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Greetings to our club members at this, the start of the 2020 Golf Year which has got off to a well supported beginning this last weekendOur new board has met and got rapidly down to work with various subcommittees being implemented to better cover the work that needs to be done, much of it unseen by the larger membership but which is for the benefit of all who play golf at RGC.The energy and objectivity of the board as a whole is very encouraging to say the least and the Club Captains are already making their mark on the running of the competitions.For those who wish to read them, the RGC Monthly Board minutes are available the following month once they have been approved and may be found in a folder in the lounge.

Ali P

aint

er

President’s Report1

There are lots of visitors to the club at this time of year, many of whom appreciate a conversation with local members. Others just need direction on the course as to which way to drive their carts! Either way I’m sure we wish their experience at RGC to be positive and welcoming.

Just a gentle reminder that the veranda, being part of the club house, is a non smoking area, just as the adjacent garden is NOT a receptacle for cigarette butts.

Good Golfing! -Ali Painter

Chairman’s Report

At our first Board meetingof 2020 I was elected Chair with Richard Pryce moving to the Deputy Chair role.I am pleased to have taken on this role and I look forward to working with others as we seek to enhance the golfing experience we all enjoy at Arikikapakapa.

» Arikikapakapa is a special place, steeped in Maori and European history. Our fairways, greens and tee boxes nestle intimately alongside active thermal activity. We should appreciate that we play our golf in such a unique setting. »

I was pleased but not surprised to find around the Board table, people who are committed to adding to the legacy of Arikikapakapa and who want to provide members and visitors with the best golfing experience possible.As you would expect the principal priority of the Board is to ensure that the day-to-day running of our Club is effective and efficient. We acknowledge there will always be room for improvement.Our constant and number one challenge is to manage all club activities

within our financial constraints which are currently tight.However, we are well served by: Club Captains Graeme and Karen

who have the playing programme in hand.

Kerry and his team who manage the course expertly. We have superb greens.

Professional Matt and his wife Karina who provide an excellent range of professional golf services.

Kath and her staff who make the best chicken and tomato toasted sandwich in town - a great place for morning tea or lunch.

Peter and Tracey who provide members with a friendly service from the front office.

At a strategic level we are looking to: Strengthen our relationships with

Pukeroa Oruawhata Trust and the Rotorua Lakes Council

Develop options to change and enhance the course design, and

Consider ways of improving our Club House facilities.

Tena koutou katoa

-continued

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We will keep you informed as our thinking evolves and well before any decision is contemplated. ResignationThe Board has received and accepted the resignation of Peter Spiers. Peter’s last day will be before 28 February.

We thank Peter for his contribution to the Club and wish him well in the future.

The Board is exploring options to replace Peter and will advise members as soon as a decision is taken.

Nga manaakitanga, na-Leith

FUnDRaising RePoRt Happy New Year. The Christmas Trees sales went well this season making

$2,652.00 - a similar amount to last year. Thanks to Kerry, Brian and Ashley for the deliveries and Dorace for her help with sales. Apparently, there were quite a few other outlets this year, but thanks to quite a few regulars and members’ loyalty, it had no effect on us.The Landmark luncheon held on the 29 of November 2019 was well attended and with about 45 Ladies we raised $520. Many thanks to all my helpers. Total for the Club $3,172.00 -Wendy Fraser

way to go!

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Men’s Report

Gra

eme

McK

ay

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Welcome to the 2020 golfing year and welcome to the hard and fast fairways! The year has started with a heat wave and I note that the early starting times are popular, trying to keep out of the heat.Last Saturday saw men’s golf at the Rotorua Golf Club get under way with the Alf Relph Trophy opening day competition. Ladies also had their opening day, so the club had a good turn out of golfers and on Sunday we had the opening day for the mixed players. All up we had good fields and most players I spoke with had a good day in the sun.

CLUB CHaMPsJust a reminder especially for the Club Champs stroke play competition that commences on the 15 February, the handicap divisions are now in line with the BOP Association and are follows:Senior less than 9.5Intermediate 9.6 to 15.5Junior more than 15.6Remember that the play for the stroke play is over four weeks so make sure you are available for all four playing days. Names on the men’s noticeboard please.

PennantsPennants get under way on the 23rd February, but this tournament is at our Club, Rotorua therefore none of our

teams will be playing. The following tournament is on the 8 March at Lakeview.Those who have put their names forward for selection will be contacted very soon to enable those selecting the teams to confirm the playing team for the day of the match. We wish all pennant teams all the best for the 2020 year and look forward to more “pennants” in the trophy cabinet. On the 23 February we will require some members to assist with course management such as spotting and starting etc. Please let a Committee member know if you can assist.

