win. It was a statement. Ryan’s fightback—marked by guts, grace and great golf—will be etched in the annals of the Junior Championship as a triumph of resilience and belief. Adi, gracious in defeat, should take pride in his remarkable front nine and strong sportsmanship throughout.
As we reflect on this thrilling encounter, we are reminded of the enduring spirit of competition and camaraderie that lies at the heart of Pennant Hills Golf Club. Both boys demonstrated the qualities we hold dear—skill, sportsmanship and a love of the game.
We look forward with great anticipation to watching their golfing journeys continue in the years to come.
2nd July 2025
Project R&M Update – Progress and Timing
Dear Members,
The inspiring good news is that the newly constructed holes feature first rate greens with superior surface quality not seen on our course for many years. They have met the significant weather challenges of recent months, and the shaping and finish are remarkable. It has all been worth the money and worth the effort, we now embark on the future stages of the project with confidence.
The launch event scheduled for Sunday, 6 July will proceed as planned, however commissioning of 9, 17 and 18 for general play will be delayed. This is due to persistent and heavy rainfall events over the past few months resulting in saturated ground conditions causing the turf to struggle to take root consistently. The affected areas have drained well but remain patchy in parts and visually inconsistent, Chipping presents a longer-term risk to turf health and would create an undesirable presentation of surrounds that might last for some time. The revised timeline for return to play is as follows:
16A – Immediate
9th hole – early August
17th hole – late July
18th hole – late August
Practice Putting Green – mid-September
The opening of hole 16a will allow us to proceed immediately with Stage 2 starting with the 5th green on Wednesday, 9 July when Craig Brown returns and when Members will be directed to play 5a and then walk down to the 6th tee. This temporary routing arrangement ensures continuity of play while allowing contractors full access to the 5th green site. Signage and directions will be in place to assist.
The Technical Committee make the point that ecological conditions are largely uncontrollable, they test patience and cause frustration, but they must be respected if the long run objectives of project R & M are to be met without compromise. The Board fully supports this view, more so when taking the near-term weather forecast into consideration.
I thank all Members for their patience and continued support during project R & M. It is a massive investment of money, time and imposition. On balance, this short deferral is a sensible decision that can only contribute to the quality objective that drives our project.
Michael Rowan
President
2nd July 2025
COURSE CLOSURE UPDATE – WEDNESDAY, 2 JULY 2025
Over the past 48 hours, your Club has been subjected to sustained and heavy rainfall, with our rain gauges recording in excess of 90 millimetres across the course. This volume of precipitation in such a short timeframe has resulted in widespread saturation of our fairways, greens and surrounds. As evidenced by the photograph below—taken this morning on the 10th green—there is considerable pooling on putting surfaces, and the course is simply unplayable.
Despite the diligent efforts of our Course Superintendent and his team to manage drainage and turf health, the sheer intensity of the downpour has overwhelmed even the most well-prepared areas. This is the type of weather event that no amount of preparation can fully mitigate, and we must now shift our focus from management to recovery.
Although we are beginning to see glimpses of improvement—with patches of blue sky emerging late in the day—the damage to the course has already been done. The soil profile beneath our turf remains heavily waterlogged and further compaction or stress from foot and vehicle traffic at this stage would only exacerbate the damage and delay the recovery process. With the long-term health of the playing surfaces and the safety of Members and staff in mind, we have made the decision to close the course tomorrow, Thursday, 3 July.
At this stage, it is also highly likely that the course will remain closed on Friday, 4 July. A final determination will be made on Thursday afternoon following a thorough inspection by the Course Team and assessment of any further rainfall.
We recognise that this will be a source of disappointment for many, particularly for those looking forward to a mid-week game. However, the protection of the course and the experience it provides to all Members throughout the year must remain our highest priority. To allow play prematurely would not only risk long-term damage, but would compromise the very standards of presentation and conditioning that we have all worked so hard to maintain.
We would like to thank all Members for their understanding, patience and support during these difficult weather conditions. Please rest assured that as soon as the course is safe and playable, we will communicate that news without delay.
Barnaby
