THE Parklands volunteers notice the unmistakable signs of spring and know with certainty that the heavy mowing equipment, used sparingly over the past months, will soon be in full operation.
The growing season is one of high activity on the course, as the perennial battle between the desired grasses and the dreaded profusion of plantain species is taken up in earnest.
In coming weeks and months, the tender task of conditioning the fairways and scrape surrounds will take place in a milieu of spraying, mowing, fertilising and strongly held opinion.
Saturday
WITH several of the more ambitious regulars intent on testing their ambition in the Victorian Sandgreen Championships at Dimboola this weekend, the turnout for Saturday’s event was meagre.
The captain decided given the low numbers, a three-person ambrose would be played off the red tees.
This event proved to be tightly contested with three teams finishing on scratch scores of 68.
Handicaps were used to decide the winners with the team of Steve Nattrass, George Donaldson and Alex Walter taking the win with 68-7.25-60.75, from Bruce Taylor, Graeme Torney and Terry Rhook on 68–6.5–61.5.
The team of Dale Grambau, Allan Flavell and Stewart Turner were not far behind with 68–5–63.
Grambau dominated the novelties, taking five of the 13 on offer.
He was nearest the pin on the third, 11th and 15th, and also holed the longest putts on the first and 16th.
Other novelty winners were Nattrass, Taylor and Flavell with nearest the pins on the fifth, seventh and 15th respectively, and Flavell and Nattrass again, who sank longest putts on the 17th and 18th.
Walter took out the birdies and ferrets draw.
Wednesday
A STABLEFORD round of 12 holes was played over the inward nine plus holes one, two and nine of the outward nine.
The scores were pedestrian with Barry Oldaker’s 22 points taking the win from Stewart Turner on 21.
Bernie Cook also scored 21 but was relegated to third on countback.
Nearest the pins went to Walter on the second and Cook on the 13th.
Les Pye sank the longest putt.
Tuesday
SHOWERY and windy conditions greeted the contestants for Tuesday’s 18-hole stableford round.
Kelly Hitchcock was the runaway winner with an impressive score of 37 points, seven points clear of Irene Box who was next best.
Box was consoled by novelty wins with nearest the pin on the 13th, longest putts on the first and 16th and the longest straight drive on the ninth.
Toby Salter holed the longest putt on the 18th.
Upcoming events
A 13-HOLE stableford event will be held today.
Friday is a nine-hole stroke event over the course’s old nine, and Saturday will be an 18-hole two-person gentsome.
Next Tuesday is a stroke event for the coveted Alexandra House voucher.
