GOLF AFFAIRS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20988, 15 December 1939, Page 13

GOLF AFFAIRS

HAMILTON CLUB PRESIDENT REVIEWS YEAR QUESTION OF BUILDING FUND A successful season of the Hamilton Golf Club was reviewed by the president, Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., ! at the annual meeting of the club last ; night. The financial position of the i club was satisfactory. I “I would like to congratulate the j club in again experiencing a suc- ; cessful season,” said Mr Paterson, j “The success of the season was due ; first to the energetic and enthusiastic j work of the committee in considerj ing the welfare of the club, and to i the improved facilities for play and i additional amenities at the club- | house.” ! Reviewing the activities of the J season, the president said big imj provements were made early in the | year to the 14th, 15th, and 17th fair- ! ways. No complaints had been heard j regarding the new work and the i links were certainly better to play j on after the completion of the undcr- | taking. The committee had been very concerned at one time re- | garding the failure of many of ! the players to replace divots, i Failure to replace divots meant that j the course would deteriorate and it ! would be impossible for the ground | committee to keep the links in the | condition members desired. ! Relations With Other Clubs ; The completion of the lease of the : property had been brought to a successful conclusion, Mr Paterson added, and the ciub held tenure of the course for 10 years with the right of renewal for a further period of ten years. Efforts had been made • to seek a new valuation and, as sue- ‘ cess had been achieved, it could be | expected that the rates would be Jess next year. Locker accommodation had been extended with the addition of 36 new lockers and other improvements had been made on the clubhouse. Mr Paterson said the committee ad considered ways and means of t erecting a new and modern club-

house, but owing to the outbreak of , war it was decided not to pursue the matter in the meantime. Efforts had been made during the year to improve the relations of the club with country clubs. Nothing of moment was accomplished, but the fact that the committee was considering those matters brought about a better feeling with the country clubs. Those clubs realised that the Hamilton Golf Club had a kindly and friendly regard for them and they had reciprocated. The result had been that the club tournaments were far more popular this season. Results of the War Inter-club fixtures were cancelled following the outbreak of the war and the imposition of the petrol restrictions. The club championships were continued without interruption, however, although some of the clubs in New Zealand cancelled those fixtures also. It was also decided by the committee, in view of the war, that no improvement work would be undertaken on the links but the course would be kept in good order as economically as possible. Mr Paterson paid special tributes i to the work of the committee, the sub-committees, and the staff during the year. It was decided to pay the usual bonuses. The oalance sheet showed the accumulated funds of the club at £1561. The Income and expenditure account revealed that the balance for the year had been £25 »s credit. Upkeep of the links had cost £1304 6s, of which £O7O 17s had been for wages. General expenditure had been £1096 6s, as compared j with £IO7B last year. The total ex- i penditure for the year was £2425 19s as compared with £2094 13s last year. I The income included £ll4l 18s for subscriptions and £Bl 19s from tournaments. The building fund reserve was shown at £1269 11s. Officers Elected Mr S. L. Vale said he would like : to see the club invest the building « fund reserve as he considered tnai, : | }oy allowing it to pay off the bank ! Overdraft, it was carrying the club 1 dong. It was his contention that the j dub should be financed out of ordin- | iry revenue and if necessary the j ;übscriptions should be increased. He ! Droposed that the incoming commit- | ee should consider investing the j noney. The meeting rejected the ] •ecommendation by the narrow mar- |

I | gin of one vote. l The following officers were (elected for the season:—President, I | Mr S. L. Paterson; vice-president, ! j Mr K. McLeod; club captain, Mr M. jA. Kelly; auditors, Messrs Crimp, | ! Wright and McKean; committee, i Messrs E. H. Grocott, W. Gunn, L. ;J. Mark, C. V. Nicklin, R. B. Seaj brook, T. Simpson, G. L. Taylor, S. jL. Vale.