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

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 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