First life member for Canty golf

Press, 16 April 1980, Page 6

First life member for Canty golf

Canterbury golf has its first life member. Mr C. J. Ward, a prominent player, administrator and personality over many decades, was unanimously elected to that post at the annual meeting of the provincial. body last evening. Jim Ward, only a few years ago, dropped out of golf administration. To the many officials in Canterbury golf who have-preceded and followed Mr Ward, he was a man whose knowledge and awareness of golf rules and etiquette was absolute. While the life membership bestowed on Mr Ward will be warmly received, the only unfortunate aspect was that the honour was not given earlier. Mr Ward was first appointed to the management committee in 1949 and served on that committee for 28 consecutive years until he retired in 1977. During that period, Mr Ward served as chairman in 1955 and 1969. An accomplished player in his own right, Mr Ward was the Canterbury association’s councillor on the national body for 24 years. His particular forte was the rules of golf and the New Zealand association appointed him as its representative on the Royal and Ancient Rules of Golf Committee. On his-retirement as a ; councillor. the New Zealand association. conferred ‘life membership on him.

The considerable increase in travelling expenses resulted in the association showing a deficit. A loss of $1422 was shown compared to a loss of $424 for the previous year. A levy of $1.50— an increase of 25c—per player was' approved. The Canterbury association unanimously supported a suggestion that the New Zealand Open not be permanently played at Wairakei. Canterbury delegates to the annual meeting of the national body will press for the event to be revolved around'the main centres.

An innovation to Canterbury golf this season will be the introduction of a Canterbury “Golfer of the Year” award. The format has yet to be decided.

Seventeen nominations -were received for the 15 places on the management committee and the successful nominees were: Messrs A. V. Barley, A. J. Crawford-Smith, D. N. Cresswell, T. G. Downey, R. F. Gilbert, B. V. Glubb, J. T. Gregg, D. A. Harvey, M. J. McNally, J. P. O’Gorman, E. H. M. Richards, M; J. C. Robinson, G. G. Simpson, G. P. Walker, L M. Wright.