PROGRESS AT WAITIKIRI

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31542, 2 December 1967, Page 11

PROGRESS AT WAITIKIRI

'THE golf explosion has made its impact on the picturesque Waitikiri course. Since the Freyberg Rosebowl tournament was held on the course, in 1965, spectacular progress has been made in improvements and alterations to the course and club room facilities. The second hole has been altered by extending the fairway and providing a new green to make the hole a harder par five. The fourth hole has been lengthened and a completely new fair-

way has been placed by extending the boundary of the course. There has been an increase in the length of the fifth hole by taking in some of the rough. The installation of a watering system covering all fairways and greens has made a considerable improvement on some of the drier fairways and has provided far better conditions for summer golf. Waitikiri is an attractive course because of the large number of trees; the pre-

sent committee has continued with the policy by planting another 200 trees on the surrounds of the course. The considerable growth in the club’s membership led to the committee to appoint a full-time professional this year when they engaged B. Sharp, who has American experience. The appointment of a fulltime professional was such a success that recently the club appointed R. Berridge, a young Australian, as assistant professional.

So that dub members could take advantage of the professionals’ services, a new professionals' shop was built recently. Mr J. Galvin, the president, said that the progress being made at Waitikiri should make it one of the finest courses in New Zealand, and one that eventually could be up to championship standard. The photograph shows Sharp (right) and Berridge standing in front of the professionals* shop.