WHILE leaden skies, cool winds and forecast temperatures stuck stubbornly in the low teens belie the fact, spring approaches. 

For the more observant, there are signs; the late-winter flowering of our national floral emblem and its many relatives, the yellow dust filtering down from the numerous pines on the Parklands course, the swelling of buds on deciduous species, the ready stare from a lone magpie perched on a tree at fairway’s edge that has the meaning, ‘just you wait’.

Our blue orb with its ever more polluted atmospheric blanket speeds through space towards the next southern hemisphere summer. 

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology is perhaps weeks away from announcing an El Niño. 

The competitive Parklands’ golfer stands on the first tee. 

They watch a well-struck drive fall disappointingly short of the 150-metre markers onto a verdant and soft fairway and contemplate the return of drier conditions that will add thirty metres to their drive.

One only need wait, we’re all just waiting.

Saturday

THE August Monthly Medal stroke round was also the final round of the men’s scratch and handicap championships. 

In news that surprised nobody at Parklands, the talented James Brown left the opposition in his wake with a four-round total of 307 off the stick, to take the title of club champion by a whopping 33 strokes from the next best. 

Brown’s name will be inscribed on the Parklands honour board for the second consecutive year following the win. 

Barry Oldaker claimed the handicap championship win with a three-round nett total of 215.

Next best was Bruce Taylor on 218, followed by Stewart Turner and Dale Grambau both on 219.

The medal was won by Stewart Turner, whose nett score of 69 featured some cracking drives off the tee and delicate chips onto the sandgreens. 

An unlucky George Donaldson who recorded a miserly 22 putts for the entire round also recorded a 69, but was beaten on countback. 

He was consoled by claiming the win in the stroke event. 

Next best was Oldaker on 72 followed by Mitch Miller on 73.

Nearest the pins went to Oldaker on the second, Steve Nattrass on the third, Brown on the eighth and 15th and Grambau on the 13th. 

Longest putters were Donaldson on the first and 16th, Miller on the 17th and Marie Cook on the 18th. 

Wayne Rowland won the birdies and ferrets draw and unsurprisingly Donaldson won the putting award.

Friday

THE few who turned up for Friday's gallop over the old nine were rewarded with fine weather and sunny breaks.

Those assembled agreed to play from the red tees.

In an obvious warm-up for Saturday’s medal round, Turner stroked his way to a convincing win with a nett score of 32.5. 

Newcomer, Russell Murphy, claimed nearest the pin on the 13th, while Turner claimed the longest putt.

Wednesday

ANOTHER small field contested Wednesday’s stableford over 13 holes. 

The in-form contingent featured again with Oldaker claiming a win on countback from Turner after both returned with 21 points. 

Nearest the pins were Donaldson on the second and Taylor on the fifth. 

Turner had the longest putt and Oldaker won the birdies and ferrets draw.

Tuesday

HEAVY conditions greeted the contingent of ladies who ventured out for Tuesday’s stableford. 

Toby Salter took the win on countback from Irene Box after both players finished on 29 points. 

Sue Irvin was third with 26. 

Nearest the pins went to Box on the fifth and 15th, and Irvin on the eighth. 

Longest putters were Heather Wilkinson on the first and 18th and Mary McCallum on the 17th. 

Cook landed the longest straight drive on the ninth.

This week

TODAY’S event will be a 12-hole stableford. 

Friday will be a nine-holes stroke event over the course’s original nine.  Saturday’s outing will be an 18-hole par event.  On Tuesday the ladies welcome you to a mystery round.