Let's hear it for the Greens
- 12 November 2023
- Peter Watson
Warren Green epitomises your ideal club volunteer.
The long-time Waahi Taakaro club member – who is in his late 70s - is always one of the first to put his hand up when there is work to be done.
Over the last year he has spent many hours with other hardy souls on the end of a rake or shovel cleaning up the damage done to the golf course by two major floods. He’s there when you need someone on the BBQ at club days and functions and is one of the last to leave when there are dishes to be done in the kitchen.
The 29-handicapper – who plays three times a week - regularly volunteers to do the scorecards for the Golden Oldies competitions and you can count on him when there is a clubhouse project involving physical work. And he does it all with a smile and without fuss.
So it was only fitting that a stunned and emotional Warren became the first recipient of our new top award, the Rangiriri Kohe Memorial Trophy, awarded to the club member of the year at our annual prize-giving at the clubhouse on Saturday afternoon.
The beautiful carved pakohe and wood trophy was gifted by the whanau of our much-loved former president Rangiriri Kohe who passed away earlier this year. One of his daughters, Renee Evans, spoke movingly about what the club and course meant to her father and the significance of the pakohe which was sourced from the Maitai River catchment.
The other major award – the NBS Player of the Year – went to club captain Peter Green for the second year in a row. While Pete bowed out in the semi-finals of the senior club champs after qualifying top, he accumulated enough points during the rest of the season by winning the Barkman Trophy and coming second in the C&F Legal Stroke to be a clear winner.
Before prize-giving we played our traditional closing day ambrose and BBQ to mark the end of the winter season., which attracted an excellent turnout. Twelve teams battled it out on the course with the team of Bryce Vincent, Jason Lee, Noel and Sally Quinlivan winning bragging rights with a net 57.375. Second was the Savage Gamers made up of Dean Goodman, Geoff Halkett, Michael Savage and Craig Barron with 58.9. Third on 59.13 was the Tartan Red team of Phil and Julie Sellers, Andrew Dean and Mike Murphy, while Ali’s Boys (Ali Mawby, Paul Tunnicliff, Grant Fergusson and Peter Watson finished fourth on 59.75.
Jack Denton and Brad Brown shared the twos money.
2022-23 full prize list
WINTER SEASON
Rangiriri Kohe Memorial Trophy for club member of the year: Warren Green
NBS Player of the Year: Peter Green; runners-up James Campion/Warren Carey
Senior club champion: James Campion; runner-up Dean Goodman
Intermediate club champion: Bryce Vincent; runner-up Neil McLaren
Junior A club champion: Brendan Doyle; runner-up Ian Hanford
Junior B club champion: Warren Carey; runner-up Michael Savage
Senior stroke: Peter Green; runner-up James Campion
Intermediate stroke: Jason Lee; runner-up Jonathan Tuheke
Junior A stroke: Mike Williams; runner-up Jack Denton
Junior B stroke: Michael Savage; runner-up Warren Carey
C&F Legal Stroke: Mick Leggett; runner-up Peter Green
Barkman Trophy: Peter Green; runner-up Peter Watson
Six-hole Challenge: Mick Leggett; runner-up Chris Louth
Individual Matchplay: Jonathan Tuheke; runner-up Keri Kotua
Brebde Senior/Junior: Dean Goodman/Phil Sellers; runners-up Jason Lee/Sam Tatterton
Cap-it-all Trophy: Bryan Ramsey/Phil Sellers; runners-up Peter Watson/Barry Rhodes
9-hole women’s matchplay: Sue Moyle; runner-up Ali Mawby
9-hole women’s stroke: Sue Moyle; runner-up Ali Mawby
9-hole Saturday champion: Paul McCrae; runner-up Lloyd Moyle
SUMMER SEASON
Summer Fedex: Andy Isle; runner-up Garth Jameson
Stubberfield Cup: Peter Watson; runner-up Barry Rhodes
Penketh Plate: Brendan Doyle; runner-up Garth Jameson
Burns Philp Cup: Andy Isle; runner-up Garth Jameson