The rain this week may have been annoying to some but it is keeping our course nice and green. Hopefully we will continue to get regular rain that will prevent the fairways from drying out too early in the season.

This Weekend’s Events

Tomorrow we have set up a couple of Play 9 competitions so that any of you thinking of attending the Meridian Open Day can play some golf before or afterwards. It is also an opportunity to submit a 9 hole card to get in the draw for the “Road to the Open” competition that NZ Golf are running over the next few months. If you are playing 18 holes but wish to enter the competitions we have set up, then print out 2 cards, one for the front 9 event and one for the back 9 event.

Update on Tree Work

Our tree workers are really making a difference on the tree lines that they have been working on, so much so that our green keepers are struggling to keep up with splitting and tidying of the felled trees and branches. Please therefore be mindful of whatever leavings there may be on the course when you come out to play this weekend and treat any unplayable areas (with respect to either your ball or your stance) as GUR from which you get a free drop within 1 club length of the nearest point of relief, not nearer the pin.

Upcoming Events

Next weekend offers another opportunity for men members to win a monthly medal and thereby qualify for the end of year Top Dog playoff. This month’s medal can be played for on either or both Saturday and Sunday, off any tee. And don’t forget a medal round, because it is played for on a best net basis, can also count as a qualifying round for the end of year Shootout.

On Saturday 9th November is our annual City of Wellington tournament which is open to all members and visitors. A flyer and entry sheet for this major event is now on the notice board in the downstairs foyer – please add your name to it if you are interested in playing in the tournament. The entry fee is the same as last year - $40, which all goes towards our extensive prize pool.

The following day – ie Sunday 10th November – the family and friends of former club member, Tim McCrone, will be holding a remembrance event for Tim. This will be a stableford tournament, teeing off at 12.30pm, and is open to all members. There will be an entry fee of $10 to contribute towards the prize pool. A flyer for this is also on the downstairs notice board.

The weekend prior to the CoW – ie Sat/Sun 2/3 November, we will likely hold a working bee to spruce up the club house and surrounding gardens, plus do general tidy ups on the course such as cleaning all the tee block signs – please try and make yourself available for this.

Harcourts Twilight

Twilight golf has now started and is on every Thursday evening, weather permitting, teeing off between 5 and 5.30. Same deal as last year with $10 comp fee and $10 bbq dinner. Prizes awarded each night with overall prizes at end of season.

Women’s Tuesday Club

On Tuesday a group of hardy 9 hole ladies battled some very windy conditions to play an ISTAS competition. The clear winner was Trish Titcombe with 32 points, 7 points clear of the next group of players.

Men’s Wednesday Club

Due to unfavourable weather conditions in the morning, some members did not turn up despite a dry weather forecast in the afternoon. The forecast was dead accurate this time and it became a great day for the 19 members who competed. We welcomed irregular members like Kevin Norquay and John Stubbe to the event. On a par format, we had some great scores by the participants.

The winner for the day was Fergus McLean with a score of +4 and he generously donated all 3 balls won as a champion. Thank you Fergus. The runner up with a sensational score of +3 despite on a low handicap of 6 was Adrian Porter. Other good scores were Marcus Henry with +2 and John Stubbe and Alex Lim with +1. Also equally impressive were Derek Fitzgibbon and Kevin with all square scores.

The nearest to the pin was Peter Kennedy who beat Derek's achievement. However, Peter missed the putt and donated the piggy fund while Derek made a great hole in two. The bunny went to my haggle partner, Geoff Lee who really has a handicap of sore knee and leg and now he has to play golf in an electric cart.

Great to see, given its rarity, KGC members winning the Vets tournament on Monday at Judgeford with David Ainsworth winning the competition with 41 points followed by Alex Lim with 40 points. I don't remember KGC dominating a Vets event as last Monday.

Remember that we will have the Makara trophy competition next Wednesday with drawn pairs playing best ball stableford. Therefore, please arrive at the club house by 10:45 for registration

Regards, Victor

Wellington Men’s Veterans Results

Excellent conditions greeted a field of 60 Vets at Judgeford. The greens had been recently cored but generally ran quite true.

Div 1 Won by David Ainsworth with 41pts followed by Alex Lim on 40. Arnold Buck (Ohariu) was 8th on 37pts.

Div 2 Won by David Webb ( Mornington) with 38pts. Tony Kwok (O) 6th with 36 and Mark Casey (O) 7th with 35.

David, Alex and Arnold thus won the Karori/ Ohariu Sweep.

David also scored two 2s.

Longest drive Div 2 Mike Suggate ( KGC)

Next event Waikanae on 21 October--I will call for entries the week before.

Remember, any male club member over 55 can play on this circuit – see Ian Bates if you wish to join. Cheers Ian

Trophies

With most of our events for the year now behind us we will soon be arranging to get our trophies engraved with this year’s winners. If you currently have a trophy at home can you please return it next time you are out at the club so that we can get it to the engravers.

Staff Update

A few months ago Sara took up a part time role at the Carterton Golf Club, having last year bought a property just down the road from the CGC, restricting her days with us to shopping on Thursdays and manning the shop/café/bar on Fridays. Following some personnel changes at CGC Sara has now been asked to work full time so we will no longer have her services on Friday. Debbie will therefore pick up Fridays for the meantime pending a clearer view of how to provide the managerial and accounting functions post the retirements off the Committee of the current President, Treasurer, and Club Captain.

Current President, and your compiler of this weekly newsletter, Jono Wake, is off to Japan on Tuesday for the knock out rounds of the RWC, typhoon permitting. During his absence Vice President Adrian Porter will stand in for him.

Happy golfing, play safely,

Your KGC Committee