WHILE summer finally arrived and has dried out the fairways, the Parklands Golf Club members and guests have enjoyed the benefits of reticulation works completed in late 2023. 

The greening Parklands grant secured as part of the Southern Grampians Shire Council’s Community Partnership Grant program has supported the installation of irrigation around some of the scrapes at Parklands. 

To date seven scrapes have had irrigation with low water-use sprinklers installed by volunteers, which provides a verdant surround to those scrapes, improving the options for players approaching those scrapes in summer.

Saturday

A SURPRISINGLY large field turned out on Saturday to enjoy the challenging 18-hole par format on a beautiful summer’s afternoon. 

While the fairways had dried out and offered plenty of run, there were many who didn’t make the most of this. 

The club’s handicapper, Phil Kosch, made a triumphant return to the 18-hole format, securing a win with a score of -1. 

Barry Oldaker claimed second (-2) from Dave Moller third (-3) in a tightly bunched field for the minor placings. 

The countback for fourth went to Alan Hitchcock and fifth went to Kelly Hitchcock on -4.

The novelties were spread among the field with the nearest the pin prizes going to Terry Rhook (second and fifth), Moller (third), Marie Cook (seventh), Alex Walter (11th) and Barry Oldaker (13th). 

The Longest Putt prizes went to Kelly Hitchcock (first), Cook (16th), Heather Hay (17th) and Vincent O’Brien (18th).

Oldaker won the birdies and ferrets prize to much applause.

Friday

ANOTHER fine day for golf was on offer during Friday’s nine-hole stroke competition off the red markers on the old nine holes. 

Mark Miller won with nett 35 in a close finish from Alex Walter with nett 35.5, while John Wilkinson finished third with nett 39.

Walter also claimed the nearest the pin on the new seventh hole, while the others went to Les Pye on the second and Oldaker on the fifth. 

The longest putt on the first went to Alan Hitchcock, and Heather Wilkinson won the birdies and ferrets.

Wednesday 12 Hole Stableford Competition

IT was a close-run competition on Wednesday with the first three places decided on a countback.

Stuart Turner won the countback, from Dave Rendell (second) and John Wilkinson (third), who all returned to the clubhouse with 24 points. 

Nearest the pin prizes went to Walter (second), Bruce Taylor (13th) and Oldaker (15th), while Heather Wilkinson holed the longest putt on the first and Taylor won the birdies and ferrets.

Tuesday 18 Hole Stableford Competition

TUESDAY’S field enjoyed milder conditions and Mary McCullum was the clear winner with 34 points from Gina Kelly with 30 points.

McCullum also collected the longest putt prize on the 17th. 

Gaye Goggin was nearest the pin on the 15th and 13th, and Toby Salter was nearest the pin on the new seventh and also holed the longest putt on the 18th. 

Heather Hay was nearest the pin on the first and also collected the birdies and ferrets prize.

This week

COMPETITIONS will be held Friday, Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Saturday’s competition is an 18-hole aggregate stableford event.