NEW GOLF LINKS OPENED

Chronicle (Levin), 22 April 1947, Page 4

NEW GOLF LINKS OPENED

OUTSTANDING TEAM WORK RESULTS IN QUICK M0V£ FROM LAKE COURSE

In matters reguiring decisi it is-unlikely that the Levin Go Wednesday, March 12, it res establish a new eourse at "Che: Three weeks latef the clubhon site and a teihporary course cc following thC official- openi.ng was played, over 14 holes. The opening was attended by a, lafge gathering of members and frierids,= together with a pleasing representation from outside cluhs. When offieially opening the course,the Mayor, Mr. H. B. Burdekin, complimented the club members on, the co-operation and team spfrit they had shown, and wished the elub . every success for the new season. EsCorted by the club president, ' Mr. R. A. Frederikson, Mrs. R. Law drove the iirst foall from No. 1 tee, following Which, despite adverse weather conditibhs, some 90 players competed in the mixed foursome competitidn, which was won by Mrs. H. D. Richards and C. R. Hosie. i President's Address The fact that the club was in a position to open the li'nks that day, barely five weeks since the move was authorised, reflected great credit on the members, said ■Mr. Frederikson in the course of his address. During last season it 1 had been realised by all that the" Lake Domain course was too ■ small to accommodate the • grow- - ing rnembership, and the progr6ss ' of the club was in consequehce ; being hindered. "It is indeed a - privilege," continued Mr.. Freder- > ikson, "to be assoeiate'd with a club which has shoWn. such enthusiasm." Doubtlss this would J be reflected in their play. On • behalf of the club,' he thanked all L those who had- assisted during the move to thp new links. i ' Mr. Frederikson also welcomed to the function visitors from out1 side clubs/ and made special ) mention of the presence of Mr. . ahd Mrs. J. C. Gardner, Mr. and 1 'Mrs. C. Adkin ahd Mf. E. LaW. " "With so many helpers it is hard

to smgle out anyone for special mention, but -I am sure that Cveryone will agree that special mention is due to a number of members who have rendered special services. Firstly, I would express thei thanks of the club to, the trustees of the Adkin Estate, who have granted the club playing rights on the property, and particularly to Mr.- Law,- who has been, most helpful. He has shown so iriuch eiithusiasm that I am sure it will not be long before he is taking part in the club's activities. "I feel that it would not be out of place to mention Mr. D. P. ''Todd, who has played a very large part in having the links established h'ere. Alf Hastedt was a tower of strength in dismantling and re-erecting the clubhouse. As a resjilt of his driving-force, the cljibhouse was dismantled and re-erected i'ri reeofd time. When it came to shifting the bits and pieces, Sid Franklin came on the scene with his truck, and as a result the whole of the transport was completed free of cost to the club. In this connection I wish to thank Mr. G. Lee,v who made hi's truck available free' of charge. Tom Coutie ably took charge of the interior reconstructio'n, and ihe result is a credit to him and his helpers. Bert Richards took over the responsibility fbr the electric wiring and plumbing ahd did a great job. To Andy Bonner and his assistants and Eldson Clark, who took care of the shifting of the chimney and later did excellent work on the course with his trailer, - Charlie Sherwood, Harry Hughes and the* greenkeeper, Harvey Murray, have done a magnificent job in riicki'rig the course into order, and as you play •ound you will appreciate just how hard they have worked. "Finally, we are all greatly ihdebted to the ladies' committee and their helpers for the manner in which • hey catered for thfe workers. To these and all other workers I would once again say 'thank you,' and I trust that you will find youfreward in hetter golf and the progress of. the Levin Golf Club." A Short History , The Levin Golf Club was first established in 1911, the late Messrs. W. M. Clark, J. Matier, C. K. Wilson and Messrs. W. S. Park, D. S. McKenzie, Hughes and L. and V. Hitchings being among those responsible for its fdrriiation. ' The first organised games were played by the club members on a. nine-hole course at the Lake Domain. As the bush had not been completely cleared, the stumps and stonfes On this corirse proved too great a handic'ap fof the 'players, and a move was -made to the property of-M-r. J.«R. Donald, Heatherlea, where an 18hole course was corigtfucted. This property, however, was cut up for a dairy farm. and the club had no„ alternative but to returh :o thO Lake .Domain course. After some years it was decidOd to establish an 18-hole course on t-he property of the late Mr. Fred Davis, also of Heatherlea, but the eventual sub-division Of this -property forced the club back to its original links on the Lake Domain. During the depressiori, the area was cleared of bush and stumps, and from then on the elub showed signs of stability and progress. During the p&s't few years, however, its ' rnembership had grown -to such an exterit that

