Basically, it’ll help the not-so-big hitters send the ball long.

But when you’re already a heavy hitter, fast fairways and firm greens can sometimes be a double edged sword.

“It can help and it can hurt,” Dean Turner said, day one of the championships at his home course of Duntryleague.

“It can get away from you a little bit and you can end up in a bit of trouble.

“I know Duntryleague is quite fast at the moment, we’ve just had some green renovations and they’re quite firm ... I imagine the other courses will be the same.”

A mammoth 162 entries - from both men and women  - were taken for all three days of the championship, which encompasses 18-hole rounds of golf at all three of the city’s golf courses, Duntryleague (Saturday), Wentworth (Sunday) and finally Orange Ex-Services’ Country Club (Monday).

Central West heavyweight Robert Payne has won five consecutive A grade men’s titles, while fellow Orange golfer Alison Seib holds a similarly glittering run of wins in the top women’s division.

A Country Club member, Seib will be hoping 2015 can be her sixth straight championship win.

Turner is predicting Payne in particular to shine again, with consistency over the three days in vastly different conditions the key to victory - which leads Turner to predict a darkhorse, aside from himself of course, in the race for the 2015 crown.

“I think Parfy [Duntryleague’s Rob Parfett] is playing well enough to win,” the one marker said.

“It’s only a relatively new tournament, and it’s getting plenty of support. There’s a lot of out-of-towners who now make the trip over to play, which has made it very enjoyable.

“You don’t know what the quality you’re up against and that adds to the challenge of already playing on three different course in three days.

“It’s great to be part of.”

The City of Orange Golf Championship will begin at Duntryleague on Saturday, Sunday’s round is at Wentworth.and it wraps up at the Country Club on Monday.