GOLF HISTORY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 15, 8 April 1927, Page 3

GOLF HISTORY

SECURING OF HOKOWHITU LINKS PAGE FROM THE PAST (From Our Own Correspondent.) PALMERSTON NORTH, To-day. It was away back in 1894 that two Palmerston North residents in the persons of Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Abraham, while on a visit to England, became infected with the golf microbe. They returned to the Dominion armed with a complete playing outfit and early in the following year a meeting of possible supporters of a golf club for the town was called. Some three of the company had previously participated in the game, one having been a member of the famous St. Andrews Club, Scotland, and their expert knowledge proved useful to the club which then came into existence. The new club acquired a lease of a portion oi the present links from the Athletic Park Co., and a nine-hole course wa ; - laid out. For a period the area was used as a trotting course, polo ground, and golf links, while the Gun Club shot on the property, but to-day the Golf Club is in sole possession of a beautiful area which is a credit to the town and on which the New Zealand championships have been held with highly satisfactory results. Situated within close range of the Manawatu River, it has on occasions undergone flooding which, while inconvenient at the moment, has proved highly beneficial so far as top-dressing is concerned. On one occasion in its early history, an ‘old man” flood inundated the area to a depth of 20ft.. only the top of the pavilion being left to view. The splendid property, which is oi 116 acres, was purchased at the low figure of £3,000, and the foresight of that band of pioneers has enabled the present-day players to reap the benefit bv being able to participate in the ancient game at a very low rate of subscription.