THOSE who have ever taken up a golf club and swung it at that miniscule white sphere called a golf ball will no doubt understand circumstances that are best described as ‘an unexpected and inexplicable change in a situation or in someone’s behaviour’. 

Parklands’ golfers of more than a few years of competitive golf, will doubtlessly recall that occasion when a perfectly struck drive climbs majestically over the fourth fairway, only to arc unexpectedly to the right, eventually coming to rest on the gravel of Kinnanes road. 

Possibly they have seen an apparent rational playing partner lose control and propel their club further than the errant shot they have just played; and just maybe it was someone closer to home than their playing partner.

The word we use to describe these unexpected and inexplicable changes in situations and behaviour is ‘vagary’.

Recent developments at Parklands have added to these vagaries, as work progresses to improve the course. 

Additional sand is being added to all scrapes progressively, and the addition of a light oil, to the soon to be replaced seventh and eighth scrapes, as a trial, has commenced.

This means that while an approach shot to the second or seventh may result in your ball bogged in the sand well short of the pin, a delicate chip onto the sixth or 14th could see your ball roll past the flag and down the slope into the trees.

This past week the intrepid Parklands golfers contended with these increased vagaries, as well as the competitive intent of their fellow members. 

Saturday mystery round

CAPTAIN, Barry Oldaker, was determined that this event would be a two-person gentsome with all players teeing off from the red tees. 

A two-person gentsome requires that both team members tee off and then select the best drive.

Each player then plays out from this position and the total of both stableford scores are recorded.

Given that there was an uneven number of competitors, one player was required to partner two players; Peter Irvin drew the short straw.

Graeme Torney and Alex Walter were the runaway winners, scoring a combined 94 stableford points from Sue Irvin and Oldaker on 86, and Phil Kosch and Mitch Miller on 85.

Nearest the pins went to Bruce Taylor on the second, George Donaldson on the fifth, Miller on eighth, Torney on the 11th and 15th, and Peter on the 13th.

Longest putters were Kosch on the first, Oldaker on the 16th, Peter on the 17th and Donaldson on the 18th. 

Miller won the birdies and ferrets’ draw.

Friday nine-hole stableford

THIS event was played over the outward nine and a countback was required to determine the winner. 

Heather Hay took first place from Gaye Goggin both players finishing on 19 points.

Kosch was third with a stableford score of 16 and he also took out nearest the pin on the second.

Wednesday 13-hole stableford

STEWART Turner’s 28 stableford points edged out Taylor on 27.

Miller was third with a stableford score of 25.

Nearest the pins went to Taylor on the second and Donaldson on both the eighth and 13th.

David Rendell won the birdies and ferrets’ draw.

Upcoming events

THE main event this week is an 18-hole aggregate stableford. 

Players are to enter with a partner.