Develop Championship Links At Waitangi

Northern Advocate, 13 January 1948, Page 3

Develop Championship Links At Waitangi

SPENDING £4OOO TO

WAITANGI, Tue. (Sp.) .—Waitangi is to have an 18-hole golf course of championship standard. This forward move, of the greatest importance in popularising the Treaty Reserve and the tourist possibilities of the Ray of Islands and Northland generally, has been made possible by the public-spiritedness and enterprise of members of the Waitangi Golf Club, with the full backing of the National Trust Board, upon the property of which the links are situated.

Headed by Mr D. A. Lusk as president and Mr D. M. Lewis as secretary, club members and supporters have raised £2OOO by the issue of debentures and this has been subsidised £1 for £1 by the Government. During the war progress was at a standstill, but immediately upon becoming active again, the club, still in its infant stages, exended the then nine-hole course to 12 holes. This work was completed 18 months ago and the links have become increasingly popular, not only for players from a wide district, but also for summer visitors.

6080 YARDS LONG The present links run from the Waitangi River to the hills to the northwest of the Treaty House, being bounded on one side by the road leading to Mt Bledisloe. An unlimited area is available for development and the present scheme provides for links 6080 yards in length, enabling Dominion titles to be decided at Waitangi. Plans were drawn up by the chairman of the New Zealand Golf Council (Mr Kiley) assisted by Mr J. Scott, a professional player and greenkeeper, ,who has undertaken construction of the new links.

cognised ns the naiional summer championship course, while the drainage of the links makes it outstanding for winter play. Golfers may play there all the year round in sandshoes. The historic Bay of Islands already is a world centre for deep-sea fishing; for the less ambitious angler it provides splendid sport. lis islands and sheltered waters offer an unsurpassed domain for launching, sailing, boating and scenic trips. Its sandy beaches and temperate waters enable pleasant swimming both early and late in the season. With such a 'golf course as Waitangi is to possess its claims as New Zealand’s premier playground will be greatly enhanced.

MY KINGDOM FOR A EUKOL! If Shakespeare wrote today, he wouldn’t say; “My kindom for a horse,” but “ and the king being a little hoarse shouted ■My kingdom for a EUKOL!’ ” EUKOLS the popular medicated red jubes soothe sore throats and coughs, and ease strained vocal chords. Made by Mayceys & Co., 385 Khyber Pass Road, Auckland.

The scheme entails major alterations to several existing fairways and provision of new greens. Pleasantly rolling farmland running seaward to the edge of the cliffs between the Treaty House and Mt Hobson is being incorporated into the golfing area.

Here six entirely new holes, including several of the longest and most interesting on ' the course, have been sited. UNSURPASSED VIEWS On the hill overlooking this portion of the links it is intended eventually to erect a new clubhouse, affording panoramas of open sea, harbour and river rivalled by few places in the world. The longest hole on the new links will be 518 yards and all fairways are so situated as to enble their extension if necessary. Already Mr Scott and his assistants have laid down and sown several new greens. For the greens the club is concentrating on Mtrcury Bay weed, which is thought to be drought resistant, requires less frequent cutting than grass and provides a perfect sward. In recent years it has been used on many bowling greens. The weed, which resembles subterranean clover in its habits, is found in large areas of the Waitangi reserve and simply is being moved from one place to another. N.Z.’s PLAYGROUND Within two or three years Waitangi has excellent prospects of becoming re-