Last Saturday our last round on the existing Parkes Golf Course layout was played as construction had commenced on the realignment of the western boundary holes.

There were 85 players with some visitors from Forbes for the 4BBB Stableford and the annual Naggers Cup.

In the 4BBB event Robert Rea and Bruce Symonds were the overall winners with a total of 48. The husband and wife pairing of Mel and Craig Matthews were two points behind, with Dub Rodgers and Neil McMillian, Gordon Pritchard and Peter Bristol, Michael Lynch and Rod Luyt and Robert Hey and Craig Matthews all together on 45 points. 

In the individual event the scores would have won on any week with Simon Hogan on 41 points winning on a countback from John Green. John’s score coming off a 2 over 73 scratch score was by far the best scratch score. They were only 1 point ahead of Dub Rodgers and Peter Magill, and Craig Matthews. 

There were 12 other players at Stableford par or better making it a well contested event.

The Naggers Cup, sponsored by Liz Matthew’s family, was won by Mel and Craig Matthews. 

The Nearest the Pins: Idlerite Tyrepower 1st by Michael Dellaca at 334cm, the Griffins Leading Edge 4th by Peter Magill at 120cm, the Dirt Doctor Landscaping 6th Peter Magill at 577cm, the Parkes Ready Mixed Concrete 9th by Craig Matthews at 68cm, the Harvey Norman 11th by John Green at 270cm, the Westlime 15th by Brendon Simpson at 636cm and the Central West Glass 18th by Jack Dolbel at 31cm. The lucrative 6th hole was won by Peter Magill at 577cm. 

In the women’s competition Sandra Freeman won the B grade 4th, Kath Jeffress won the A grade 6th and C grade 11th wasn’t claimed. Ball winners: Mel and Craig Matthews 46, Dub Rodgers and Neil McMillian, Gordon Pritchard and Peter Bristol, Lindsay Elliott and Wayne Tucker, Michael Lynch and Rod Luyt, Rob Hey and Craig Matthews 45, Frankie Cock and Marg Hogan 44. 

Week 6 of President vs Captain: Dave picked up 195 points to Cath’s 181. David has a 3-2 lead.

By Peter Bristol

The November Monthly Medal round, featuring the Medals of Medals round for 2022, had 82 players on the course at the Parkes Golf Club.

Jack Elliott, with a one over par round 72, took out the A grade by two strokes from Aaron Wilkie. Joe Van Opynen, was back on 77. In the nett event, Jack won with a fine 69, just beating home both Michael Thomas and Joe Van Opynen on 70.

In B grade Aaron Drabsch, shot a low 83 to take out the scratch from Nym Dziuba on 86. Aaron was also too strong in the nett event with his 68 holding out Matthew Clarke on 71 with Nym back on 73. 

In C grade Ryan Edwards had to survive a countback with his 91 to take out the scratch. The unlucky player being Wayne Tucker. In the nett event Bruce Symonds shot an impressive 68 to be 1 clear of Ryan and 3 clear of Wayne.

In the prestigious Medals of Medals, Michael Thomas was successful in A grade, David Speakman picked up the B grade award and Bruce Symonds took out the C grade. 

In the Griffins Leading Edge putting competition Jack Elliott hit the magical 26 putt number. The Wally Norman Vets Medal was won by Gordon Pritchard which was the first time he’s claimed this prize. The Putter of Putters for 2022 was taken out by Jack Elliott.

The eagle’s nest was raided with two eagles recorded. Big hitters Anthony Riach and Michael Thomas were able to get to the par 5s in two and knock the putts in.

Ball winners: Joe Van Opynen, Michael Thomas 70, Jim Kuntze, Aaron Wilkie, Wayne Tucker, Matthew Clarke 71, Beau Tanswell, Brian Hogan Snr 72, Garry Philips, Peter Picker, M.Skene, Graham Cooke, Wayne Powter, Anthony Riach 73.

In the President versus the Captain, David has a slender lead of 3 points over Cath 366/363.

In the Ladies event Leone Stevenson was the winner on 39 points beating home Anita Medcalf by a point with Judy Fisher a further point back.

The rails on the 9th bridge lowered, ready for the overflow of water.

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