Winter is in the air

The Men's competition on Sunday 26th Oct 08 saw us playing greensomes format, an unusual event for many of the men. A bright day with the odd heavy shower resulted in some good scores. The winners of the Ralph Hopper Trophies were Russell Simpson and Ryan Simpson with a net score of 63.5. Well done to you both. My only bright spot of the round was sinking my partners drive on the 14th from just off the green for a 2 and a share of the 2's sweep.

It's been half term this week and the course and the complex has been busier than usual Monday to Friday. Despite the cold weather, the course is drying out well and the fairways are looking good for the winter. The only black spot is the inability of players to bend their backs and pick up and replace their divots.

With early morning frosts, this week has brought the winter greens into effect for a few days. Greens in regulation are a little more difficult to achieve when aiming at a circle less than 10yards in diameter and then putting very firmly to achieve a straight put .... or at least that's my excuse!

The first (I hope) of our synthetic tee boxes has been completed on the 8th. This will provide us with an all season alternative to the conventional tee boxes whilst keeping the hole at its full length. It will be interesting to have the opinion of the members when it is put into play.

Au Revoir Ladies

It's been a relatively quiet week at the Golf Club. The Men's Competition on Sunday was played on a course that is slowly drying out, but there are still many flooded bunkers and a number of persistent wet patches on the fairways and more worryingly on a couple of the greens. The competition favoured the entrants playing later in the morning with the first four places going to players in the back half of the field. The winner was G Weir who won the Turney Wylde Trophy with J Watson winning the junior Maddison Trophy. Well done to you both.


Monday brought the Ladies Committee Meeting and the it was the last committee meeting for the Immediate Past Captain, Ciaran Hannon. Thanks for the all the sterling work Ciaran, you'll be missed.

Tuesday saw the Club Committee Meeting and the committee welcomed the Northern Racing Executive Director, Mark Spincer to the meeting. Here's to a long and productive working relationship.
This meeting was also the last for the Lady Captain, Denise Swindlehurst, who hands over the reins at the Ladies AGM next month. The Men's Captain, Paul Fairley recorded his sincere thanks for Denise's cooperation and friendship during their year as Captains together.


Thursday/Friday brought us a new air compressor/shoe and trolley cleaner ... paid for with Club funds and installed courtesy of Kenny Shepherd, the Men's Chairman and Brian Rutherford. Well done to you both and I hope the membership appreciates your efforts.




Keep your fingers crossed for dry weather and lots of drying winds ......

Hadrian League Dinner

3 months to go to D Day ... but in the meanwhile ....

A number of Committee representatives and guests plus a solitary team player attended the Hadrian Golf League Annual Dinner and Presentation Evening at the Assembly Rooms Newcastle upon Tyne on Friday 17th October 2008. Parklands GC had one trophy to collect - The Trolhdahl Cup - for best gross won by Graeme Hewitt with a gross score of 70. Well done!

Relaxing during the speeches !!!!!!

We received a few mentions in the published League Highlights .... 'Hexham could not take advantage however, losing 8 - 4 away to Parklands, the league's most unpredictable team.'

Something to work on for next season ... consistent at winning I trust!!