Despite the return of wet weather this week both our Tuesday and Wednesday clubs managed to play and hopefully we will be similarly lucky this weekend. After all, today is supposedly the first day of Spring! Unfortunately though, because of the amount of rain that has fallen on the course over the past 48 hours (110mm) we have had to close the course again for carts.
This weekend’s Events
Tomorrow, our women’s Saturday Club will be playing Hidden Holes while for the men it is the first round of Stroke Play for the Senior, Intermediate and Junior A divisions of the Club Championships. Best of luck guys – the draw will come out later today.
No events are programmed for Sunday, with the second round of the Stroke Play championships (and the only round for Junior B division) having been rescheduled for Saturday 9th September.
Prodrive Golf Academy
Last week’s Holden Golf Show featured a couple of tips from Matthew Lane, the former PGA professional now coaching at Prodrive’s driving range at Silverstream, on how to avoid your head moving off the ball and to get better turn in your golf swing. If you missed it click here to watch a repeat of it.
Matthew Lane Prodrive Golf Tip
Men’s Bathroom Update
There is still some final plumbing to be done but we now have 2 of the urinals in use. Please refrain from using the one taped off.
Promotions
In this week’s edition of the Independent Herald we have an advertisement for our 50th Anniversary summer membership promotion along with some supporting editorial detailing the history of the club. We also have a Father's Day special advertised on NZ Golf's Get-on-the-Green monthly promotion site. We plan to promote other publicity as we approach our anniversary date.
Recent Results
Last Sunday the last pair left in the Westward Ho! Shield, Jan Sharp and Peter Kennedy, fought out an extremely close final that wasn’t decided until the 19th hole and in which neither of the players was ever more than 1 hole up. Congratulations to Jan who won the trophy, adding it to the India Cup he won at Wednesday Club a couple of weeks ago, and well done to Peter who fought such a memorable match.
The previous day was the Ken and Rose Rigarlsford tournament, finally played after 2 postponements in July. Despite the course being in great condition, scoring proved surprisingly difficult with only the 2 winners managing to play better than handicap. Congratulations to Phil Pigou who won the Ken Rigarlsford Trophy with 38 Stableford points, and to Shelley Hall who won the Rose Rigarlsford trophy, also with 38 Stablefords.
It was a familiar story 2 weeks ago when Phil won the men’s monthly medal off the white tees and Jan the medal off the blue tees. Well done guys – now for the club championships!
Shoot Out
For those men looking to play for the Top Gun trophy in December, time is starting to run out to get your 15 rounds in. If you are also playing in the Club Championships you wont be able to submit your match play rounds as Shoot Out rounds. However, your Stroke Play rounds can be included but remember, if you wish to include them, you need to select Shoot Out as well as Stoke Play when printing out your card.
Harcourts Twilight
Believe it or not but it wont be long now before daylight saving starts – 24th September to be exact. We are pleased to advise that we will be running Twilight golf again this summer, sponsored by Harcourts, beginning on Thursday 5thOctober. 9 holes of social golf with a competitive but fun edge, followed by a barbecue back in the club house, all for only $15. Non members are also welcome, for whom the cost is $20. Start blocking out Thursday evenings from 5thOctober now.
Wednesday Club
Wednesday Club Results for 30 August:
This Wednesday we extended a warm welcome to Mike Weavers who joined us and a big thank you to Pete McMillen and Graham Presland for the donation of golf balls for prizes. 24 players entered the 18 hole stableford competition followed by 8 nine holers. Competition winner was Don McCrone with 39 points, 74 off the stick. Well played Don. Runner up was Chris Pearce with 38 points and all those with 34 points or more won a prize. Don also scored the only 2, on the 12th, pitching in from about 50 meters away! David Burton was nearest the pin on the 4th hole to win a golf ball but missed his putt for 2 so paid the usual penalty. Victor Diem earned the "Bunny" prize for his efforts. Raffle winners were Martin Leung (6), Mark Dinsdale (22) and Fergus McLean (12).
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 Karori Golf Club having been incorporated in early 1968 the inaugural committee moved quickly to develop the course. Options on the land were exercised and by the end of May 1968 the club owned title. Commander Harris of South Pacific Golf Ltd was commissioned to design the course, having also designed the Wairakei International Golf Course. To this day many who have played both courses comment about similarities.
Design was one thing, but building it was quite another and even though a contract was let, financial restraint meant voluntary labour had to be used extensively. All members got involved, raking, gathering stones, removing fallen macrocarpa trees (especially after the Wahine storm) digging ditches, and building bridges (some of which used redundant harbour board gangways). Drainage was a major issue, with the club’s first employee Trevor Smith, a retired army major and Ministry of Works engineer, having to use his army explosives experience to create many of our drains. The course was eventually opened for play on 14 March 1970, nearly 3 years after the original exploratory meeting. However, the official opening didn’t occur until the following year – read all about that in next week’s Friday Flash.
Sponsor Speak
The first hole was particularly difficult to create, given the drainage problems, and at one stage thought was given to using the practice fairway as the first hole, until it was discovered that the contractor building the course had already removed all the top soil from there for use elsewhere on the course. It’s a great starting hole, having to drive through the gap between the trees that opens out to a scenic vista that is a feature of all our holes. It is appropriate therefore that it is sponsored by optometrists Sercombe & Matheson - if you are having trouble seeing where those long drives of yours land, or for any other eye problem, they are the ones to visit. Click here to go to their website:
Sercombe & Matheson
Happy golfing, play safely,
Your KGC Committee