IT’S drawing a long bow to equate a heating planet with golf, but there are similarities.
There is an inevitability that both golf and the climate will ultimately prevail.
The experienced golfer will almost certainly reflect that the game can never be beaten; it can’t.
The erudite meteorologist will declare that the global climate can never be tamed; it can’t.
It’s always been thus.
The game and the climate are both immune from human want and opinion.
The critical factor is in our ability to influence.
Yet expectation prevails; I’ve played well this week so my form will continue.
The climate always changes so it will change for the better.
That strong belief that something will happen or be the case is sadly often mugged by reality.
Saturday
Although golf is a game just waiting to explode your false expectation, Stewart Turner’s mid-week form was an outlying harbinger of what was to come.
On a wintry track, this time expectation avoided a mugging with Turner victorious in the 18-Hole Stableford event.
His 30 stableford points held off Steve Nattrass on 29 and Mitch Miller and Barry Oldaker both on 28.
Nearest the pins were Bruce Taylor on the 2nd, Oldaker on the 5th, Nattrass on the 8th and 11th and Russell Murphy on the 13th.
Nattrass dominated the putting with longest putts on the 1st, 16th and 18th interrupted only by Oldaker’s lucky punt on the 17th, while Alex Walter was the winner of the birdies and ferret’s draw.
Wednesday
Turner scored an impressive 27 stableford points to win the 12-hole stableford event held over the inward nine plus holes one, two and nine.
Walter was three shots back on 24 points and these two placegetters shared the novelties with nearest the pins on the 13th and 15th respectively.
It’s somewhat of a mystery as to what game the rest of the field were playing.
Tuesday
A wintry start ended in sunshine and the false promise of better weather ahead.
Gaye Goggin was impressive carding a 34-point total, three points clear of Marie Cook who relegated Allan Hitchcock to third place on countback after both finished on 31 points.
The Hitchcock family dominated the novelties with Allan scoring wins on the 1st, 8th and 17th and Kelly taking the honours on the 15th and 9th.
Goggin won the birdies and ferrets’ draw.
Monday
Parklands hosted the Glenelg Veterans monthly stableford event in what proved to be heavy and challenging conditions.
Winner of the A grade event was local Oldaker whose 33 points held out compatriot Ron Oakley on 31.
In B Grade the winner was Macarthur’s Chris Marchant who eclipsed Parklands’ stalwart George Donaldson.
Next Week
Spring weather beckons and Parklander players have the chance to cavort in the sunshine with events on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
