NEW GOLF COURSE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 258, 23 June 1932, Page 3

NEW GOLF COURSE

HOW ORIGINATED EFFORTS OF DR. J. D. C. DUNCAN IN HANMER SPRINGS AND ROTORUA. HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF. A history of the Hanmer Springs Golf Club, in Canterbury, recently published in the .Christchurch "Star," mentions the name of a well-known Rotorua resident, Dr. J. D. C. Duncan, as one of the club's founders. The same resident is also responsible for the construction of the new nine hole course in Rotorua. The Hanmer Club dates back to 1911, when it was formed by an enthusiastic group led by Mr. A. P. Smith, with the co-operation of Dr. Duncan, who was at the time in control of that Tourist Department branch. The value of the golf course as an asset to Hanmer, has proved itself by its present populariy. The club, in its infancy, had its detraetors, some of whom at that time looked upon the game as one for the idle rich, and this bias took the form of very personal remarlcs about members, and criticism of their efforts which appeared in a small typewritten "newspaper," circulated in the township. It, however, survived these early t'rials and is to-day a flourishing club. . It is curious howi, history repeats itself . Dr. Duncan wliile filling a sim.ilar, thqugh more important position, in' Rotorua as Go'vernment Balnealogist and medical superintendent of the Sanatorium, is again the originator of a golf course. When the late Sir Joseph Ward while still in office, was in Rotorua under treatment during his ' serious illness, Dr. Duncan suggested to him that it would be advantageous and profitable to the Government to turn the then, wasted and untidy area, on Motutara Point behind the main bath house into a nine-hole golf course. He pointed out that residents of Rotorua, who were not members of the local Golf Club, were n'ot permitted to play on the Arilcikapakapa course, and also that this area was so handy that people would be able to have a round before or after business hours. Sir Joseph Ward considered the suggestion quite practicable and gave authority for the work to commence practically immediately. He also used to make regular inspections of the progress that was being made, until he again left for Wellington. After Sir Joseph's death, the Governnient immediately ceased all work on the new course and it appeared as though the initial efforts were to he wasted. The Tourist Department manager at Rotorua, Mr. L. J. Bayfeild, however, then took up the scheme, and using the unemployed labour available under the No. 5 scheme, continued the work of forming a golf course on Motutara Point. The course is now practically completed and by next year, will be officially opened as a golf course. Dr Duncan has thus been the originator of two golf clubs, both of which have come into evistenee despitc difficulties placed in the way by those who misjudge the popularity of the sport. It is to be hoped that the new Rotorua course will prove 1 as popular as the one born in Hanmer Springs in 1911.