RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32706, 8 September 1971, Page 25

RANDOM REMINDER

BUNKERED It can be fairly said that most branches of the R.S.A. go to untold lengths to promote and foster the social welfare of members. Wellappointed clubrooms throughout the land bear adequate testimony to the fact. But it is natural that some committees, under the chairmanship and drive of an enthusiastic convener, can work wonders.

Such is the case in a burgeoning North Island provincial city which must remain nameless in the interests of harmony within its boundaries. The city in question boasts an R.S.A. complex of surpassing elegance in the form of a district war memorial to those who have fallen in battle and their comrades who had the good fortune to return.

A billiards room, lounges, intimate theatre and a bar are popular amenities, but not necessarily in that order. This particular branch

boasts a large membership and its own outdoor bowling rink as well. But the sport of bowling is not up everyone’s alley and the committee, in its wisdom, decided that a golf day would prove a popular function at which members could meet and mingle and display that special brand of comradeship for which they are so noted.

Securing the use of links for the outing presented a problem for obvious reasons, but finally one club with perhaps more returned servicemen on its committee than others, acquiesced. It also decided that the links and the facilities would be made available for the day without policing or intrusion by club members, completely free of charge. The golfing day left its impact on those participating. An atmospheric affect was gained by placarding the trees in the area with captions which are best left unquoted.

And, here and there, dotted about the course were “Regimental Aid Posts” stocked with crate upon crate of bottled beer. It was a popular watering hole. Dispensing of the beer was done by a volunteer corps dressed as Egyptians. They worked hard all day.

Old diggers, made up as nurses provided comedy relief if that were needed. Those teeing from the first hole were distracted by critical comment from a man with a loudspeaker and subsequently were called upon to tee off with a polo mallet at one hole and sink putts with a billiard cue. Hilarious stuff. Never in the long history of the course has there been such a congregation of divot-digging demons hacking and hewing their way around it. There has, to be a first and last time for everything. Present indications are that the links will be unavailable next year or any other year.