THE course is drying out as summer approaches and players are being rewarded with considerable run if they manage to stick to the fairways. 

However, with an eye on next winter, Parkland’s volunteers have been busy completing drainage works at the approaches to the new seventh and eighth holes. 

The works have been facilitated by the support of local business and local tradesmen. 

The reversal of the direction of play for the two holes has been in the club’s plans for many years and will take effect in the new year. 

So, your opportunity to get a hole-in-one on the eighth is fading.

Saturday

A LARGE field competed in challenging conditions during the 18-hole stroke competition. 

The strong, buffeting winds put some players off their game and resulted in many a stray ball and an unusually high number of balls sent out of bounds along the 17th fairway. 

Seasoned veterans kept their heads with Allan Flavell winning with 68 nett from George Donaldson, who returned 69 nett score, with Bruce Taylor third one shot further back. 

Flavell also dominated the novelties with nearest the pins on the second and third holes, along with the longest putt on the 18th. 

The other nearest the pins went to John Wilkinson on the fifth, Mark Miller on the 11th, and Dale Grambau on the 13th. 

The remaining longest putts were won by Kelly Hitchcock on the16th, and Sue Irvin on the17th; Hitchcock also won the birdies and ferrets prize.

The coveted longest, straightest drive on the ninth was won by Flavell, while the nearest the pins for the men’s competition were won by Miller on the second, Stewart Turner on the 13th, and Peter Irvin on the15th.

The women’s nearest the pins went to Dawn Cay on the fifth, Sue on the 13th, and Ann Dickinson on the 15th.

Friday

THE field enjoyed warm, pleasant conditions throughout the afternoon into the evening for Friday’s Summer Twilight nine-hole stableford competition. 

Club stalwart, Les Pye, found the weather and the increasing run on the fairways to his liking and returned a stableford score of 19 points, edging out Taylor on 18 points and Heather Wilkinson on 17 points. 

Pye’s day out continued when he took out the novelties for nearest the pin on the fifth and holed the longest putt on the first. 

Peter won the birdies and ferrets prize.

Wednesday

THE weather was not the only challenge facing the field for Wednesday’s 13-hole stableford round, with play taking place from the red markers and the resultant impact on handicaps. 

Barry Oldaker was up to the task and won with 25 points from Peter Irvin, who won on a countback from George Donaldson after both finished with 23 points.

Oldaker and Donaldson scooped the prizes with Oldaker claiming the nearest the pin on 13th, and Donaldson collected the honour on the second, also sinking the longest putt on the first.

Tuesday

TUESDAY’S field was split between those playing nine holes and those battling the windy conditions for 18 holes.

Sue won the 18-hole event with the women’s captain collecting 37 stableford, while former captain, Gaye Goggin, won the nine-hole event with 19 points.

Irvin (15th) and Goggin (eighth) shared the nearest the pin honours along with with Marie Cook (fifth). 

Cook also holed the longest putt on the 18th, with Goggin collecting the birdies and ferrets prize.

This week

THERE are competitions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday this week with the 18-hole Monthly Medal scheduled for midday on Saturday.