THE NEW GOLF LINKS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12636, 24 March 1905, Page 3

THE NEW GOLF LINKS.

. OFFICIAL OPENING. A beautiful sunny afternoon favoured the formal opening of the Timarti Golf Club's new links at Higlifield yesterday, and about a hundred members and friends, about hall, of ; whom Were 7 ladies-, g aS the first, teeing post* at half-past' three,-' to' bear the president,' Mr W. R. McLaren, declare the links open, and see him make the opening drive. The links are laid out In picturesque country, which looked its best under the clear sunshine, and the gathering Tesembled a' garden party more than anything else. The weather was too warm for golfing, but perfect for the occasion. . The party were grouped about the first tee to be photographed, and Mr Ferrier and some ladies with cameras obtained a number of snapshots of the party streaming down to the spot, that- should be even more interesting .than the group. Mr McLaren made a brief address, welcoming" the members and friends, and thanking the ladies for their assistance in providing tea. He made a few remarks on the financial aspect of their venture in purchasing the links, saying that the members should take pride in proving that the confidence of their mortgagees was not misplaced. The ground committee had worked very hard, yet had not been able to get all the course into fit order for playing, but the work would be completed before long. Another improvement which it was intended to crfrry out by degrees, was the erection of a golf' house that would be an ornament to the links as well as useful to members. A portion of it would Ik- built within a month or two. The courses now ready were still' somewhat rough, and the remedy for this was plenty of play, and he hoped members would make much use of the links. It had been arranged by the Golf Clubs Association that a championship meeting shall be held at ; Timaru three and a half years hence, and he hoped that members would keep this fact steadily in view, and prepare to furnish among them a player able to win the champion cup for Timaru. He reminded them that when the Golf Club was in its infancy, 'Jjmaru furnished the runnerup at a championship meeting, in Mr Perston. He warned aspirants for" championship honours that the cup was. not to be won- by occasional brilliant play, ,J>ut by steady play, an£ the study of sophy of the game. r J Mr -McLaren 'read - a letter from ' the Mayor of Timaru, who regretted that a i prior engagement prevented hia fteceptapce

of_ the iavitation. to be .present. ■ congratulated the Club oh its acquisition of such-spbndid links, which would be an additional inttraotion to the town; and lie hoped to see a motor bus service soon established on Wai-iti road, to make access to tie : links themselves more convenient. He irished the Golf Club every success. The president- asked for good wishes for the club from those present, and these were expressed by applause. - . Mr B; C.-Tennent, the' treasurer, then .gave,' sone information regarding the finances o! the club. He mentioned that they'Uiad £320 available, of which they ; proposed to'spend £250 on part of the golf .house; £4O must be paid in reduction of the mortgage,- and that would leave £3O for further improvements." He remarked that the club was very greatly , indebted to their secretary, Mr B. Leslie "Orbell, Ipr .it was mainly to his exertions thgv Tvere indebted for the possession as freeholders of their admirable golf links! (Applause.) "■ The president then teed a ball and made' the official opening drive—a very poor one it .happened, to be,-' but he mended it in "a. second stroke by a fiiie long drive. .H'e then declared the links open for play. ; A' number of foursomes "were soon ar-p-ranged and play at once began, the rest i of theiparty adjourning to a marquee where I Mrs McLaren and other; ladies provided and f dispersed afternoon-tea. It is net "much «s6 trying to give -.a descriptionoorf r the links to those who do not know the ground, -and description is iiseless to those who do. When .completed, the course will contain 18 poles, but at present only • nine are ready for use. l The first hoje is .on a : knob or steep spur estimated at between and four hundred feet , high, a good stiff climb,, and 400 yards from the tee. The second hole is.a ."divefrom- the top of the knob to the bottom (if a good stroke' is made). The remaining seven holes are on almost flat ground/which is intersected by a meandering and branched gully. This the'ground committee have taken advantage of in laying-out the course, to provide " hazards" that will t€i?t :the skill of the best players to avoid," if thsv trv to dpypr:; ground With long , strokes and! the result is; a course that is believed to .jbe; the hardest in rNew Zealand, and' one! calculated to teach players to drive ' straight,the penalties for divergence from the" straight line being almost certain bunkering. It : will certainly, furnish a large amount of -exercise, and- the Timaru golfer who playn regularly must become very "fit." The links are a picturesque bit of downland, and a- pretty- view o'f Waimataitai, with the sea and that übiquitous Chalmers' Church, spire, in ihe view,: is obtained from the ki;ob."' The ground Ms; :;b_eeh .wonderfully .improve:} since :,thg- O'ulv "acquiredand though there is still a gwl deal to be: done t r make It satisfactory (especially. i» the removal of old .feiic-es, which is. to be done shortly), this is a trifle compared with be an dose already. , Plar.H were shown ■ yesterday of a handsome • ard .capacious golf house it-.- is propose: l , erect,! by desrees, -'including a- .caretaker's dwelling, won\en'g locker■ roeuiii. fitting ;oem and ~ meii's .'Srnookincr room,- with a wide verandah in -front-. ~T.h§ jinks may ba expscted'AtiV*'ha a papula; resort for : Thursday ; foliday 'makers ; oy, fine day -as; the ,pl ay can .be. well fi'ceu. from the suiiiiy gi.lt hr/iise site, and' picturesque country i? itself ;i\n attra'ctiorl. As the Mayor sugcested. in-his letter, a motor" car service would make a great, difference -in that respect, . ;' The Club has made progress in jniembershij>. A few months ago it liad 30.members at one - guinea : it new' has twice as many at -two. guineas : and hasiako. affiliated to It a ladies' rlnh between 30 ard 40 members. The links are open to members "every day; the servires. of a professional coach arc available at. a, moderate fee, and the members are taking ftill advantage of his tuition. '