N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIP COURSES

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26971, 21 February 1953, Page 8

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIP COURSES

GOLF

COUNCIL APPROVES LIST

SOME “CAPABLE OF VAST IMPROVEMENT”

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 20. The sub-committee appointed by the council of the New Zealand Golf Association to nominate 10 courses for New Zealand championships presented its report to today’s meeting of the council. The report nominated the courses of the following clubs:—Titirangi (Auckland), Wanganui, Paraparaumu Beach, Christchurch, Miramar (Wellington), Waitikiri (Christchurch), New Plymouth, Hastings, Hamilton, and InvercargilL The sub-committee comprised Messrs A. R. Blank, G. P. Roberts, and D. O. Whyte.

“We are agreed,” said the report, “that the present standard of New Zealand courses is not high, but a number, situated on good golfipg country, are capable nf vast improvement. We have looked to the future in making our choice, and have chosen those courses which are situated on soil which can easily be moulded, and at a cost within the reach of the clubs concerned. Furthermore—and we consider this important—such alterations should not unduly increase the cost of upkeep.”

The report of the sub-committee was endorsed.

The Balmacewen Club, Dunedin, where this year’s New Zealand championships will be played, will be informed that it was left off the list of 10 courses because it was understood that the sub-commit-tee did not consider the course to be on suitable country. The council today received a letter from the secretary of the Waikato Golf Association (Mr E. D. Rex) advising that the Hamilton Golf Club, feeling that its course had championship possibilities, wpuld be prepared to support a proposal to obtain the services of a leading golf architect from overseas to inspect New Zealand courses and give advice. The Hamilton Club, said the letter, was prepared to contribute £5O to the scheme, and the Waikato Golf Association would also consider giving financial support. The council decided to make inquiries on golf architectual advice in Britain and Australia.

The council further decided that the list of 10 clubs did not necessarily comorise the ones to which championships would be allotted, and also that clubs which brought their courses up to the required standard would be considered for • major tournaments.

It was agreed that prize money for the 1953 championship meeting should remain the same as last year (£450), but that there would be. an increase in public admission charges from 2s 6d to 3s for ordinary days, and from 3s 6d to 5s for special days. The Manawatu Golf Club advised that, because of flood damage, it would not be able to stage the inter-provincial teams’ tournament for the Freyberg Rose Bowl in May, but it lodged a tentative application for the event next year. The Christchurch Golf Club will be asked to stage the event at Shirley this year.