GOLF.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 96, 24 April 1922, Page 8

GOLF.

AUCKLAND CLUB'S ANNUAL MEETING. PROPOSED LARGE EXPEXDITKRK. Considerable interest was shown by Ibe Jargp number of players who attended the sinnua] meeting of the Auckland Golf Club, in tlie proposed new scheme of expenditure on v new club house, a water supply, and other items which the committee have drifted (for their new programme of Improvements to the course. The suggested Increase in entrance fees and subscriptions was also a matter which seemed likely lv create wide differences of opinion.

Tbe president (Mr. W. :;. Colbeck) in moving the adoption of the report, congratulated the club on a successful year. and commented on the fact that visitors to the iourse during the recent Easter tournament bad expressed very complimentary opinions "(i the fine state of the links. This reflected great credit on Die committee. It was also 111 matter for congratulation thai the club wus able 'o show a small profit, Tbe overdraft had been increased by £600 to £700, the reason being largely attributed to tbe cost of forming a new road and the amount cxpendpd on efforts to secure a water supply. which unfortunately had failed. In referring to the proposed new club bouse tile president stated that if the club wanted an up-to-date house they would have to put their hands in their pockets and find the money. Mr. J. B. Lusk. tbe club captain, seconded the motion.

Mr. J. L. R. Bloomfleld strongly criticised the committee, particularly Jn regard to tbe erection of mound bunkers which, he stated, had proved to be a mistake. He moved that the committee refrain from building any more mound bunkers. (Considerable discussion followed the motion, and the motion received little support.) Mr. 11. 11. Lusk referred to tbe advantage in many ways of the mound compared with pot bunkers. Tbe fact that the former class of bunker gave a line to the pin in his opinion provided greater interest.

Mr. H. Horton remarked that no system of bunkering gave satisfaction to all members, and as very great Improvement had been made during tbe year In bunkering the court*, rhe matter might be safely left to the committee. A large majority voted against tile motion.

Mr. Bloomfleld then moved that paspalum and other rough grasses be eradicated by ploughing or otherwise, aud duntlionla be pl_nted In their place. The president said that tbe motion if Carried' would be an Insult to the committee. The committee was fully alive to tbe pa»pnlum evil, and would do its utmost to eradicate it.

The motion was defeated ami the report and balance sheet were adopted:—

Officers were elected as follows:—President. Mr. W. B. Colbeck (re-elected): vtcepresiflents. Messrs. W. W. Bruce, E. Horton (re-elected), and A. P. Green; captain, Mr. J. B. Lusk (re-elected): committee, Messrs. F. G. Binney, W. Brander and A. M. Howden (re-elected): auditor Mr. X. Duthle (reelected).

Mr. Brander moved an alteration in Ue rules relating to the election of members, to the effect that candidates for membership should be elected or rejected by the committee oy ballot, two adverse votes excluding. An amendment by Mr. M. Reed was adopted, this providing that names of candidates should be submitted to tbe committee for approval, and in case of approval posted in tile clubhouse, the election to take place on a Saturday. 15 members to vote, and one black ball In five to exclude. A proposal to raise the entrance fee from •£5 5/ to £7 7/ was defeated, it being pointed out that it would not be good business to frighten any intending members away, anil that the time had not yet arrived when aiiv restriction should be placed on the number of members.

The following increases in subscriptions were carried withouf opposition: Playing members, from f8 8/. reducible to £0 6/ if paid within two mouths, to £10 10/, reducible to-I£B 8/: limited members, from £3 13/6, reducible, to £2 12/6, to £4 4/, reducible to i£B :;/; country members, from £2 12/6 reducible to fl 11/6, to £H 3/. reducible to

The captain, in moving the increases in the subscriptions, laid stress upon the necessity for having water laid on to every green. If water could not be obtained from Otahuhu at a satisfactory price tbe committee would (probably seek permission to expend up to _1000 on a water supply scheme. Referring to the clubhouse question, the captain said lira wings for a new building had been prepared, and it was estimated the cost of the structure would be f12,000. If a new building were- not erected paint jog and virion* alterations would be necessary, and it was estimated the cost would be £700. It would therefore be seen the club was faced with very heavy expenditure, and he considered the raising of the subscriptions was the best way of providing for this.

The distance for country members was extended from 25 miles to 00 miles from Auckland.

It was proposed that green fees should he increased to 5/ a day, 12/6 n week, or fl 1/ a but an amendment by Mr. H. Horton that the fees should, be 3/6 on, week days, 7/6 on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, 15/ a week, or fl 7/6 a fortnight was adopted.

A special meeting will be held to consider the raising of debentures to pay off the overdraft, the provision of a water supply scheme, and the question of a pew clubbouse.