The impact of flood waters in the Forbes Shire has been felt by many, with varying results.

At the Forbes Golf Course the staff were mowing the greens and as much of the fairways and rough to ensure the flood waters would flow and disperse more easily. They also cleaned up around trees and structures to reduce the opportunity for flotsam to be caught.

Preparations included picking up the tee markers, mats on the practice fairway, rubbish bins, large sand buckets, signs around the course, and anything else that could float away. Covers to the electrical equipment for the irrigation system were checked to ensure they did not drift away and leave a hole for someone to fall into.

Final preparations were to lower the hand rails on the 9th walk bridge, raise the equipment in the workshop as high as possible, and to move the equipment to as high a ground as possible. This did not prove totally successful, but saved some significant impacts.

Once the waters subside the first actions will be to wash the greens and remove any silt, thus allowing them to dry. The irrigation water pumps will need servicing, as also will the mowers and other equipment before use. Inspection across the whole course will be made to identify those sites needing repair.

The irrigation system will be flushed and all electrics checked, then a test operation will be made. And flotsam and debris will be removed.

The time taken for the flood waters to subside is unknown. Obviously, this will have an effect on the golf programme, on the Summer Sixes competition, and also impact the programme schedule for next year.

As soon as possible the club officers will notify players of the arrangements for the return to our game.

By Short Putt

The Parkes Golf Club held its annual 27-hole Foursomes Championship on Saturday. The club also had a successful Breast Cancer Awareness Day, co-ordinated by Leonie Stevenson. 

In the men’s division 1 Aaron Wilkie and Joe Van Opynen were the winners with a 113 only 6 over par for the day. In division 2 the pairing of Ross Smith and Wayne Parker won the event for this year.

In the men’s A grade nett Ian Hendry and Peter Bristol took out the event and Ross Smith and Wayne Parker were successful in the men’s B grade nett. 

In the ladies A grade Anita Medcalf and Dale Matthews were winners in the scratch in front of Kathy Jeffress and Kristine Smith. Anita and Dale won the nett event 4 clear of Cathy Kelly and Colleen Staples. In the ladies B grade scratch Kaye Inglis and Jenny Hoy were successful. Kaye and Jenny also won the nett event. 

The Nearest The Pins this week were: Idlerite Tyrepower 1st by M.Skene at 244cm, the Griffins Leading Edge 4th by Joe Van Opynen at 275cm, the Dirt Doctor Landscaping 6th Colleen Staples at 270cm, the Parkes Ready Mixed Concrete 9th by Anthony Riach at 197cm, the Harvey Norman 11th by Damien Noll at 93cm, the Westlime 15th by Steve Betland at 300cm and the Central West Glass 18th by John Betland at 45cm. The lucrative 6th hole was won by Colleen Staples at 270cm this week. 

For the ladies Jenny Hoy won the B grade 4th, Colleen Staples won the 6th and Jacqie Charlton claimed the C grade 11th. 

Ball winners were: Ron Hetherington and Trevor Chatman 108.5, Michael Thomas and Max Keith, Peter Magill and Brendon Simpson 109.5, Ben Howard and Anthony Riach 111.5, John Green and Luke Clarke 111.75, David Stevenson and Craig Matthews 112.

This weekend is the Telescope Tyres & Batteries/Hankook Masters Monthly Medal. Griffins Leading Edge Putting Competition in conjunction / Wally Norman Memorial Medal. Final of the Medal of Medals Sponsor – Parkes Betta Home Living; Final of the Putter of Putters Sponsor – Griffins Leading Edge.

By Peter Bristol

The Forbes golfers once again donned their wet weather gear in order to battle the course and somehow produce a good score.

Saturday was changed to a Stableford Medley due to a very wet course. Thirty golfers were keen to post a score, although nine players did not finish.

It was still very competitive with a count back required for the winner and runner-up. Neil McMillan was the first in with 38 points, having set the pace on the back-9 with 22 points. A little later James Earl (Shortland Waters) carded 38 points but his back-9 was less fruitful, handing the winner prize to Neil.

The NTP’s went to: 9th – Bede Tooth; 18th – Nil. The 3rd Hole Super Pin went to Jacob Bernardi who was ‘eagle-eyed’ and put his ball to 1.34metres, the best shot for a few weeks.

The Ball Sweep went to 32 points, with a big gap between the prize winners and the remainder of the field. The lucky ones were: P Cowhan, R Webb, J Coulthurst, K Herbert, B Tooth, J Bernardi, B Parker and A Alley. The lone, but successful, visitor was James Earl who wandered around in shorts and rain jacket.

There was no Stableford Medley on Sunday due to very wet conditions.

Players please note that with more inclement weather forecast and expected overland water flow a decision on the golf for this weekend to be made and players notified. The club championships will be postponed until early December. Please keep in touch with the Pro Shop.

By Short Putt

The Forbes golfers took advantage of the good weather to enjoy the course and get some early games in, ahead of a busy family weekend.

