Shirley heavily watered for Open

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31835, 13 November 1968, Page 15

Shirley heavily watered for Open

QNLY a spell of harsh north-westerly winds can prevent Shirley being in tip-top order for the New Zealand golf open which begins on November 28. The nor’-wester is probably the greenkeeper’s worst enemy, and Shirley is beginning to burn a little, although about 3.600,000 gallons of water are being put on it each week.

The head greenkeeper (Mr M. W. Stanley) feels the course is at present being held satisfactorily, but rain is needed, and it will be a difficult job to keep the course in good condition if the dry weather continues. The strong field of professionals and amateurs will find a few changes since the previous Open at Shirley in 1964. The new green at the short third reduces the length of this hole by about 15 yards, but presents a much more difficult target, with its inverted saucer construction. The twelfth hole—which will not be played from the elevated tee—has a new green which adds about 35 yards, so in all Shirley will measure about 6575 yards for the championship.

At present Mr Stanley is confining the watering to the landing areas on the fairways, to the approaches and to the greens. It is ironical that a few months ago about a million gallons of water had to be pumped off the course. Now the hoses are on for about 16 hours a day for five days of the week, and for several hours at night during the week-ends: and still it may not be enough, although there is every reason to ex-

peel fast putting surfaces on greens which will hold well.

There has been comparatively little mowing of the fairways so far, but there will be plenty of work done there before the tournament. The greens will be cut every day for the week preceding the start of the tournament, and the final jobs will include trimming the bunkers and spreading fresh sand.

Four years ago the great Australian, K. D. G. Nagle, began the tournament brilliantly with 67 and 69, and on the Saturday left the field well behind with quite phenomenal rounds of 66 and 64. His winning score of 266, a record for the Open, was 26 under the card.

A long-range forecast from Mr Stanley: Nagle’s 1964 score will not be beaten. If conditions are good, he thinks a score of 270 will win the championship. With the eighth hole now reduced to a par four, Shirley's card totals 72,