THE odd deciduous tree in Hamilton’s many lovely private gardens is showing early signs of colour, and as late summer rain taps at the window, my unnamed weather muse’s prediction of an early autumn seems decidedly plausible.

The 2021-22 golfing season is drawing to a close with the new season’s opening day just a month away.

Despite the grim international outlook, we are all looking forward to more positive times ahead.

This year Parklands celebrates its 50th year and will also host the 2022 Victorian Sand Green Championships in late August.

Parklands is of course all about golf, and those captured by the unpredictability of the game continue to strive for the possibility of success amongst the wasted opportunity, disappointment, and frustration that the game so readily supplies.

Saturday pinehurst

FOLLOWING an in-depth discussion about the difference between the Pinehurst and Canadian golf formats, patiently facilitated by the club captain, pairs of players finally ventured onto the course. 

Some were convinced that they were playing neither a Pinehurst nor a Canadian, but a newly devised format that could more appropriately be labelled a Pinadian or Canhurst. 

Thankfully all golfers played the same version of whatever it was.

The key to success in a team event is to draw the right partner. 

Sadly, the majority were disappointed, but not so Peter and Sue Irvin, who are well practiced in the art of partnership. 

They compiled a nett score of 62 5/8 to post a convincing win.

One is left to ponder the contribution of each to this decisive victory, suffice to say that the vagaries of Peter’s driving off the tee were swept along in the slipstream of Sue’s rich vein of form.

Despite frequent excursions into the more remote areas of the tree-lined fairways, Mitch Miller and Bruce Taylor eventually found their way to the sand greens to record 65 7/8, just enough to secure second place from Vince O’Brien and enigmatic putter, Barry Oldaker. 

The pair finished on 66 1/4 on the back of, or despite, some extraordinary escapades on the sand.

Nearest the pins were Peter on the second, Oldaker on the fifth and eighth, Miller on the 13th and Taylor on the 15th. 

Longest putters were Steve Nattrass on the first, Oldaker on the 16th and 17th and Miller on the 18th.

John Elvery and Heather Wilkinson hit lovely drives on the ninth to take out the men’s and women’s longest straight drives respectively.

Alex Walter was the winner of the birdies and ferrets’ draw.

Friday nine-hole stableford

THE top five players in this event were within three shots of each other; clear evidence of a closely contested competition.

Allan Hitchcock’s fine 20 stableford points secured victory from John Wilkinson on 18. 

Three players finished on 17 points with Heather Wilkinson taking third place after the necessary countback, from Bernie Cook and Kelly Hitchcock.

Hitchcock was also nearest the pin on the fifth.

Wednesday 13-Hole Stableford

AT the reckoning of this event, Cook’s name popped up on the results sheet multiple times, but not on top of the pile. 

This prime position went to Heather Wilkinson, who’s impressive 27 stableford points included a two for five on the fifth.

A shot further back was Alex Walter who scored 26.

Cook finished third with 25, but along the way claimed three of the five novelties with nearest the pin on the fifth and 13th holes, and longest putt on the first.

Miller was nearest the pin on the second and George Donaldson won the birdies and ferrets draw.

Monday Par 3 stableford

THE assembled ladies played an 18-hole stableford event with par four and par five holes reduced to par threes by moving the tee-offs to the 150m markers.

This was to the liking of the in-form Sue, who compiled 36 points to win by three from Irene Box.

Nearest the pins went to Box on the second and eighth, Irvin on the fifth, Pat Anderson on the 13th and Marie Cook on the 15th. 

Longest putts went to Marie on the 17th and Gaye Goggin on the 18th

Irvin won the birdies and ferrets’ draw.

This week

IN this week’s main event, golf returns to the more traditional fare of an individual stroke event over 18 holes.

The winner will be crowned March’s monthly medallist, ensuring that competition will be fierce, the sledges freely flowing, and the 19th hole festivities convivial.