YET ANOTHER COURSE

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 146, 18 December 1933, Page 18

YET ANOTHER COURSE

WESTWARD HO OPENING

Many Wellington golf clubs were represented amongßt the sixty people who attended the opening of the Westward Ho golf course at South Makara on Saturday. The lease with right of purchase covers over 200 acres of land, enclosing an undulating basin ot admirable golfing country, most of it consisting of gentle slopes, with natural hazards provided by. watercourses and trees. Nothing formidable in course construction confronts the lessees, and wind, which is one of the troubles on many "Wellington courses, was not noticeable on Saturday, while in the city.it was most unpleasant. The surroundings are pleasant, and the partial use of buildings sheltered, by many ancient Macrocarpa trees will satisfy requirements until the enterprise grows. The new course is reached by a winding four-mile drive from Karori oyer a scenically interesting saddle. Nine holes exist at present, tmt there is room for 18 sporting fairways.Dr. H. Graham Robertson, the 'chairman of the newly-formed company which has openeH the course, said that it would be permanently laid out in March, and would most likely form the club for Karori. Later a.clubhouse,' swimming pool, and other attractions would be put in. It was intended to cater for golfers unattached to clubs, and green fees would be reasonable. Sir Alexander Roberts, on behalf of the New Zealand Golf .Council, expressed gratification at the opening of another course; A few years ago it was hard to find a crowded golf course, but today the game./had so increased in favour that it was hard to find a cpurse within 20 miles of the city that was not crowded. The United States was probably the only country where they made a golf course in a day with steam shovels and other machinery. Working from contour models made on the spot, it was said that they could faithfully reproduce famous Scottish holes, such as the Redan at North Berwick, in an incredibly short time. He believed that when Westward Ho was fully developed it would make a fine course, and he assured those present that the company, of which he was one o£ the directors, had that intention. In the exhibition match that followed, A. D. S. Duncan (Wellington) and J. B. Parker, the manager of the new course, were partnered in a fourball against Rana Wagg (Hutt) and J. H. Drake (Miramar). Teeing up, of course, waa the rule, and the' recent drought had prevented the rollings from making much impression on the greens, but nevertheless some fine shots were seen. Parker got a particularly fine. 3' at a tricky three-shot hole, and- Duncan sank an eight-footer at the 142-yard eighth for a 2, making his side dormie 1. Wagg squared the match at the last hole (404 yards) with a 4. The visitors were entertained at the , fclubhouse. ' " ■ '