For those of you not going away this Labour weekend hopefully you will be able to make it out onto the course – it is in fantastic condition and with a good looking forecast promises great spring golf this weekend.
Being a long weekend no major events have been programmed but the women’s Saturday Club will be playing LGU 8.
Recent Results
Last weekend the winners of the women’s club championships were determined, with Fiona Kearns beating Mary Kavanagh for the Silver division title and Shelley Hall prevailing over Gail Kirkland for the Bronze. Well done to all 4 finalists and congratulations to Fiona and Shelley as 2017 Club Champions.
Also last weekend men members played for the October Monthly Medal with Geoff Lee winning the medal for the blue division and Phil Pigou for the white. Well done guys, you both now qualify for the Top Dog trophy to be played on Saturday 9th December.
Hole-in-One
Congratulations to Alex Lim who playing in the Monthly Medal last Saturday scored a hole-in-one on the 6th hole. Congratulations Alex, we will add you name to the honours board.
Prodrive City of Wellington Classic Saturday 11th November
Preparations are now well underway for this major event, and an entry form is on the notice board in the downstairs foyer. Please note that we have brought forward the tee off time to 8.30am to enable All Whites fans to also attend the NZ v Peru World Cup qualifier that kicks off at 4.15pm that afternoon at Westpac Stadium. This is our major event of the year, with heaps of prizes up for grabs. Although it is a Wellington Golf Order of Merit event which will attract many of the region’s top golfers, it is played in divisions with prizes for gross, nett and stableford scores so everyone has a chance to win something. It is a great chance to showcase our course so let’s make this, the 40th anniversary of the first City of Wellington tournament, our best yet. Only $40 to enter.
NZIS Ambrose Tournament
Next Friday 27th October the NZ Institute of Sport students are holding their annual ambrose tournament and once again it looks like being a fun event. The students have organised various sponsorships to ensure a good prize pool and refreshments during play. They have also arranged for masseurs to be on the course to relax those tightened muscles that may be causing you to slice or pull your power shots. All members are invited to form a team – entry forms are available at the shop desk - but if you would like to play but don’t have a team, ring or email the club and we will put some foursomes together. The entry fee is $25 for club members and $40 for non members.
Asia Pacific Amateur Tournament, Royal Wellington Golf Course, Thursday 26 to Sunday 29 October
Only a few days to go now until this major amateur tournament, being run by the Asia Pacific Golf Federation in conjunction with the Masters Tournament and the R&A. It promises to be the biggest golfing event ever staged in NZ, with the winner automatically qualifying for next year’s Masters tournament at Augusta. 10 of NZ’s top male amateurs will be battling it out with other amateurs from throughout the Asia Pacific region in what promises to be a great showcase of top golf by the potential stars of tomorrow. Entry for spectators is free and a large area of car parking has been created in the vicinity of the course from where guides will lead you to the action.
The course has already been closed to Royal Wellington members and we have given reciprocal rights to them to come and play on our course while theirs is unavailable. Already some of their members have booked to play on our course this weekend – please make them welcome so that they too can enjoy the vibe of the best country course in greater Wellington.
Road Closure
Saturday 28th October
Part of the Takarau Gorge Road, including the section from the turn off into South Makara Road and up to the mountain bike park entrance on the top of Makara Hill, will be closed on Saturday 28th October from 4.15pm to 8.45pm for the Targa car rally. As a result, we have closed off the start sheet that day from 11.30 onwards, although the course will still be open. The club house lounge will close at 3.30pm that day. Players need to ensure that they leave the club before 4pm (if going home via Karori, earlier if going the back way to Johnsonville) to ensure they can get home before the road closes.
Harcourts Twilight Thursday 19th October
A great start to the season with another fine and calm evening for Twilight golf for the third week in a row. A good turnout again with 15 golfers keen for 9 holes of golf and our bbq meal. The course was in excellent condition, and the greens were much improved after last week’s sanding.
