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NEWSLETTER 04/2008.

GREETINGS MEMBERS AND ESPECIALLY NEW MEMBERS OF THE WHAKATANE GOLF CLUB.
THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ARE PLEASED TO BRING YOU UP TO DATE WITH HAPPENINGS IN YOUR CLUB AND OTHER IMPORTANT MATTERS:

1.   TOWN AND COUNTRY CLASSIC. SUNDAY 22 JUNE,2008
      This is THE tournament worth “training” for and probably the most prestigious and popular tournament on our Golf Calendar. However, sadly, our major sponsor for this tournament has decided to call it a day after so many years coming to the fore and it is recommended that you hurry with your $35.00 entry to the office so you won’t miss out.
Ocean Ford has donated a car for the first “HOLE IN ONE” on the 16th hole and Grant James has donated a set of golf clubs for the first ‘HOLE IN ONE” on the 11th hole.
There is a two tee rolling start from 9.30am to 11.20am

1. TREE IDENTIFICATION ON COURSE.

Many thanks to Elsie and Allan Jones who have been busy taking “stock” of the trees on the course by photographing them for record purposes. This important work will provide us information in the future for course planning and will also allow us to know how long those trees have been with us and to what extent they have grown.

1. LAND SALE.

The latest information is that the Land Agent dealing with the tenders is still negotiating with several interested parties. However, no decisions will be made without consultation with you, the members.

1. GOLF CART ACCOMMODATION.

The extra accommodation for golf carts in the greenkeeper’s former workshop across the road has been completed, with great thanks to Colin Brown and his team.

1. MEMORIAL TREE.

It seems necessary to mention that the advertising “space” allocated to a business member,near the memorial tree adjacent to the putting green, does not hinder the sentiments in which the tree was planted nor was it ever intended to do so. The adjoining structure to the memorial tree where the advertising space is, was donated and constructed in conjunction with a major golf tournament held here sometime after the time the tree was planted. Any misunderstanding, is regretted.

1. RECYCLED WATER USEAGE.

Discussions have been held with the District Council about using treated recycled water from the oxidation ponds on our course. The water is currently being disposed of out to sea but a quantity of it could be piped here and stored for use on the course.
There is national and even global interest in recycled water useage and it could solve our problems in future to combat rising costs for watering our course. A report from the Council is being prepared for further discussion. It is very early days yet!

1. NARROWING OF FAIRWAYS.

Our new Green’s Manager, Tukai, has brought his philosophy and 26 years experience with him as a qualified tradesperson and has narrowed and contoured the fairways. This has never been done before and, bless them, the minority have complained. Our Green’s Manager obviously has the upcoming Bay Open Golf Tournament in mind and is grooming the course accordingly, but communicating with the hierarchy who are running it.
We think Tukai is doing a great job and we  think that we are very lucky to have him as our Green’s Manager.

1. BAYLEY’S THURSDAY.

Please note that this Thursday 12th June,2008 is the Bayley’s Real Estate second sponsored Thursday Golf Tournament and if you have the day off, you should be there to be in to win (eventually) a fantastic prize. Entries to Pro-Shop.

1. TRUNDLER SHED.

The trundler shed which was the victim of a break-in recently has been returned  to its former “burglar proof” glory, thanks to Ian Whitehead. Those who continue to use the trundler shed would have noticed, with confidence, that their gear is safe.

1. HAERE RA CHING – WITH MUCH AROHA

It is with great sadness to record the sudden passing of former golf member Te Hau “Ching” Tutua. Ching gave up golf to, among other things, attend to the demands of others for whom he gave his time freely and untiringly. He was a local historian and a renowned master carver in both wood and bone and his work can be seen and appreciated at “Mary’s Corner” adjacent to the 13th tee where he was responsible for the “Mary’s Corner” carving. Mary, of course, was our beloved Mary Good responsible for the creation of that beautiful garden overlooking the 13th tee and 16th green and which is carefully maintained with appreciation by our ladies.
A measure of Ching’s mana saw several thousand people in attendance at his tangi, which included King Tuheita and other dignitaries from all over New Zealand.
The Club’s aroha goes out to Evelyn and her whanau.

1. PENNANTS:

My favourite subject.
What an opportunity to play other golf courses in the Bay Of Plenty for free and be paid to do so AND be delivered to the respective golf courses. I was Manager, Selector and Driver for the club’s Junior Pennant Team 2008 and I would like to thank all those guys who participated readily and sometimes, not so readily. While our claim to fame was the trouncing of the Tauranga Junior Team by 6 to 3 and a massive second to last position overall, we were there and I know that we will be there again next year. The next “move” is a get together at my place for MY TEAM to spend the massive sponsorship that team member Terry Kemp has acquired – you will hear from me!!
MEANTIME, MEMBERS, FIND OUT HOW TO BELONG TO A 2009 PENNANT TEAM AND TOUR THE BAY – FREE. THERE’S NO REASON WHY WE SHOULDN’T BE KNOCKING THESE OTHER CLUB’S OVER, IF YOU GUYS WERE TO MAKE YOURSELVES AVAILABLE.

KNOW YOUR RULES – Kindly supplied by our Rules expert, Jack Lawson.

ADDITIONAL LOCAL RULES

Members who check the Local Rules Board will have noticed an addition to our Local Rules in the past two weeks. If you haven’t seen it, here is what it says:

EMBEDDED BALL (Rule 25-2)
Relief is extended “Through the Green”
(see page 131 of Rules of Golf)

Through the green, a ball that is embedded in its own pitch mark, may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to where it lay but not nearer the hole.

Under Rule 25-2 embedded ball relief is available only in a “closely-mown area” but this can be extended to “through the green” by a Local Rule.

