ROSEWOOD Golf Club Division 1 pennants captain Tim Woodford senses a successful season ahead as he’s leading a stable, experienced and talented team.

The well-balanced combination is preparing to launch its latest Moreton District Golf Association (MDGA) competition at their Karrabin-Rosewood Road course against Brisbane River on August 17.

“It’s always good to start at home,” Tim said, recalling Rosewood’s positive opening games in the last two seasons.

“Fingers crossed we can have another winning start to the pennants.

“This is now our third year and it’s basically been the same team, so we really know what to expect from different clubs and basically how to find a way to win more games.”

Tim feels fresh and ready to join 10 other regular club golfers after having surgery on a right thumb injury last September.

He hurt his thumb playing hockey for Easts in the semi-finals in the middle of the 2024 pennants season.

Tim was only able to return for the final pennants game.

“It’s all back to full health,” he said, having returned to playing golf along with lining up in A-Grade and Reserve Grade hockey this season.

Tim, 37, has scored 830 goals since making his Ipswich hockey competition debut aged seven.

While the Easts’ stalwart has some hockey finals coming, he is also focused on golf, where he enjoys representing Rosewood at every opportunity.

Tim is being assisted by the accomplished Jack Wojcicki, who took over as captain last year when the regular leader was injured.

Jack, 22, is set to play in Rosewood’s challenging number one spot.

“It’s always good having some youthful energy there,” Tim said, backing his confident teammate.

Tim’s brother Luke and cousin Chris Mantell are also in the current 11-strong pennants squad.

They will be joined by Nathan McMillan, Shanker Silvadorae, Tim Ross, Ronan Morgan, Glen Peterson, Tony Sutton and Zach Menolotto.

Club champion Nathan is likely to play as Rosewood’s number two with Tim, Chris, Shanker and Glen vying for the third and fourth spots.

Under the MDGA rules, nine players line up each round.

The top four players challenge their opponents without a handicap.

The next five representatives play with their handicap under a match play format.

The Rosewood Division 1 team just missed last year’s MDGA finals.

Tim said the pennants golfers had prepared well for the latest series around South East Queensland.

Zach enjoyed success in the handicap match play series throughout the year.

Jack was in encouraging form beating Ronan in the A-Grade scratch match play event.

Tim is in his 16th year as a teacher at Leichhardt State School.

He won the Rosewood club championships in 2022 and 2023 after joining the club at the end of 2021.

Tim said Shanker was probably the most experienced player in the squad.

“Then you’ve got the likes of Ronan Morgan who is so consistent,” Tim said.

The pennants captain said Tim Ross was using his handicap to advantage “which is always good having him there.”

“Glen is not the biggest hitter but he’s just super, super consistent,” Tim Woodford said.

He said Tony is a big improver, deserving his spot in the Rosewood group.

Tim is looking forward to working with his current squad members including cousin Chris, a former Australian Country hockey captain and long-time teammate in that sport.

“Golf usually is an individual sport so the fact that you can have this sort of team environment and then bring Chris into it, and there’s a good chance that I could actually play in the same group as him,” Tim said.

Tim’s brother Luke, also a reliable contributor in team sport like hockey, only lost one game in match play last year.

Tim expected the Rosewood course to play well for the pennants opener despite the recent wet weather.

“There’s a few wet spots, like always in the winter, but a couple of days of sun now and it will dry out,” he said.

“It’s always a good track Rosewood … a beautiful country course.”