Last Saturday’s golf competition was a 2-Person Ambrose Medley, sponsored by Hassall Trading P/L. The field comprised of 76 in all, including two juniors. They all enjoyed the sunshine and gentle breeze which contributed to the feeling of satisfaction.

The Scratch winners were a duo of plus handicappers with a team handicap of -1.25. Head Pro Will Gunn teamed up with Caleb Hanrahan to score a 65 scratch, set up by a 31 front-9 and helped by a 34 back-9. Runners-up were Jacob Bernardi and Josh Coulthurst with 68, on count back. They had even halves of 34.

The Handicap winners were Alf Davies and Phil Duke with a nett 61 ¾ off a 3 ¼ handicap. Their performance was as impressive as the Scratch winners, helped by a small handicap. Runners-up were Nick Ryan and Jack Dobell with 62 ½ nett. They also had split 9’s of 34 but also had a favourable handicap.

The NTP’s went to: 9 th – Men: S Sallaway, Ladies: E Uphill; 18 th – Men: T Toole, Ladies J Fletcher. The Pro Shop Super-pin went to Jordan Brett with a shot to 1.03 metres, halving the shot by Niel Duncan. The ball sweep went to 68 ¾ nett, so check in the Pro Shop. There were no visitors.

Players are reminded of the Lachlan Valley DGA event being held at Bogan Gate on Sunday 30th July. In a change of format this will now be a 2-Person Ambrose. Nomination forms are on the Pro Shop Notice Board.

Head Pro Will has organised a Taylor-Made Equipment day on Tuesday 22nd August so see him if you want to book in.

This weekend we have a 4BBB Stableford Medley, vying for the Hawke Trophy, come along and enjoy.

By Short Putt

Saturday 15th July saw 78 willing participants tee it up for the Michael Thomas and Max Keith sponsored day.

These two young prominent golfers are regular sponsors at the club and there are strong fields always about to take their trophies off them – thanks again Michael and Max. It was an 18 hole stableford event and it also doubled as the vital round 4 of Handiskins.

Making his way back onto the fairways was junior Simon Hogan who amazes with his ability to stay away from the handicapper. Simon is regularly shooting rounds of 40, as he did on Saturday, but maintaining a generous handicap. Runner up this week was another young player in Jimmy Kuntze who amassed 39 points on the day.

One of the older brigade John Pearce got in early and posted a solid 36 points and was hoping that would hold for the afternoon, but the young guns managed to run that down and then some. 

In the Handiskins event David Stevenson managed to keep his form in tack and took out the important round 4 which also saw him jump to the lead on 110, with Matthew Knighton and Frankie Cock back on 103 and Melissa Matthews just in the 4 on 102. With one round to go before the $800 final there are still a handful that could force their way in with a better round in the final round including an Australian Handiskins winner in Ian Phipps.

Only six ladies contested the day with Anita Medcalf and Colleen Staples coming in with 32 point hauls.

The Nearest The Pins on Saturday were: the Idlerite 1st by Simon Hogan at 207cm, the Harvey Norman 11th by John Green at 68cm and the 18th by Michael Thomas at 117cm. The lucrative 11th hole was won by John Green at 68cm this week.

Ball winners were John Pearce 36, Duncan Constable, Philip Smith, John Fowler, Rob Lea 35, Ken Keith 34, Mark Kelly, Wayne Powter, James Ward, John Green, Rod Luyt, Mathew Spedding and Wayne Parker 33.

Captain Cath, whilst not in attendance, beat home President David 156-155 in a tight run affair in the weekly challenge.

This coming Saturday is a 2B Multiplier Medley sponsored by Signs by Greg plus the 5th final round game in the 2023 Handiskins competition.

On Saturday, 1st July, the mens golf competition was the July Monthly Medal, sponsored by Walkers Ag-n-Vet. The field of 51, including two juniors.

The A-Grade Winner was Harry Callaghan with a 70 nett. His birdie on the 17th helped him post a score one shot better than his dad, Todd Callaghan who finished on 71 nett. Todd lost the family bragging rights when he double-bogied the 17 th hole.

The B-Grade provided the highlight for the day when Medal Winner Dave Tildsley finished with a nett 65. Memories of his indifferent form of late where washed away with a 38 front half and an impressive back half. Runner-up was Jeff Haley who was pleased with his 73.

The C-Grade was quiet with scores reflecting the difficult conditions. The winner was Jonathon Cutler who braved the early cold conditions to score 74 nett. Runner-up was Les Little with a 76 net, compiled with equal front and back scores.

The NTP’s went to: 9th H Cutler; 18th S Grallelis. The Pro Shop Super-pin went to Jacob Bernardi with a shot to 20cm, and was another to only just miss a hole-in-one. 

