THE GAME OF GOLF

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 59, Issue 4218, 1 December 1939, Page 5

THE GAME OF GOLF

TE AWAMUTU CLUB. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. There was a good attendance of members at the annual general meeting of Te Awamutu Golf Club, held on Wednesday evening in the clubhouse, Kihikihi Road. The president, Mr W. Gordon Parkes, occupied the chair. RULES AMENDED. Mr S. S. Preston presented a draft of the amended rules which had been approved by the special committee. The rule affecting honorary members was altered to delete the privilege of six playing rounds, but retained the club-house privileges. The month in which the annual meeting shall be held was altered from Miarch to November. Other rules amended provided that the president and the vicepresident do not have to be deben-ture-holders. Similar- provision was of the general committee. The debenture-holders still control the finances, for the general committee is not able to authorise expenditure of more than £25 for any one purpose. The functions of the ground committee were re-defined. To make the amended rules effective support of two-thirds of the members is required, followed by confirmation by the debenture-hold-ers. Mr Preston said the Club had had three successful years, and it was felt that there was not now the former need for such full control of the Club’s affairs being vested in the de-benture-holders. By widening the scope of control ordinary members would be able to take a more prominent part in the Club’s affairs. After brief discussion all the amendments of which notice had been given in accordance with the rules were approved by both the general meeting and the debenture-holders. CHAIRMAN’S REVIEW-

The chairman then presented his annual report as follows: “ In presenting the annual report for the 1938-1939 season, I do so with great satisfaction, as I know the Golf Club has experienced a most success-ful-season.

“ The development of the course has continued to advance, and toward the end of the season I think all of us were delighted with the playing conditions. In this connection I should like to pay a tribute to our grounds committee and our groundsman, who have done their work conscientiously and' are quickly turning this property into a first-class golf course. It is hard to realise that such a transformation could take place in less than three years. “As the course has improved so has the standard of golf, and I know a large number of our members have had the satisfaction of reducing handicaps, which, generally speaking, is the golfer’s objective. This happy state of affairs was principally due to the ability of our coach, Mr Weir, and we congratulate him on his recent success in Wellington, and trust that he may be available during the coming season to further improve the standard of play. “ The past season has been remarkable foi- the number of successes gained in tournaments throughout the Auckland province by our two top ladies, and on behalf of all members I should like to congratulate these ladies on their achievements, and hope that when they come to defend their titles next season they will again play good golf. “ All our competitions were evenly contested, and. thanks to favourable weather, the programme mapped out early in the season by the match committee was well adhered to. “ The most important fixture of the past season was the holding of the King Country championships on" our course early in September, and these two days, and the open tournament which immediately followed them, proved most successful and provided a high standard of golf. “ A number of inter-club, games were played, and our Club still enjoys considerable popularity among neighbouring clubs, judging by the hospitality shown our members when playing awav and the excellent response we received on the occasion of our open tournaments. “ None of us knows what difficulties may lie ahead, and already some of our boys have been called up, and we may be faced with a falling off in membership. However, I appeal to you who are left to do all you can to further the interests of your Club, and to keep your course at least at the present standard, so that when the boys return they will have no cause to accuse us of sitting down on our jobs, and they will be able to

carry on with their golf where they left off. “<On behalf of the committee I should like to thank the following ladies and gentlemen for donations and services rendered: All members who subscribed towards ornamental trees; Mr Beedell, for club rack at first tee; Mr Wilson, for cartage of piano from Cambridge; Mr Fletcher, for notice-board frame; Mr Preston, for ping-pong set; Te Awamutu Courier, for many courtesies; trophies from Messrs Morpeth, Hogan, Ryan. J. Wallace, Mulgrew, Cucksey, Bayfield, Dominion Breweries, and I): Hiskens; and Mrs Cunningham and her helpers for dispensing afternoon teas. “In conclusion I should like to thank all committee and Club members for the assistance given and the consideration shown me during by period of office.” THE FINANCES. The income and expenditure account showed subscriptions totalling £713 10s 6d, green fees £3l 10s 6d, proceeds from ball £4B ss, rent £156 10s lOd, entertainment £l5B 3s sd, and tournaments £1 9s sd. The principal items of expenditure were: Course upkeep £123 5s lX)d, interest £220 14s 6d, wages £398 10s, depreciation £65, benzine and oil £27 6s 6d, repairs and maintenance £24 4s 4d, county rates £24 2s lid, teas £35 17s lOd, trophies £44 Is 7d, and general expenses £4l 3s Id. Other items (including a balance of £lO Ils Id to the accumulated fund) brought the aggregate to £llO9 9s Bd. Amplifying the statement of finances, Mr J. B. Muir said that £2OO of debentures had been paid off, and actually the capital position had been improved by about £3BO. To questions the treasurer said subscriptions showed a falling off of about £2B as compared with the previous year. The statement of accounts was approved and adopted. Appreciation was expressed of the valuable work of the honorary auditor. Mr and Mrs Douglas Harding were nominated as new members. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers for the new term resulted: Patron, Mr S. Clark, re-elected; president, Mr Gordon Parker, re-elected; vice-presidents, Dr F. C. Blundell and Messrs E. H. Cucksey and H. H. Babbage, all reelected; club captain, Mr G. A. Gibbs; vice-captain, Mr H. Baker; ground committee, Messrs W. J. Craik and H. Duncan (re-elected) and Dr F. C. Blundell; match comlnittee, Messrs G. A. Gibbs, H. Baker, and J. Sterritt; general committee, Mesdames J. B. Muir and H. G. Babbage and Messrs A. R. Hill, P. R. Glanville, and H. M. Andrew; secretary, Mr H. G. Babbage, re-elected; assistant secretary, Mrs H- G. Babbage, re-elect-ed; treasurer, Mr K. S. Kelly; auditor, Mr J. L. Callaghan, re-elected; finance committee, Messrs W. G. Parker, S. Clark, and S. S. Preston, reelected; delegates to King Country Association’s annual meeting, to be appointed by the executive. GENERAL. The annual subscriptions were fixed at the same as last year, and all members going on active service w-ill retain all their Club privileges. The executive was left to fix the opening day of the new season. The matter of serving afternoon tea was left to the ladies’ social committee. A special vote of thanks, by acclamation, was accorded Mr and Mrs Parker for their action in arranging a members’ sociable re-union at their home. Appreciation was recorded of the services rendered by retiring members of the executive., the vote being carried by acclamation, and the usual compliment to the chair terminated the meeting.