PRogRaMMe BooKLetThe Rotorua Golf Club programme booklet is now available so when you are next at the club pick up a copy. Check the details for your contact and if incorrect then you can go to golf.co.nz website and bring up your own Mygolf. Go to Profile then Edit Profile, make the necessary changes and then Save Profile. Done! This profile is also used by the club for communication purposes.

-continued

MontHLY MeDaLThe Monthly Medal competition is under way again this Saturday 8 February. This year the competition is net and gross only in three handicap divisions. Make sure you tick the box when you are getting your card from the pro shop.

tHe CoPtHoRne sHootoUtThe Copthorne Shootout competition is keenly contested for and this year will be no exception. $10 a month or $90 all up for the year is the payment and you can do this in the pro shop also. Once again, make sure you tick the box for the shootout when you pick up your card.

The Men’s Committee this year is keen to make sure you have a great time playing golf and having fun.

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If you have any suggestions or comments, then please seek out a Committee member and have a chat. If you happen to come across a new member, please make sure you make them welcome and encourage them to participate in the Club’s competitions. The Saturday “card draw” for the summer period will still happen at 9.30am but Club competitions will take precedence and this time may vary from week to week.Next week is short week again with Waitangi Day on Thursday 6th. Plenty of spots on the starting sheet so get in early and beat the heat.

HaPPY goLFing!

-Graeme

Three senior golfers were sitting in the lounge reminiscing:One said “I remember when I was young I drove 40 head of cattle from Matamata to Rotorua and I did it in a day”.

Second man “ I remember when I was young I drove 80 head of cattle from Hamilton to Taumaranui and did it in three days”Third man “I remember when I was young I drove 100 head of cattle from the Wairarapa to Christchurch and I did it in a week”First man “How did you get over Cook Strait?”Third man “I didn’t go that way”

Ambrose oPeNiNG DAYs have happened and we’re all into golf. Saturday and Tuesday Ladies both had an Ambrose Opening. Great fun and a good start to the season. Mixed Opening Day Ambrose on Sunday was also great fun and if you missed out this year plan ahead for 2021.

Keep Tuesday 17 March free for the Mystery Bus Trip which has become a fixture on our calendar due to Coring.

Ladies’ Report

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Kare

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sUMMeR CUPThis year the Ellis Weir Summer Cup (3 best netts to count) was won by Gloria Mayes with a total of 203. The McAllens Summer Cup (3 best stablefords to count) was won by Debbie Maindonald on a countback from Marian Irvine. Both had a stableford total of 119. Great scoring and congratulations to these ladies.

2020 CoMMitteeClub Captain: Karen Chard Secretary: Shannan Park Treasurer: Christine Kampfraath Tuesday Convenor: Wendy Fraser 9 hole Convenors: Sue Mahar/Phyllis Nicholas Pennant Convenor: Christine Kampfraath Saturday Liaison: Denise McGregor Saturday Convenors: Marilyn Field/Sayuri Gotz

CaCi CLiniC sHootoUt WinneRsCaci Rotorua is once again happy to be sponsoring the 18 hole ladies shootout for 2020. Shootout starts Saturday 8 February. Rules are upon the board. The final on Sunday 6 December 2020 is definitely a fun day so get yourself started and your cards in.

Caci Shootout 2019 Winners: 1st Gloria Mayes, 2nd Wendy Lewis, 3rd Rochelle McKay

CaFÉ De PaRis CLosest to tHe PinsValerie is once again delighted to be sponsoring the closest to the pins for both Saturday and Tuesday ladies.

-continued

cac i c l i n ic fine sponsors!

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WRatHaLL sHieLD anD assoCiation PennantsWe have the first round of the Wrathall Shield Monday February 24 to be played at Lakeview. This is where we need our top 6 silver players. The first round of Association Pennants is Monday 2nd March at Taupo.

This net stroke play competition has 3 silver and 3 bronze players. The 9 Holers will also be playing at Taupo. GeT YoUr NAmes UP oN THe boArD To PLAY iN THese PeNNANT TeAmsGood golfing for the coming season,

-Karen

COnTRIBuTIOnS WELCOME!

to YoUr newsletter . . .In order for us all to keep

in touch with what is happening in

oUr club . . .please send any

contributions to the editor:

rob.judythompson@gmail.com

Happy New Year!After a scrumptious end of year trip for lunch at Stratosphere restaurant Skyline, the weather didn’t play ball for golf, so we have been enjoying the Summer Cup Golf. Thanks to all those who maintain the course! It is in great condition and we are all enjoying the summer run on the fairways. Many of us are also enjoying playing twilight golf and some have roped their partners in as well!Mahjong lessons from Eileen and Pam are enjoyed on rainy days or after a hot game of golf. Our Opening day was 5 February.

