Golf In Levin This Season Will Be Over 18-Hole Course

Chronicle (Levin), 13 April 1949, Page 7

Golf In Levin This Season Will Be Over 18-Hole Course

Constructing a championship golf course is not a task to be undertaken lightly even in these days of modern earthworking machinery. In the course of its two years' tenure at the Cheslyn Rise links, the Leyin Golf Club has worked with loresight and enthusiasm until this season an 18-hole course will be played. There is no doubt that further improvement work and judicious tree planting will bring the course up to championship standard in a few years' time. Twelve ne\y greens have been made available for this season, but naturally there is still quite an amount of work to be done in the future.

No new greens will be started this year, but it is hoped to improve all the existing ones and bring the course into firs^-class condition. The natural contours of the ground ~end themselves to the formation of a very interesting layout and if the club continues its progressive policy, as was exemplified last year, there will be no doubt that a championship course will evenlually emerge. Exten'ding over approximately 90 acres of rolling grassiand, crossed c-y a wandering riverlet and dotted with some fine native and exotic trees, the links present a very pleasing appearance to all who have the opportunity of using them. Ctrasiderable Changes. Some considerable changes have taken place 'during the summer rece^s. Formerly 14 holes were played (some of them twice), but now chere is a full 18-ho e course just under 6000 yards in length. Ihe routine is identical with that played last year up to and including ihe fifth hole. The sixm is a siiort par four hole, played from the western paddock due east oi the new green near No. 4. The seventh tee is set on approximately ihe site of the oi'd No. 6 green and is p ayed south to the green below the homestead. Ho.'es eight and nine are those which were former•y played as Nos. 17 and 18, while holes 10 and 11 are the same as last year. Number 12, now being played from the woolshecl, is a par five hole, the green being ihe new oue in the western paddock. Tiie thirteenth is a par four and is playe'd from the western paddock back to the green played as No. 7 last year. A new hole has been crea'ed for No. 14. and is o'ayed from the woobshecl, to a green next to the homestead orchard. The par is thrae. With a five par, No. 15 is playe'd from the rise behind No. 14 green through the wes.ern paddock and on to the green nearest the former No. 6 hole. No. 16 is a par three and is played due west to the o-tne: green on the old Waiopehu (No. 6-

: fairway. Played from the northern corner of the western paddock, No : 17 is a par five hole and the green . is ihe previous No. 8, while the : eighteenth hole is the old No. 9. The longesjt hole is No. 2, which : is 475 yams — a par five— with ttui 460 yards of No. 17 running a close , second. The nar for the course i' 37 for the outward journey'of 293C ■ yards and 36 for the inward trip of 2825 yards. The total length oi i 5755 yards for a par 73 can and will be increased when playing conditions permit. The membership of the club hat , been on the unward grad-e for the i past three years, and wLh the fu'i links available, a far larger numbei of members can be accommodated The present membership s ands a' 170, including about 60 women. Th outlook for- this year's play ir bright, a though conditions will be keen. Deciding The Championships. In the senior championship, W G. Clark still "holds ciaim to the title after 26 years of almost continuous wins. The intermediate section is at present heM by O. C Lagor, while another comparative newcomer, B. J. Ante.iff, is thc junior chaniDion. Some serious contenders for these titles will be provided this year, and it is expsctec that competLion wi 1 be ksener than ever. This year, the championships will be contested on different lines and there will be no qualifying r unds. All prayers desirous of entering the championships merely enter their names in the appropriate sections. Competitors are then placed in handicap ctrder before being drawn. By this rneans very p'ayer has an opportunity of compating, and it is not an icipate'd that the field wi'l be any larger tharl- in previous years. In place of the qualifying rounds a new competition has been inaugurated consisting of a foursomes knock-out competition. Next Saturday a practice foursomes medal round will be played to see how the competition proceeds and it is hoped that some useful 111formation will be obtained.