MAUNGATAPERE

Northern Advocate, 13 June 1935, Page 3

MAUNGATAPERE

GOLF CLUB

CHANGE OF LINKS

, For many years the club has been ■' generously accommodated by Mr H. W. Ellis on his well-known farm, and . many golfers, both visiting and local, can look back with pleasure to the 1 pleasant hours spent, amid the most beautiful surroundings. Careful husbandry, however, has produced such a luxuriant growth of grass that play- . ing is carried on with difficulty, except ’ for a short period. i The club reluctantly decided to inj vestigate other possible coui’ses, and i has been fortunate enough to secure 'an eminently suitable situation in the j property of Mr C. Foote, at the base 'cf the Maunu Mountain. So now those ; tantalising holes, “The Rocks,” 130 i yards, and “Waterloo,” 165 yards, re- : main unconquered, and players can no ! longer tee their shots in expectation ' of the thrill cf holing in one. Like the course that has been forsaken, the new one is dotted with numerous clumps of charming native bush, and the higher parts of the course command delightful panoramic views extending to Whatitiiu and Porcti. with the Mangakahia Hills as a background. The committee' has already marked off a twelve-hole course, and a working bee. arranged for Saturday should put the links in order for play forthwith. As the property is used for the pasturage of sheep, players will have no difficulty in locating balls, and the contour of the country has made it possible to provide a great variety in holes, some natural difficulties calling for extremely careful play. The course is only six miles from Whangarei, and should provide an excellent outlet for the surplus players of the city. New Sports Ground.

Coincident with the change of venue of the Golf Club, comes the welcome announcement that we are to have a new sports ground. Mr W. H. Hawken has most generously given the unrestricted use of portion of his highly improved, property for recreational purposes for an indefinite period. The site lends itself admirably for an ideal sports park, with ample room for football, cricket, and hockey fields, in addition to first-class running tracks. A sloping tern-ace, giving a clear view of the arena, will be greatly appreciated by spectators. Mr Hawken, who has always been a warm supporter of all athletic sports, cannot be too warmly thanked for his generous and public-spirited action, which will no doubt give a decided fillip to sport in this district. The hockey and cricket clubs, with, the backing of the Athletic Sports Club, will lay off the ground almost immediately. A small pavilion and dressing shed and a concrete pitch for cricket are already being arranged for. The following committee of control was elected at an enthusiastic meeting held on Monday night: Messrs. J. G. Draper (chairman), F. O. Armstrong (hon. secretary), W. H. Hawken, E. E. Hawken, E. C. Walker, H. W. Ellis, H. Atkins, T. Harman, L. Meiklejohn, and L. Agate. Advance Maungatapere!