Akarana Club Has Made a Great Start

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 410, 19 July 1928, Page 8

Akarana Club Has Made a Great Start

Fine Club Spirit Is Evidenced MANY FINE HOLES As the guest of the club I visited and played over Akarana links during the past week-end. As a result I am somewhat disillusioned, and have a much more healthy regard for the prospects of the club.

Akarana, according to report, was something of a second Berhampore. Berhampore, for the sake of those who do not know it, is the municipal links in Wellington. 'The first hole is a oneshot carry across a gully. I have seen three four-balls and a single playing it at the same time.

Whatever Akarana was like when all the players were very new at the game a year and a-half ago it certainly leaves little ground for complaint now. Players wait their turn with patience, keep their places very well, observe the etiquette of the game very reasonably, and generally act like golfers, with perhaps one fault. I take the liberty of mentioning this fault, because I was asked there to give a perfectly candid opinion of the club. The fault is that of dawdling between shots, and the result is a general slowing up of play, with the result that players very seldom get more than two rounds

in a day, and it is generally accepted iri most clubs that there is still time for at least another nine holes after the afternoon round. The committee might well bring this point strongly before members.

The present secretary, Mr. George Brown, pointed out with pride the amount of work that had been done by individual members of the club. Flags, tee markers, and water and sand boxes.,

u, shed, clearing of trees, and seemingly an unending variety of works have been undertaken by the members, who have thereby left the funds available to be spent on the course proper. The club spirit has been excellent, and it remains so to-day.

The holes which have been in play since the club started are surprisingly good. A quintet mower has transformed the fairways, and the greens are really quite excellent. A few new greens and bunkers are not yet in play. A few months ago the club decided to secure some new ground and change some of the holes. As a result some half-dozen of the holes on the second half are not very good, and it will be next season before they are really in playable condition. Three or four very nice-looking greens for these holes are now bearing grass, and the holes promise to be most interesting. The club is endeavouring to do a big thing and yet keep the cost of the game within reach of the pocket of the average wage-earner. The prospects are that it will achieve both objectives.