Developing info a championship course

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32803, 31 December 1971, Page 16

Developing info a championship course

The installation recently of a $33,000 semi-automatic irrigation system at the Rangiora golf course virtually ends a lengthy period of. major developments by the club. The new facility greatly enhances the club’s cherished hopes of developing the co urse into one of the best championship ! venues in the country.

For golfers of a lesser standard, however, the advent of irrigation means that the course will be available for enjoyable play for the “full 12 months of the year.” With the prospect of irrigation and with more efficient utilisation of the course in mind, the club established a summer competition, which is now in its third season. Winter play should benefit also by the course going into the winter with well grassed fairways. Previously when watering was limited to the greens, green aproaches, and tees, one of the problems was the difficulty of retaining well covered fair-

ways because of the light nature of the soil laid down over old stream beds. As well as improving the playing conditions, irrigation will lead to the general appearance of the course being more appealing. The club has a history going back to at least 1910 according to the presidents’ honours board in the club house, but there has been a suggestion that the club had its beginnings in 1908 but unfortunately some of the early records have been lost. Other major milestones in the club’s life have been the redesigning of the former nine-hole course between 1933 and 1935; the expansion of the course to 18 holes in 1966; and the opening of the present spacious club house in 1969. Expansion to 18 holes Expansion to 18 holes became possible when the Rangiora County Council

agreed to lease to the club a 20-acre reserve close to the then existing course. The original design for the new course is based on recommendations made by the late A. R. Blank about 1960, with spot plantings of trees to make full demands on the accuracy of players. New holes were brought in progressively until the 18hole course was opened with a sponsored tournament in December, 1966.

In 1967 the course, already well planted with a variety of mature species including some attractive gums and wattles, was inspected by Commander Harris, a well known English golf architect, who suggested various minor improvements, including a change in the order of play; further spot plantings of trees and shrubs; and the placing of greens, bunkers, and mounds.

Trees transplanted The club has been progressively incorporating these recommendations into the course, with emphasis on spot tree planting. As part of this programme the club has successfully transplanted trees up to 30 years old and 30ft in height.

Excluding future renewals it is expected that the planting programme will be completed within the next two to three years. Eventually the rough will disappear with the course being mown as a complete park area with the inaccurate golfer being penalised by mounds, bunkers, and strategically placed trees. Two lakes suggested Although not the longest in Canterbury, the 6425 yard, par 72 course on its present length and character is considered already one of the most challenging 18-hole courses in the province and it will be even more so when the other ancillary developments have been completed. Recommendations by Commander Harris provide for two small lakes—one on the 521 yd No. 7 par five hole, about 80-100 yards short of the green and the other to the right of the green on the 406 yd No. 12 par four hole. These would complete the development of the “championship” course and further consideration will be given to constructing the lakes when the other “basic developments” have been completed.