Good scoring this week will keep the handicapper busy. The winner on the night was James Reith with a fine score of 22 points ($20) and second went to Rolf Brednich ($15) and third equal to Gail Kirkland and Joanne Hurst on 20 points ($10). The consolation prize was taken out by Anita Corlett, our Harcourts Johnsonville sponsor, on her first time out at the Karori Golf Club. Great to see Anita at the club and a number of last year’s regulars returning. Thanks again to everyone who helped prepare an exceptionally good bbq meal last night; a great team effort enjoyed by all.
We look forward to seeing everyone next week – all club members and visitors are welcome. Tee off between 5 and 5.30pm, followed by a bbq meal. Wayne
Wednesday Club
Wednesday Club Results for 18th October:
We extended a warm welcome to Pat Johnson who joined 15 other keen players who trusted the weather forecast that the cold, intermittent drizzle would clear, to compete in the 18 hole Par competition, followed by four intrepid nine holers. The forecast was just about spot on, clearing after a couple of holes to a bright sunny, if breezy, afternoon. Most players relished the conditions and the exceptional state of the course with nearly half the field playing to or better than their handicaps and winning golf balls. Best of all was Dave Cullen, who won the competition with a score of +4, followed by Jan Sharp who pipped Patrick Cordue on countback, both on +2. It was Dave's day, as he also got closest to the Pin on the Prodrive 4th hole but paid the usual penalty for missing his putt for a two. Don McCrone and Jan scored the only twos for the day on the 2nd and 13th holes respectively, whilst Luke Underwood took out the consolation prize. .Because of the small numbers, the raffle was not drawn and will be held over until next week
A Blast from the Past
Emerging from beyond anyone’s memory recently was a copy of the “Westward Ho News” dated June 1988. Apparently this was a monthly newsletter put out by the club at the time. A hard copy will be posted on the notice board for anyone interested in having a browse. One notable excerpt is the following:
“Scott Evans, a Junior Member, has made it through to the final of the Holland Cup. Well done Scott! You’ve got Karori’s toughest competitor ahead of you, Keith Gaskin.”
An inspection of the Holland Cup engravings shows that Keith must have gone on to win that match.
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:
Women’s golf at Karori has always been keenly participated but interestingly, when the current incarnation of the Karori Golf Club was first established, they were virtually a separate club with their own committee and it wasn’t until 1973 that the women’s club captain was invited to attend the monthly KGC committee meetings. In 1980 this position became an official member of the committee but it wasn’t until the 1997 AGM that the Ladies Committee was dissolved. Around the same time “ladies” became “women”. Back in the 1970s, when women’s golf operated under the auspices of the “Ladies’ Golf Union”, we had the largest women’s membership in the district and included a number of very competitive golfers, including Heather Barnett who holds the women’s course record of 71. In 1994 the Karori Club became the first in the Wellington region to pilot the NZLGU “Play Golf” scheme and between 1994 and 1997, some 104 women participated in introductory classes spearheaded by existing members Alison Robertson, Elizabeth Wagner, Ingrid Rampton, Sue McLaren and Sue Murray.
Sponsor Speak
The eighth hole finishes with a steepish climb to the green which can catch the breath of many players, as well as confuse the depth of field view of visitors to the course. It is appropriate therefore that it is sponsored by the Karori Medical Centre, who are located at 11 Parkvale Road in central Karori. With Movember fast approaching, it could be a good time guys for that overdue check-up!
The 7th green looking up to the 8th green in the distance in front of the then sole copse of trees
Travel Tip
Those of you travelling away this weekend may appreciate this travel tip that featured in the edition of the Westward Ho News referred to above: Always take a golf ball with you if planning on staying in a hotel or motel. Apparently they make great temporary plugs in hand basins and as a blade shaver, I can vouch for how frustrating it is to find you cant full the basin for a morning shave.
Happy golfing, play safely, and whether on the road on the course this long weekend, drive carefully,
Your KGC Committee