Club newsletter for May 2019

  • 27 May 2019
  • Peter Watson

Dear club members and concession card holders,

We hope you have been taking full advantage of the excellent autumn weather to get out and play as often as you can.

It seems many of you have been, with course usage up 26% on the same time last year. This is well ahead of the Tasman and national figures which show rises of 15% and 12% respectively. So far this year more than 7470 rounds have been played on our course, which is impressive and shows again what a well-used community asset it is.

Course promotion

In order to keep the momentum going, the Nelson City Council and the club have been working together on a campaign to further promote the course. This has included sign writing a council car – keep an eye out for it – and advertising through social media including Facebook. We also intend reprinting an advertising flyer and adverting to businesses and their contacts through the Uniquely Nelson website.

Doug Thorne RIP

Long-time club member and course caretaker Doug Thorne passed away earlier this month after a heart attack. Doug was a kind and gentle man who was a true club stalwart. There was standing room only at a celebration of his life held at the clubrooms on Sunday, May 20 which showed just how widely loved and respected he was. Along with his wife Helen, he served the club for over 20 years in various roles. He was always ready to lend a hand at club events, such as the Maitai Masters, and he will be greatly missed. Our heartfelt condolences go to Helen, sons Brendan and Evan and their families. For a fuller tribute, please go to our website (www.waahitaakarogolfclub.co.nz)

Harry Westerson RIP

It was with sadness that we learnt that Harry had passed away last week.  He was 90. Harry was one of the real characters of the club, who was always ready with a joke, quip or story. A member since 1979, he was a crafty competitor, particularly when there was a haggle at stake. An ex-Navy man, his great passion was rugby league which he refereed when he first arrived in Nelson. Our thoughts go to his wife of 70 years Margery and their children Sandra, Bonny and Virginia.

Total Golf Maitai Masters

This year’s event – which was rescheduled to April 6 because of the summer drought – was a resounding success. It attracted a full field, a good range of sponsors, a lot of positive feedback from those who took part and made a solid profit for the club. Our club members performed strongly, with special congratulations to Rob Willems (intermediate gross winner), Paul McCrae (junior gross winner) and Aaron Kotua (junior nett winner). We thank those club volunteers who helped make it a great day out. As part of our annual review of the tournament, we are surveying club members and participants to see whether we should change its timing and format. Once all the results are in the Golf Committee will discuss whether any changes are needed.  

Sloan Trophy and Old Hickory

We have had mixed fortunes over the last two months.

Our Sloan team has managed a creditable draw with perennial favourites Motueka, a galling loss to Greenacres and a gutsy win over Takaka to sit sixth equal on the points table. The next round is on June 9 at Tasman.

Our Old Hickory team had a big win at home in March, finished fifth in Takaka in April and then suffered the embarrassment of being awarded the popgun for coming last at Motueka earlier this month. They next play at Nelson on June 6. The only way is up lads.

Remember: if you want to be considered for selection in either team, you must put your name on the sheets pinned to the clubroom noticeboard.

Club competitions

The winter season is well underway, with a couple of competitions already decided. We have been getting good playing numbers on Thursday and Saturday which is heartening.

 The wily duo of Tom Weiss and Paul McCrae won the Cap-it-all Promotions Trophy, while the Stubberfield Cup ended in a tie between Tom Weiss, Bryce Vincent and Andy Isle. Other golfers to win Saturday comps lately include Steve Turnell, Dave Blake (welcome back Dave!), Andy Isle, Pat Melville and Jack Denton.

The Shootout is just underway (get your entry in) and the finalists of the Brebde Senior/Junior have been found. Andy Isle and Andrew Craig will take on Elton Netto and Winton Griggs on June 1 after each pair recorded hard fought 2/1 wins in the semi-finals.

Saturday start times

We have been surveying members about whether they want to tee off later on Saturdays to take advantage of the better weather and in the hope of attracting more players. If you haven’t filled in a survey, get one from our manager Gordon and do it soon. We will be releasing the results and making a decision shortly.

Teeing off on No 18 over the trees

Since removing the internal out of bounds on No 18, we have had a handful of players driving over the trees towards the No 6 green in a bid to shorten the hole and make it easier. We have asked those players to check that No 6 green is clear before they do so, but there have been several near misses reported. Therefore, the internal out of bounds has been reinstated on safety grounds and marked with white stakes.

Shootout format changes

A revamped and cheaper-to-enter Shootout designed to encourage more players to participate has got under way. The first of 12 rounds has been played so it is not too late to enter and we encourage you to do so. Check your monthly club programme (get one from Gordon or the golf shop if you haven’t already or go to our website) to find out when the remaining rounds are on. Your best 8 nett rounds are used to work out who qualifies for the top 10 final at the end of the winter season. The entry fee is $2 per round, with the top 10 qualifiers contributing another $10 each prior to the final. Each qualifier will get a share of the final prize pool providing they stay to the end.

Club member of the month

The Golf Committee is starting a club member of the month award, which will go to a person who has gone that extra mile to contribute to the club. The award is to be decided by the club captain and the men’s and Golden Oldies convenors and will be announced on the first Thursday/Saturday of the month at prize-giving. The recipient is entitled to a free drink. The names of monthly recipients are to be recorded and acknowledged at the AGM.

Handicap checks

You all will have hopefully received an email/notice from the Golf Committee reminding members that NZ Golf rules state that scorecards need to be submitted for all rounds comprising 7 holes or more, regardless of what format is played. This includes casual or non-competition rounds by anyone holding an official handicap. Those who have not submitted cards for at least 85% of their rounds have been informed that they must do so. Another check will be conducted on August 1 to make sure this is being complied with. Please uphold the integrity of the handicap system and submit all your cards otherwise the Golf Committee may have to take steps to enforce this.

Other bits and pieces

The Management Committee has agreed to get the guttering on the clubrooms checked and to install gutter guard to keep them free of debris.
With the greens and the fairways getting softer, please make the greenkeeper’s job easier and repair your pitch marks and divots. Also, take a sand bucket with you to repair your divots and the tee blocks.
We hope that permanently marked drop zones on No 9 and No 10 will be in place shortly.
The Player of the Year points system is being revamped and will be announced soon along with an updated points list.
Prizes for all club competitions will be in the form of vouchers or goods rather than cash.
Our club website has been comprehensively updated and club, district and vets programmes have been added and can be printed out. Use it. And remember to check out our Facebook page.
Thanks to all those who took part in the recent working bee. The excellent turnout showed that the club is in good heart.

Happy golfing.

ends

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