WITH the expected dry winter yet to arrive, the Parklands course teeters on the edge of closure after persistent precipitation. 

   Arrangements have been made to protect fairways and surrounds by restricting cart travel to off-fairway areas only while heavy machinery has been consigned to the Parklands’ sheds where volunteers beaver away on all those machinery maintenance tasks too long set aside. 

   Golfers of course reacquaint themselves with their wet-weather clobber and are reminded of the true length of their drives as the ball lands with a lethargic thud on sodden fairways. 

   Occasionally the errant golfer is reminded of the purpose of the meandering drain that crosses the course in a north-westerly direction.

   This is winter golf warmed only by the warm glow of victory, the heat of competition and eventual return to a climate-controlled and welcoming clubhouse.

Saturday

   Vince O’Brien’s long straight drives from the tees and Barry Oldaker’s surety around the sand greens enabled the pair to not only win Saturday’s 4BBB Par event with a +4, but also claim the coveted Russell Family Trophy with a two-round total of +6. 

   Next best was the team of Graeme Torney and Mitch Miller who were unable to maintain their form from Round 1, finishing on a two-round total of +2.

   Nearest the pins in Round 2 were Dion McFarlane on the 2^nd, Torney on the 5^th, O’Brien on the 11^th and Stewart Turner on the 13^th.

   Longest putters were Kelly Hitchcock on the 1^st and 17^th, Torney on the 16^th and Oldaker on the 18^th.

   Dale Grambau took out the birdies and ferrets draw, and Bruce Taylor claimed the longest straightest drive on the 9^th.

Friday

   Peter Irvin was the winner of Friday’s stroke event over the original nine-holes course with a score of 34.5 nett.  

   Taylor and Phil Kosch finished on 36 with Taylor claiming second place on countback. 

   This was an impressive performance by Kosch who was returning to the game after an enforced lay-off following serious surgery.

   Taylor was nearest the pin on the second and thirteenth, with Turner holing the longest putt and Irvin landed the longest straight drive and George Donaldson was the winner of the birdies and ferret’s draw.

Wednesday

   It was a war of attrition on a freezing cold Parklands course in last Wednesday’s thirteen-hole stableford, with only two points separating the well-insulated intrepid seven who ventured out. 

   Turner’s 23 points held off George Donaldson and Taylor who both finished on 22.  Donaldson relegated Taylor to third place on countback.

   Nearest the pins were Oldaker on the 5^th and Bruce Taylor on the 13^th, while Donaldson claimed the longest putt on the first and the birdies and ferrets’ draw.

Tuesday

   Sunny skies above but sodden underfoot were the conditions greeting Tuesday’s participants in an 18-holes stroke round.            Gaye Goggin took the win with a nett score of 82 from Irene Box on 84 and Sue Irvin on 86.

   Goggin featured in the novelties claiming nearest the pin on the 2nd, longest putt on the 1^st and shared in a three-way tie for putting honours with Box and Heather Wilkinson. 

   Box claimed nearest the pin on the 13^th and 15^th. Longest putts on the 17^th and 18^th were claimed by Heather Hay and Wilkinson respectively.

   Gina Kelly hit the longest straight drive on the 9^th and Marg Donehue won the birdies and ferrets’ draw.

Next Week

   The main event next Saturday comprises both the July monthly medal and the third round of the Men’s Championships