Golf Club News
The golf season has started off well this year. The prolonged hot, dry weather has allowed for a lot of the notorious golfing “summer run” and as a result has seen many members handicaps tumble. The recent rain has definitely greened up the course, and with coring having just been completed the course should start to play more traditionally. We welcome new green keeper, Richard Whisker, who has previous experience working on PGA tour courses and course development in Nigeria.
The Club has hosted a number of significant events in the last couple of months. Firstly, in March, the Wellington District Women’s 36 Hole Stroke Play Championship was held at Martinborough. Women’s Golf in the Wellington region has a good future if watching these teenagers is anything to go by. Julianne Alvarez, an 18 yr old from Manor Park playing off a +3, won the Miss M Young Trophy with a Gross 142, one over in the morning round and 5 under in the afternoon.
Hosting the Bronze Pennants also in March yielded some excellent results for our team, elevating Martinborough into the top half of the standings. Easter Saturday saw the first day of the Combined Stableford Competition, a two-day tournament held in conjunction with Featherston, which encouraged a few different faces to the course. Hosting the St Johns Charity tournament on April 10 brilliantly raised over $8,000 for the cause. Finally, the Martinborough Junior Open was held on April 13, which saw local Walter Barber win the Under 19 Boys Championship.
Wednesday ladies day has been well supported so far this year, with strong turn-outs from the 18 Hole players, and 9 Holers alike. Some weeks, particularly on the finer Wednesdays, more than 50 members are out enjoying the course. Four ladies went to Masterton to compete in the Wairarapa Open 18 hole stroke play, and three came home with a prize. Well done to Lyle Griffiths, Jo Loe and Natalie Donaldson.
The 9 Hole ladies also ventured north to Masterton to play in the Southey Honda Wairarapa District 9 Hole Tournament. Congratulations to Rochelle Latimer, in only her second year of playing golf, for winning with Nett 34. Rochelle was introduced to golf through the “Bring a Friend Day” initiative. The victory was made even more special as the Southey Honda trophy had not been won by a Martinborough member since 2002. Well done also to Mary Herrick, our 9 Hole Co-Club Captain, for coming fourth.
Thursday Club has generally been well supported this year, with 30-40 players turning out each week. A recent Thursday highlight was Dean Schaef getting his first ever Hole-in-one, which came on No. 16. Tuesday’s “Grumpies” are getting a lot of enjoyment out of their golf, and new members names like Megan and Andrew Gibson are invariably popping up on the weekend results sheets.
Finally, but not at all least, congratulations to our Club President, Kris Chamberlain for earning a place in the Wellington Masters Golf team. I heard she now gets to travel all around the country playing inter-provincial golf – what a life!
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