GOLF. WELLINGTON CLUB.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 115, 17 May 1909, Page 4

GOLF. WELLINGTON CLUB.

OPENING OF 1909 SEASON. Despite the vagaries of the weather, a goodly number of members and guests went out on Saturday for the opening o£ the Wellington Golf Club's 1909 season. Although it had rained heavily in the .morning, the sun came bravely out as the special neared Trentham, and showed the country at its best. Great pains had been taken with the links, and altiough it was wet underfoot, considerable interest was taken in the competitions, which started on the arrival of the special train. The ladies' competitions resulted as follow : Driving, Miss M. Burns ; approaching, Miss Hannay; putting, Miss Harcourt. The . men's competitions resulted : Driving, Dr. Webster ; approaching, A. J. Abbott ; putting, not decided. OFFICIAL OPENING. Sir J. Ward (president of the club, with. whom came Lady Ward and Mi* Ward) in a happy little speech declared the . season open. He expressed his gratification at, seeing sr"h a large attendance, and also at the continued improvement in the links. As last year the revenue of tho club haS not been sufficient to meet the expenditure it had b§£n decided to increase the subscription. The result had been quite satisfactory, and the j increased revenue would lead to a fnr-the'r-'imdrovement in the links. Indeed, the members would, owing to tho improved conditions lose so few balls that they. -wouJd save the increase in the subscription. (Laughter.) He congratulated those who, had been associated with the management of the club upon the excellent v«*>rk they had done. In addition they were now able to travel to the links on the railway for next door to iiothing. • At the conclusion of the Premier's speech Mr. A. S. Biss (the club captain) called upon Lady Ward to present tho prizes won during the day. These , were as follow : — Ladies' Bogey Handicap, senior (Miss Joseph's cup), Miss Harcourt. Ladies' Bogey Handicap, junior (Miss Joseph's cup), Miss Madge Burns and Miss SVatson, a tie, which will be played off later. Mr. Biss called for three cheers for the president and Lady Ward, and suggested that if the Premier went to England he should plaj' golf with Mr. Balfour (leader of the Opposition), and bring back to the Dominion the benefit of his experience for New Zealand golfers. The cheers were heartily given. During the afternoon a seven-hole exhibition match was played between members of the several Wellington clubs. This took the form of a mixed foursome, tho couples playing at their club handicaps against the Wellington Club's bogey score. The most interesting of these matches was that between Mr. Arthur Duncan and Miss Hannay (Wellington Club champions) and Mr. Horton and Miss Carter — two promising Miramar players. The Wellington players, who had to struggle against a severe handicap of minus one, were three down ; their opponents, who received three strokes, were only one down. Tea was served in the dining-room ol the golf-house. The members waited attentively on their guests, and the excellence of the refresliments was only equalled by the appetite with which they were appreciated. PREMIER PRESENTS TWO CUPS FOR COMPETITION. At the conclusion of the proceedings, it was announced that Sir Joseph Ward' had signified his intention oi presenting two cups to' the club. This generous offer was very heartily leceived, the more so, as Sir Joseph and Lady Ward had previously presented two valuable cups, %vhich are '.ompeted for annually.