Kaizen called for small but continuous improvements to the processes of motor vehicle design and production.

This way of running a business was ultimately adopted by companies throughout the western world.

Parklands Golf Club volunteers have been unknowing adherents to this philosophy simply born of necessity. 

Large, rapid or significant changes often require generous supplies of labour and finance that are beyond the resources of a small golf club.

Over recent years a number of course improvements have come to fruition through patient process. 

Signage has been upgraded, oil re-introduced to scrapes, boundary posts re-painted, the buggy shed re-clad, bare patches on fairways and surrounds have been minimised and the reversal of the seventh and eighth holes is close to completion. 

The work will of course go on, necessarily anchored in the principles of kaizen.

And for those surmising that the above principles could be beneficially applied to playing the game of golf - forget it.

Saturday

THE Monthly Medal event often brings them out; the regulars, the once-in-a-whilers, and of course the glory seekers.

So it was that Saturday’s stroke event comprised a large field of golfers.

Displaying uncharacteristic fairway-bound drives off the tees and excellent putting, Graeme Torney topped the field with an excellent 67 nett to win the medal. 

The rest of the field were left to battle it out for honours in the stroke event. 

Kelly Hitchcock’s 69 won the day from Bruce Taylor on 72, who held out Barry Oldaker on a countback. 

Jeff Donovan and Bill Evans were two shots further back on 74.

Torney was to the fore in the novelties, winning nearest the pin on the second and the third, longest putt on the 17th and claiming the best putting performance of the day with a miserly 21 putts for the round. 

Other nearest the pin winners were Marie Cook on the fifth, Alan Hitchcock on the eighth, Mitch Miller on the 11th, Oldaker on the 13th and Kelly on the 15th.

Longest putters were Cook on the first, Barry Elvery on the 16th and Alex Walter on the 18th. 

George Donaldson won the birdies and ferrets draw.

Friday

OLDAKER secured victory in the nine-hole stroke event with a solid 33.5 nett from in-form Heather Wilkinson on 35.

Taylor was nearest the pin on the second.

Wednesday

PLAYED over the inward nine and holes one, two and nine of the outward nine, Heather took top honours in the 13-hole stableford event with an excellent 27 points, two points clear of spouse John Wilkinson, who held out Bernie Cook and Oldaker on countback.

Oldaker dominated the novelties with two nearest the pin awards and the birdies and ferrets draw. 

Evans had the longest putt on the first hole.

Monday

A GOOD field of ladies took to the field for the two-person ambrose event. 

Jenny Row and Shirley Ness compiled a creditable 68.75 to take the win from Irene Box and Gaye Goggin, who finished on 69.75. 

Next best were Monica Kealy and Mary McCallum, who carded 71.75.

Nearest the pins went to Kealy on the fifth, Toby Salter on the eighth, Goggin on the 13th and Row on the 15th. 

The longest putters were Box on the first and the 18th, and McCallum on the 17th.

Ness landed the longest straight drive on the ninth, and Gina Kelly was the winner of the birdies and ferrets draw.

This week

THERE will be events on today, Friday, Saturday, and Tuesday.

The main event on Saturday will be a 4BBB stableford - enter with a partner.