Men's Club Captain 12 Monthly Report 2007
A busy last twelve months with Kaiapoi winning the Canterbury Men's Over 50’s Net Competition and the North Canterbury Super Seniors Competition, the Club went onto winning the Kaikoura Cup and the Templeton Cup, with Steve Cassidy’s team loosing to Harewood in the Toby Richards final against Harewood but redeeming themselves to win the Ashby Berg against Akaroa at the Waimakariri Gorge Golf Club.
Next year 2008 sees the change of Canterbury Inter Club to Club Teams as apposed to combined teams from North & Central Canterbury, the Golf Club that wins the 2008 Kaikoura Cup will be included in the prestigious Canterbury Inter Club Woodward Cup, and we at Kaiapoi are going to be that team.
A panel of selectors were appointed to pick our Representative Teams in the future as it is very important that we have policies in place that show players what the requirements are to represent Kaiapoi. My thanks to Bob Bradley/Jason Sincock and Ron Adams for accepting that responsibility.
Winter Start Sheet
We might have started this a Month too early, but who could have envisioned the weather we experienced in May. It would seem that we only have to have this start sheet in operation for about two months as by July it was possible to play on the course up until about 5-10pm with the daylight hours getting lighter as each day passed. Next year we will opt for a shorter Winter Start Sheet time so that those members who work on a Saturday are not unduly inconvenienced.
Special thanks to the Playing Committee members for their input and dedication, with Karl Mariu running the Easter/Anzac Tournaments and contributing to the Kaiapoi Open in November, Tony Burgess and Dave Mundy ran tournaments on their own during the year and made a great job of them. Bob Petrie did the starting duties and the results of the day with his usual efficiency and he will be missed from the window in the New Year as he has tendered his resignation from the Starters Duties. I wish to mention Bob Bradley for his input into the Playing Committee and his representation on the Greens Committee, not an easy job with having to answer to two masters, but with common sense maybe the responsibilities of the playing committee and the requirements of the Board in regards to the playing surface can be identified and separated so that both parties can exercise their delegated authority for the benefit of the Members playing the game.
Welcome back to “Fordie”. Brian took some extended leave from the Playing Committee but was back with a bang at the Centenary celebrations. His experience was missed and it is pleasing to have him back in the fold. To Doug Williams and John Rainey, my thanks for your continued efforts in running the SBS Tournaments. To the SBS my appreciation for your support for the Saturday Competition.
To Evan Thompson and Ron Adams, your work with the Thursday Club and Twilight is appreciated. Your acceptance of being part of the Playing Committee was refreshing. It allows you to represent your sections and having an input, all sections are part of the Kaiapoi Golf Club and they need the authority and decision making process that comes with being part of an Official Committee.
I am pleased to be able to say that this years playing committee were a treat to work with. They all contributed to the running of the Tournaments and competitions without any fuss or bother, they all made tremendous contributions to what I see as a successful year. My thanks for your unselfish contributions and I hope that you continue on in 2008 with the good foundations that you have laid. It certainly made my job a breeze when you have personnel of this calibre along side you.
Mixed Competitions:
One wonders where these competitions are heading, personnel no longer wish to participate except for one or two trophies. With the social activities and requirements of members changing annually I believe a long hard look should be taken in regards as to how many and what ones should be persevered with.
Centenary Year
Our Centenary Year was an outstanding success and to the Centenary Committee the Playing Committee applauds your successful Weekend. While there may have been others who deserved the prizes associated with the Facial Hair Growing Competition & Olden Days Dress Competition congratulations to Tony Burgess and Evan Thompson on winning the two vouchers. To the other participants my thanks for entering into the spirit of the occasion. It was particularly pleasing to see the club feature on the ING Golf Show as Club of the week. What a magnificent job Trevor Monk did in representing our club. Thank you from all. I could say more about the years celebrations, but will leave that for others to comment.
Junior Golf:
Kaiapoi over the last few years has been sadly lacking to any commitment in this area, Lyn Marie Shaskey has put her heart and soul into the young ones on a Thursday afternoon with little or no support from the members, this year my thanks to Jim McGregor and Mike Cole for their help. When you see up to 40 young ones learning the game the future seems to be secure, but it is a loosing battle if help from the members is not forth coming. It is important that if we are to become the Northern club in the Woodward Cup that we have a Junior Programme in place that will produce the talent that will not only see Kaiapoi involved in that competition for years to come BUT also winning it on a regular basis.
Bequests
A subject not mentioned in connection with Golf Clubs BUT it does happen, and in some circumstances becomes extremely helpful in solving golf club financial restraints.
I personally know of four local golf clubs that have been left bequests from former members. One in particular does not own its own course or machinery, which leads to an embarrassment of riches when one does not have .projects to spend it on.
Club members leave a bequest in their wills for their golf club, and they can state the circumstances that it must be used for, sometimes providing amenities, or it may be used in the cash flow of the respective club. It certainly contributes to those projects that can not be funded through normal cash flow situations and it can alleviate financial problems
that the club is experiencing. at the time. While it may seem alien to some members to even consider such an idea, I believe that if you have had a strong relationship with the Kaiapoi golf Club over the years then consider what you may be able to do for that Club in the years to come. We all are aware that our golf club has struggled over the years to make ends meet, while trying to keep costs under control to members, and maybe this is a way that we can secure the future of our club, with a gesture that will be recognized and truly appreciated.
To the Office Staff of Neville Lyons and Marg Mundy my special thanks, your support and expertise in playing committee administration matters would make any Club Captains job easy, especially for the input unsolicited and unpaid.
Finally to all those members who gave voluntary of their time to work and make our course so much better to play, my thanks, your voluntary efforts are truly appreciated. We can be proud of Kaiapoi Golf Club, it members and the playing surface and as I said at the Centenary Dinner,
“You have respected the history of the Kaiapoi Golf Club created by our predecessors, you have honoured their traditions, and YOU have laid the foundations for the next one hundred years”..
Tom Whitaker
Club Captain