Is it just me, or are the days starting to get longer? It may not feel like it, but with 2 months of winter having already gone, it shouldn't be long before spring will be in the air. In the meantime, please continue to take care as you navigate your way around the course. Although it is in excellent condition for this time of the year, especially given the wetter than normal July that we have experienced, it is still boggy in some places, and if playing in damp conditions, some of our slopes may be quite slippery. Please also take care on our bridges, and stick to the grating when crossing them. Presuming no significant rain, the course will be open for carts by members this weekend.

This weekend’s Events

Tomorrow our Saturday women’s club are playing LGU6.

On Sunday it is the first knock out round of the Westward Ho for the 16 men who qualified last Sunday. Please note that the knock out rounds are singles matches played on a match play basis (ie hole by hole) to handicap. For those not familiar with this format, each pairing needs to compare their handicaps and if the difference – call it x - is less than or equal to 18, then the player with the lowest handicap gives a stroke per hole to the other player on the x hardest holes. If the difference, x, is greater than 18 but less than 36, then the lowest handicapper gives his opposite 2 strokes on the (x-18) hardest holes and one stoke on the others. The winner is the one who wins the most holes, and if it is all square after 18, then the players start again but on a sudden death basis – ie tee off again on the first hole and keep playing until someone wins a hole. The draw for the knock out rounds is attached, with the first group teeing off at 10.02.

Westward Ho!

As per a previous Friday Flash, Westward Ho! is also the name of our bar. The photos below show the dedication ceremony of the current Westward Ho! plaque which replaced the original that was lost in a club house fire. This plaque is now on the wall behind the shop, having been moved to make way for the TV, which in turn is awaiting replacement.

Inline images 2

Out of Action

The air compressor that drives the shoe cleaner air guns is currently not working meaning the air guns are out of action. The compressor needs a new belt which Matt is in the process of trying to procure.

Also out of action is Matt's ute which is currently parked up at a garage awaiting parts to replace a broken wheel hub. As a result, Matt is currently unable to deliver any firewood orders.

On the upside though, the upgrade of the men's toilets is progressing well and we are confident the new facilities are going to be really good.

Prodrive Driver Fitting

On the Holden Golf Show last week former All Black and 3 handicap golfer Christian Cullen was fitted out with a new Ping driver by AJ from our sponsors Prodrive here in Wellington. Filmed at their driving range in Silverstream, click on this link to see how AJ tailored the shaft, head,and loft to help Christian hit a straighter drive in his quest to lower his handicap even further.

Christian Cullen gets a new driver

Wednesday Club

Wednesday Club results for 2 August

A brilliant day weather wise for golf and with our beautiful course playing so well most of the 30 entries scored reasonably well. Clear winner was David Norton with a well compiled 41 Points and Luke Underwood returned to form in 2nd place with 39 points. Those with 34 points or more all won a golf ball.

The dreaded nevertheless acceptable prize for persistence was hotly contested with the decided winner proving to be Gunter Karau.

Well played everyone and nice to see an occasional Wednesday Club player Adrian Porter joining us for some fun in the sun and scoring well enough to win a golf ball.

There was only one “Two” and this was recorded on the Prodrive Sponsors Nearest the Pin on the 4th Par 3 hole by Jan Sharp whose Tee shot landed beyond the hole and spun back for a Nearest the Pin tap in Two – great shot Jan.

The weekly Raffle was won by No 23 held by Gerd Warnke, 2nd was No 2 held by Don McCrone and 3rd No 8 held by Adrian Porter.

NB: With the Greens holding so well please ensure Pitch Marks are repaired, please don’t leave for those following to clean up your Marks on the Greens!

Reminder: India Cup Wednesday 16th August 2017

This is one of the Karori Golf Club's long-standing trophies which has been transferred for Wednesday Club competition, so, with Indian Independence Day commemorated on the 15th August annually, we thought it would be appropriate to hold it on the closest Wednesday, which this year will be 16th August. It is a one round, single stableford competition open to all men members so come and join us. Details are yet to be finalised but as in previous years we plan to follow the round with some appropriate Indian cuisine for which there will be a nominal surcharge.

Other Upcoming Events

The Ken and Rose Rigarlsford Tournament has been rescheduled for Saturday 26 August. A flyer and entry sheet will be put up on the downstairs notice board this weekend. Because it will be some 6 weeks later than the original date, we will start with a new entry sheet so please re-enter if you wish to play in it.

The men’s Stroke Play Championships and Qualifying Rounds for the Club Championships will be held over the weekend of 2/3 September. These will be held in 4 divisions, being Senior, Intermediate, Junior A and Junior B. Entries will close on Sunday 27th August – entry forms will be posted on the downstairs notice board next week.

KGC Embossed Shirts plus Membership Cards

The shop currently has a selection of short and long sleeved polo shirts embossed with the KGC logo available for sale. Check them out next time you are out at the club.

The shop also has a lot of 2017 membership cards up to and including August renewals waiting for collection – if you have renewed your membership this year but haven’t yet picked up your membership tag (this year’s colour is orange) please do so next time you are out at the club.

50th Anniversary Feb/March 2018

Continuing the history of our club, as part of the build up to the 50th anniversary of the current club. With the first incarnation in 1905 on Campbell’s farm shifting east and becoming the Miramar Golf Club in 1909, it wasnt long before another band of enthusiastic Karori golfers made moves to create another course in the western suburbs. Once again they were able to lease some land from Mr Campbell and a new course was formally opened in June 1913 with the club able to boast almost 100 members, nearly half of whom were women. In 1915 though the Campbell land was sold for subdivision and the course shifted onto land in the Burrows and Richmond Avenue area, which back then was Disley’s farm. Play continued on this land for another 10 years before suburban spread forced another departure, this time out to the Hutt Valley and the renaming of the club in 1926 to The Manor Park Golf Club. Would golf ever return to Karori - read next week’s Friday Flash to find out what happened next, or purchase a copy of “Four to the Fore" from the shop for $20.

Happy golfing, play safely,

Your KGC Committee