The men’s comp was the Monthly Medal 18-hole Stroke, sponsored by Forbes Concrete, and pursued by 57 starters.

The A-Grade was won by Alf Davies with 70 nett, on count back from Andrew Dukes. Andy tried his best, finishing with a birdie, but Alf had two birdies on the back-9 to keep his edge.

The B-Grade was won by Anthony Alley with 71 nett, on count back from Tony Cogswell and Niel Duncan. Anthony had the better back-9 of all three.

The C-Grade comp was won by Tony Travers (The Coast) with 71 nett, on count back from Dave Bernardi who was awarded the medal.

The NTP’s went to: 9th – Paul Pymont; 18th – Andrew Dukes. The 3rd Hole Super Pin went to Peter Dawson with a shot to 1.6 metres.

The Ball Sweep went to 75 nett on count back, with six players in the toss but only two successful. The visitors included Tony Travers (The Coast) and Neil Morris (Pacific Dunes), with Lee Grierson (Wollongong).

By Short Putt

The Saturday competition was the ‘Albie Callaghan’ 4-Person Ambrose, contested by 64 players. This was won by Reg Murray, K Herbert, J Bernardi and Alf Davies with a score of 57 ¼ nett. Runners-up were N Duncan, C Duncan, B Duncan and N McMillan with 57 3/8 nett.

On Sunday the Forbes club’s Scramble event saw players from all around the Central West with 20 teams, or 80 players. The winners were P Amor, A Bourke, J Elliott and B Horner (Parkes) who finished with 57 1/8 nett. Runners-up were T Howe, R Grayson, P Grayson and S Betland on 58 ¾.

By Short Putt

The better weather encouraged golfers onto the course, only to find many challenges resulting from the rising water which altered the way many holes were played.

Saturday’s Golf NSW KENO 2-person Ambrose, sponsored by Golf Harvest, had 30 pairs of players competing in the men’s, ladies and mixed categories. The winner in each category qualified for a regional final.

The men’s category had 23 pairs vying for the honour. Playing at the back of the field, the pair of Tom Toohey and Harry Callaghan scored well and putted even better to record 65.25 nett. Runners-up, and eligible to also go forward because of the number of participants, were Sandy Paterson and Reg Murray who scored 67.25 nett.

The ladies category had five pairs and the winners were Nicole Death and Veronica Rebellato with 67.5 nett. Helped by a good handicap, they were streets ahead of the remainder of the field.

The mixed category had two contending pairs with only a half point separating them. The pair of Warwick and Jean Judge took the honours.

The NTP’s went to: 9th – ladies: L Kennedy, men: B Carpenter; 18th – ladies: C Duncan, men: H Callaghan. The 3rd Hole Super Pin went to Jordan Brett.

The Ball Sweep went to 69 nett, being distributed to: J Brett/C Hanrahan, S Paterson/R Murray, S Grallelis/J House, D Rhodes/M Brindle, B Chandler/S Uphill, R Webb/P Tisdell, A and L Alley. 

The Sunday Stableford Medley did not take place because of rising water.

This weekend we have a 4-ball Ambrose Medley sponsored by Alby Callaghan, and on Sunday the Annual VW Scramble.

By Short Putt

The Parkes Prostate Cancer Group is having an ‘Awareness’ Charity Golf Day on Saturday, 8th October on the renovated course. The day includes a longest drive competition for men and women, nearest the pins and a few other surprises. 

Paul Lewin of Bugman has stepped up to help sponsor the day, as well as the Parkes Services Club. (More about their sponsorship next week.) Funds raised on the day will be used to invite prostate cancer specialists to Parkes meetings and will increase the possibilities to have more Prostate Cancer Nurses in our area.

“The support of ‘Bugman’ is greatly appreciated and goes a long way in promoting our cause,” said Michael Lynch of the Parkes Prostate Cancer Group.

Junior Forbes golf member Lachlan Alley scored a hole-in-one during competition on the weekend.

There were 63 starters for the Individual Stableford for men on Saturday with Wade Ricthie the division 1 winner with 36 points. Runner-up was Shane Sallaway with 36 points.

Division 2 was won by Lachlan Alley with 36 points, helped along by his hole-in-one which earned him ‘5’ points alone. Runner-up was Matt Duff with 35 points.

The NTP’s went to: 9th – Kim Herbert; 18th – Graham Newport. The 3rd hole super pin went to Lachlan Alley with a shot ‘zero’ metres.

The Ball Sweep went to 30 points on count back, with many scores affected by the sandy greens. 

Once again the numbers on Sunday were too few for a Stableford Medley comp, but at least the weather was good.

This weekend the men’s golf competition is the Monthly Medal. Sunday has a Stableford Medley, and the Inaugural ‘Naggers Cup’ at Condobolin.

Do not forget the ‘Roylances Ambrose Day’ on Saturday, 10th September. Get your nominations into the Pro Shop.

By Short Putt