Tinwald Golf Club's swift growth

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31772, 31 August 1968, Page 11

Tinwald Golf Club's swift growth

QINCE its inception just over a year ago, the Tinwaid Golf Club has grown at an astounding rate. Officially opened in June, 1967, the club now has more than 300 members. This growth rate is probably the greatest ever experienced in New Zealand, by a golf club ip such a small community. The original idea fbr a new course at Tinwald came from the golf club section of the Ashburton branch of the Returned Services’ Association, an,d about four months after the executive of the R.S.A. inspected the land, the course was opened. The preparation of fairways, greens and bunkers, all done by the voluntary labour of members during the four months, was aided by several donations, including about 700 trees and shrubs for landscaping, soil for the greens and equip- ; ment to help maintain the course. Initially the club started ■ with 40 acres of land on ' which it has developed a nine-hole course. However, at the beginning of May next year a further 58 acres adjoining the present course will become available and the present length of 2488 , yards for nine holes will be extended to 18 holes, and a full size, 6175 yard course.

At present the longest hole is a 430-yard bogey five and the shortest is a 160-yard bogey three. On the extended course the longest hole will be a 530 yard bogey five and the shortest a 135-yard bogey three. The club membership, which does not include juniors, attracts its golfers from both the borough and the county and in the near future it is proposed to erect a new clubhouse. It will be situated on the new half of the course and will replace the present building, which the greenkeeper will use as his store shed. Fund raising projects are to be conducted in an effort to obtain the money required for the new clubhouse.

Seven permanent and two temporary greens are laid out on the present course, but tees are all completed.; Three creeks cross the course but generous donations of materials has enabled bridges to be built across them. Another creek will cross the new half, and a spokesman for the club said it is hoped materials will again be donated for bridges. On the new course some holes will be played tor the creek and some across it, but in the existing half all holes which have a creek in the vicinity can be played over these hazards. Within a month of the new land becoming available next year the club hopes to be playing on temporary greens, a spokesman said. The fairways, which are ready to be played on now, are already bounded by trees. When completed the new course will have a par of 72, 36 for each half. Two of the present holes will be extended in length while still remaining bogey fours, and the two temporary greens will be closed.