“Through the Green” is the whole area of the course except the teeing ground and the putting green of the hole being played and all hazards of the course.
Therefore, if your ball is embedded in its own pitch mark in the fairway, rough, grass face of a bunker, etc., you are entitled to lift the ball, clean it and drop it as near as possible to the spot where it lay, but not nearer the hole, without penalty. As a bunker is a hazard, you do not get this relief if the ball is embedded in the sand !!

BUNKER RAKES  -- AGAIN !!!

Yes, we have covered this subject before, but we are still seeing too many rakes being left on the side, back or front of bunkers and even sticking out sideways, ready to catch your ball and divert it into the bunker  - or worse!

Under the Rules of Golf a rake is classified as a Movable Obstruction and Rule 24 – 1a states that you may lift the rake and if the ball moves it must be replaced – no penalty.

If your ball lies against a rake in one of the positions above, it is not easy trying to place your ball on the steep grassy slope of a bunker after you have removed the rake and it could leave you in some tricky positions for your next stroke.

Please leave the rake IN the bunker, ON the sand. A rake in this position with a ball against it makes the lifting of the rake and possible replacement of the ball a simple operation.
CLEAN AND PLACE.

When “clean and place” is the order of the day – indicated by the sign on the Clubhouse wall and the orange flag flying – you are allowed to lift, clean and place your ball within 15cm ( 6 inches ) of where it lies.

BUT – this can be done only on a “closely mown area” of the course.

“CLOSELY MOWN AREA”  - means any area of the course, including paths through the rough, cut to fairway height or less.

So, this means you can lift, clean and place your ball on any fairway (even if you are on the wrong fairway for the hole you are playing) or any part of the course where the grass is cut to fairway height.

You MUST always mark the position of your ball before lifting or moving it. Failure to mark it is a penalty of one stroke in both Stroke and Match play.

Finally, the ball is in play as soon as you place it and must not be replaced if it happens to move. So, do it carefully and avoid another penalty stroke !!

RULES QUESTIONS

Here are three questions from the 2008 Rules Course.  Test yourself.
Answers somewhere in this News Letter!!

1. After playing five holes George discovers he has 16 clubs in his bag. At that stage

he is one up in his match with Fred. What will be the state of the match on the 6th tee?

2. Marie searches for her ball in the rough for about 4 minutes then says “It’s lost”

and heads back to the tee to play another ball. On the way and within the 5 minute period allowed, she finds her original ball under a tree. Marie’s opponent claimed Marie had declared her ball lost and consequently cannot play the original. Should Marie be permitted to do so?

3. A player signs and returns her card showing a total score of 78 but the individual

hole scores add up to 77. What should the Committee record as the player’s gross score?

RULES ADVICE:

If, when playing a wedge shot over a bunker, the divot you take falls into the bunker, please make a special effort to retrieve and replace the divot. If left in the bunker you could cause a problem later for a player whose ball lands in the same bunker.  It is against the Rules for him to remove the divot as it is classified as a “ Loose Impediment”  - see Rule 13 – 4c – and if he touches it he is penalised two strokes in Stroke Play or Loss Of Hole in Match Play !!
RULES ANSWERS:

1. Fred is one up (or George is one down). Rule 4 – 4a
2. Yes. Definition “Lost Ball”. A ball is not lost simply because a player says it is or because the player walks back with the intention to play another. The ball is only lost in terms of the definition. See P.37 of The Rule Book.
3. 77. Rule 6-6d Note 1. Only individual hole scores is the player’s responsibility.

Patron, Life members Honary Members and the 2008 Committee's

• Club Patron: Mr Rn Byrne
• Life Members: Mrs L Bradley, Mrs a McLaren, Mrs C Steenson, Mr C H Brown, Mr R N Byrne, Mr I Swanson
• Honary Members :Mr H Andrews, Mr D Carter, Mr T H Morgan, Mrs L Magee, Mrs S Brown , Mr W Sutherland, Mr G Wilkinson
• President: Mr John Murphy
• Vice Presidents: Mr Kerry Jensen, Mr Ken Lynch
• Club Captains: (Ladies) Mrs Bo Holmes (Mens) Mr Richard Winslade
• Vice Captains: (Ladies)Mrs Hazel Dunn (Mens) Mr Ken Lynch
• Management Committee: Mr John Murphy (President) Mr Kerry Jensen (Chairperson) Mr Jack Lawson, Mr Angus Wright , Mr Clarke Baker Mrs Carol Steenson
• Golf Committee:Mr Ken Lynch (Chairperson) Mrs Hazel Dunn, Mr Richard Winslade, Mrs Bo Holmes
• General Manager:
• Club Professional: Mr Grant James
• Womens Match Committee: Mrs Bo Holmes(C), Mrs Hazel Dunn (VC), Mesdames, Pat Hall, Nicol Bettelheim,Margaret Hewlett, Sue Ker,Rene Tierney
• Mens Match Committee: Mr Richard Winslade(C) Mr Ken Lynch (VC) Messrs, John Scott, MArk Kershaw, Barney Gray, Stuart Milne, Colin Brown
• Women's Nine Hole Convenor: Mrs Catherine Scott
• Mens Nine Hole Convenor: Mr Alan Leith
• Handicapping Committees: Mens Mr Alan RhodesMr Ken Lynch, Ladies Mrs Annette Hall Mrs Bo Holmes.
• Course Committee: Mr Colin Brown, Mrs Annette Hall, Messrs Mick Tee John Fitzgerald, Fred Wilbur-Smith
• Course Manager: Mr Ryan Irwin
• Greens Assistant: Mr Mike Davies