I ATTENDED a meeting during the week and the words welcoming and inclusive were discussed with my final understanding that these two words mean different things to different people.

At Parklands Golf Club over the last few weeks, we have had two annual golf challenges firstly, with the golfers from the north, Mooralla Golf Club, and this week with the golfers from the south at Macarthur Golf Club.

The experiences were similar with much banter, laughter, food, drink, some golf then tall stories after in the club house.

I felt that everyone in the three clubs understood what welcoming and inclusive means - we may be small clubs but that does not matter when people interact with like-minded people. 

Saturday

THE Parklands v Macarthur Annual Challenge was a great day, the weather was fine with some sun.

Macarthur retained the shield with another win, finishing with an average of 32.55 stableford points.

The individual winner was Mark Miller 39 points, one ahead of second-placed Terry Rhook, while Heather Hay was third on a countback from Sam Sharrock on 37, with Michael Brilley fifth on a countback with 35.

Novelty winners included Roger Moodie on the ninth for the longest straightest drive, birdies and ferrets went to Gary Wyndham, while nearest the pins went to Wyndham on the second, Greg Carter on the third, Lex Cassidy on the fifth, Phil Sandilands on the seventh and 15th, Rhook on the 11th and Russell King on the 13th.

Moodie also holed the longest putt on the first and 17th, Wayne Rowlands on the 16th, and Sandilands on the 18th.

Friday

THE nine-hole stroke event was played on the inward nine.   

The competition was fierce with Barry Oldaker winning with 38-7.5-30.5 nett, with George Donaldson second with 45-11.5-33.5 nett. 

Nearest the pin went to Peter Irvin on the 13th and the longest putt on the first was holed by Barry Oldaker.

Wednesday

ON a stellar weather day for golf, the nine-hole stableford event saw Les Pye’s 20 points edge out John Wilkinson 19 and Bernie Cook 18 on a countback with Marie Cook 18.

Nearest the pin on the 13th went to Jeff Donovan, who also collected the birdies and ferrets win.

Tuesday

EARLY morning fog cleared to a perfect autumn day for golf, bringing out a large group of very keen golfers.

The winner was Heather Wilkinson with 38 points, ahead of Mary McCallum 34 points on a countback from Kelly Hitchcock, with Marie Cook fourth C/B and Jamie Broad fifth on a countback with 33 points.

Nearest the pins went to Wilkinson on the seventh, Gaye Goggin on the 13th and 15th, as well as the longest putt on the first, while Broad and Hitchcock saluted on the 17th and 18th.

Birdies and Ferrets was won by Gina Kelly, and the longest straightest drive was won by Irene Box.

This week

A WEEK or so promising no rain, with the main event this week being the annual ladies championships, with round one yesterday, round two tomorrow, followed by rounds three and four next Tuesday and Thursday.

Wednesday brings the morning nine holes at a 9.30am start and the afternoon nine at 1pm.

The option is to play either or both.  

Friday will be nine holes and Saturday will be an 18-hole stableford event.