Sometimes less is best!

 

Normally you would have received the Club Report a day ago but I have been otherwise engaged helping with the efforts to clean up the course following the recent stormy winds and assisting the green staff with their coring efforts.

 

I want to give big ups to TK and his staff for the work they are doing using equipment which looks like it came out of the Ark and which needed considerable onsite maintenance before the first green could be completed.

 

Because of problems with the machinery TK has had to use a tine which is shorter than he would have liked and doesn't completely clear the thatch.  While this is not ideal it is better than doing nothing but will mean that a further coring will need to be done later, probably in December.

 

The stormy winds brought down a large tree across the 5th fairway and deposited debris throughout the course.  All this needed to be cleared away before any mowing could be done and this can only be done by hand.  On Tuesday a dozen helpful members turned out to volunteer their labour and this enabled the first eight holes to be cleared;  today Wednseday a further ten volunteers came out which meant that we were able to clean up 9,10, and 14.  Robyn, Ngatau, Adrian and I cleared up a further three holes on the Monday.

 

There were also a number of dangerously broken branches in the trees on 18 which presented a serious hazard to golfers that needed to be cleared away and these were dealt with today.

 

One concern I have is that a number of our trees could use removing because of their condition and while these are not a danger to members at the moment it would be prudent to drop a number and remove them reasonably soon.  I'm sure a competent arborist could advise us on the best way to progress.

 

From all of this I have two comments to make.

 

First to let you know of my total admiration for TK in the job he is doing.  There can be nothing more frustrating than working with poor, poorly maintained equipment and the level of patience and competence he has exhibited around this is truly amazing.  It has kept his staff engaged and they have seen how to behave when under pressure.  He sorted out a very thorny problem.

 

Next is to thank twenty two people who volunteered their time to get the course back to playable condition.  Without their help we wouldn't be even this far along the track.

 

It looks like the course will be closed again tomorrow Thursday but hopefully will be availble for play by the weekend.

 

The greens will be rough and bumpy, particularly any that have yet to be sanded.  Please use your own patience and tolerance out there.  This course maintenance has not been done for nearly six years and we will all benefit from good sand based greens which are hard and fast and true to putt on.  The greens will get a better grass cover and there will be much less disease and stress in the surface.

 

The upshot of this is that a number of people who wished to play their club champs matches before Sunday have been displaced and will need to look at other arrangements.  Sunday is the default day but for those who cannot make Sunday the match committee will look favourably to accommodate other arrangements so long as we are able to get to the semi finals by Sunday 1 October (weather permitting).  Should weather intervene and any other unforseen problems wash out or suspend a days play we will look to another alternative but still looking to play the final on 8 October.

 

While this is a bit of a pain with good will, we will get there.

 

So, wish us luck tomorrow.  Once again we could use a few volunteers (probably no more than half a dozen) who can help shovel sand in to the hopper on the back of the tractor and sweep the sand in to the core holes on the greens.  Please be at the course by mid morning at the latest.  Bring sturdy footwear, a shovel, and a water bottle.  Lunch will be provided.

 

 

It was great to see a full club house on Sunday at the conclusion of the first round of the Club Champs.

 

There were some very close matches and all divisions have thrown up some classic matches in the next round, none more so that newly weds Terry McAlister and Marcosa (Ossie) Santos on this Sunday.  I wonder what the sledging is like at home in the lead up to this match?

 

Good luck to all contestants in the quarter finals.

 

Those who did not progress past the first round go in to the second chance saloon in the "plate" competition and these matches are to be played this Sunday too.  Some have already progressed through to the semi finals by virtue of Byes so the plates are progressing quickly.

 

We are really hopeful that despite everything this week has thrown at us, we will meet our target of an 8 October final.  Keeping everything crossed, I am!

 

 

Small fields in both the Monthly Medal and Sunday Club Competitions with Laurie Cook winning the Monthly Medal with a net 68, and Gary Clarke being the leading scorer in the Sunday Club Day from among the non club championship players on 35 points.

 

Well done to those two players on such a blustery Sunday.

 

 

Over the next few weeks you will note a number of messages concerning club governance as we head up to the Annual General Meeting on the 2nd of December.

 

All officer positions are up for election as are six places on the committee.

 

There is a real need to find some new members with skills to contribute to the club and in particular our women golfers should have a think among themselves as to who should be nominated to the committee.  I looked at the Womens Club Champs Honours Board and I see that the Bronze Championship has not been played for many years now and the Silver Club Championship for at least the last couple of years.

 

It is my hope that the women in the club can revitalise the womens competition to ensure that these pre-eminent club trophies are contested and awarded each season. 

 

So to everyone, put your thinking caps on as to how we can continue to progress our club as a friendly inclusive place to enjoy golf and the camaraderie that flows from it.

 

 

Don't forget to put your timepieces back an hour before you retire on Saturday evening (particularly those of you with early tee times on Sunday morning for the Club Champs) so that you make your tee times.

 

Allied with this,  Twilight Golf is commencing on Thursday 5 October until April 2024.

 

This is a really fun evening with nine holes of golf (off the forward tees) followed by a barbecue meal and a prize giving.  Those who participate really enjoy it as a relaxed evening.  More will become available from the organisers in the near future.

 

 

 

Club Captain
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