MANY clubs in Hamilton have benefited from long periods of service from dedicated volunteers and helpers. 

One of the many long-term active supporters at Parklands Golf Club is octogenarian, Les Pye, who has donated his time and money to many small projects at the course over the years. 

Nowadays, Pye usually confines his golf to the shorter formats held midweek, but he still attends the course most days tending to weeding and watering jobs on the areas that warrant his attention. 

Most notably is his maintenance of the 18th hole, which he has looking superb.

Saturday

THE warm weather and the last of the run from a dry summer enticed Les to compete in Saturday’s 18-hole stableford competition.

The enjoyable conditions and a combination of skill and experience saw Pye trounce the field to be the celebrated winner with 40 stableford points from Peter Irvin on 35 points and Barry Oldaker on 34. 

There was a six-way countback for those on 31 points for fourth and fifth place, with Marie Cook and Alex Walter claiming the minor placings.

John Wilkinson was unlucky in the countback, but did well with the novelties, winning the longest putts on the first and 17th, and the birdies and ferrets prize. 

Nearest the pin prizes went to George Donaldson on the second, Walter on the third), Steve Nattrass on the seventh and 15th, Vincent O’Brien on the 11th, and Terry Rhook on the 13th. 

The longest putts went to Walter on the 16th and Irvin on the 18th, while Sue Irvin won the longest, straightest drive on the ninth. 

Friday

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

Barry Oldaker won with a nett score of 32.5 from Bernie Cook on nett 33.5, and Pye with nett 34 in a countback for third. 

The longest putt on the first was won by Bruce Taylor, and the nearest the pin prizes went to Taylor on the second and George Donaldson on the 13th. 

Pye also collected the birdies and ferrets prize.

Wednesday

IT was a close-run 12-hole stableford competition on Wednesday, with Donaldson winning on 24 points from Taylor, who claimed second on a countback with Walter on 23 points. 

Nearest the pin prizes went to Oldaker on the second and Pye on the 13th. 

Walter also holed the longest putt on the first and Oldaker won the birdies and ferrets prize.

Tuesday

KELLY Hitchcock had a day to remember out on the course during the 18-hole stableford event on Tuesday. 

Hitchcock fulfilled the dreams of many golfers with a hole in one on the 15th, taking home the nearest the pin prize too.

Hitchcock also topped the day off by winning with a commanding 41 stableford points.

The minor placings went to Heather Hay with 32, and Mary McCallum 31. 

The other nearest the pins went to Sue Irvin on the seventh, and Gaye Goggin on the 13th, while and Irene Box won the birdies and ferrets. 

The longest putt prizes were shared between Hitchcock on the 17th, Alan Hitchcock on the 18th, and Heather Wilkinson on the first.

This week

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

Saturday’s competition is the annual Mooralla Challenge, which is being held at the Mooralla golf course.