OTAKI GOLF CLUB.

Otaki Mail, 26 February 1919, Page 3

OTAKI GOLF CLUB.

SECRETARY'S REPORT. The following report was presented to the annual meeting of the above club held on Saturday night:— The club was handicapped again last season by a shortage of men rfiayers; ladies, however, took more interest in the game and kept the membership up to past years. We have again to mourn the loss of one of our prominent members —Arthur Winterburn, who has won pur championship three times. He was not only a sterling player, but had a good grasp of the theory of the game, and was always ready to help any of the members with advice. Ho will be greatly missed during the coming season. Members' play, on the whole, t was hardly up to the form of previous seasons. Amongst the ladies Miss Brida O'Rourkc improved her game considerably, while Hedditeh played some excellent rounds in the men's competitions, Teducinsf his handicap from 10 to 10 during the season. Albert Winterburn showed promise of following in the family's footsteps as winner of championships. Starling with' x IS handicap, he soon found himself reduced to 4, and it is to be hoped that ho will shorten it still more during the coming season. Owing to the generosity of our president, Mr W. H. Simcox, your committee" was enabled to present substantial trophies to be played for during the past year. These caused considerable interest among members, and many keen competitions resulted. The special mixed foursomes, the prizes for wliieh were donated'by a member who wishes to be known as Mr Nemo, created great interest, and were won in good style by Miss Quill and Bowler. The captain's prize, presented to the ladies for a medal handicap, was won by Mrs W. M. Simcox. Mr Griffiths, the hon. treasurer, will read you his balance-sheet, and he and members generally are to be congratulated on .the healthy financial position of the club. Wo are fortunate in having such a worthy successor to Mr Rapley in **'" important and ;- ._ io

nous position. Tlio subscriptions for the xrast season wore a record for the club, tlio bank overdraft being reduced from £45 to £2l , during the year. It is to be hoped that j this year this will be wiped right off, ■ and the club free from debt. Owing to the ill-health of some of our best players the men 'a championship was not played for last season. The ladies' championship was carried off again by Mrs Wintorburn, who is still playing as well as ever. Although the kandicapper placed her on the plus 2 mark she succeeded in winning four competi- i tions Inst season. Our annual honie-and-home matches with the Manawatu Club were renewed last year, and both "events were keenly contested. The Manawatu Club having brought down a considerable number of players it was decided that the men should play fourball games in the first match, which was held on the local links. This resulted in a very close finish. Manawatu winning by 6 games to 5, one-hieing halved. The return match iu -Palmerston Wrts equally close, our team only being bearter^by.one game. I have to thank Mr£^ r rM>Sirueov, Mr Griffiths and the for help in my secretarial duties during the season. As I was unable to obtain labour in my business I could not play, and-if these gentlemen had not come to my assistance J should have been compelled to resign, my position. Mr W. M. Simcos especially, by taking over, all "supervision of the greens, lightened my work greatly.—E. HOPKINB, • Hon. Secretary.