The ball sweep went to 78 nett on count back. The visitors included Noel Baxter (Keysborough GC, Vic) and Angus Caldwell who is a Forbes member. Head Pro William Gunn had his second comp game at Forbes, finding the cold conditions difficult to handle.

This weekend we have another Individual Stroke event, sponsored by B&M Tooth. Hopefully better weather will entice a few more for the Stableford Medley on Sunday.

By Short Putt

The Forbes Golf Club Foursomes Championships, were recently played for both men and ladies.

In the men’s event, sponsored by FINDEX and played over two days, 26 pairs started on the Saturday with 13 pairs returning on Sunday. The championship was decided over 36 holes, while daily prizes were available for play on Saturday and Sunday.

The overall scratch winners were the pairing of John Betland and Peter Dawson who finished on 148, six shots ahead of runners-up Jacob Bernardi and Reggie Murray. The overall handicap winners were Jacob Bernardi and Reggie Murray on 145 nett. The runners-up were Niel Duncan and Stephen Uphill on 148 nett.

The day one scores were not overly impressive. The scratch winners were J Bernardi/R Murray with 74, ahead of J Betland /P Dawson on 77. The handicap winners were N Duncan/S Uphill on 69.5 nett, on count back from Bernardi/Murray. The ball sweep went to 77 nett, going to 7 pairs.

The NTPs went to: 9 th Peter Cowhan, 18 th to no-one. The superpin went to Steve Betland (360 cm)

On Sunday, the day two, scratch winners were J Betland/Dawson on 71, with runners-up S Betland/T West on 77, handicap winners were Dawson/Betland on 71.5 nett, from S Betland/T West on 74 nett.

The ball sweep went to 75.5 on count back. 

The NTP’s went to: 9th Steve Uphill, 18th Neil McMillan. The Superpin went to J Betland (73 cms).

This weekend the men play the monthly medal, sponsored by Walkers AgnVet, with a stableford medley on Sunday.

By Short Putt

A brisk but brilliant winter’s day awaited the field as they teed it up for the QuickShine golf event on Saturday. The event is sponsored by Ben and Erica McNaughton annually and we thank them for their continued support of Parkes Golf. A total of 82 players played the 4BBB event with an individual in conjunction and which served as the Handiskins round two as well.

Ray Maxwell and Vince Kelly rattled up a 45 point haul but that was only good enough to get into a count back with the Davison’s as Lynn and Reg also played excellent golf to get to that total. Craig Dunn and Richard Hutchinson coming in next with Scott Winter and Rod Kiley and Peter Magill and David Stevenson also finding some form. 

Rob Hey hit a 40 point score alongside club Captain Cath Kelly, Dave Stevenson hauled in 39 points, which is what he normally gets over two rounds, and Marg Hogan pulled in a 38 point round as well.

In the Handiskins event Captain Cath piled on the pressure with 40 points, Marg Hogan was consistent with 38 points.

The Nearest The Pins on Saturday were –The Idlerite 1st by Finne Latu at 85cm, the Harvey Norman 11th by Garry Paddison at 126cm and the 18th by Finne Latu at 217cm. The lucrative 11th hole was won by Garry Paddison at 126cm this week.

Ball winners were Rob Hey 40, Dave Stevenson 39, Marg Hogan 38, Tim McCabe, John Pearce 37, Nym Dziuba, Brendan Simpson, Ian Phipps, James Ward, Dale Matthews 36.

In the Captain verse President this week, Cath again outgunned. Scores this week were Captain 184, President 176.

This coming Saturday is the 18 Hole 4BBB Medley Stableford sponsored by Anita Medcalf and it is also the third round of Handiskins.

The Saturday golf event was a 4-person Ambrose Medley. A field of 117 players played to support the Forbes Branch of CanAssist Forbes. 

The Scratch winners were the group of L Grierson, S Mineham, S Tind-Simmons and C Hanrahan who scored 62, splitting their score evenly between the two 9’s.

The main prize went to the Handicap winners. The group of Alf Davies, L O’Connor, P Duke had the services of Terry Sharpe on a high handicap. They shot 61 scratch, finishing with 54 ¼ nett, having started with birdies on the first three holes.

Other Handicap prize winners:

•2nd: J LeBrocque, J Hamilton, W Bergman, A Whittingham on 56 ¾.

3rd: G Webb, B Doyle, M Livingston, M Duff on 57 7/8

4th: J Zannes, R Webb, D Rhodes, P Tisdell on 59 1/8.

NTP’s were held on each of the par-3’s:

Men: R Smith, A Grierson, B Doyle, S Uphill

Ladies: W Simmons, V Rebellato, K Steele-Park, L Cowhan.

