EVEN the most cursory of glances across the global landscape would reveal that all is not well, nature continues to deliver weather extremes from the north pole to all continents on earth, including of course the Australian eastern seaboard.

Humanity is struggling with the belligerent behaviour of nation states driven by a mixture of ideology, power and self-interest.

While we can admire the tenacity and stoicism of Ukranians and their impressive leader, we all know with awful certainty that whatever the outcome, there has been, and will continue to be, a terrible human cost.

The relentless COVID pandemic continues to place strain on our communities, especially within aged care and hospital systems, and on the people who work in them. 

This is surely enough to make us all despair, but there is always golf; one of life’s wonderful distractions.

Saturday Monthly Medal

THE monthly medal stroke round is always keenly contested, adding spice to this month’s event was round three of the four-round Men’s Championships to determine both the scratch and handicap champions for 2022.

Sluggish fairways and cold conditions provided an added challenge for competitors.

In the medal event Stewart Turner’s 71 nett held off Barry Oldaker on 73 while Allan Hitchcock and Dale Grambau finished on 74.

Turner was declared the medallist thereby becoming ineligible for the stroke event, that honour went to Oldaker from Hitchcock who relegated Grambau to third on countback.

Nearest the pins went to Hitchcock on the 2nd, Bruce Taylor on the 3rd and 15th, Mitch Miller on the 5th, James Brown on the 11th and Turner on the 13th.

Longest putts went to Miller on the 1st and 16th, Steve Nattrass on the 17th and Turner on the 18th.

Grambau had the least number of putts for the round and won the birdies and ferrets’ draw. 

With one round to play in the scratch championship, Brown leads by a considerable margin. 

The handicap division has several players in contention, the handicap winner will be the player with the best three of four rounds.

Wednesday 12-Hole Stableford

TURNER’S monthly medal win was off the back of some promising form in the Wednesday event where players struggled to find consistency in icy conditions.

His impressive 20 stableford points on the outward nine on Wednesday was enough for him to hold on to victory with 22 points over the twelve holes, on countback from Bernie Cook, while Oldaker’s 20 secured third place.

George Donaldson was nearest the pin on the 13th, while Taylor had the longest putt on the 1st and Oldaker secured the birdies and ferrets’ draw.

Tuesday Par event

DESPITE some sunny skies, a bitter wind kept players rugged up against the cold.

Gaye Goggin finished square with the card to record victory from Kelly Hitchcock who finished on -1.

Nearest the pins went to Allan Hitchcock on the 2nd, Jenny Row on the 5th and 13th and Kelly on the 8th.

Longest putters were Marg Donehue on the 1st, Row on the 17th and Heather Wilkinson on the 18th.

Wilkinson also recorded the longest straight drive on the 9th and Donehue took out the birdies and ferrets’ draw.

Next Week

THE main competition next Saturday will be an 18-hole stroke event.