Inevitability

WE finally emerge from an extended period of organised mourning where thoughtful, respectful and honest commentary on the recent passing of the long-serving and unstintingly dutiful Queen Elizabeth II struggled to find voice amidst blanket coverage of pomp, pageantry and obsequiousness.

In our home city, a feeble spring, labours to assert itself against winter’s chill reluctant to loosen its grip, much like a young nation unable to untether itself from an anachronism.

There is an inevitability that these things will come to pass.

The contemplative golfer stands on the first tee daring to believe that today will be that day when they master the vagaries of the game; a cracking drive down the fairway fuels the belief. 

A second shot comes to rest 20 metres from the pin. 

This must be the day; there’s an air of inevitability about it. 

Mere minutes later, a hand heavy with disillusion, inscribes the numeral seven onto the scorecard.

Inevitability? Maybe it’s just hopeful optimism, or worse, wishful thinking.

Saturday

A FEW dedicated Parklands golfers assembled for an early start, resisting the temptation of pre-AFL Grand Final festivities to engage in an 18-hole stableford event in surprisingly benign conditions. 

Unsurprisingly, the name Barry Oldaker appeared on the top of the results sheet. 

His 33 stableford points easily won the day from the struggling chasers, the best of whom could only manage a paltry 27.

Bruce Taylor limped into second place via countback from a tiring Alex Walter.

Nearest the pins were Walter on the second and Taylor on the fifth and 13th. 

Longest putts went to John Wilkinson on the first, Oldaker on the 16th and Heather Wilkinson on the 18th. 

Taylor took out the birdies and ferrets draw.

A majority of weary competitors journeyed homeward hopeful of a closely contested final half of the AFL Grand Final only to be disappointed once again.

Friday

A FIRMING, but still challenging course welcomed those intent on mastering the collection of holes that comprised the initial Parklands nine-hole course for a stroke event. 

Taylor’s 34 ½ held off Heather Wilkinson on 36. 

Tellingly, the novelties on offer went unclaimed as competitors struggled to execute the exceptional.

Monday

HEAVY conditions greeted the brave few who turned up for the stableford competition. 

Jenny Row and Gaye Goggin returned the best score of 23 stableford points with Row claiming victory on countback. 

Gina Kelly’s 22 earned third place. 

Row was nearest the pin on the 13th and 15th, while Kelly took the putting honours on the first and 18th. 

Mary McCallum was the winner of the birdies and ferrets draw.

Glenelg Veterans

MONDAY’S scheduled Glenelg Veterans stableford event had to be transferred to Dartmoor due to an exceptionally heavy track at the Hamilton Golf Club.

Several Parklands players travelled to the picturesque course and were surprised by the firmness of the track.

In A grade, Hamilton’s Kevin King returned an exceptional 40 stableford points to hold off Parklands’ Ron Oakley, who finished with 37.

B grade honours went to Mooralla’s Tim O’Brien, whose 34 points were enough to secure victory from Parklands’ Taylor on 33.

Next week

THE main event this week will be the Monthly Medal. 

Tournament week kicks off immediately after with a three-person gentsome the following day, with three-person teams can be of any combination able to enter Sunday’s event.

October 3 will be a 4BBB for women encompassing the Spectator Trophy, which is awarded to the best stableford score of the day.

Wednesday’s round will be a 4BBB for men, while Friday will see the running of a three-person Irish Stableford for women.

Tournament week closes with the holding of a four-person (any combination) Ambrose on October 9.