The ‘2nd shot on 12th’ went to: Ladies: S Grierson

Men: Joe Gorton

On Monday the Club ran a PGA Scramble. The field comprised 21 teams from six clubs, including travellers from Wentworth GC and Young.

The winners were on fire, shooting a 65 scratch and nett 55.5. This group had travelled from Young, and included F Tanner, A Tanner, R Bush and N Bush. Second place went to J Dobell, N Ryan, G Hooper and M Medlyn (Fbs) on 56 7/8 nett, with third going to L Donnelly, M Brown, J Tongue and S Tongue (Dubbo) with 58 ¼ nett.

By Short Putt

On Saturday, 3rd March the Mens golf competition was the June Monthly Medal, sponsored by BWR Accountants & Advisors. The field of 59, including two juniors, produced the whole range of scores, both good and bad.

The A-Grade Winner was Stephen Uphill with a 68 nett. He was pleased to finally earn the Medal, having finished as bridesmaid a few times previously. Runner-up was Ken Sanderson with 69 nett, who unlike man did well on the back-9.

The B-Grade Winner was Brett Thomas with 66 nett, the best score of the day. Runner-up was Matt Coles with 69 nett, who rued the triple-bogeys on three holes.

The C-Grade Winner was David Rhodes with 70 nett, who was well pleased with his

steady all-round game. Runner-up was Harry Quirk with a 74 nett. A few rough hole

son the back-9 brought him undone.

The NTP’s went to: 9th N Duncan; 18th M Coles. The Pro Shop Super-pin went to Andrew Dukes with a shot to 35 cms, which only just missed a hole-in-one. The ball sweep went to 76 nett on count back.

The visitors included Bob Hansen (Shoalhaven Heads) and Andrew Brownlow (Peak Hill). Also among the field was new Head Pro William Gunn, who admits he has a lot of work to do before he masters the course.

There were too few players to hold a Stableford Medley on Sunday.

This weekend we have the CanAssist 4-Person Ambrose on Saturday, 10th June, and the Scramble on Monday, 12th June. There is a Stableford Medley on Sunday if numbers allow, so come along.

By Short Putt

Saturday was a great day to host the June Monthly Medal, albeit a bit windy for the morning golfers. A starting field of 82 contested the Telescope Tyres and Batteries/Hankook Masters event with the daily sponsor being SafeTasks QRS Group and we thank them for their continued support of golf in Parkes.

In A Grade the monthly medal ‘podium boy’ was again front and centre with Michael Dumesny firing a very handy 76 off the stick to take out the scratch event but only after surviving a countback from Jack Elliott, who was also striking the ball well.

Others in contention were Blake Parker on 77 and Ben Howard and Wayne Parker 1 stroke further back. In the nett event Ben Howard led the field in with his 69 too good for runners up Blake Parker and Jake Thompson both on 70. Wayne Parker was again trying to get into the trophy hunt 1 stroke further back with the unlucky Robert

Rae.

This Saturday is the 18 Hole Medley Par Event Sponsored by Col Fletcher Ford and Kia and the Cooke Cup in conjunction with the third and final round of the Frank Donnelly Trophy.

Saturday was an individual medley stableford sponsored by Totally WorkWear and we are appreciative of their continued support of the PGC. There were 72 golfers taking part on a very cold and windy day. This round also served as the start of the Handiskins event for 2023.

The individual winner this was James Ward with a solid 39 points. James is capable of launching some longer drives which came in handy into that WSW wind and allowed the extra distance downwind. There were plenty of chasers with Mel Matthews holding out John Pearce and Frankie Cock on a countback with 38 points. Next in was Anthony Riach who could be the one to watch in next Saturday’s stroke event.

Unfortunately, the starters in Handiskins were a bit low due to the weather and existing course configuration. Mel Matthews courtesy of her 39 point haul was the winner on the day but there were a few good scores with Frankie and Anthony and Jake Thompson 36 points each. The Nearest The Pins on Saturday were the 2nd/11th Anthony Riach at 37cm, the 9th/18th by Jake Thompson at 42cm and the 8th/17th by Nym Dziuba at 114cm.

Ball winners were Frankie Cock, John Pearce 38, Anthony Riach 37, Jake Thompson, Greg Peterson, 36, Garry Paddison, Craig Dunn, Col Breaden, Ben Howard 35, Rick Glover 34.

In the Captain verse President once again, Cath was well in front when they called time this weekend – 181 vs 157. David must soon get sick of getting beaten.

Next week is the 18 Hole Telescope Tyres June Monthly Medal Sponsored by SafeTasks QRS Group, and the ladies have the 3rd GOLFNSW Medal & Club Medal Sponsored by Central West Glass – make sure you’re a starter in these big events.