Lon, co-operation and "hard work )lf Club can be outclassed. Ori solved at a special meeting td islyn Rise" on the Adkin Estate. ise had. been moved to the new onstructed, While , last Satrirday, ; cerehiony, a mixed foufsome (the links formed there .were com v. tinually overcrowded. In view ' of the nature of the. ground, suggestions regarding the possible extension of the links have not met with a favourable reception from members, and when the proposal was made that Adkin's property might be avail- . able for the f onnation ot a golf Course, no time was lO'st in mak-. irig the necessary arrangements and putting the plan before the members. The' links on the Adkin Estate" will be knowh as the Cheslyn Rise Golf Links, and will be laid out by a gdlf architect, Who has already expressed the opmion that it .eould beeOfnfe . a championship course.' , With this end in view, the' , Levin Golf Club , is anxious td , increase its rnembership, and is , sparing no effort to make. the new links a credit to this town. If fche efforts of individual members ? duririg the past few weeks are any ; indication of their enthusiasm, i there is little doubt that their \ hopes will soon be realised. Past Officers 5 During its 36 years' existence 5 the club has been led by ,ener1 getic committees, mainly business " men of long. standing in Levin. 1 UnfOrtuately, no minutes are \ available prior to 1921, and the 1 records from 1928 to 1938 — are : also unobtainable. A review 1 of those years of which min5 utes • are available show the follo'wmg record of annual 1 elections, which will doubtless - be of interest to many golfers 1 in this distriet: — • - 1921.— President: W. B. Park; 1 vice-presidents: Dr. Gow and W. • M. Clark; club captain : H. E. 1 p'nrtpr- spcretarv-treasurer : K. E.

Adams. 1922. — ^President: W. S. Park; vlCe-presidents : Dr. Gow nnd W. xVi. Clark; elub captain: , W. G. Clark; vice-captaih: H. E. Porter; secretary: K. E. Adams. 1923.— President: W. S. Park; vice-presidents : W. M. Clark and H. E. Porter; club captain: D. g. Mackenzie; vice-captaih: W. G. Clark; secretary: P. H. Harper. 1924.— President: P. H. Harper; vice-presidents: D. S. Mackenzie and M. J. Suhan; club captain: K. E. Adams; vic£-eaptain : W. G. Clark; secretary: K. E. Adams and W. G- Clark (joint) ; treasurer: E. O'Donnell. 1925.— President: D. S. Mackenzie; vice-presidents: M. J. Suhan and Dr. Gow; club captain: K. E. Adams; secretary: E. W. Clark; treasurer: W. Bull. 1926. — President:, K. E. Adams; vice-presidents: W. Smaill and C. G. Wilson; club captain: G. C. France;. secretary: E. W. Clark; tre.asurer: C. G. Wilson. -- 1927. — President: G. C. Francfe; vice-presidents: W. Bmaill and L. j. Hunter; club captain: M. j. Suhan; secretary: E. W. Clark; treasurer: G. W. Wilson. 1928. — President: Dr. S. j. Thompson ; vice-presidents: J. D. Brown and E. S. Crisp; club captain: C. R. Hosie; secretary: E. W. Clark; treasurer: G. W. Wilson. 1938— President: H. A. Phillips; vice-president: Dr. E. T. G. Miller; club captain: W. G. Clark; secretary: V. G. Astley; treasurer: B. G. Connell. : - 1939. — President : H. A. Phillips; president: V. P. Miller; club captam: W. A. Canavan; secre-tary-treasurer : W. S. Ogier. 1940.— President: Dr. E. T. G. Miller; vice-president: D. P. Todd; club captain: W. G. Clark; secretary: B. G. Connell; treasurer: W. S. Ogier. 1941 . — President: R. A. Frederikson; vice-president: H. F. McCkune; club captain: S. "C. FranMlin; secretary: G. H. Sorenson; treasurer: W. S. Ogier. 1942. — President: R. A. Frederikson; vice-president: H. F. McClune; club captain: S. C. Franklin; secretary: G. H. Sorenson; treasurer: W. S. Ogier. 1943. — President: H. F. McClune; vice-president: W. Bull; club captain: S. C. Frankiin; secretary: G. H. SoreflSon; treasurer: W. S. Ogier. ' 1944. — President: H. F. MeClune; vice-president: W. G. Clark; Club captain: H. Bull; secretary- treasurer : G. H. Sorenson. 1945. — President: Professor F. P. Wilson; vice-president: J. S. Dickinson; club captain: C. D. Melville; secretary-treasurer: G. H. SOrenson. 1946. — ^President: H. Bull; vicepresident: H. F. McClune; club captain: W. G. Clark; secretary: ,Bf. W. -S. Walker; treasurer: W. S. Ogier. 1947. — President: R. A. Frederikson; vice-presideht:, C. M. Wallace; club captain: S. C. Franklin; secretary : J. E. Fullarton; treasurer : W. "S. Ogier.