Golf
Golfers look to the future after party day

Parkes Golf Club

By Peter Bristol

Saturday’s Results

Last Saturday was the Party Day for the club and also a fundraising opportunity to assist the club moving into 2025.

We had 130 members and guests out enjoying PGC’s version of the LIV golf and PGA’s Party Hole rolled into one.

In a 3 person Ambrose event with all manner of fancy dress, elite golfers and not had a great time with the specialist pin placements of Logan and Brenton that made a lot of the holes impossible to get the ball actually into the hole.

Our special and gracious sponsors on the day were GLE, Butter Beef, AEH Group, Matt Dillion, CWCU, Parkes Couriers, Parkes Toyota, Telescope Tyres and Batteries, PGC Board Members, Parkes Ready Mix Concrete, Max Keith, Parkes Secure Storage, REGO Plus.

Well done to all the volunteers and staff in preparation and then activities on the day especially Zac and Maddi in the ProShop, Tim Baker master sausage cook, Ladies Golf reps selling raffles, bar staff and greens staff plus Chenes.

We had an 11:30 shotgun start on a course that golfer’s thought was familiar until they reached the tees and found white and red markers had suddenly been narrowed, pushed well forward or well back.

On reaching the greens there were holes that were square, or surrounded by rakes or had tines between you and the hole or the cup had been reversed so you could only reach it from one side or there were multiple flags on the green with a hole at one of them.

At most courses they call this the greenkeepers revenge but at PGC we saw the dark side of the greenkeepers much more than revenge was at play here.

Ultimately each team still had to play golf to be successful on the day but there was plenty of merriment in between.

Music drifting across the course, the fragrant smell of BBQing sausages and a refreshment cart to keep all hydrated on a warm summer day.

There was some specifically sort after players, as the normal rules were relaxed and only 3 drives required from each player.

Zac, the Pro, was one and he teamed up with the flamboyant pairing of Jake Thompson, who has taken all before him this year, and Blake Parker whose talents are endless.

In the scratch event these guys shot the lights out with a 14 under score.

What a terrific round this was and it’s a shame there were no videos to view it, although the boys apparently have an accurate recall on what happened if anyone wants to listen.

Next in were the formidable team of Finne Latu, Brendan Chambers and the big hitting Brad Scott out having a bash about after an extended time away.

Whilst Finne tried to keep driving the boys forward their lack of competition just let them wane and now it’s season ’25 for revenge.

Rounding out the top 5 were the teams of Cody Hando, Shaun Bateson and Mick Dumesny on 62, Max Keith, Sam and Cam Standen on 63 and Rob ‘ The Baron’ Cheney, Ian Hendry and Peter Bristol on 64.

In the net event revenge was sweet for Cody, Shaun and Mick as came in with a low 56.

But the drama never ended there as Finne, Brad and Brendo also managed to lower the bar down there too and the not only that, but the dream team also ended up there.

Congrats to Cody, Shaun and Mick as the countback was their friend and they won out on the day.

The unlucky team on the day was ‘The Baron’s’ crew as again finished a stroke away, and another 12 months is a long time in their lives.

Some of the other prizes on the day were the long drive winners with Dale Matthews picking up the ladies, Jack Elliott picking up the under 40, with a massive straight hit, conjecture surrounds the 40-60 with I believe Peter Magill winning and David Stevenson picking up the over 60s.

But that could have gone either way as they both are over qualified.

The Nearest the Pins went to Blake Parker, Mel Matthews, Simon Wilde and Troy Jones.

Congratulations and thanks to all the winners and participants – as the saying goes, Golf was the Winner on the day and especially PGC.

The frivolities went well into the night and Dillion made sure everyone was in the party mode.