Takaka golf celebrates 50 years at Pohara
Current and former members of the Takaka Golf Club will remember old times when they celebrate 50 years of golf at the Pohara/Clifton course tomorrow.
“We’re planning an afternoon’s golf followed by a shared meal and lots of stories,” says club secretary Linda Sanders.
“Entry for the anniversary day is a plate of food to share for the social, starting at 4pm and a $10 prize for an ambrose golf tournament starting at noon.
“In keeping with the celebration, we’re encouraging a 60s dress theme.”
Club patron Bob Papps remembers the move from the course’s former site at East Takaka after the Franklyn farm was sold. The (then Crown) land selected to build the new course was wonderful links land golfing country, though covered in a forest of gorse. The membership carried their old clubhouse, minus the fireplace, to the beach and attacked the gorse. Bob Haile and the Golden Bay Cement Company backed their efforts and after a lot of hard work, play got underway in 1961. An article written by life member John Falconer said the design of the course was entrusted to an Auckland architect named Babich who had designed Greenacres at Richmond. He was a disciple of the Scottish genius Alister Mackenzie whose motto was “the lie dictates the play”.
Bulldozers were used to crush the gorse but not to shape the fairways. The greens, the greatest strength of the course, were sown directly onto the sand.
For years it seemed the dreaded wire-like “rats tail” was all that was going to survive. But by the early 70s some grass was growing, trees were planted, the “old shed” was replaced by a substantial clubhouse and the real potential of the course became obvious.
Over the past couple of years the club has removed mature pines, gums, gorse, blackberry and bracken, beautified the estuary edge and planted hundreds of natives.
Today the course provides a unique golfing experience. The annual Golden Bay Open attracts a top field of amateurs and professionals and the club continues to add young and old golfers to its ranks.
Submitted.
