Opening 0f Winter Season

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 14930, 18 March 1949, Page 5

Opening 0f Winter Season

Tauranga Golf Club’s

Plans

Course Maintained During

Summer

(By “Bunker”) The official opening of the winter season will take place on Saturday afternoon, when Mixed Canadian Foursomes will be played over 12 holes. At the conclusion of the competition the trophies won during the summer season will be presented by the president, Mr Willcock. The summer season in retrospect has been one of progress in many ways. The course has been maintained in good order and with this week’s cutting should be In fine order. Paspalum however, is a problem, especially on the greens, but the greenkeeper has a greens works schedule for the gradual eradication of this grass. To maintain good playing conditions this will probably mean the closing of a portion of the affected green while the paspalum roots are cut out but this will be done with a minimum of inconvenience to players. The paspalum on the fairways will of course gradually disappear as colder weather discourages its growth, but meantime the stalks are a nuisance to players’ clothes and they hinder strokes the only w T ay to alleviate the pest as much as possible is to keep the paspalum cut so that it does not seed. The clubhouse is m first-class order and, with the finishing touches given to it by the enthusiastic women’s committee and several other willing helpers, those members who have not been out for

some few months will get a pleasant surprise. A new local rule for women players only should prove popular—this refers to the fourth hole. Players may deem any shot played off the tee as “out of hounds.*’ this means that if they wish they may play their second stroke from the tee should thoir bah finish up in the swamn, drain, bushes, etc should their second shot fin ; sh up in a similar nlaco they may then play their third off the tee and so on. This rule will save competitors the two-stroke penalty for lost or unplayable ball—it should also alleviate any hold-up at this hole. Ah players are also advised to study the “Extra Local Rules'’ notice at the club house as explanations of several local rules that members are conversant with are given thereon. Invitations to all clubs and golfers have been extended by the Club and it is expected that a record number of players will attend.