- Sue

FRoM tHe LaDies 9 HoLe gRoUP

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Tortoise Corner

Pete

r Spi

ers

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Happy 2020 everyone. Let’s hope for a new year full of change, fulfillment and fun golf. I would like to thank the Mens and Ladies Captains for putting their hand up to serve us, their fellow members. Karen Chard ran a Great Combined Mixed Opening Day Ambrose and I understand the Saturday Ladies’ opening shared similar success. Graeme McKay is getting into every aspect of his role and I think both will do a great job, with some solid support from us all!

neW signsI trust some of you have noticed the new signs around the course. While there is finishing work still to do on the support and concrete, overall I hope you feel they enhance our course and visitor appeal while serving our generous sponsors. Thanks to Mark Smith, nrupa Chindarkra, Robson signs, Kerry, Tracy and to our SponSorS for making them happen.The course is holding up well in the heat wave that is our summer. The greens continue to give us pristine conditions and we are absolutely blessed to have Arikikapakapa as our home.

tHe goLF sCooteR Is it the way forward? Hell yes! A super fun and efficient way to play, a

great way to find your playing partners errand shots, and its social as you can meander next to walkers and be in the conversation as if you were walking. If you have any interest in one and would like to take mine for a trial just let me know and I will make it happen. I will be petitioning the board for David Crossley and me, suggesting an annual levy for use to be paid to the club.

way to go!

Should you want to lend a hand with voluntary ground maintenance at your Club,

contact: BRIAN GORE

b.k.gore41@gmail.com Ph: 07 347 9385

Pennant season is HeReThe Mens senior team is looking strong!

Let’s hope we can win it this year and get back into the Championship division.

Good luck to everyone representing our club and thank you Antony Plowman from InSurance towerS who is once again spon-soring our team’s shirts. Awesome!

Have fun, hit your short putts firmer!

-Peter

JEAn-PHILIPPE JACQuET

My sincere condolences to Jean-Philippe Jacquet’s wife, Ester and their family, for his tragic loss this last Sunday 2 February 2020

in a motorcycle accident.

I had the pleasure of playing with Jean a few times over the years on his visits from New Caledonia. He was a true Gentleman and always a pleasure to be around, RIP my friend.

Phone 0800 000 777 to speak with a broker for professional advice and an empathetic service . . .

Many people will credit the Scottish with inventing the game of golf that we are familiar with today. However, which European nation developed a similar game all the way back in the 13th century?

Answer: THE nETHERLAnDSAlthough the Scottish were credited with developing the sport of golf that we play today, the earliest concepts of the sport are said to have originated in the Netherlands as early as 1297 A.D. In fact, the name of the sport was derived from the Dutch language, from a game known as kolf or kolven. In kolf, players would hit a small ball towards a predetermined spot. The person who got to the spot with the least amount of strokes was the winner. The game of kolf was also played on ice during the winter and may have influenced the game of hockey as well.

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Snippets

intRoDUCing tHe neigHBoURsWith the removal of the hedge and the new fence at the third tee we can now see the “Green Keeper’s” house.For the last 18 years this property has been rented from the Golf Club by Derk Sahepers and his wife Willy.(Sahapers is Shepherd in Dutch).They moved from Holland in 1980 and have two sons with families. They lived in Waihi for 25 years prior to moving here, and had a business there, but the business partner was not what he seemed, resulting in them losing the business and their freehold home there.This elderly (but active) couple have been dream tenants, with Derk doing most of the upkeep and no stress to the club.Derk told me that when they first moved in, the place was in a bad state and the bathroom unusable. Peter Christianson, the Manager at the time, arranged units and Derk did the installation.Derk remains busy and teaches woodwork at Chapman College here, plus voluntary and church work.The garage is a woodworker/turner’s dream, with lathes, saws, etc which Derk uses to make childrens toys, miniature furniture (with turned legs), and the organisation utilising

numerous drawers for everything - shelves for other stuff and metalwork and woodwork tools all in place which shows a tidy man (or one who has too much time on his hands). I’m envious.They are a delightful friendly couple, and if you have a job which you think might suit Derk, call in on him.

tHe aRCHives RooMThe locked door in the clubroom labelled “Archives Room” holds a host of treasures, records of the club, memorabilia, old photos and cups and books, including one on how to play golf by the original Professional here.There’s lots of interesting stuff which has been organised by our Patron, Mary Browne. The key is in the office and you are welcome to have a look, and borrow some of the books, including some golf joke books.

sUBsCRiPtionsIf you are paying by instalments your second instalment is due by 28 February 2020.You can check your subscriptions on your MY GOLF. You need to click on the button that say’s VIEW ACCOunT. Any queries please email Tracy at the office.

Thanks! -Tracy SterrenburgRotorua Golf Club

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